Sawaro's Overland Taco Build

[Sawaro]

So after a couple years of lurking and reading as much as i could, ive decided to register and share my build.
I swore off forums a few years back, but i think im ready to be a responsible forum user (famous last words).

My build owes a lot to this forum, so i want to thank all you expo'ers for making this place what it is.

Here is the mod list i worked up. I'm sure i've left some things out. If anything is unclear just ask.

Make: Toyota
Model: Tacoma Access Cab 4WD SR5 TRD Off Road
Year: 2007

Engine: 4.0 1GR-FE
Trans: 6spd manual
T-Case: VF2A, low ratio 2:57:1
Front Axle: Stock Toyota IFS, All-Pro upper A-arms, Fox Coil-Overs
Rear Axle: Stock Toyota E-Locker, Old Man Emu HD Dakars, U-bolt flip with Timbrens welded to flip-plates. Fox shocks.
Tires: 265/75 R16 BFG ATs
Wheels: Stock Toyota TRD Alloys

CURRENT MODS:
Fox 2.5 CO's and Old Man Emu HD Dakars
BFG AT 265/75R16, Stock Toyota TRD Alloys
Stubs Welding HD-SKO Sliders
Custom Aluminum Tranny Skid
All-pro E-locker guard
ARE cap with windoors
Custom Sleep platform with drawers, 15 gallon water and 4lb propane bottle mount.
Engel MT-45 Fridge on custom mount behind passenger seat
Odyssey 1700 MJT Battery (main)
National Luna Dual Battery monitor
Scan Guage II
Extended Rear steel brake lines
Small offbrand roof rack with Hi-lift mount and Scepter MFCs
Diff breather extension
Magellan Crossover GPS
Husky Floor mats




This is the truck not long after I bought it on the road out of Mike's Sky Rancho. Basically stock except for a simple sleeping platform and oh so elegant gas can storage.

Here are a couple pics of the original table set up, can anyone spot any potential weak points?

I'm sure some of you brainy engineer types were able to predict this with finite element analisys and the like.

Yes dinner was ready and i was going for the nice German heff in the cooler, and while it was tasty i would have much preferred dinner.

 

[Sawaro]

After the above incident and with an extended Baja trip in the works the need for bed set up 2.0 became painfully apparent.

Here it is loaded and ready for Baja.

And here is my girlfriend (and fellow escape artist) putting the new build through some serious testing. (god i miss Baja)

Here is another camp photo, this time on the pacific side.

And the truck with about 4,000 miles of baja backroads under its (timing?) belt.

 

[Sawaro]

And finally the truck as it sits now

i will post a detailed mod list soon but right now im off to have some (non-internet based) fun.

any comments/questions are more than welcome.

 

[cruzinwyo]

Tell me more about the water? I am assuming that's what is under the silver insulation. Heated? or cooled? Did you integrate a water pump in to it? You have a great platform!

 

[jeepmedic46]

Great platform.:smiley_drive:

 

[Sawaro]

Cruzinwyo: nothing too fancy going on with the water, i just wrapped the tank in insulation to buffer temperature changes. The large hose is the fill which swivels out the windoor for filling. I've since replaced this setup with a deck fill type arrangement. the skinny line is a brather There is a RV style pump/faucet mounted near the tailgate. i sure would like a pump though.

cruzinwyo & icefisher45: Thanks, I've had a lot of fun building and using it.

 

[PHXtaco]

Looking good, I enjoyed the V1.0 table story!

Have you had much trouble with that style shell leaking in dust to the bed?

 

[dustboy]

Awwwww, that dinner disaster is horrible..that would have sent me screaming into the hills.

Great idea on the water tank wrap, it would be a good idea to insulate the hoses too, I had mine freeze up overnight. Nothing broke but we were without water until it thawed.

 

[Sawaro]

PHXtaco: Yes, the shell does leak dust, I've sealed up all the bed pockets and the tailgate pretty well, but i still get leaks around the topper door. Its not too bad and I keep the bed covered with a tarp when not sleeping on it. I've been dreaming of a filtered positive pressure system that would mount in the sliding window, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

Dustboy: Yeah, the dinner disaster was certainly trying! And your right about the hoses, i just had them freeze up on me Saturday night, i think some of that split foam pipe insulation should do the trick.

 

[SOAZ]

Great set up! I like how it can be nice and stealth when you don't want to draw attention.

 

[Sawaro]

Thanks SOAZ, one of my main criteria for this build was stealth. I really enjoy the fact that most people don't give the rig a second look.

 

[Sawaro]

I Have added a mod list to the first post.

Here is another (messy) camp pic from near Sedona to keep it interesting.

 

[gearbox]

Is it just the photo angle or do your sliders stick out really far?

 

[007]

I threw out a slew of profanities on instinct after seeing the dinner shot. Thank god you had a real beer to cool that rage down. Nice setup!

 

[Sawaro]

Gearbox: I think its the angle, the sliders extend maybe an inch beyond the widest part of the doors, ill try to get a pic tomorrow.

007: I don't know what i would have done without the beer (other than not dump dinner all over the place, of course!). And thanks for the compliment.


I have been working on a few things around the truck, an update is in the works.