NWEXPEDITIONS
Observer
Hi there everyone,
Started on this Forum last summer and havnt been on here alot lately. Had lots of things going on that kept me from pursuing the build of a good, self sustained expedition vehicle for camping and exploring this summer.....until I just purchased my 2004 Toyota Double Cab TRD Tacoma
I have had a couple little posts/builds in the past, such as this one I did last summer http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/60332-Project-quot-Overlander-88-quot?highlight=
But this time Im looking to more of that Overland/Expedition Vehicle Ive been wanting to do for some time now. I Have spent countless hours and evenings on here looking at quite a few builds that I am very fond of and would like to attempt to try and do a similar setup, such as Scott Brady's Tacoma DC build and Box Rocket's 03 Tacoma build (please dont hesitate to let me know if Im in the wrong by mentioning Scott's name or Box Rocket's build, I just like their build threads and wanted to give them credit for a nice job well done)
To start off, heres what the truck looked like the day I picked it up from the dealer.......... all bone stock and a well maintained, one owner truck.
I wanted to start with somethings sort-of simple to get camping this summer. I really like the bed rack idea, like the one on Box Rocket's Tacoma. I went down to my local steel and welding shop and picked up some material and started drawing a design in my head. Im not the best fabricator so I wanted to keep it basic and simple....atleast for now.
Took the 1"x3" rectangle stock and cut it to length of the width of the bed. It would be welded to the 1 1/2x 1 1/2 angle bar that rests on the bed rails. At the moment, everything was just sitting un-welded for just a mock up look. Trying to get the spacing and measurements right to accept the ARB Safari Tent
After I got it the way I liked it, I started welding everything together with the side supports In place. Spacing between the 1" square stock is the exact width of the aluminum rails on the ARB tent, so It just self aligns when set on the rack.
Heres the finished welded project. Some minor cleaning of the welds and some painting left to do...
So............I got so into putting this thing together I spaced out and forgot to put on my welding jacket..........can you tell where my glove ended!?!? Haha!
So after about two hours of measuring.....cutting.....welding.....painting and bolting the tent down.....heres what I came up with for the moment. First tent open on the rack, and I must say....I really like the way its turning out!!!! :wings:
I had to measure, mark and drill two new holes in the tents ladder to get the height right for the ladder to support the tents weight. The two factory holes are to far up the ladder.
Heres a few up-close pics of the tent when closed. I added a shovel on the drivers side of the rack and a HI-Lift Jack on the right side of the tent rack. Only Downside of the Hi-Lift being on the right side of the tent is that it has to be removed to open up the tent. Kinda lame I know....But it works for now.
So I had previously owned a 2003 Double Cab and had bought some Thule Racks for it to use with my Kayaks. Heres the next addition to the expo truck....water sports!!!
The kayaks dont stay up there all the time.....the fuel mileage takes a nose dive with them up there haha...they are only usually up there when we go kayaking.
Heres just a few more pics of the truck. Only addition here is my mountain bike/rack and I now have an axe bolted on with the Hi-Lift Jack
Ok so enough of the build portion of it for now already right?! Heres a couple pics of last weekend camping with some friends of mine in the Olympic Mountains here in Washington State. Great Place to camp and hike at.
Just a pic on the way up a mountain service road.
Just getting to camp and starting to unload everything. I was hoping everything was going to fit properly in the bed of the truck, underneath the tent and sure enough it seemed to for the moment until new things start to come into the picture....so far its just the usual necessities. 3 tubs that contain the basics (dishes, food, lanterns, rope, insect spray and the most important, coffee and percolator!) fishing gear, propane stove along with a small 12" charcoal stove, chairs, 7 gallon water jug and some other items. Cooler fits perfect right behind the tent between the rails on the rack.
Tent open...
Gotta add a pic with the happy girlfriend
Ok I have to add a poser shot with myself at the end! I am very happy with the first step in the build so far. Next Step in the works Is "Hopefully" going to be an Old Man Emu Suspension kit and some BFG KM2 Mud Terrains.
