The Getaway...Crom's build and adventures

Everything you said is true unfortunately. I have a couple quotes for cutting the UHMW on a waterjet, and in my opinion they're too high for what's being done. I'd be looking at a $100-$150 increase in the price of the skids with the current quotes. That would put my product at a higher price than the standard steel skids available now.

I'm still looking for a good shop to help me out.

 

What's RCI? Link to these please? Thanks guys.

 

http://www.rcimetalworks.com

 

Yup. Budbuilt is on my list. I'll need to do a comparison with Pelfreybuilt, RCI, Budbuilt. They all seem to have good aluminum skid plate products. Looking for couple more vendor candidates before I start loading up the spreadsheet Prinsu is still a possible candidate. I'm looking at a 1-2 month time frame before I pull the trigger. I'm definitely not what anyone would call an impulse buyer

 

This is so true, I very nearly took a shot of gasoline straight to the face venting a can. I got hit with a light shower, but the huge gout of pressurized fuel missed my face by inches. It was a lesson learned that day. I won't make that same mistake again.

Awesome trip report Crom, I would love to make a trip to DV. It would be awesome to have an experienced DV explorer such as yourself as a guide.


Lots of good info in this thread. I've enjoyed it!

 

Sucks though because I do like the looks of the RCI product line, but they don't make any of their products for 1st Gen.

 

The front and transmission skids should match up with Tacomas since they have the same frame. But the one thing 4Runners have is the extra crossmember after the transfer case that RCI's transfer case skid bolts to.

 

It seems like there are a lot of good options now for full Al skids. For me the deciding factor on RCI was the combination of them offering Al for *everything* (some of the manufacturers stick with steel for the smaller panels) and a GB/sale timed with when I was interested in purchasing. I think everyone has a sale or GB every so often so if patient you should be able to decide what is your favorite and just wait.

 

Yep, absolutely. Total cost is what really matters. Pay attention to sales tax too. I could have picked up a different set "locally" down in San Diego but if I accounted for gas, vehicle wear and time costs that wasn't any savings and then CA tax on top of that! For me RCI was close enough to keep shipping reasonable, no tax and then a sale. Like you say, the good ones are all very similar so if looking for the best deal you might choose any one of them balancing a variety of costs.

 

Only reason I got a set last minute was because Bud Built was doing $100 off, plus they seem to offer the most coverage for us 1st gen guys.

 

Finally visited your build thread again and caught up several (tenish) pages worth. Every time I see your rig I think about doing a similar shell in aluminum with a ladder rack to build a photo platform on. It would be on full time other than if I put on the camper. It has to be much lighter than my camper loaded up. When I had my flippac I hated the dust intrusion. With the FWC I have no dust inside unless I bring it in at camp. We've got to set up a trip one day. Salt tram/Inyos summer trip?

 

Hey @Crom , some of us are heading out to Anza Borrego at the end of next month. As far as I know, we don't have anyone in our group that has very much experience or any at all there. Any pointers or helpful hints? Myself and a few others are more interested in exploring the area rather than off-roading, but I also know a few guys that just want to haul ass in the desert. Any of your wisdom here would be appreciated. Also if you were interested in coming, Here's the thread:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...g-off-road-trip.377125/page-161#post-11578084

It'd be nice to meet you finally after all the inspiration you've given me.
"I'd follow you anywhere, Mr. Gump."

 

Tomorrow I'll get caught up on all the discussion in the thread and reply back. I look forward to it.

In the mean time, here are some pics from our 3-day-weekend jaunt into Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

Coyote Mountain (left), Clark Dry Lake (center), Santa Rosa Mountains (right).

Female Big Horn Sheep.

Sunrise

 

Nice close shot of the bighorn sheep!

 

That's the stuffed one in the Visitors Center.

 

That's an excellent plan. I was going to do a family base camp too, but did not want to take my kids there in winter and tent camp. The wind can be an issue. If we go in winter, it would be a hotel.

Yes. I did for a few miles, but I turned around due to snow and falling darkness. It's rough, less traveled, more remote. Navigation is important back there. I don't think I'd recommend it for your family. I'd just go to the Inyo mine and turn back after that.

Cause your with your family, if you do Chloride Cliff, I suggest returning to the trail head starting at Daylight Pass road. Then take pavement (374) east to Beatty / Rholite. Then go west on the 374, take the turn for Titus Canyon.

In 2014 I escaped the freezing cold at Chloride cliffs and went East into Nevada, and I recall wishing the road would improve, so I could go faster, lol. I was on stock suspension and beat up tires back then too.

Sorry for the delayed response. My wife and two kids primitive camped out by Clark Dry Lake. We found a great spot and had a great time. I think I'll be out there on the 29th.

I am undecided for skids. I will eventually get some, later this year I think.

Thank you for this graphic. I've known for some time to only use the hub centric style lugs on the 2nd gen alloy wheels.

If nobody said anything, let me tell you, that I'm sorry about the stud breakage on your truck. That is an unfortunate thing to have happen. And I'm glad you're getting fixed up. Thanks for all the truck tech.

I'll share this little bit of info...

I got rid of the factory lugs because they kept deforming on me. They are a 2-part construction. As I understand it, there is a 14mm? carbon nut that is sleeved in chrome 21mm. I found this out from reading somebody's elses post to got through the chrome sleeve while taking one apart. lol

The soft chrome becomes deformed over time. After having to hammer on a socket to remove two lugs nuts, I said to hell with this and got some all-steel lugs. They have been really great. The black paint on them is really beat up, but otherwise they are holding up great!

