2012 Expedition Tacoma Build in Progress
- Thread starter devortex
- Start date
Can you please tell me more about mounting a RTT this way. My concern is about 500 (Tent, 2 people, and 1 child that will basically want to move around like there's no tomorrow).
I'm assuming that the 422XT Workman Multi-Height Aluminum Truck Rack isn't bolted on, not that i want it to be, but do you think that it can handle more aggressive movement in the tent?
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montypower
Adventure Time!
I really like your roof rack. Is it big enough for a roof tent? Do you have the specs for it?
You are getting very good mileage for a lifted Tacoma on mud tires. That is good to hear. The bumper looks pretty good, you have to look hard to see the gaps between the grill and bumper. Think of it as better airflow to the radiator! I like the Thule rack on the back as well. Do you have plans to trim the extra length off the horizontal bars? Looks like they stick out past the uprights quite a ways.
devortex
Adventurer
The rack bolts to the side rails using Toyota specific mounting brackets sold by Thule. It is really solid and the framework of the tent actually adds to the rigidity. But, if you've never been in a rooftop tent before, you will have to get used to some movement from the truck suspension if you wiggle around a lot. You're 7-9 feet up in the air and the weight up that high does create some side to side sway.
The Bajarack is rated at 200 lbs. Not designed to carry a tent, hence the addition of the Thule bed rack. http://www.bajarack.com/toyota-tacoma I will put stuff up there like my ground tarp, camp table & chairs, stove etc. Things that are fairly light but use up valuable space in the bed or back seat.
Original plan was to trim the crossbars but now I'm thinking I might not because I can fit an awning, my tent and surfboards/ kayak. I'll try it like this for a while first and trim later if I find I'm not using the extra space.
devortex
Adventurer
I was in Oceanside for a few days to compete in the Ironman California 70.3 triathlon. Couldn't resist some poser shots of the truck parked near the pier.
My bikes fit perfectly with the Thule rack set one notch below the highest setting. I'm going to comb the McMaster Carr catalog to find some quick release buckles/mounts that I can use instead of u-bolts to mount the tent. If I can sort out something that snaps into place (perhaps with a locking latch) then I can have my tent securely mounted but remove it in a matter of minutes.
Side note: The bike portion of the triathlon wound though the hills of Camp Pendleton. I kept looking around at trail after trail, vista after vista, hill climb......DAMN! The Marines have made a huge playground all for themselves!!
My bikes fit perfectly with the Thule rack set one notch below the highest setting. I'm going to comb the McMaster Carr catalog to find some quick release buckles/mounts that I can use instead of u-bolts to mount the tent. If I can sort out something that snaps into place (perhaps with a locking latch) then I can have my tent securely mounted but remove it in a matter of minutes.
Side note: The bike portion of the triathlon wound though the hills of Camp Pendleton. I kept looking around at trail after trail, vista after vista, hill climb......DAMN! The Marines have made a huge playground all for themselves!!
Wondering if you have taken your truck offroad at all? It appears in the photos your bumper is mounted way to high. You are trying to not have any gaps but you have to have a good 1/2 inch or more between your bumper and the fender or else your going to do some damage to your fenders. The bumper mounted to the frame will move independently of the fenders. To test his out for yourself put one wheel up on a curb and take a look at your bumper and fender clearance. Anyway just a suggestion.
devortex
Adventurer
Yes, I have done some off roading and no, the bumper doesn't hit the fenders at flex. It doesn't show in the photos but there is about a finger width gap between them.
devortex
Adventurer
I mentioned in an earlier post that I wasn't very happy with the way the tent mounted with u-bolts. The manufacturer, Trekking, supplied u-bolts sized to mount the tent to a standard size roof rack crossbar. Since mine is mounted on the flat aero-bars of the Thule xSporter, I dug up some larger u-bolts and mounted it right up. While very secure, it looked ugly and before I had the time to trim the long ends off, I wound up giving myself a pretty good gouge in my shoulder while unloading some stuff from the bed 
I spent some time browsing the McMaster-Carr online catalog and found these heavy duty pipe mounts and along with the correct Thule mounting hardware and some rubber hose to pad and reduce the chance for slippage, I think the new set-up turned out pretty slick. All of the mounting components are on the top side of the rack keeping the bottom side smooth so that there's nothing hanging down to catch yourself on.
I spent some time browsing the McMaster-Carr online catalog and found these heavy duty pipe mounts and along with the correct Thule mounting hardware and some rubber hose to pad and reduce the chance for slippage, I think the new set-up turned out pretty slick. All of the mounting components are on the top side of the rack keeping the bottom side smooth so that there's nothing hanging down to catch yourself on.
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devortex
Adventurer
Next up will be mounting the awning on the passenger side of the rack and sorting out fuel/ water can mounts.
On my FJ60, I built a dual swing rear bumper that held my spare and two fuel cans. That was based in necessity because I slept inside the truck, I carried two spare tires and I obviously didn't want fuel inside the rig. Now, with the Tacoma, I'm not convinced that I need the fancier rear bumper. Since I sleep up top and I can carry fuel in the bed, I want to figure out a mounting solution for fuel cans in the bed. If, at some point, I discover that I'm carrying enough gear in the bed that I don't have room for the fuel cans and a second spare, I'll build a bumper. So, for now, I need to sort out the position and a simple mounting solution. I'm thinking my water cans might just go up on the roof rack. I can easily stand on my sliders to reach the rack so hoisting the cans up there is not a big issue.
On my FJ60, I built a dual swing rear bumper that held my spare and two fuel cans. That was based in necessity because I slept inside the truck, I carried two spare tires and I obviously didn't want fuel inside the rig. Now, with the Tacoma, I'm not convinced that I need the fancier rear bumper. Since I sleep up top and I can carry fuel in the bed, I want to figure out a mounting solution for fuel cans in the bed. If, at some point, I discover that I'm carrying enough gear in the bed that I don't have room for the fuel cans and a second spare, I'll build a bumper. So, for now, I need to sort out the position and a simple mounting solution. I'm thinking my water cans might just go up on the roof rack. I can easily stand on my sliders to reach the rack so hoisting the cans up there is not a big issue.
bcrez
Adventurer
Ditto. Even with my ScanGaugeII I havnt got more than 19.5 MPG avg on a tank. I havnt even broke 300 without the light coming on. But I have a 2010.
400 miles per tank!?? Really!!? I'm running stock (auto tranny) and have gotten no where near 400 miles per tank. (currently averaging 248 miles between fill ups, largest fillup to date is 16.1 gallons...gotta love those Iphone apps
How are you determining actual miles driven between fillups? It appears the odometer, and consequently the gas mileage, is going to be off ~ 8% running the larger tires.
devortex
Adventurer
2 things to think about with the Tacoma gas mileage. I don't have experience with the 2011 and earlier but on my 2012, when the gas station pump shuts off, I can still get almost 2 more gallons in the tank if I fill slowly. This adds an extra 40 miles to a tank right away. 2nd thing; I drive like a grandpa on the freeway. My daily driver now is a 1997 Mercedes Benz E300 diesel. I stretch that thing to 37 mpg on the highway. I'm not in a hurry. 65mph max. Use cruise control a lot. Get out of OD on hills etc.
All of this being said, the more stuff I add to my truck and the more stuff I carry on the racks, the worse my mileage is. I carried surf boards and a bunch of beach stuff on the rack last weekend and only got 17mpg. But I was able to get an honest 21+mpg before the build started.
All of this being said, the more stuff I add to my truck and the more stuff I carry on the racks, the worse my mileage is. I carried surf boards and a bunch of beach stuff on the rack last weekend and only got 17mpg. But I was able to get an honest 21+mpg before the build started.
devortex
Adventurer
This is a great point and salient info about the hazards of over-filling. Probably a good time to quit the annoying habit of holding up the queue behind me at the gas station!
For those of you trying to get good gas mileage though, it really is possible to get over 21 mpg on a DC 4x4. Stock truck with careful driving habits. Even with my built truck, I am hoping to get north of 18mpg driving to the dirt, on the dirt is anyone's guess.
For those of you trying to get good gas mileage though, it really is possible to get over 21 mpg on a DC 4x4. Stock truck with careful driving habits. Even with my built truck, I am hoping to get north of 18mpg driving to the dirt, on the dirt is anyone's guess.