More to come and thanks for looking everyone! I must say I love this forum and constantly look at everyones builds, ideas and expedtions. Looking forward to everyones feedback! :camping:
Started on this Forum last summer and havnt been on here alot lately. Had lots of things going on that kept me from pursuing the build of a good, self sustained expedition vehicle for camping and exploring this summer.....until I just purchased my 2004 Toyota Double Cab TRD Tacoma
I have had a couple little posts/builds in the past, such as this one I did last summer http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/60332-Project-quot-Overlander-88-quot?highlight=
But this time Im looking to more of that Overland/Expedition Vehicle Ive been wanting to do for some time now. I Have spent countless hours and evenings on here looking at quite a few builds that I am very fond of and would like to attempt to try and do a similar setup, such as Scott Brady's Tacoma DC build and Box Rocket's 03 Tacoma build (please dont hesitate to let me know if Im in the wrong by mentioning Scott's name or Box Rocket's build, I just like their build threads and wanted to give them credit for a nice job well done)
To start off, heres what the truck looked like the day I picked it up from the dealer.......... all bone stock and a well maintained, one owner truck.
I wanted to start with somethings sort-of simple to get camping this summer. I really like the bed rack idea, like the one on Box Rocket's Tacoma. I went down to my local steel and welding shop and picked up some material and started drawing a design in my head. Im not the best fabricator so I wanted to keep it basic and simple....atleast for now.
Took the 1"x3" rectangle stock and cut it to length of the width of the bed. It would be welded to the 1 1/2x 1 1/2 angle bar that rests on the bed rails. At the moment, everything was just sitting un-welded for just a mock up look. Trying to get the spacing and measurements right to accept the ARB Safari Tent
After I got it the way I liked it, I started welding everything together with the side supports In place. Spacing between the 1" square stock is the exact width of the aluminum rails on the ARB tent, so It just self aligns when set on the rack.
Heres the finished welded project. Some minor cleaning of the welds and some painting left to do...
So............I got so into putting this thing together I spaced out and forgot to put on my welding jacket..........can you tell where my glove ended!?!? Haha!
So after about two hours of measuring.....cutting.....welding.....painting and bolting the tent down.....heres what I came up with for the moment. First tent open on the rack, and I must say....I really like the way its turning out!!!! :wings:
I had to measure, mark and drill two new holes in the tents ladder to get the height right for the ladder to support the tents weight. The two factory holes are to far up the ladder.
Heres a few up-close pics of the tent when closed. I added a shovel on the drivers side of the rack and a HI-Lift Jack on the right side of the tent rack. Only Downside of the Hi-Lift being on the right side of the tent is that it has to be removed to open up the tent. Kinda lame I know....But it works for now.
So I had previously owned a 2003 Double Cab and had bought some Thule Racks for it to use with my Kayaks. Heres the next addition to the expo truck....water sports!!!
The kayaks dont stay up there all the time.....the fuel mileage takes a nose dive with them up there haha...they are only usually up there when we go kayaking.
Heres just a few more pics of the truck. Only addition here is my mountain bike/rack and I now have an axe bolted on with the Hi-Lift Jack
Ok so enough of the build portion of it for now already right?! Heres a couple pics of last weekend camping with some friends of mine in the Olympic Mountains here in Washington State. Great Place to camp and hike at.
Just a pic on the way up a mountain service road.
Just getting to camp and starting to unload everything. I was hoping everything was going to fit properly in the bed of the truck, underneath the tent and sure enough it seemed to for the moment until new things start to come into the picture....so far its just the usual necessities. 3 tubs that contain the basics (dishes, food, lanterns, rope, insect spray and the most important, coffee and percolator!) fishing gear, propane stove along with a small 12" charcoal stove, chairs, 7 gallon water jug and some other items. Cooler fits perfect right behind the tent between the rails on the rack.
Tent open...
Gotta add a pic with the happy girlfriend
Ok I have to add a poser shot with myself at the end! I am very happy with the first step in the build so far. Next Step in the works Is "Hopefully" going to be an Old Man Emu Suspension kit and some BFG KM2 Mud Terrains.
More to come and thanks for looking everyone! I must say I love this forum and constantly look at everyones builds, ideas and expedtions. Looking forward to everyones feedback! :camping:
