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Z's Approach/Utility Build

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Builds (2005-2015)' started by Zebinator, Dec 11, 2016.

  1. Apr 13, 2018 at 3:17 PM
    #161
    EatSleepTacos

    EatSleepTacos Well-Known Member

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    Yeah it’s gonna be awhile until I regear. Shits expensive
     
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  2. Jul 25, 2019 at 5:15 PM
    #162
    Zebinator

    Zebinator [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Found a stump with the rear bumper... (TOOK LONG ENOUGH!)
    Did a little temporary fix to keep the gate from hitting it. Should be good until I can get a plate bumper on there!
    Now - to cut the quarter panel off or not....
     
    Crom likes this.
  3. Jul 25, 2019 at 6:04 PM
    #163
    Crom

    Crom Super-Deluxe Member

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    Nice fix! Finally had time to read through. So much inginuity in here. :thumbsup:
     
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  4. Jul 25, 2019 at 8:30 PM
    #164
    Zebinator

    Zebinator [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Wow thanks, @Crom !!! I've learned so much from your build. It's one of the "golden references". I've been thinking a lot about your suspension fix on the rear axle... and may be doing that this winter. We'll see!!!
     
    Crom[QUOTED] likes this.
  5. Jul 26, 2019 at 4:33 AM
    #165
    Casper66

    Casper66 grumpy ass

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    piddly stuff
    Suspension fix? I haven’t been in Crom’s build in a little while what did I happen to miss? How have you been hope all is well?
     
  6. Jul 26, 2019 at 8:16 AM
    #166
    Zebinator

    Zebinator [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Ah - just his very clever adaptation of longer travel shocks and a little higher bump stop to get more travel out of the rear axle... (not a repair - an "improvement!")

    I've been good - very busy with life - work, kids, new home, rehabbing shoulder injury (archery) - I know you know what that's like! But about to take off on a week driving from Petaluma CA to Darby MT, and then back to Boise where the truck will be based until mid September while I make a couple trips up that way to play. :)

    How 'bout you??
     
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  7. Jul 26, 2019 at 4:00 PM
    #167
    Casper66

    Casper66 grumpy ass

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    Fired from job due to shoulder injury and permanent restrictions. I got a new job doing something entirely different making wine and my primary brewing beer when we get the brewery open.
    Upgraded rear suspension to Deaver stage 3 packs and Bilstein B110’s still need to install the brake lines
     
  8. Aug 17, 2019 at 5:35 PM
    #168
    Zebinator

    Zebinator [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Macgruder Crossing - Nez Perce Trail - Idaho

    Well, I finally got out on a road-venture this summer... A week driving up to Idaho to rendezvous with a friend for some fishing on the Selway River. Decided to take the scenic route. Reading about the Macgruder Trail, I was a little nervous about getting part way and finding that it was beyond what I would be comfortable driving solo, but decided to give it a go.

    The drive up from CA was so beautiful.

    These were from coming up along the CA/OR border:

    Idaho, south of MacCall:

    Camp, night 2:

    Crazy climb up from Hells Canyon:

    The start... Elk City:

    The road was pretty tame, actually. Nicely graded. Crazy burned forest... I saw TONS of guys on ATV's and Razors, and even a couple in a Hyundai Elantra. (Made us all feel silly) The only bumpy bit was a spur up to the lookout.
    You can see the road off in the distance...

    Camp the third night. And sunrise. The Bitterroot are just so vast...

    Made it to the river for some fantastic wild trout fishing.

    And, a couple snaps on the way out, heading back to Boise.

    I would do this route again, in a heartbeat, and spend two weeks doing it.
     
  9. Aug 19, 2019 at 7:07 AM
    #169
    DetroitDarin

    DetroitDarin Specified

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    Scratches and Whatnot
    simply lovely.
     
    Zebinator[OP] likes this.
  10. Aug 19, 2019 at 10:59 AM
    #170
    BKinzey

    BKinzey Well-Known Member

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    RCI aluminum front skid, SnugTop, Sliders, bedside supports, LED interior, CaliRaised fogs & brackets, rear diff breather mod, DIY bed platform
  11. Aug 19, 2019 at 1:34 PM
    #171
    Zebinator

    Zebinator [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks! And, yes, very interested. His post has been open on my browser since I got back. (still reading it!) :) Idaho is pretty awesome, I gotta say!

    I did the Oregon version back in 2000 on a moto. It was also amazing.
     
