The Lair

So gotta ask the weird one off question...did you just have gear packed in around your h2o jug, or did you fab a bracket/mount to hold it up in that orientation?

 

Option C: it was laying on its side and leaking when I opened up the tailgate

 

Just funny since last night I was working through loading out the camper and taco for our week long camping trip...not necessarily trying to drive with 13gal of water (aka 104#s of extra weight)...but since there's no where close that has a water fill station or even a grocery store, might be in our interest to just have them ready to go.

I know they have brackets for the actual h2o plastic jerry cans, so of course in my non-fabrication mind, I started thinking of making a bracket to hold the spare tire and fuel/water jugs. It dawned on me there are company's likely making Baja tire/fuel racks that fit the Tacos.

In my natural ADD nature, I then realized I just need to finish grinding the camper new tongue "welds" and cut a template for some diamond plating to cover the space btw the tool box and the new tongue extension...plus I really need to fill the original tongue tube gaps with weld...and obviously throw a few coats of rattle can on the tongue to finish it off!
Red line is the footprint of diamond plate area I'm thinking of doing

 

That would look nice and be a good place for batteries. I wouldn't put water up there, that might be a bit much on the tongue weight.

 

Absolutely on both counts.

 

That's pat, he has the sickest first gen with a SAS done to it. That thing parties hard.

 

I think water jugs will be loaded into the forward wall next to the cab...next the the spare (it normally lays flat up against the front bedwall).

After doing all the wiring upgrades and after the new tongue extension was added, I went ahead and moved the battery box into the toolbox, at least until I got the final tongue layout situated. I'm also debating on moving the tongue jack just forward just after the extension tube and originals intersect and then doing diamond plating further back, either to the tool box, or all the way to the camper wall.

I have two weekends to get the tongue cleaned up and painted, likely won't have the diamond plating before the 15th. Also got the Taco inspected Friday and was informed my OEM front brake pads are down to 1/4 pad (75K miles)...since I also have to pull the driverside warfab inner tie rod sleeve to wallow out the inner end section in hopes of getting another 2 or so rotations inward, so I can get the outer tie rod end 2 more rotations, or enough to true up the alignment, I'll be checking the rotors while its up on the lift. I think I can put off replacing new brake pads until after this months trip, and depending on the condition of the OEM rotors, will go ahead and get new/upgraded rotors with new pads. With the extra weight and larger then stock tires, I'm sure it just makes sense to do both rotors and pads at this point, but figured I'd put hands on them to confirm.

 

I removed the roof rack today from Betty, a friend bought it off of me. I don’t really need solar and as much as I love the chase bar, that’s not enough of a reason to keep it on there. So more money in my pocket for other mods that’ll see more use.

 

Sounds like chase lights will be relocated to the rear swing out...amiright or amiright?!?!

 

Nononono Greg you’re moving in the wrong direction! We’re shaving weight, not adding it.

 

But that jack lifted the trailer WITH Betty on it...if the jack can lift, the swing out will fit!!!

 

That is infallible logic

 

No roof rack is a clean look!

 

I’m digging the slick top for sure!

 

In all seriousness, you could just do the normal bracket in the front bed rail for chase lights...and yeah like Ryan said, Betty doesn't miss a mark without.

 

@RobP62

 

@RobP62

 

I'm just waiting and watching........

The West would not come soon enough.....

 

I may have already asked you, but do you tow in "D" or "Sx" (x being whatever gear is necessary for the speed traveling to keep rpms reasonable) when you have Betty loaded?

 

I jump between s4 and s5 most of the time on the highway, occasionally dropping down to s3 or s2 on a steep descent to help with engine braking.