The MR E30 Project Thread - 2016 TRD 4x4 OR DCSB Edition

March 19th, 2019

Went to Power Tanks and purchased their 20 lb Co2 tank, with tank boot, 250 psi regulator, and 30 ft coiled hose to fulfill my tire refilling needs while on the trail.

Sucker was expensive (~$700) but ARB air compressors aren't super cheap either. I heard one too many bad reviews of the ARB OBA and decided to pick up a system that has fewer moving parts, and more importantly, one that can easily be stored in my relatively temperature controlled garage when it is not being used, as opposed to always being under the hood, heating up and cooling down every time I drive.

Plus, ~30 seconds to fill one of my current (stock) tires from trail pressure to road pressure is hard to beat. It certainly outpaces even a dual ARB compressor.

March 20th, 2019

Went to RotoPax and ordered a 3.5 gallon FuelPax container, which conveniently enough came with a ~$30 mount for my bedrack.

Up next are recovery boards (probably MaxTrax, unless someone recommends something else) and a dynamic recovery strap (not sure on a brand, if you have experiences with any please let me know). After that I will be done acquiring parts for a while, and I'll focus on using the truck on excursions since spring has rolled around.

 

March 25th, 2019

Went and dropped off the Relentless Modular Bed Rack to the only powdercoater in my small town. They mentioned a 4 day turnaround for ~$150.

First trip of the year is shaping up, so looking forward to getting the truck prepped for the adventure.

 

March 30th & 31st, 2019

The time finally arrived. My 4X Innovation sliders needed to find their permanent home on the frame of my truck.

Arrived at my buddy Matt's house at 7 am to get to work. He had the welder and associated necessities, and I brought the grinder, jack stands, tools, etc.

We figured out the game plan and laid out all of the components. Each piece received some love from the grinder to prep the welding areas.

Parts Laid Out by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

We test fit the sliders to the frame, supporting them with jack stands per the manufacturers recommendations. Plate locations on the frame were marked so the frame could be stripped of its paint coating prior to welding.

Matt affixing the legs and plate and gussets to the sliders.

Slider Assembly by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

After the slider was assembled in the garage we brought it back out to the truck. We fine tuned the placement, maintaining level front to rear, body gap, and angle. We quadruple checked the fitment from every angle we could manage and then the moment of truth arrived. It was time to stick these things to the truck permanently. A slightly tense moment, if I am to be completely honest. But Matt has tremendous real world skill, so he did a fantastic job on the install.

Slider Install to Frame by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

All in all, for both sides, it took 7 hours of work to complete the welding portion of the install. We didn't take any breaks and we were splitting tasks and working diligently the entire time. Definitely longer than I anticipated, but the quality of the work was the top priority, so that drove the schedule.

The next day I set out to get the sliders prepped and painted.

The first step was to mask off the side of the truck. Some painters plastic and a second set of hands made this step easy.

The next task was to do a final cleaning of the weld area. A metal file helped with this task. Next was a quick scuff with some sandpaper. I finished off with a thorough wipe down with Acetone.

The paint laid down quickly and easily. I was careful not to miss any areas, as I do not want premature rusting of any of the steel components.

Taped Off for Paint by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Three coats later and they are finished!

Sliders Installed and Painted by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

They look fantastic and are stout as hell. While I hope I never need them, I am glad that they are there to protect that ever so vital part of almost any vehicle.

I will be doing periodic inspections of the slider and frame to make sure everything is as it should be.

Now it's on to the next thing!

 

April 2nd, 2019

Just had my 20 lb Power Tank filled.

Excited to test it out in two weekends!

Power Tank Setup - 4-2-19 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

 

April 12th, 2019

Day 1 - Bees! - A 3 Day Trip Report

After knocking out all of the work that I needed to get done for the week on Monday through Thursday, my first trip of 2019 was set to begin early in the morning on the 12th of April.

The destinations were three-fold. The first would be the beautiful Cottonwood Canyon Road, located just north of the Arizona/Utah border, slightly west of Big Water, UT. The second would be a quick pit-stop in the small town of Hurricane Utah, with the third destination being my favorite place on earth, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Spirits were high, even with the weather looking less than ideal, when we started packing up the remainder of our gear into the truck on Friday morning. My co-pilot is a great friend and mentor, Tony. He’s taken control of route planning and cooking, which left me with the driving and documentation portion of the trip, an excellent arrangement in my book if I had to admit.

As this is my first Trip Report on TW, let me introduce the rig that will be transporting us from place to place.

2016 TRD Offroad 4x4 with 4X Innovations Weld-on Rock Sliders, Relentless Fab Modular Bed Rack, CVT Mt. Rainier Extended RTT, 20 lb Power Tank, and plenty of self-recovery gear. Tires, Suspension, and Armor are all OEM.

With the truck packed, a quick picture of the rig was needed to solidify the beginning of adventure!

1 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

At 7:45 AM, we set our sights North/Northeast, heading up the 89 freeway towards Page, AZ. We make great time with the cruise control set to 65 mph through Cameron, past the turn off for Tuba City, and up the windy mountain road that drops gradually down into Page, a small town on the northern border of Arizona. During the drive, the silence was filled with a book from Audible, Lonesome Dove, a great (and very long) story if I have ever heard one. The tale of Augustus and Cal a great companion for the paved highway miles.

On the way down into Page we make a quick stop off of the side of the road to stretch our legs and take in the views, the mountains and cliff faces an attractive alternative to the white and yellow lines painted on the asphalt. Our first compliment of the trip occurs at this small pullout (which is someone’s long driveway as it turns out). An older Navajo lady in an aged Suburban asks what color the truck is, saying it is very beautiful to her to in the midday sun.

2 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

3 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

4 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

5 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Once in Page we make a quick stop for gas, although the tank is still over 3/4 full. While topping off the truck, a second visitor approaches, asking me about the truck, and the tent that sits atop the rack, as his son is on the fence about making the switch from cars to trucks. We chat for a couple of minutes and bid each other goodbye. I always love how vehicles can bring strangers together under a common topic, sharing advice and stories with each other that would otherwise be lost.

With the tank back above the full mark, we set off at a leisurely pace through the outskirts of the small town near Lake Powell. Within a few minutes we drive past the dam that formed Lake Powell into what it is today.

Pushing onwards, we approach the border of Arizona and Utah. Lonesome Dove has been paused temporarily while the map is studied. As we reach the ‘Welcome to Utah’ sign the trucks radio blurts out ‘Welcome to Utah’ which I thought was a pretty neat trick.

We cruise through Big Water UT, still on the 89 freeway, which is a tiny place, and soon spot our turn off away from the paved roads and traffic we have traveled thus far.

We had made it to the origin (or termination, depending on your direction) of Cottonwood Canyon Road. The 46-mile long road was originally constructed to service the power lines that run from the 89 freeway up to Cannonville, Utah. The power lines presence a constant reminder that sometimes-easy access to adventure is a by-product of man’s encroachment into nature.

The sign promptly states, “Impassable When Wet”, a clear indication that a keen eye needs to be paid to the weather, though the forecast presents no information about heavy rain in the near future. For now, the road is bone dry.

6 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

The terrain, from the entrance parking lot, appears to be very similar to what we saw from the freeway, but we knew that epic views were abundant just around a few bends.

So, we aired the tires down to 20 psi and set off!

7 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Within minutes the views began pouring in, almost too many to count, each with its own uniqueness.

8 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

After a few miles we hit the sign representing the entrance to the Grand Staircase-Escalante.

9 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

We noticed interesting ground formations while traveling along. Apparently, they are created by underground clay expanding when they become wet, forming the mounds that sit before us. Neat!

10 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

The views just kept coming in. The vast expanse, mated with the mountain range in the background, was pleasing to they eye. Too often I spend most of my days looking just a few feet in front of my face. Having the ability to really open up my eyes and take in a variety of distant information provided a strange relaxation that I miss on the day-to-day. This single aspect is what drives my sense of adventure.

11 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

12 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

13 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

The Paria River follows Cottonwood Canyon Road for a small section of the road. On this day its flow was slow and tranquil, slowly modifying the landscape as geological time creeps by.

14 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

As we came around another corner; Cows! There were plenty more of them roaming about, but I always enjoy running across cows doing what cows are supposed to do.

15 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Beautiful scenery continued to impress us with its presence as we continued along the road.

16 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

The road was well maintained, and apart from ~2 miles near the beginning that had begun to washboard, we were able to cruise along at a comfortable speed, our destination being the Cottonwood Narrows – South Trailhead, 24 miles from the beginning of the road. The aired down tires were also lending a helping hand in keeping the ride comfortable and pleasant.

At one point the road winds right next to a massive cliff face. The numerous fallen boulders along the route a reminder that things do come crashing down around here, but I figured we were safe enough for the time being to snap a couple of pictures.

17 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

We round another bend and once again the views are stunning. It makes it very easy to forget that you are never more than 23 miles from civilization while on this particular road, which neither Tony nor I had an issue with!

18 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

19 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

After 45 minutes or so we make it to the trailhead for the Narrows, but alas, the lot was full. So, we push on up the road, looking for a place to pull off to the side and cook up lunch, as it was now after 1 pm and while we had had breakfast before we left the house, we are hungry folk, and delicious food was in order.

After 1.8 miles we find a side road. It ends up being a great spot to have lunch, and an even better spot to spend the night, offering a great view, privacy, and the ability to set up my tent right near one of the two fire pits, near the edge of a small cliff.

20 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

For now, we pull into the center and set up the stove and Tony gets to work making us lunch, which was a delicious combination of Andouille sausage, orange bell peppers, tomato sauce with onions and garlic, on toasted Ciabatta bread from a Flagstaff local bakery.

I, meanwhile, explore the surrounding area, snapping pictures as I go.

The truck is beginning to get a smidge dirty, always exciting when on a trip like this.

21- Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

22 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

23 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

25 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

While on my way back to lunch I stumble across the markings of some bros, the infamous Four Loko can, left haphazardly on the side of the road. Some people. I pick it up and toss it in our trash bag, as I can’t let things like that go uncorrected.

24 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

We finish our delicious lunch, unpack Tony’s ground tent and leave two chairs to claim the site, and head back down the road to the trailhead, which has cleared out at this point. Although there was one vehicle left, which definitely out glamped us severely.

26 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Land Cruiser aside, we set off into the Narrows, following the advice of a guide book based on the Escalante. Steep canyon walls and the finest of sands were abundant during our 1.5-mile hike.

27 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

We wish we had had a geologist in our back pockets, as the rock formations were beautiful, and there is always something new to learn about nature.

28 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

29 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

30 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

31 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

32 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

33 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

We finished the hike and we were off to our next adventure, roughly ~10 miles up Cottonwood Canyon Road.

But first, snow! A bit of it started to fall, quickly turning into rain, making us wonder if the easy navigation of the road was about to be a thing of the past. Thankfully, enough precipitation never fell to cause any troubles, though a small bit of mud was slung on to the sliders and wheel wells of the truck.

34 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

The rain ceased after 10 or so minutes, which was the time it took us to reach our next destination: Grosvenor’s Arch.

35 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

The arch is actually two arches, one dominating the other in both size and position. A nicely paved sidewalk takes you from the dirt parking lot to the base of the mountain containing the arch. Ever the adventurers, we wanted to know if there was a way to the top of the arch, as the views had to be fantastic from such a vantage point. So, we skirted around the side of the mountain on a well-worn foot path, leaving the other visitors at the base to capture only a small portion of what this magnificent formation had to offer.

On the way around, more interesting rock formations and colorations caught our attention. The pinks and greens completely invisible from where the sidewalk ends, sharing their beauty only with those courageous (or boneheaded) enough to venture up the backside of the mountain.

36 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

37 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

38 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

39 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

After a simple climb of no more than 10 minutes, we reached the backside of the famed arch. The views, without even reaching the prime vantage point, were already well worth the extra expenditure of energy.

40 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

41 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

The height of the arch was impressive, offering a great place to sit down, catch your breath, and take in the surroundings. Sitting on top of the arch is a task off of the bucket list, though I would have no issue going back to this particular spot if the opportunity ever presented itself.

42 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

43 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

In all directions from atop the arch the natural views left us hypothesizing how this particular series of formations were created by the initial upheaval of tectonic plates and then the erosive powers of wind and rain. Laughably, neither of us know much about geology, so pure speculation was all that was shared.

44 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

45 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

46 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

After we soaked in all of the views that we could carry, we said goodbye to this particular spot on Earth and made our way back to camp, dinner ready to be devoured. But first, a shot with the sign that signifies this place.

47 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Setting up camp was a breeze, although it did rain on us for ~45 minutes, causing the temperature to drop modestly and the donning of our waterproof rain jackets to be necessary.

48 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Dinner was another one for the books. Green Chili grass-fed burgers on Ciabatta bread, paired with spiralized sweet potatoes, kale, bacon, onions, and almonds.

49 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Quickly devoured, the topic of the evening turned towards the procurement of fire wood, Juniper as it turns out, and the starting of a fire. My recently acquired Fiskar chopping axe (which I cannot recommend enough) made quick work of several pieces of dead fall. With a large pile of wood to warm us through the evening, we set up our chairs, and got about the business of relaxing and chatting. Tony surprised me with a chocolate chip scone from the same bakery that he purchased the bread, and we warmed it by the fire until the chocolate (a treat to us both) was warm and drippy.

Our bellies completely satisfied, we spent the next couple of hours remarking about the day, talking about the plans for the next day, and discussing what a beautiful place we ended up finding ourselves at.

50 - Day 1 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

With the fire dying down, and our eyelids getting heavy, we each made our way towards our respective tents, Tony, an avid ground camper, and me, a roof top tent sleeping sonofagun. I read a few pages of ‘Sapiens’ before getting my blankets in order, turning off the light, and drifting off to sleep. Excited as I was for what lay ahead on Day Two, I was quick to fall asleep in the dark, quiet night.

 

Day Two - Bees!

I awoke before the sun, partially due to the days driving ahead, with the rest of the motivation to rise coming from a slight chill in the tent. While I packed what I thought was adequate bedding (I don’t sleep in a sleeping bag while in the RTT), it turns out that I could have used one more down comforter to really keep the cold at bay. This is a simple lesson learned, as it is much easier to kick off an extra layer than attempt to keep yourself comfortable with too little bedding. I won’t be making this particular mistake again.

I clamored out of the tent to find a nice coating of frost on the rain fly and the Tacoma.

51 - Day 2 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

I fired up the stove and got a pot of water boiling for our early morning tea. Then I added kindling and firewood to the fire pit, grabbed the torch, and relit the camp fire, as the chill on this particular morning was gripping.

Tony was quick to join me, and breakfast was prepared without wasting any time. Breakfast consisted of bacon, stringed sweet potatoes, fried eggs, and a butter coffee. Exquisitely delicious, we began packing up camp, planning to hit the road towards our second destination, Hurricane, UT, as quickly as we could. Today would involve a lot of driving and we wanted to reach our second campsite with enough time to enjoy its company.

So, at 8:10 AM we set off back down Cottonwood Canyon Road towards the 89 Freeway, ~28 miles of dirt road to cover.

On the way out we stopped for a few minutes to take in a particularly joyous scene, beautiful rock outcroppings of a variety of colors being painted by the sun.

52 - Day 2 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

We were the only ones on the road at this early hour and made excellent time on the well-maintained dirt road. Even with the desire to get on the road, the surrounding landscape was too irresistible, and exploratory stops were conducted along the way.

53 - Day 2 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

We were even surprised to see a small group of cows behaving like mountain goats, foraging for food up a steep mountain side.

54 - Day 2 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

I never knew cows behaved in such a manner!

As we neared the exit, one final stop was necessary in this magnificent spot. The views were simply too mesmerizing to attempt to merely memorize them. Copious amounts of pictures were in order.

55 - Day 2 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

56 - Day 2 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Before we knew it, the 89 reared its paved head in front of us. A quick stop at the road’s entry sign was required, in order to inflate the tires back to street pressure.

When I say quick, I mean QUICK! The recently acquired and filled 20 lb Co2 Power Tank was able to bring my stock tires from 20 to 31 psi in 16 seconds each. The 30 ft coiled hose made 1 man filling an absolute breeze. Crank open the main valve, set the secondary valve to 225 psi, snap the hose on via a quick connect and you are off. Slightly more expensive (or maybe equal depending on mounting choice) than a dual ARB setup, with the additional slight hassle of filling the tank at a local dive shop, its performance is unquestionably unbeatable. Very, very satisfied.

57 - Day 2 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

With that taken care of, we set off. Plenty of highway miles to cover, Lonesome Dove making another appearance to fill the silence, we set off towards Kanab, UT. After Kanab we make a quick jaunt down into Fredonia, AZ before heading up to Colorado City, AZ, and then finally into Hurricane.

In Hurricane we reach our destination. An old storage shed facility. The place that is the driving factor for this particular adventure.

58 - Day 2 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Tony goes inside to talk to a man named Corey. A few minutes later, after being educated on effective transport and care, he emerges with his prized possession. A crate with 1 queen bee and 3,000 of her crew members. They’re off with us to a new life in a top bar beehive in our backyard.

59 - Day 2 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Package in tow, we drive through the small town to the bakery that partners with the bee farm, Muddy Bees Bakery. We head inside and purchase honey made with ghee, along with a couple of other delicious treats for our journey south towards the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

60 - Day 2 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

With plenty of fuel to make the drive ahead, we set our sights south, going back down the same road we just drove in on. We make great time through Colorado City, Fredonia, and then up and down the hill towards Jacobs Lake Lodge.

We make it to the 89A at Jacobs Lake Lodge and head East towards Buffalo Ranch Road, an offshoot of the 89A that provides access to hundreds of square miles of desert landscape, with a distinct mountain range in the distant background.

At the entrance to Buffalo Ranch Road we stop to air down to 20 psi and to cook lunch. The landscape, although different, is still captivating to the eye, and a moments pause is given to the natural landscape.

62 - Day 2 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

63 - Day 2 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

While Tony is preparing lunch I take a peek around the truck, ensuring everything is still where it should be after the morning (and early afternoon) of driving. All is well with the truck, although unfortunately a few butterflies were killed in the making of our adventure.

64 - Day 2 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Lunch is a quick one, green chili burgers on the last remaining piece of Ciabatta bread. We pull the bees out from behind the passenger seat, spray them with water, and place them in the shade of the truck while we eat. You can determine how agitated, and therefore how hot, the bees are by the intensity of the buzzing that they are making. Things are still relatively quiet with our group, but a little extra precaution is never a bad thing when dealing with living things.

65 - Day 2 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Our hunger temporarily satisfied, we set off down the dirt road, with a destination that is ~30 miles from the entrance. This road, while not as maintained as Cottonwood Canyon Road, is still relatively easy to travel. Frequent drainage channels across the road decrease the average traveled speed. None offer any challenge, with the ‘toughest’ crossing causing the truck to flex its stuff.

66 - Day 2 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

After ~70 minutes on the dirt road, and 9 hours of driving for the day, we find our small offshoot, labeled 445R, which provides access to our campsite for the night.

And what a campsite it turned out to be! Now, I knew we were in for a treat, but I was unaware just how tasty the treat would be!

We had finally made it to my favorite place on Earth, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Without exception, there is no better place in the world to experience what life is about, than this one in particular. Pictures (and my amateur photography skills and equipment) do not do this place justice.

67 - Day 2 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

We unload the truck and make a ~1.5 mile jaunt down the road to procure firewood for the evening, as our current spot is void of adequate firewood.

Wood acquired and deposited near the firepit, we back the truck towards the edge of the canyon (15 feet from the edge!) and set up camp, giddy as school children about to be released on summer break.

68 - Day 2 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

69 - Day 2 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

This is another moment, though certainly not the last if I have anything to say about it, that is off of the bucket list. The weather was ideal, the views unparalleled, and the self-reflection immense. For whenever I get to the GC, the quality and clarity of my thoughts is increased. The hustle and bustle associated with the running of businesses, the acquisition of as much relevant knowledge as possible to better perform as an engineer, the daily chores that maintain a clean and healthy home, and the grind of most aspects of daily life simply vanish, like smoke. A closeness with oneself, and with the area around you, creates a feeling of inner peace, much needed in our current society.

With adequate time before dinner, we explore the area surrounding camp, traveling to an exposed outcropping of rock to better take in the sights.

When that is as complete as it could be, I set up my chair right near the edge and simply sit there quietly. As strange as it sounds in our current society, though certainly the norm throughout most of Sapiens time on Earth, I begin to feel rather animistic towards the canyon itself, as if it has a story it wishes to share with me. A grand story told on the immense time scale necessary to create such a masterpiece. All is well. A tremendous feeling of good fortune flows through me, as I know opportunities to do what I am doing are affordable to only a small few.

Content with the moment, and for many more moments to come, the sun starts to get lower in the sky, and dinner is to be prepared.

At a time, and location like this, only one dinner option comes close to being sufficient. Another task off of the bucket list.

Wood fired, handmade pizzas. A delicacy that Tony and I enjoy a few times each year.

70 - Day 2 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

73 - Day 2 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

While we thoroughly enjoy our edible creations, we take in the even more glorious sights that are unfolding before our eyes, for as the sun goes down behind us, the landscape in front of us constantly changes. New rock formations and colors are exposed as light transitions to darkness, highlighting previously invisible portions of the canyon.

71 - Day 2 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

72 - Day 2 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Words are not sufficient to communicate the feeling of satisfaction at this particular moment in time. So, I won’t even bother, as I would most assuredly fail horribly.

The sun is quick to set, and a fire is started to combat the cold.

Then; wind. Serious wind. The setting sun, and the subsequent change in temperature, causes severe winds to blow across the flat, exposed portion of land that we are occupying. The tent is whipped about, the heat is stolen from our bodies, and the fire is blown sideways. A surprise to be sure, but the mood for the evening is as high as it has ever been, so a bit of wind doesn’t even slow us down.

