Tater The Tacoma: The Journal Of A 2014 DC OR

[Saharicon]

Lonnnnnng time lurker from way back in my Jeep days. I always wanted to build an expedition vehicle and explore everywhere.

Finally pulled the trigger on a Tacoma a few months back. Don't have much done to it yet, but I got a little inspired by Dave's (TacoDoc) build thread, and decided to start more of a journal than a build thread. This way I can keep a good log of everything I have done with and to Tater.

General

Vehicle: 2014 Toyota Tacoma DC OR
Purchased: 8/2014 | 57 miles
Current Miles: 2/15 |15.5k

Purpose: Overland vehicle for extended trips in the back country by my wife, 2 Siberian Huskies, and myself.

This was the first picture of Tater not on the dealer lot. His first trip the 2nd day we owned him to the Eastern Shore MD/DE.

Picture at Assawoman Bay State Wildlife Area, DE

Current

Gear/Mods

Camp Trailer
Custom 5x10 Enclosed Cargo Camper - Original build by Jeff Wanamog

Interior
Weather-Tech Digital Fit Floor Liners
Tekonsha P3 Brake Controller

Bed
2 Gallon RotoPax Gas w/ Toyota Bed Rail Mount

Coming Soon
All Pro Pack Rack
All Pro Rear Bumper
P3 Brake Controller
On Board Air
Diff Breather Ext.
Lift
Wheels/Tires

States - Destinations - Events - Trails

Saline Vally Hot Springs

Titus Canyon DVNP New Years Day 2015

Thompson Canyon Panamint Valley

Five Fingers Eastern Sierras

Maryland - Pennsylvania - Delaware - Ohio - Indiana - Illinois - Iowa - Nebraska - Colorado - Utah - Nevada - California

California
Big Bear Lake
Trona Pinnacles
Panamint Valley
-Ballarat Ghost Town
-Thompson Canyon
-Panamint Springs
DVNP
-Charcoal Kilns
-Telescope Peak hiking trail head
-Titus Canyon
-Badwater Basin
-Wildrose Canyon
-Crankshaft Junction
-Eureka Dunes
Saline Valley
-Hot Springs
-North Pass
-South Pass
Darwin
Randsburg
Chimney Peak Wilderness
Robbers Roost
Lake Isabella
Trail of 100 Giants
Kern River
Five Fingers
Indian Wells Canyon
Sand Canyon
Short Canyon
Mammoth Lakes
Alabama Hills
Mono Lake
Lake Tahoe
Donner Pass
Lake Almanor

Nevada
Las Vegas Strip
Hoover Dam

Pennsylvania
Bald Eagle State Forest

Delaware
Assawoman Bay State Wildlife Area

Maintenance
5k Oil Change
10k Oil Change
15k Oil Change
15k Cabin Filter replaced

 

[Saharicon]

Added a trailer for Tater

Last weekend we made a trip down to LA to look at Jeff Lawrence's 5x10 cargo build. Jeff's wife and son were amazing and very helpful. We promised the trailer would see many places as Jeff would of wanted.

Please look at Jeff's amazing build HERE.

We wanted to get a break in run done this weekend and see how the trailer worked for us. This is the first trailer I have ever owned and didn't want to get too crazy off road.

Originally we were going to do a big loop around DV and hit the Eureka Dunes the first night. The wife is Gluten intolerant though and when it was time to go she had a real bad reaction to something she ate.

So we ended up just doing a short trip last night to Panamint Valley. We ended up camping out by the Minetta Mine off of Nadeau Rd at the mouth of Thompson Canyon.

Here are some pics of the Tater's new addtion, Tot.

Telescope Peak in the background

I will start a separate build thread for Tot after we get some more work done.

Got a brake controller that should be here tomorrow to wire and mount into the Taco.

 

[uscg2008]

Well I will be sub'd for this welcome. Glad Jeffs build will continue in good hands

 

[Saharicon]

So I got a Tekonsha P3 brake controller for Tater so he feels safer on those back country steep downgrades...

I opted not to get the plug and play wiring harness because I was going to run it in the storage space behind the cup holders under the climate control and didn't think it would be long enough.

So the harness building began...

All done in silver, spliced, and wax tied... Went out to install and decided I did not like the spot I had originally planned to put it anymore. -_-

So I was like screw it, I'll put it on the left side below the fuse box...

This is wayyyyyy too much wire. I took all the moldings off by the rocker and ran it to the end of the driver sent and looped it back up... Perfect!

Nope.... My OCD kicked in and I realized I would know all that wire is hiding under there and it would drive me nuts.

So I promptly opened a beer, got on Amazon, and ordered the plug & play harness.

Why did I share this? Because I did all that work and wanted to feel like it was for something



Sent from my fancy city machine.

 

[Saharicon]

Got the P3 all wired up and installed.

Wanted to get out test it and dial it in today. The wife wanted to get a tan so I headed to Panamint Valley.

Found a place for her to Tan and I scouted a mound to play on.

Then we wondered out to the Pinnacles on the way back.

Sent from my fancy city machine.

 

[Saharicon]

Made it out to Eureka Dunes this weekend.

Sent from my fancy city machine.

 

[toyotech]

Your trips are awesome. Can't wait to get out !!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Saharicon]

Your trips are awesome. Can't wait to get out !!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thanks, man! Really appreciate it. So much to explore out here. It's just never ending.

Hopefully start working on the new website soon and have some goodies for you to test out and let me know what you think


Sent from my fancy city machine.

 

[BamaTRD]

In love with the truck! I have a 2006 Tundra double cab in black that I could not be more happy with! Can't wait to see where this build goes!

 

[Saharicon]

In love with the truck! I have a 2006 Tundra double cab in black that I could not be more happy with! Can't wait to see where this build goes!

Thanks a lot! Been really busy with work and everyday off turns into a mini expedition. Hoping to have some updates on the truck soon.

Right now my biggest focus is suspension.


Sent from my fancy city machine.

 

[Saharicon]

Made it out to Saline Valley for a few days last week.

Headed in the South Pass and set up camp about 10 miles from the Hot Springs about 1230 midnight.

I always enjoy driving in the desert when there is a full moon.

Woke up to some pretty cool clouds coming over the Inyo Range.

Got into the hot springs and set up just in time for some more dramatic skies.

No hot springs trip is complete without some good ole donkey selfies.

Headed out the North Pass and went down to the Alabama Hills to make some lunch.

Sent from my fancy city machine.

 

[crismateski]

Awesome to see the Trailer still out making trips.