The Getaway...Crom's build and adventures

No sweat. @ForeRunner graciously applied the thread locker with quickness. Thank you @ForeRunner

 

That was me. I requested the lock on my old thread from 2012. It's a valid mod, but due to the nature of the mod (modding a seat) it's highly controversial. And I didn't want any further debate on the subject.

I think Dr. Funker followed a link I posted and didn't realize it was a different thread. So no worries, all is good. Thank you for your service.

 

Yuk! I guess I should put that on the to do list.
As far as the car seat thing I can speak from experience. When our girls were 5yo we were in a head on accident where the other driver hydroplaned in driving rain, fishtailed and suddenly darted into our path. Imagine going about 45-50 and hitting a concrete wall. Long story short the girls were in their forward facing Britax car seats and were totally fine. I broke my collar bone from the seat belt. My wife had a compression fracture of the spine and had to be cut out of our totaled Honda Pilot, and was having trouble breathing. I was scared shitless for her. The other guy who was sideways when we hit him is in heaven (hopefully). I wouldn't mess with how the car seats are intended to be installed and get them in tight! The first responders said that saved their lives.

 

The oil catch can has always had my interest. Glad to know it has the "Crom approval".

 

I have a draft 42 can sitting here just need the fittings for the can to install it.

 

@Crom is there a reason you went with L-tracks instead of E-tracks?

 

If you plan on keeping your vehicle for the long haul, I would recommended the oil catch can. Mine has been working great for three years now.

Good deal. I have the very first model that came to market, with incorrect sized tubing for our trucks. My vinyl electrical tape has worked flawlessly for creating an air tight seal.

Short answer: Yes. In short, I want to secure cargo to the floor and not to the sides of the bed.

Long answer: In another career, and what seems like a lifetime ago, I used the E-track stuff in commercial cargo applications. It works. But I always used it for securing cargo to a wall or finishing off loaded tiers.

The main issue I have with that, is that securing cargo to a wall, does not stop cargo from moving up and down, and more or less relies on gravity to hold it down.

What I wanted for the Tacoma after my Death Valley 2014 adventure, was to secure stuff directly to the floor. And that's when I set out on my "no more shit rolling around the bed" project ® @rngr

I had used little bits of l-track before to secure my fridge and what I liked best about it, is that is fits between the ribbed section of the bed. However, it does protrude up above the raised section of the bed. But this issues is completely solved by laying down a Tacoma bed mat and cutting holes for the track. So the track is recessed and out of the way. The Tacoma bed mat is extremely valuable because it's soft, durable, and helps stuff stop slipping around itself. I think it's made from vulcanized rubber like a tire.

It's a great combination.

A picture from the first round of l-track install, no bed mat on top.


Bed mat installed and hole cut.


l-track is recessed, and out of the way.


Cargo fitting installed.

@GHOST SHIP Sergio, you once asked in my thread how these things age over time, or if they wear out, make noise, etc. I didn't properly answer your question when I quoted your post, and been meaning to follow up. So here is what I can tell you about these things. They seem to work fine in the last year, my only gripe with them is that black rubberized boot, (after about a year), they started to leave a back residue when touched by hand. I don't know what kind of synthetic fabric its made from, but I don't like it. I have used a scissors to cut the boot, so I don't have to touch it with my hand and get the black shit on me.

Other than that they are bomber tough.



How it is today.


If I had the time, I would remove the Toyota Tacoma factory bed rail attachment and replace it with l-track. I've seen it done once, in 2012 by MotoDave on ExPo, in his Tundra - Bed Rail Alternative thread.

 

When should I expect my royalties for your use of that phrase? Ha ha. The L-track portion of that project in currently on hold thanks to my OBA project eating up my "play money" fund. Soon though, soon.

 

Thanks for following up. I remember thinking there was some miscommunication when I first asked the question. The initial reason for asking was because I was looking for an alternative to the cargo area behind the rear seats (along the wall). Since the MOLLE panel is no longer being made (this may be changing soon as well), I wanted a way to secure items to the wall for storage and/or quick removal. The L-Track seemed like a good alternative, but I was concerned with noise from the attachments rattling or jingling like a janitor's keys while I drive. I wondered if there was any play in the attachments or the spring retention mechanism. I actually contacted US Cargo Control and they were extremely helpful in answering some of my questions regarding their products. I did not expect them to be as helpful as they were because I was definitely using the track for other than it's intended purpose (even a roof rack project I was/am working on). Thanks for all the information again. I hope to pick your brain and crawl over your truck to see this thing in person soon.

 

Sure. Sorry for the long delay. As far as I can tell, they make no noise at all. The spring holds the fitting and the cargo ring firmly enough. This stuff would work great on a roof rack. Point me to your build/project thread if you get one or have one going.

I too have had positive experiences with the US Cargo Control customer support too.

The check is in the mail! at least that's what @DrFunker keeps telling me.

 

I just put L-track on my truck to make up for the factory track that was hidden by the lip of the camper. Now I have tie down points on the inside again, as well as on the outside as well.

 

Big thanks to @frizzman for helping me in my wheel question thread, he pointed out the 4runner wheels as an option for me.

I really like classic look and design of the 4runner wheel, and it gave me a little more space than the 1st gen Tacoma wheel.

So moving quickly over the weekend I picked up these 4-runner limited wheels. I confirmed the backspacing with a ruler, 4.5".



Cost was $160 and included:

• Four (4) 4runner wheels

• One (1) steel wheel.

I will sell the steel wheel for $50.
I paid discount $30 to dismount, clean the lead, and dispose of old tires.

Net cost will be $140, or $35 per corner.

Plus I'll recoup whatever else if I decide to sell the TRD OR wheels.

@teamhypoxia Thanks for the idea Eric!



Also as a bonus, it looks like I can now run either version of the Total Chaos spindle gussets.

Thank you @AaronArf

 

bummer... looks like you missed an excellent opportunity to test some fine rubber.

 

Michelin! When I first saw the tire brand I thought of you. I look at the pics of you wheeling your rig, and the what you put those things through and it's nothing short of incredible!

The tread on the tires were really bad, otherwise I might have bolted them up, and gone for a spin!

 

So get the ones for the swaybar!