We keep the fire low and turn our backs to the wind, enjoying tea and conversation. All light quickly fades away, though the moon is bright, offering another distinctly different view of the canyon.

Bees safely tucked away inside the truck, huddled together around the queen in one slowly revolving clump, we each retire to our respective tents. No reading on this night, and I quickly find my way to sleep despite the ferocious wind pulling and grabbing at the tent.

This is a day that I will never forget.

 

Day Three – Bees!

At some point during the night the wind calmed down, allowing for a relaxing and warmer night of sleep. A quick peek out of the tent before sunrise found a sky void of clouds, so no spectacular sunset to capture with photos. With that discovery extra sleep was in order, and I slept until the sun was up and shining on camp.

When I exited the tent the air was still, and the sun was providing a welcome warmth to the morning. Water was boiled, the mass of bees were examined (all was well), and the views were taken in.

74 - Day 3 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

75 - Day 3 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

76 - Day 3 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

By this time Tony was awake and breakfast was being prepared. Bacon, sweet potatoes, and kale topped with delicious salsa was the course of the morning. Every morsel was devoured with glee, as I have never had the privilege of having breakfast at a more perfect place.

77 - Day 3 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

We could not see the Colorado River from our particular vantage point, so we set out on a hike across the landscape, skirting to the outside of the larger openings in the Earth, in search of the river below. I stupidly forgot my camera, blanking on it completely, and my potato phone is a poor substitute, so I have no pictures of our ~2-hour hike around the canyon.

Numerous outcroppings were investigated, though none offered the view we were looking for.

One final outcropping was selected, and if that one wasn’t it; we would call it a day and head back to camp. We began a small descent, clamored up the other side, and headed towards the edge of the outcropping.

Once we reached the edge we looked down. More glorious canyon, but no Colorado River flowing below. Ah well! Next time.

Cognizant of our schedule, we hike back to the truck, which is already packed, and we start the long haul out of this place back towards the paved road of 89A.

Along the way we stop to explore small areas that we passed by on the way in to camp. The landscape on the way out is very flat, but numerous washes offer small places to explore, though nothing miraculous was discovered.

78 - Day 3 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

We make it back to pavement, air up, and make it all the way back to Flagstaff without issue. More Lonesome Dove was absorbed, the story barely getting into the good stuff by the time we back into the driveway.

A little dirty, but no worse for wear, the trusty steed was quickly unloaded. For the first legitimate trip in this truck I was very impressed. It was comfortable to drive for long distances, and although it wasn’t tested offroad on this trip, it was pleasant to drive on dirt roads at a variety of speeds. I am eager to take a more offroad oriented trip to see what the truck, in stock trim, can do!

79 - Day 3 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

The trip was almost complete after the truck was emptied and hosed off. The bees were still cooped up in their small plastic house. Instructions from Corey stated that the bees should only be transported to their new hive when the temperature had dropped, as they were less temperamental and more focused on the queen at this time.

So, we waited until evening, when the temperature had dropped 20 or so degrees and the hive was quiet. Tony donned his beekeeping attire and went about separating the queen from the bees, securing it to one of the top bars, and encouraging the bees to clump around the queen in her new home.

80 - Day 3 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Several days later, the queen is out of her mini home, the bees are building comb and performing their duties just as they should. Success!

Even though I have a busy summer of construction projects planned, it is only a matter of time before the itch to explore gets a hold of me.

Until next time!

Trip Summary:

Duration: 3 days

Total Distance Traveled: 668.2 miles

Off-road Distance Traveled: 150 miles

Percentage Off-road: 22.44% (Rated: Meh)

Trail Damage: None

Tip of the Trip: Always don an extra layer of clothing before you think you need it! It is much easier to maintain your warmth than attempt to gain it back after waiting until you get cold to toss on that beanie or extra layer.

 

May 27th, 2019

A buddy and I took the afternoon on our day of off work and did a ~100 mile loop north of town, around the San Francisco Peaks.

Billy had just acquired his 2013 FJ and wanted to have some fun.

It was a short trip, with the majority of the miles taking place on fast moving smooth dirt roads.

The road up to SP Crater

Untitled by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Untitled by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

 

June 2nd, 2019

A fellow 3rd gen Tacoma owner and I traveled down to Sedona, AZ to conquer the Broken Arrow Trail and the Devil's Staircase. 6 hrs round trip, including a stop for lunch, a few hitch drags, and a plethora of good views filled the day.

I experimented in a crack off of the side of the trail to stretch out the trucks legs. Picked the right line and came out the other side with not a single scrape.

IMG-0904 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

IMG-0900 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

DSC_1316 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

DSC_1324 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

This is a very popular trail with the Pink Jeep Tours, so there is never an ideal moment to snap a picture of the trucks as there are simply too many people around.

DSC_1346 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Ended up finishing the trail with the orange jeep in the side of this picture.

DSC_1352 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

DSC_1355 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

DSC_1367 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

All in all, for a pair of stock trucks on stock tires, we came out the other side excited and unscathed.

Til next time!

 

August 29th, 2019

For an upcoming work trip to Oklahoma, which lasts two weeks, I decided to have a bit of fun and build a shower/dishwashing/slider cleaning system for the truck.

This system is very similar to lots of other DIY shower systems, but the main difference is that this is a pressurized system that doesn't rely on gravity to get the job done.

I carry a 20 lb Power Tank around with me whenever I go on trips, so I figured it might as well have a second use instead of just filling my tires.

All in all, it came out well.

