Wisconsin Tacomas and bad financial advice

My first thought was at least it's been cold enough that it shouldn't have gone bad yet. Lucky that wolves didn't find it, assuming there are wolves in the area.

 

I know how to mount and balance them our school has a really nice automotive shop. We have a tire machine, balancer, 4 lifts, 2 9,000lbs, 1 10,000lb and 1 12,000. It is really nice shop. Thursday and friday are our lab days thats why those are the only day I can do them.

 

The resources around here are great when you're looking to spend money. Chatted some in PM with Jason @Supr4Lo about the coming bumper/winch setup and he's had some great points.

As I go along, I've realized that the light bar I was going to buy is too tall for the cutout in the bumper, so I've changed to a single row LED bar. A little pricier but still a lot less than other options.

Then, I've been thinking more about mounting my license plate. Last weekend, I had talked to Jason about what he did. He formerly had a flip style mount that he said was always getting bashed on obstacles. The other thing he noted was that his didn't flip far enough to get out of the way for winching sometimes. Now, he has it bolted above his fairlead on a vertical section. Well, this won't work well for me because that puts the plate right in front of my lightbar. I could try mounting it above the fairlead on the angled section, not sure LEOs will like that as that area is on about a 60* angle and would be hard to read.

I'm not finding anything I like for flip style mounts, mostly in that they don't flip more than 90* and when starting @ 60*, doesn't get the plate out of the way. So, I guess I'm going to make my own.

Another thing Jason mentioned was the battery cutoff switch he has, which is very slick. After unboxing the HF unit, I find that it has a battery cutoff in the box but I don't see a mounting bracket. The bracket Jason has would be an option except that the HF unit is a slightly different size, smaller. Guess I'll make that too since I have to buy aluminum for the plate mount.

It's good to have projects to fabricate again. That's one thing I missed after I quit racing. Luckily, I'm spending less now (how much?) than I was then. Keeps me out of trouble but broke.

 

heres a crappy pic that I took when my truck was on the 10k lift. the other lift in frame is a 9k and to the otherside out of frame is the 12k after to the side of that is just an open bay

 

I found it... https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/wisconsin-tacomas.21543/page-553#post-26888137
Here's another Idea for the winch power switch that @McSpazatron made for his setup. Turned out real nice.

 

My license plate is mounted on an angle on my Demello bumper. In 3 1/2 years I haven't had an issues with LEO'S.

 

rex
rover
blitz

 

Yeah, that would work too and easy to make. Buncha fart smellers 'round these parts!

 

Nice and clean...

 

@OldSchlPunk
Have you checked with Illinois Toll to see if have to pay anything from last weekend. I just checked and I have nothing to pay, yet. Maybe because my license plate is at an angle.

 

I have an I-Pass. I'm sure they tagged me.

 

Yes, it has a hoop. That would work too. That wouldn't exercise my tools though...would be easier.

 

I forgot about the toll, thanks for the reminder.

 

Not knowing what you and Jason talked about, here is what I did (unsolicited...) I bought a fancy expensive bracket that, in the end did not fit the fancy Blue Sea switch/fuse assembly I purchased. Modified it and made it work. Mine is wired front and rear, so a bit different... but an idea. Spent almost as much as the winch on wire to make this system work!

 

Jason has this setup: https://www.lambtekinnovations.com/products/05-current-toyota-tacoma-winch-switch-bracket-kit (I don't remember if he got the "Oh Sh!t" version) It mounts where yours is. Really nice looking but my switch is too small. Won't be hard to make something like it to work with the switch that came with my winch.

Funny, the HF unit comes with the relocation bracket for the controls and related cables, the power switch, 14" battery-to-switch cable but no mounting bracket for the switch. Maybe because mounting could be so different from vehicle to vehicle.

 

That and I already ordered aluminum and hinges...

 

Went up to crivitz with the new foster dog, cleaned up the cabin leaves, hiked in the cathedral of the pines, flexed the taco abit, chilly but fun weekend

 

That is the bracket I bought as well (just couldn't remember the name...) but I bought a bigger switch/fuse and it didn't fit, so mods ensued. My winch came with something they called a switch; but was not a thing I was willing to entrust my Taco to. Lots and lots of discussion about how much (amperage) coverage is enough, or even if any is needed for winching. I went with a lot as the spikes can be enormous during a hard pull. Rather be safe than make a bad situation even worse... Expensive though!