The Frankenstein Build! LT/Expo/Trail rig..and BS

And those who have experienced frank

 

let me finish that open-ended statement for you "would be laughing maniacally at those who think they want it"

 

He really can't be that bad, isn't Frank on the backside of the poster for TW

 

Don't misunderstand me, Frank isn't bad. I love seeing Frank on the trail because he's got some cool features and some interesting implementations of ideas. But he's like a chimera of work, some of it was done hastily before or during a trip and some was done to exact specs and buttoned up well. That's by no means a knock on Monte, we all do it, he's a busy dude and he knows what he's doing as well as the theories behind it all. But sometimes you forget to comeback and loctite that bolt you said to yourself you'd get back to. Or you take out an interior panel to install something and it crack in two and you say "I'll replace that", or.... the list goes on. With Frank only being a trail rig there's hardly the impetus there once would have been to maintain creature comforts and sometimes the maintenance schedule doesn't seem as important because it's just not used as much. Hell even changing your mods around leaves you with extra harnesses or plugs and wires. Frank could totally be what he looks like in photos, but lots of stuff would need a refresh, and Igor is right there as the perfect candidate for a really nice do-over. Monte has the skills and most of the parts, it's all about timing I'd suspect.

I did tons of stuff to my green truck that I had to re-do or choose to omit with the grey truck, it was well worth the do-over.

 

I figured that's what you were going at. I feel like I'm dropping down the same hole. but doing all these mods is the first part of the experience and adventure. The second part is enjoying them out on the trails

 

Yeah Frank is not a pretty or comfortable truck.

But on the dirt. Freaking fantastic truck. So smooth and fun to drive, tons of torque, finally some power, and floats over shit pretty damn well.






right up until that moment something breaks that I forgot.


Frankenstein has been one of the most mistreated trucks on here I bet. It started off great. But as soon as I started going to school out of state. Went down hill. I didn't have the winter to work on him and he instead on used and abused and put away wet..for 4 years straight.

Gonna take a lot of work to get Frank back to what I want. Which I am not scared of or backing away from. Im looking forward to it. I just need a little more stability in life first.

Using Igor as a new start I've done. Everything about that truck I love how Ive done it. However, he is due for some key parts..and the idea of just swapping some parts from Frank has come up through the last year more. But Im not to that point yet.

 

I see what you meant by don't get a 2nd truck. Kind of the "do it right once, bitch about it once" and by "bitch about it once" usually revolves around buying it in my experience.

 

Nah id never say that..i have 3 haha

I know EXACTLY how to build the truck now. Frank has been my test bed for..well damn near everything. I mean seriously, look at how many different "phases" Frank has been through. I know exactly what I want from my Tacoma's in terms of performance and comfort and I know how to do it. I just don't have the spare time as much anymore.

Thinking of going to a 4 day work week just so I will.

 

You told me not to get a second tacoma. cause of fear that this one wouldn't get finished, and be sitting in the garage on jack stands lol granted you told me that a couple of weeks ago.

 

oh. Well yeah but you were talking about doing a mod list and projects that would take you literally a year or two straight to finish well. If you had a working truck, you just start using that one all the time and then the other would get forgotten due to you rather actually going out and using the other.

that was my point for that.

Happen to me when i had a supra. You just loose interest being in the shop all the time when you could be wheeling.

 

Very true, I took at as spoken from experience

 

I almost thought you was going to say "Oh now you know how to build him the first 12 times wasn't enough?!?" Lol

 

Not really Frank related. But outside none the less. Figure something in here new would be nice..Went out to the hills this weekend for a cruise. Was nice.

Saw a momma bear and 2 cubs just outside of town to start the weekend.

Beartooth Pass 2018.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Beartooth Pass 2018-2.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Beartooth Pass 2018-3.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Beartooth Pass 2018-4.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Beartooth Pass 2018-5.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Then after seeing the horrific aftermath of a 3 car crash on the Beartooth Highway entrance. We went up the pass.

Beartooth Pass 2018-6.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Snow was still deep in places. Traffic was way too high to get to stop and snap photos of the higher 30' drifts the plows had cut through.

Beartooth Pass 2018-7.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Beartooth Pass 2018-8.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Wyoming side looked amazing.

Beartooth Pass 2018-9.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Beartooth Pass 2018-10.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Beartooth Pass 2018-11.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Beartooth Pass 2018-12.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Beartooth Pass 2018-13.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The valleys were long since snow free. Made for pretty views.

Beartooth Pass 2018-14.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Beartooth Pass 2018-15.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Beartooth Pass 2018-16.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Then we set off over Dead Indian Pass. Was a nice cruise.

Beartooth Pass 2018-17.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Hopefully start overhauling Frank soon. Big checks to write to get it going..

 

Always fun when you see the little bears. And the Beartooth's look beautiful, looks like an awesome excursion!

 

yeah we couldn't believe it. Like 8 miles out of town. Our first sighting of the year. Pretty cool!

Mountains are looking stellar for sure.

 

Moar adventures!

but not Frank. Oh well. Soon..

Got to camp a bit on the late side though still was light when we first got there. Devin prepped the Hobo meals and I stoked the fire up for coals to cook on.

Beartooth Pass 2018-2.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Then, we had a nice windy night. Not annoyying, but some strong gusts that woke us up. Occasinally the dogs making noise too as they were running free all night. But the morning was great, nothing like sleeping in in the shade with a nice cool breeze in the quiet mountains. But we got out of bed eventually.

Beartooth Pass 2018-4.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Beartooth Pass 2018-5.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Then we decided to walk up the stream to see if we could cross it on foot to climb the rocky hill on the left.

Beartooth Pass 2018-6.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Beartooth Pass 2018-7.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The water was high though and it became apparent that wasn't going to happen but we kept walking letting the dogs entertain us. Satchmo was very funny going after the fish constantly jumping full on into the creek.

Beartooth Pass 2018-8.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Beartooth Pass 2018-9.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Im sure one of the very powerful wind storms that are know to blow through the Big Horns laid down all these trees at once.

Beartooth Pass 2018-10.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Full flight!

Beartooth Pass 2018-11.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Beartooth Pass 2018-12.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Bix was feeling the pain from partying all night..and took a more chill approach.

Beartooth Pass 2018-13.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Beartooth Pass 2018-14.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Satch..wanted a damn fish!

Beartooth Pass 2018-15.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Beartooth Pass 2018-16.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Beartooth Pass 2018-17.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


Saw plenty of big game too. Lots of deer.

Beartooth Pass 2018-18.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

On the way in, had hit a big mud hole...almost didn't make it. Big Horn mud is good mud though, comes right off.

Beartooth Pass 2018-19.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

We were gonna hike up a peak, but the dogs were half dead and Devin wasn't feeling 100% so we headed down. Devin spotted something in the trees though..

Beartooth Pass 2018-20.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

a pair of moose!

Beartooth Pass 2018-21.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Beartooth Pass 2018-22.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Beartooth Pass 2018-23.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Beartooth Pass 2018-24.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Pretty cool.

Stopped at Shell Falls on the way down as the river was raging.


Beartooth Pass 2018-25.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Beartooth Pass 2018-26.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Beartooth Pass 2018.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Beartooth Pass 2018-27.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Beartooth Pass 2018-28.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Then ate lunch and headed back to powell to drop the dogs off and hang with my mom.

Beartooth Pass 2018-29.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Beartooth Pass 2018-30.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Final treat was just outside of town on the way home almost hit a bull Elk and his heard in almost the same spot we saw the 3 bears last week.

Beartooth Pass 2018-31.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

was a nice quick over nighter overall.

Back to work tomorrow.

 

Sub’d.

Edit: Getting in early

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Toyota-Ari...m=323317972166&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

 

I second this questionable life decision.

 

It's only questionable if it goes wrong.