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  12. Aug 20, 2019 at 8:25 AM
    #172
    turbodb

    turbodb AdventureTaco

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    AdventureTaco
    Glad you're enjoying. Just posted out time on the Macgruder, a highlight of our trip for sure (which I wasn't expecting, having run it previously)!


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]



    catch up on the whole story: Idaho BDR, July 2019
     
  13. Sep 28, 2019 at 3:21 PM
    #173
    Zebinator

    Zebinator [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Two impending projects...

    First up, going to be adding a plate rear bumper and fabricating my own swingout for occasional spare storage (only on trips, not during daily use). Started a thread to collect ideas:
    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/bumper-swing-out-carrier-fabrication.630822/#post-21628650
    And, also contemplating a DIY'd camper shell. Try and dissuade me! Ha ha.
    Same thread idea here:
    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/building-a-bed-topper-camper-shell.631476/#post-21660145
    I'm worried i'm going to hate the sharp edges and wind noise of the shell idea... Might mock something up and drive it around to test...
     
  14. Feb 1, 2020 at 11:45 AM
    #174
    Zebinator

    Zebinator [OP] Well-Known Member

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  15. Feb 21, 2020 at 1:54 PM
    #175
    smelly621

    smelly621 Well-Known Member

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    It's DLX son!
    Just wanted to say I'm in the area too, and have been following along with your thread for the last two years or so. Very inspiring work and projects, thanks for taking the time to share!
     
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  16. Feb 28, 2020 at 11:16 AM
    #176
    JackTheGripper

    JackTheGripper New Member

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    Sub'd! awesome fab work, cant wait to see what you come up with for the shell!
     
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  17. Feb 29, 2020 at 7:37 AM
    #177
    Zebinator

    Zebinator [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks you guys! I am having fun. Really hoping to get this bumper on in the next few weeks so i can have my truck back. The tire carrier details keep getting more complicated...

     
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  18. Apr 9, 2020 at 5:22 PM
    #178
    Zebinator

    Zebinator [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Full write up soon...

     
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  19. Apr 14, 2020 at 2:52 PM
    #179
    Zebinator

    Zebinator [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Rear Bumper/Tire Carrier Build - Part 1 - The Bumper.

    Ok, a little write up of the bumper build, thus far...

    My goal for this was to balance the following in a plate rear bumper: high clearance, rating towing, stock fitment/look (no fender cutting) swing-out tire carrier compatible, and, with hi-lift points. I still use my truck as a truck and so having a carrier permanently on the back was not appealing. Plus, I've got my pizza cutter neatly tucked under so, why mess with that.

    A lot of pre-build details and process shots are in this thread, but I thought it might be useful to collect the important bits in to one post. Here goes.

    I decided to base the design on a 4X Innovations bumper.


    Priced right and unpainted. In fact, they just ship it with a label stuck on it!


    Southco latch, AtoZ Fabrication swing out kit, (sadly unavailable do to a tragedy - sorry to hear AtoZ!) and we're off to the races:


    First step is to hack in to the bumper to make room for the pivot, drill for the pivot, relocate the jack point, weld the pivot in place, and plug over the old jack point location:


    Next there was much head scratching as I tried to figure out a design for the swing out so i could accurately place holes for the swing out retainer and latch. I'll cover all that in a later post about the swing out. But, end result was a little fin for the swing-out retaining pin to drop in, and two holes for the swing out latch receiver.


    Holes and cutouts for the reverse lights, license plate lights, and it's powder coat time!

    While that was happening I made a welding table.


    Back from powder coating. Thanks Miller Manufacturing in Rohnert Park!!!


    My only complaint in this whole thing is the cutout for the tow connector was a little tight (and i stupidly didn't check it before powder coating!) so, i had to grind off a bit of the connector housing to get it in, but in it went. I do like the flush mount.

    And.... It's going on...


    So glad to have my truck whole again!


    Yes - I will be making a little cover for the bare post when the carrier isn't mounted. ;)
     
  20. Oct 5, 2020 at 10:53 PM
    #180
    Zebinator

    Zebinator [OP] Well-Known Member

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    So, this happened:


    No, not a DIY hood scoop. More like a 20' redwood tree branch playing jarts with my truck! USAA covered it though, and, since paint was being sprayed, i asked my local guy to hit the roof too. And he buffed the whole thing! It's never looked so good!

     
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2020
    Hawco636, smelly621 and Bentrodder like this.

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