Breakdown:

- 4" ABS pipe with end caps, T section, and cleanout cap. Holds ~4.25 gallons of water.
- (2) 4.5" U-bolts, with plates, secure the system to the Relentless Fab Bed Rack (Relentless was kind enough to fab in slots large enough for the U-bolt mounting plate, so securing it to the truck was easy and it is very secure).
- Quick connect air hose connections for supply (at highest point) and discharge (installed on end cap as low as it would go). Super fast and easy to attach/detach with one hand.
- 10 ft of 1/2" vinyl hose with garden sprayer allows for one handed operation of the water flow.
- 65 psi pressure relief valve installed in the cap (can't see it in the pictures).

Here is the system all set up:

DIY Pressurized Road Shower 8-29-19 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Results:
- 20 psi from the Power Tank (the included pressure regulator allows for easy pressure regulation) lets you use the 'shower' setting on the garden sprayer for 2 minutes and 25 seconds. Did not test with lower flow settings (used when washing dishes for example). The 'jet' setting lets you spray water ~25 feet. Also, did not test with higher pressures.
- 1 hr in the direct sun on a cloudless day took the water from 87 degrees Fahrenheit (ambient air temp) to 109.5 degrees, with the outside of the tube measuring 147 degrees.. After 2 hrs the water temp rose to 118 degrees. So plenty warm enough to do a road shower with. If it's cloudy you can always warm water on a stove/fire and pour it into the tube for use.
- You do need to fill the tank on a slight slope, and you need the truck to be level (which I do every time I get to camp) to get steady water flow while using it.

It isn't the cheapest setup, especially if you include the cost of the pressurizing system, but I am sure it will be more useful than a gravity fed system.

I'll post a user update after this upcoming trip.

 

November 12th, 2019

Long time no updates, but the truck didn't receive much attention or embark on any journeys after coming back from Oklahoma.

The trip to OSU and back was very easy, as it related to the truck. The drive was incredibly easy, despite the length of time and miles traveled.

On the way there I took numerous back roads after an accident on the I-40 caused the freeway to be shut down and a miles long line of cars/trucks/trailers to form. Thankfully the exit that they used to turn us around had a lot of offroad options to make it around the accident. I had initially planned on getting back on the freeway, but once I exited it and hit dirt I couldn't be bothered to return to the 40.

I camped at two lakes on my way to Oklahoma and spent most of the days grinding out the miles. Took a detour through the massive Rita Blanca National Grass Lands. Never have I ever experienced so many grasshoppers. I drove past millions, with thousands of them being bashed and tossed away by the front of the truck. It was quite the experience, as dozens were hopping across the road every single second. I clocked an average of 25 mpg on this portion of the trip, as the speed was kept fairly low for 60% of the driving as I made my way through small towns, some completely abandoned.

Ute Lake State Park by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Abandoned NM Town by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Rita Blanca National Grasslands by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

The drive back two weeks later was much more direct. Left OSU at 3 am and took the 40 all the way back home, hitting my driveway around 3 pm or so. Cruise controlled 75 mph the entire way back and managed to eek out 22.7 mpg over the entire drive home, which isnt bad considering I had the RTT on the truck for the entire trip.

After that trip, nothing terribly exciting happened with the Tacoma.

I did take another three day trip to Southern Utah to explore Smoky Mountain Road and Hole in the Rock Road in early November. You can read about it at the following link:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/beauty-with-a-side-of-the-unexpected.638180/

 

December 6th, 2019

My BHLM (Black Headlight Mod) Journey

Figured I would recall my recent experiences with the BHLM to add a bit more info to the wealth of information to the forum. Check out this link for the entire BHLM thread, which has a lot of valuable information in it.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-bhlm-and-light-mods.450984/page-43

Long story short, I needed a new drivers side headlight as three of the mounting tabs on my original one were broken.

So I ordered a used headlight from ebay, though when it arrived I realized that it was not the LED DRL version that the seller had said that it was.

No worries. I knew about baking headlights, and with one busted headlight, and one cheap ($90) headlight at my disposal, I decided to crack it open and swap the inner pieces to get a headlight back in my truck.

I don't have a lot of photos, as there are many present in the BHLM thread. This is mostly to recount my efforts associated with this mod for the community.

I started by watching a set of videos from a TW member who does this a lot. His videos made this out to be an incredibly difficult mod that only the well versed should attempt.

That, however, was not my experience in the slightest. This mod was a piece of cake.

I did the oven at 240 and stuck the headlight in for 20 minutes. I started on my busted headlight as a practice run.

Headlight came out, I started at the lower inside corner that everyone recommends. I used one tool, a medium flat bladed screwdriver to get the lens and housing separated initially.

After that it was all fingers. No need for fancy spreaders or a multitude of tools. Just get your fingers in the initial separation and apply steady force to the housing and lens. They are remarkably durable and were not bothered by the pulling. The first headlight didn't even go back in the oven, as it was separated in just a couple of minutes.

Disassembly of the inside of the headlight is easy.

Second headlight was the same as the first, though this headlight went back in the oven once for an additional five minutes, to reheat the seal near the side marker portion of the headlight to help it break free easier. But it too came apart easily and without damage.

For removing the seal in the channel I set the oven to 200 and tossed the back housing in for 5 minutes. I WOULD NOT go above 200 or longer than 5 minutes when just the black back housing is in the oven.

I would pull the housing out and put it on my carpeted floor to being removing the seal. The carpet helped keep the housing in place, and I used the floor to allow me to get a knee or leg on the housing to keep it in place while I pulled and pushed on the seal. The same medium sized screwdriver was used to work the seal out of the channel, while my other hand applied a bit of tension to the peeled up seal.