Toyota chrome lug nut vs. All-steel lug nut


Brand:Precision European Motorwerks / PE-Motorwerks
Surface Finish: Black Heat Treated Steel Manufacturer
Seat Type: Mag Style
Part Number: Hex Mag Washer Factory Alloy Wheels
Thread Type: 12mm x 1.5 or 12x1.5 or M12x1.5

www.ebay.com/itm/24pc-OEM-Black-Mag-Lug-Nuts-w-Washer-12x1-5-for-Stock-Toyota-Lexus-Wheels-/

Thank you for the complement and recommendation. Appreciated.

Thank you. That helps me as well.

on the gas! Appreciated.

Thanks. Will PM you soon.

Thank you. I don't think I can make that trip, but all is not lost. Will explain in a little bit...

The best guide book I have on the area is Lowell Lyndsay's book. And it comes with a paper map, or at least mine did when I bought it.

$33 Anza-Borrego Desert Region: A Guide to State Park and Adjacent Areas of the Western Colorado Desert

Anza-Borrego Desert Region: A Guide to State Park and Adjacent Areas of the Western Colorado Desert
Feb 10, 2012
by Diana Lindsay and Lowell Lindsay

For any in your group who are dead set on going fast, I'd redirect them to Ocotillo Wells Vehicular State Park, just down the road from ABDSP.

Thanks.

 

I knew it was too good to be true!

You mean you don't check TW when you're camping???
Glad you had a great time!

 

An aluminum shell would be very strong. It may also serve as a makeshift oven in the summer though, lol

I've asked A.R.E. corporate how much my shell weighs, they tell me about 150 lbs. I asked the dealer and they don't know, but guess about the same.

I just looked at your FWC in your build. If I had that, It would get used so much! Probably a lot in the driveway as my kids would always want to go in it.

Believe me, there are times when I really envy the vehicle mounted shelters, for speed of deployment and breaking camp.

I've toyed with the idea of a trailer, but I don't think I want that in my life right now.

Thanks! We had a lot of fun.

 

Thanks for the info. If I can get my friend and his wife to come with his truck we may venture up out of echo canyon just a bit. Of course very carefully walking / scouting / spotting sections that are sketchy. I want to exercise my truck a bit but don't want to risk breaking it or rolling it cause it has to get us and the trailer back home. As for Chloride I was kind of thinking of coming back to the 374. It's a lot shorter distance wise. We will be there from Mar 31st to Apr 3rd. Thanks Again Nick.

 

Borrego Palm Canyon - Anza-Borrego Desert State Park - Family Camp Trip Jan 16-18

For almost ten years I've wanted to take my wife to Borrego Palm Canyon.

It is one of the premiere hiking destinations in the park, and usually heavily visited. Despite there being large numbers of hikers, the groups get spaced out and some solitude is very possible. This canyon serves a a major drainage for the very steep and rocky mountains, and there are a number of palm groves with small wildlife oasis back there. Water is usually present, except during the hottest months of the year.

From this canyon, there are very steep routes you can climb out 3,000 vertical feet.

It is also a great place to see the Borrego Big Horn Sheep, because of the food and water source. In my opinion, the sheep in this location are desensitized to humans. They see us and don't seem to care too much about us. It seemed like a miracle, but everyone I saw had their wits about them, and kept a good distance from the sheep respecting that this is their home.

Here is a picture from 2007 I took which shows some water in the canyon near the terminus.



The canyon is also an excellent location to witness the extreme violence that occurs post flash flood. Boulders larger than my Tacoma get tossed like pebbles in this canyon.

Destruction from the 1000 year flood that occurred Sept 21, 2004. It is estimated that 20' waves crushed everything in its path. There were trail markers washed miles from their original positions.



On this day January, 17, 2016 it was just a fun family hike. I didn't have any real expectations of seeing any big horn sheep or even reaching the first grove of palms. Whatever happens, happens and I'm good with that. It was our first family "hike" with all four of us, so it was a learning experience.

How far can we travel with our 3 and 5 year old kids?!?

The 3-year needed some help after a while, so help was given in the from of shoulder ride.


We had fun along the way, the 5-year old insisted on climbing every single boulder along the route...

Here she is investigating something near the canyon wall.


We took many breaks, and we eventually rounded the first big bend where we found our first Big Horn Sheep.

My kids were ecstatic, so was I.

It was a young male.


We traveled up canyon a bit more where we found another, then another. They seemed to be isolated from each other which is different from my previous experience.

Most interesting to me was a pregnant female who gave the best photographic opportunity. Because I have a zoom camera, It looks like I am very close to the animals, but I'm not. I am about 30'-50' distance to the subject.

The female mid bite.


After she turned around. Gorgeous animal.


After we had sufficiently appreciated these great animals, we decided to return to the truck.

On return route, we saw this big horn sheep across the canyon. Look just a tad right of dead center to see it on the cliff edge near the green ocotillo plant.

They blend in so well. And when they freeze, you can hardly see them.


After taking a break in the shade, I decided it would be fun to take my 5-year old for a little climb. She loved the idea. So I found a seam to climb to a sharp ridge. The terrain is treacherous and requires very careful attention to detail. Three points of contact at all times.





For me, down climbing has always been more difficult than climbing up.


We down climbed safely, rejoined with wife and sister, and proceeded to hike back to the truck. The 3-year old hiked back under her own power the whole time, which was great!

It was more than I expected and I was delighted with our adventure in the canyon.