Squeaky Penguin's (Trip Reports) Build Thread

Happy birthday Brett!

 

Happy birthday bud

 

Hey Brett, how are you liking the LCE clutch so far? Did you end up going with the Pro kit? How is the pedal feel and do you have any issues with fatigue on long trail days?

Thanks in advance and I hope things are going well.

 

Yep, LCE Pro.

It's OK. I think the pressure plate is too stiff. Pedal feel is pretty good really, no fatigue, but it's a lot more on/off than the stock clutch. I think the Marlin would be a good middle ground, if it's ever in stock.


Otherwise, not too much going on in here. Hit Wheeler Lake and Holy Cross in the last few weeks, and didn't take a single picture of either. Truck's holding up for now, about to take it on a longer trip to ID and MT.

 

Have done a few odds and ends though.

Finally fixed my cruise control thanks to some parts from @TMFF Turns out the control box behind the passenger kick panel was the culprit. Who knows.

Added some zerks to my lcas. They really should have come with them.



Swapped some swing out bushings too. This setup has worked really well for the most part, but the bushings do wear after a few years.



Oh, and modified my driveshaft and spacer a little on wheeler.

 

@jubei I got the marlin 3.4 clutch it's great pedal feel and holds 10psi well so far.

 

Thanks for the heads up, Tim.

That one is my preference, for sure. I’ll keep an eye out and hope that it actually comes back in stock someday. It’s pretty mystifying to me how that outfit somehow stays in business with this kind of bullshit:

 

I waited a long time for mine, but I'm happy with it.

 

"We can't wait for you to get our products!"



Not so sure about that.

 

Crawlbox has worked it's way to the top of the list of this pile. Don't want to deal with Marlin and their eternally out of stock BS and whatever hodgepodge of other companies parts they're shipping with they days.




Keeping an eye out for a sale on a TG case or a used one in the meantime.

 

“... but you’re gonna have to.”

Nice! I was wondering if you’d catch the bug after seeing James’ Atlas in action.

 

Yeah this was their response today about the taco box “We do not yet have an ETA on when we will be taking new orders for these units at this time, but you can check back within the next couple months.”

I just don’t get it.

 

I can't keep track....continuing to build this one, or getting a 2.5 Taco?

Seriously though, I miss the hard trails of CO and the need for a crawl box.

 

#metoo! But I might be even cheaper than the Penguin and buying one.

 

It's been on the radar for a while, but that sealed the deal.

I don't understand how they're running a business like that.

 

Did you move out of CO, Jake?!

That’s gonna be killer, Tim. You’ll have all the go fast and go slow things!

 

Sorry about the GFC. Makes me glad I missed out on a secondhand one locally last fall and had a Vagabond Drifter come up that worked out for me. I don't have side doors, but I also have almost zero chance of anything failing on it

While the people I've talked to and met at GFC on multiple occasions are great people, I'm getting less fond of their business practices and seemingly lack of QA/solutions/"mobile repair solution", though I still keep up with them because I want them to succeed in an underserved market (lightweight, minimal small/mid-size truck wedges).

Maybe you should send your GFC in for refurbishing, sell it and pick up "SoCal Expeditions" Drifter for the incoming 2.5 gen…

He's secretly selling it: https://www.instagram.com/p/CDIONCjg7sr/

 

if it happens a terrible mix of both in a long boost bus!

https://trail-gear.com/drivetrain/trail-creeper-tacoma-crawl-box.html

 

Sticking with the GFC. I've been really happy with it aside from the few, known issues. They just came out with their redesigned hinge and are backing it by a lifetime warranty.

It'll get sorted here soon enough.

In for Black Friday sale.

 

Back in May for school yeah. Lots of hiking and mountain biking. Still trying to figure out good wheeling places