I would only work on the housing while it was warm to the touch as this seemed to help the seal flow from the channel much easier. Plus, I wouldn't get frustrated with the process, as I would only work on the channel for 2-3 minutes before tossing it back in the oven for 5 more minutes and doing something else (folding laundry, YouTube video, etc.)

With the channel clear I painted the insides. I went with smoked side markers using an old can of RC car tint. I did a single, very very light coating on the turn signal bucket with the same tint. In hindsight this probably isn't required as the black slotted plastic piece that goes in front of that section makes the turn signal bucket look dark already. I painted the rest of the interior black using leftover cans of SEM trim paint (more expensive than the local auto parts store stuff, but I only used it so I wouldn't have to drive anywhere to pick up new cans). It has a flat black appearance, which is the perfect fit.

I left the high beam bucket alone, and left the stock projector in the low beams. I resealed the headlights using E6000 sealant. I let them cure for two days inside my warm house and then reinstalled them on the truck.

It rained all of last night and I could find no traces of fog inside the lenses.

Pictures:

Complete vs incomplete

Untitled by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Fitted (hard to get decent pictures)

Untitled by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

The headlights look much better to me, especially during dusk and dawn when the sun is still present but it's power is diminished.

There are hundreds, if not 1,000+ 3rd gen TRDOR Tacomas in my town, so it's nice to start standing out a little bit.

 

December 9th, 2019

With the front end taken apart for the BHLM, I figured it was time to upgrade more of the front end.

Ordered an ADD Honeybadger front bumper. 2-3 week lead time. Figured I would prep the truck beforehand so that install was quicker when it was delivered.

Followed their instructions and removed a handful of bolted pieces from the front of the truck. Cut the tow hook off and painted over the bare metal. Took a 5" grinder with a thin wheel to the front bumper and chopped it in half. Semi-nerve wracking, but I took my time and followed the edge of a piece of tape. The cuts came out very very well (for my unsteady hand).

Tacoma Pre-ADD Honeybadger by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

You can see the BHLM here a bit better as well.

I reassembled the front end and cut down the fender flares in anticipation of receiving the bumper.

 

December 14th, 2019

I spent the morning fixing a leaky hot water pipe for a buddy of mine and decided to take the long way home from Williams back to Flagstaff. There are a series of dirt roads just north of the I-40 that make the trip pretty easy. At one point I opted to leave the faster paced dirt road and follow the 'Powerline Easement Road' as it was called on my maps.

It turned out to be very very rough, so I only stuck with it for 2.5 miles before finding a connecting trail that took me back to the main road.

I unwillingly removed yet another mud flap, so I finally made the decision to scrap the OEM ones and I ordered up a set of the 11" RekGen with red letters for the Tacoma. I bash and crunch the rigid OEM flaps too often, so it is time for them to go. They arrive tomorrow, but the truck will need a wash before I can install them

Power Line Road In Parks by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

I have a 2 day trip planned with a buddy from Phoenix to the Prescott/Crown King area the weekend after Xmas to finish off the year. I am hoping the bumper comes in before then. I also have to install my CB before the trip as well.

 

January 27th, 2020

Time for a catch up post, as a few things have happened to the truck since the middle of December.

The RekGen mud flaps came in the mail on December 15th, and they were installed easily. They provide all new mounting hardware which was nice as I had lost a few bolts in the process of destroying my stock flaps.

RekGen by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

They look great from the 'outside', but when looking inside the fender well they leave a bit to be desired as far as fitment goes. Oh well. I have put it out of my mind already, so it can't be that bad. They function well and fold up easily, without any of the racket of the stock flaps.

RekGen by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

My Addictive Desert Designs Honeybadger front winch came in. Man is it a good looking piece of steel. I'll throw out my pros and cons in a list below.

Tacoma Work 1-4-2020 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Pro's:
- Fabrication time was very convenient, with just three weeks between the time I paid for it and the time it was delivered to me. This includes powdercoating. ADD is located just a couple hours from where I live though.
- Packaging was top notch. Very well packaged.
- It is beautiful. Build quality is just like ADD advertises it. Stunning.
- Allows for the use of (2) 10" 'fog' lights (led bars), instead of the square light holes that most other bumpers come with. I personally like this more as it flows with the bumper better.
- Fitment is great from a looks perspective, except for what is noted below.

Con's
- Price. This thing is pricey. Close to 2,000 dollars, empty (with the possibility of spending like 3,000 more on lights and winch) after tax, and shipping. That is very high, though you get what you pay for.
- Install instructions are a bit off. They neglect to mention that you need to cut the small black plastic pieces that tie the headlight and fender together. It's a bit lame that this was not designed around, as each of those black plastic pieces is ~60 dollars at the dealership. They still function as they should with the bottom ~3/4" cut off of them, but it would have been nice if the bumper was cut to accept them as opposed to trimming them.
- The end near the fender flare isn't quite as tidy as it could be, but this is a small complaint (photo below).
- They don't include the front bumper edging, to hide your sloppy cut lines once the bumper is installed. This too is a small complaint, as the edging (which I still need to purchase) isn't overly expensive.

Photo of edge/fender fitment:

Tacoma Work 1-4-2020 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Those things aside, the bumper was designed to accept a TRD Pro front skid plate, which I do not have.

So I modified the stock TRDOR plate to make it work.

On the drivers side you need to bend down the little hooks that hold the front of the skid plate for you when installing it. Easy with a pair of pliers. Passenger side is fine as is. Install the skid plate braces on the underside of the tabs that connect the bumper to the front cross member.

The skid plate (you can see it in the photos below) needs to be cut to go around these two bottom tabs of the bumper. Easy to do with a grinder. Clean up the edges with a file and hit it with some black paint. Install the plate as usual and you are done.

Tacoma Work 1-4-2020 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Very, very happy with it. It did drag the front end down a smidge, and I had to readjust my headlights up a bit.

I want to snag the 30" light bar for the center opening, as the bumper looks a bit too exposed without one, so I am ordering one soon.

I will also be ordering the Smittybilt 10k winch the bumper was designed for, though I need to beef up the front suspension first, as the added weight of the winch will be too much for the stock setup.

Thinking of ordering a set of Kings for the front, and setting them to stock height. I have very little desire to lift the truck any higher than it is already, but I need to be able to handle the extra weight from the bumper/winch combo. I'll upgrade the rest of the suspension over time, as I do not want to do what I have done with every other vehicle I have ever owned. Which is to modify the piss out of it and make it a pain to deal with on the daily. So, crucial upgrades like suspension will be done slowly and thoughtfully. No rock crawler here.

Took a new friend down to Sedona to do the Broken Arrow trail. Had a good time despite having done this trail many, many times now.

DSC_1724 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

DSC_1719 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Also did a write-up for a very testing trip I did in Central AZ at the end of December. Read all about it here:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/another-water-crossing.644920/

I ordered an Exped Megamat Double Wide and Long self inflating air mattress (~$380 shipped to me) last night to up the RTT sleeping game. Will arrive tomorrow. Hopefully it's as convenient, comfy, and insulating as everyone says it is.

Next up for the truck is the front bumper edge trimming install as well as installing a 30" light bar in the bumper. I also have the AZBDR scheduled for the end of February with some AZ TW guys. Looking forward to exploring more of my state.

Later in the year will be the Arizona Peace Trail, as it looks very interesting after some research. The north end is only a couple of hours from where I live, which is very enjoyable.

I also updated the first post to show what the truck looks like today, along with a few of the most worthy photos of its adventures.

 

April 13th, 2020

Its been a while since I have updated this thread, so here is a link to the 2nd Annual AZBDR trip I took at the end of February with (10) other AZ Tacoma guys.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2nd-annual-aztw-azbdr.655377/

Also in the docket has been a recent mild tire upgrade.

I had damaged the sidewall of my front passenger tire on the aforementioned AZBDR trip after unsuccessfully attempting to travel Castle Creek Road on my final morning.

A local AZTW'er happened to post up a set of stock TRDOR rims (which I actually enjoy a lot) with a set of low mileage 265/75/R16 Falken Wildpeak AT3W's Load Range E, mounted and balanced, with TPMS swap and calibration.

It was an easy decision to spend the cash and pick them up.

They totally transform the look of the truck, and now my tires match the sliders and bumper upgrades much better than the tires that came with the truck when I bought it.

Falken Wildpeak AT3W by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

I'll get more pictures as time goes on, but these just compliment the truck so well.

This is a weird mod, as it gives me the feeling like the truck is 'done' (I know, I know). I am sure that will change with time, but I haven't modded any of my previous vehicles with something that gave me this same feeling of completeness. Very interesting.

Gas mileage has decreased a bit (1-1.5 mpg thus far, though not a lot of miles have passed yet) as these are slightly taller and much heavier tires. They are more comfortable though. No noticeable change in road noise inside the truck. They definitely feel more 'plush' even though they are inflated 7-8 psi higher than my previous tires. I can maybe feel the slightest change in accelerating/cruising characteristics while on the freeway, but it is so minor I can't complain.

I have a feeling the truck will stay like this for a few more offroading/camping trips, as I am really satisfied with it at the moment. I do want to get (3) light bars to fill out my aftermarket bumper, but I'll get those when the time feels right.

 

May 12th, 2020

Just finished the 60,000 mile service on the truck, following Toyota's Maintenance log and the 3rd Gen DIY Maintenance sticky thread.

Nothing out of the ordinary, though (2) of the (8) total rear leaf spring u-bolts were a bit loose again. I'll check those (52 ft-lbs) periodically from now on as I re-torqued those less than (1) year ago.

Replacing the spark plugs was by far the hardest (and most expensive, $17/each from the local dealership) step of the process, though not impossible.

It feels good to have given the truck a good once over after my numerous trips offroad and know that everything is as it should be.

Here's to another 60,000 miles!

 

September 14th, 2020

Been a while since I have updated this thread, but the truck is still alive and kicking. It has been an excellent DD this entire year, chugging along without complaint on the day to day.

Recently took it out to Alstrom Point, a big bucket list place for me, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, this past weekend.

03 - AP by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

02 - AP by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

01 - AP by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

No plans for the truck for the moment. I am very content with it as it is. And I may have picked up another car project that has been distracting me since July.

 

October 16th, 2020

First real issue with the truck since I bought it. Occurred at 64,779 miles.

Driving home last night and noticed my drivers side low and high beams were not functioning.

Swapped bulbs around to no avail. Checked fuses, which were good. Checked voltage at connector and it was present.

Blew out the two connectors with compressed air and voila, the bulbs work again, though one bulb appears to work more sporadically than the other so I will run by the dealership and get a new one.

Glad it was an easy fix.

I did a bunch of detailing to the truck. 12 hours in total for my 6 step process.

All of the scratches are buffed out and gone. Much shinier, which is nice.

Bed polished, cab untouched:

Tacoma Bed Detailed by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Cab finished up:

DSC_2196 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

This was the main scratch from before:

DSC_2194 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

 

Do you know of a Flagstaff fabricator?