Squeaky Penguin's (Trip Reports) Build Thread

Good points!

I don’t see me bringing a family ‘overlanding’ for more than a few days anyway. Just another reason why I call what I do ‘car camping’, whether it’s wheeling the piss out of my truck to get there or not. Because that’s all it is.

 

The terms overlanding and expo need to die.
Haha. But hey, I guess people are making money off of it right?

I was thinking of doing up an off road trailer. But I mostly use my rig for remote fishing spots on road trips. It's the extends travel times that do it for us.

 

Finally swapped the MT90 out of my transmission, new fluid in there and the xfer case, fixed a leaky CV axle seal, and remounted the skids. Truck is ready for Moab.

On the trips I've done, and would like to go on, a trailer would be a huge inconvenience if not impossible.

They have their place, just don't use them if all you do is mount maxtracks, an awning, and other unnecessary EAF farkles on your truck and go camping at an OHV park on the weekend.


I'd like to do more week plus long trips tying together lots of miles of dirt, or ideally pull an @aero3685 I think that counts as overlanding.

 

Good more fun i think.

 

Brett, what kind of beer u like? Give me some optipns, I owe u and I will deliver in moab

 

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I prefer Odells IPA if given the choice.

 

You coming to rock therapy?

 

I'm an equal-opportunity beer consumer.

 

most likely not with the eye thing going on, but would like to get the taco down there.

 

And there you go. Now when you look for a lady consider that so you wont have to lug around a luxury suite on wheels.

Moving on. As soon as my truck is back to par I'll hit you and leo up again to check out steamboat. I'm really looking forward to heading your way when I can. Still going to take some time tho So much to try and get done.

 

I don't thinks thats a big deal. My lady likes to stay clean and isn't a dirt bag type but knows how to pack. Only thing that has changed with the lady is a slightly bigger clothes bag for me and the kitchen box got organized haha

She has her limit no doubt(damn near hit this last trip) but doesn't stop her from coming. I think over time she will be more and more okay with not coming on the crazy trips. But not for a long time.

Kids..forget about it. No long crazy trips with everyone. Just one.

 

Lmao

 

The best thing about starting fresh, is that I know what the end results needs to be, and how to get there. I had no idea what this rig would turn into when I started modding it years ago.

There's only so much I can do to my current setup. Already has a good stereo, when you're not moving at least, seats, sound deadening, and tires would help, but that still leaves me in the same platform.

That brings up another concern. If I were to do it again, as much as I don't like to admit, I would go with a slush box. My truck is still under-geared for wheeling, but over-geared for the highway. It's frustrating at times. An automatic has a lot of benefits.

 

**cough** crawl box **cough*

 

I thought about keeping the auto when I did my cab swap, but then it wouldn't be a DCLB 5 speed awesomeness!

 

The only benefit of an automatic is the ability to eat a fully loaded cheeseburger while in stop and go traffic.

 

I feel like eating tacos while driving manual should be an Olympic sport.

 

No you don't.

I have both. The auto is not fun. Yes for crawling it's great. Love it for dd. Hate it mostly off road. Can't go fast in 4lo, only have 3 gears. Shifts hard. Never in the right freaking gear. I hate it most the time off road and am constantly grumbling about wanting my manual back.

Going down slightly in tire size would help you offloading. Im surprised you think it's under geared off road. I know it's pretty close to the same as what I have in Frank but I've never thought it over geared ever. Still goes 80mph too if needed. But 70 is ideal anyways.

I will admit if you get a 2nd Gen the auto is much nicer then a 1st Gen. Wouldn't hesitate to get one really over the same 6 speed.

I'm not sure what you'd gain by changing platforms from a tacoma to a slightly bigger tacoma besides more space which seems you don't need..unless you're thinking of getting a 4 runner or land cruiser?

 

There are a few times when I hate the manual but no way I could have an auto the rest of the time

 

One foot for brake and gas, the other for toe tapping with the tunes.
Left hand for steering and signals, right hand for feeding. This can of course be alternated if desired, or for RH drive vehicles.