The 2.7l 5spd RC Hooptie Build

Nice! I dont think ill ever step up to 35s, but my truck is super heavy, so im thinking the 4.88s should pair nicely with the 33s. Hoping i can start using 5th gear again.. ive been driving it lately as a 4spd and doing the 3-4 dance all the time when im in the hills.

 

Well that depends on what kind of locker you want!

 

I think you will like the 4.88s the truck will be running at a higher rpm when you are cruising the high way with the 33s but I'm thinking you will be able to throw it in 5 and cruise!

 

Thats what i am hoping for! The truck really struggles right now with all the weight ive added. It wasnt bad until i put the bigger tires on.. did you regain any mpg’s after regearing? I am sitting at around 15mpg right now, so im not too worried about the gas mileage, just curious

 

I haven't done out the math in awhile...it's tough because the speedo is off which renders the odometer inaccurate so I haven't really bothered to try to figure my mpgs...I am definitely doing better tank to tank though in terms of how long a tank lasts but most of my driving is around the city so my mpgs are bad anyways!

 

Don't want to reveal too much but some changes are in the works! Big trip coming up which means big changes! More to follow!

 

Damn I like the use of the strut. You workin 2nd shift? Feel like I was seeing you heading into the city when I was leaving.

 

Nice build man

 

No I'm working regular hours I shot down to Hingham a couple afternoons ago maybe you saw me coming back from there? I was gonna use square tube and then I found the strut in my parents garage thought it would work perfect! So many mounting options!

 

Thanks man!

 

The Shake Down
With a birthday party to attend on Saturday night in Henniker NH the weekend was looking like the perfect opportunity to give the truck a shake down. Over the winter the truck got bigger and badder!

I have been so busy all spring so the truck had not seen a trail since last fall. My girlfriend and I have one of the biggest trips I have ever taken on planned for the end of July. I needed to get taco in the woods fully loaded and see how she handled with 35s and the new 4.88s as well as test out the new to me RTT! I stripped the rear bumper repainted it and shuffled the swingout a bit too hold my jerry can and centered the tire a bit. I also made 2 bed rack bars out of uni-strut to hold the tent and got everything mounted on Thursday for a quick departure after work Friday.

We made reservations to camp at Bear Brook state Park in NH and set off as soon I got home. Throwing last minute items in the truck and we were off to sit in traffic Boston rush hour traffic. We made decent time and were set up in no time!

First night in the new tent! The plan for Saturday was to sleep in a bit, make breakfast and get into some 4wheel driving! Having done some wheeling in the area with some buddy's I had a general idea of where to head. Took a gamble on a dotted road on the map and found some great driving!

Aired down to about 20psi and started out with this mellow Hill climb. It was easy going with a few minor technical spots that the truck made easy work of.

After an hour or so of wheeling we came upon an old grave yard dating back to the early 1800s. My girlfriend is a big history buff and this the stuff she loves about our adventures. We walked around checking out the headstones, wondering how these people lived back then in this area and what brought them up to this part of the country so long ago.

Down one section of trail I found a big log and thought it was the perfect opportunity to test tire traction on super slick surface as well as tire clearance at full flex. My 2 favorite girls!

After returning to civilization it began to rain as I got on 89 to head toward Henniker. My driver side windshield wiper decided it had enough and jumped off the windshield. Had to find the closest auto parts store and happened upon a sweet DCLB.

Not sure if he is a member but looked like a pretty sweet truck!
Then a 40th birthday party and one of the biggest bon fires I've ever been apart of ensued, despite the rain.

After shaking the cobwebs out Sunday morning we were off to meet up with some TW members to run some more trails. Alex @emelianenkov led @jjsul and me on a tour of some trails I had never hit before.

Including a sand pit another first for me!

The 35s and 4.88s really showed off here allowing the truck to motor through the soft stuff! We all got stuck or stalled here but it was fun. We then moved on to some more technical driving and one bad decision...I tried to send it through a mud puddle that I just sank into. No pictures were taken but @jjsjust has a video. After that we came right into a pretty intense Hill climb that was challenging with one good gatekeeper at the top that took us all a couple tries and ultimately knocked my steering off a few degrees but the truck still tracks true and straight.

And that about wrapped up the weekend shortly after the hill climb we found ourselves on a well maintained dirt road where we aired up and parted ways. Really impressed with the Gearing in low range and the big tires. A few changes are coming soon to dial in the truck a bit more as well as some details on the big trip!

 

Looks like it was an epic trip!

 

That was a blast! Glad you guys had fun!

 

How does your yellow wire mod behave? I did it on my truck and noticed zero difference and zero intervention in low traction situations. Further investigation I see that my truck does not even have TRAC in any 2/4wd mode, no TRAC light on the dash at all, ever, not even a spot for it.

 

I would agree that it did nothing except make my 4lo light flash...I have been redline in low range spinning tires and nothing happens haha oh well

 

I haven't been able to find much info for our trucks except that supposedly "all non ATRAC trucks came with TRAC". I am thinking that is false and that our base reg cabs did not come with TRAC. I shone a light down on my gauge cluster and saw no shadow/template for a TRAC light on the dash faceplate . I just ended up hooking the wire back up...

A little bummed about that

Sick truck though!! I wish I could make mine into a beast but that wont be happening any time soon.

 

Thanks man it has been a work in progress one part at a time! I wish the wire mod worked it would definitely get me out of almost every situation I've ever winched myself out of haha

 

Im really digging the DIY armor. I have strongly considered that route, and I have family that could help fab it, but I really don't trust my design skills!

 

Just go for it! I am on my third bumper. No harm in trying. I fab and if someone likes it more than I do I sell it to them. Don't be afraid to dive right in!

 

Well I did a thing...
This is the Dailey driver mod! taco got a big sister dubbed "Whaley" the white whale. No big plans for it (currently) just a DD with a fire breathing v8