Wishbone Runner's Build

Yeah, I took that into account for sure, the power switch in series, as well as the power switch keyed. Dogs aren’t in the front while driving (or course I’ve sent them flying), I feel pretty confident it’ll be ok.

 

Got the winch mounted this weekend, finally, and did some significant reinforcements in the process. First step was to cutoff the old studs and drill them out to 1/2”.

 

Next, I cut a plate of 1/4” to go over the front, and 2” x 3/16” angle to go on the back.



Then melted the sandwich together, now over a half inch of beef added to the ~1/8” stock plate.

 

Next was a 2” x 1/4” square tube between the frame.





Burned in and painted.

 

All together, now 11 bolts from the front, and the two on the side, may add some brackets that tie into body mounts at some point. Not all the bolts are in on the below pic, need some that are 1/2” shorter

 

You act like you don't want this stuff coming apart or something....

 

That’s the idea. Just need to run the power from the winch to the solenoid, and battery to solenoid, then tap the in cab wires and I’ll be ready to get my winch on.

 

For @tetten

 

A few more @tetten

 

Holy hell!

May have missed it but why are you redoing all of that again?

 

He hucks it now.

 

Thank you sir, those answered some of my curiosities and provides some things to think about. I've been realizing if I don't total my truck I'll eventually have to do this and damn the 2013 Tacomas seem like they have so much more crap to relocate and build supports for. Hopefully I can get several more years out of my sheet metal before it gets bad enough to have to do this. Also hope I can find someone who's done this in person so I can get more ideas on the small details before I end up doing it myself.

 

Look at the pics of the before, cracks everywhere, the whole thing was blowing up. I think eventually, if totally ignored, the battery would fall out as well as the headlights, the driver side was only connected to the body with one mount as the rest were basically free floating.

I am also going to put in new inner fender liner which would have been a waste if shit just kept deteriooating. I had also already cut a good portion of the sheet metal out for tire clearance, the crossover, and shit that was cracked and ready to fall off.

Only the once, I’ll leave that for you

Really it’s more just lots of high speed miles off-road vibrating and cracking everything apart.

 

No problem, a lot of the full LT builds end up going this route so I am sure there are some more tacos that would be easier to follow someone else’s work. @dirt addiction gave me a few tips and pics, hit him up.

 

that definitely explains alot...damn dude you gave that truck a run for its money right there!

 

to see what you use.

 

I’ve got a 4’x8’ sheet of 1/8” black ABS plastic, I wanted to do UHMW but a sheet was close to $200, the ABS was $50. If the ABS doesn’t work out I’ll pony up, but I think it will be fine.

 

Yeah, I don’t take it easy on her, work hard play hard!

 

You got to realize there is absolutely nothing between the tire and the battery, ABS, fuse box etc., on mine now, even chopped inner fenders have a shit ton of coverage relatively. I fucked my ABS up for a week getting water into something from just one drive up to the mountains, lit up all the lights and disabled everything, not going to drive it in the snow again til I get these in. Dust is definitely easier to deal with, but I think I would still want something in between the elements and the electronics.

 

I’ve been very lucky mine hasn’t started. I’m worried for when it does. At least I’ll have some ideas when it happens.