100,000 miles

[Haggis]

Where did you source your Air Cells from? I've noticed that the rear of Tundrabird 2 wants to jump around more than my old Ram and will be putting in the Timbrens or theses to compensate and to help even the rear up when the trailer's hooked up.

Also have you decide if your going to but the 5100s in front or just use the 2 factory shocks we took of my truck?

 

[jim65wagon]

Where did you source your Air Cells from?

Shockwarehouse.com $173 free shipping I also got my rear Bilsteins there...

Also have you decide if your going to but the 5100s in front or just use the 2 factory shocks we took of my truck?

Yeah, about that...I've got a good lead on a little used set of Donahoes for 200 bucks....with a little luck I may be riding on these. If not, I don't know. As yet undecided, either way I'll need a hand installing them....nudge, nudge, wink, wink, ya know whut I mean?

 

[Haggis]

Yeah, about that...I've got a good lead on a little used set of Donahoes for 200 bucks....with a little luck I may be riding on these. If not, I don't know. As yet undecided, either way I'll need a hand installing them....nudge, nudge, wink, wink, ya know whut I mean?

You'll be up the week of July 4. I have a garage and tools available, and if you get the Donahoes it will be a simple swap.

 

[X_Trippin]

just read the whole thread, looks like you have a nice Tundra. when we bought our Xterra we were going to us it for camping, but we never relized that we would put 51,000 miles on it in 2 yrs 3months. Once you get the adventure bug life will never be the same. Enjoy your truck, they are an investment in family memories.

 

[Haggis]

So...did you get the Donahoes?

 

[jim65wagon]

As a matter of fact, I did spring for the DRs. The guy had 15,000 miles on them (that's about six months worth of road time to me) and decided he wanted an RCD lift instead. I figured 200 bucks was worth it for a nearly new set of rebuildable coilovers. Turns out, now that they are resting in my garage, they appear to be perfect except for a bit of road grime...no damage, no leaks, etc. I need to clean them up and set them to what I think will be a 1.5" lift (he was ARB'd, winched and dual batteried-lots of weight up front) and install them and I should be good for another few thousand miles....

 

[jim65wagon]

I had a vacation day last week, trying to use up my last few before I turn another year older. Use 'em or lose 'em! I spent my day (well part of it) installing my new/old Donahoes. Wow! That was easy! This is the third set of coilovers I've had the pleasure to swap out on a Tundra and it gets easier every time.

The old ones came out and the new ones went in. The bushings in the old set were shot, and after 135,000 miles (70,000 of which were with the 1-1/2" lift) the shocks really needed replacing.

The ride difference is totally amazing. No more nose diving in hard braking, it floats over large bumps in the road now - before it was big bouncy time....well worth the 200 skins I paid out. Am I a cheapskate or what?:ylsmoke:

The only mistake I made was adjusting the coilovers on the workbench. I let them down too much and I'm sitting with about a 1/2" lift. No rub on the street, but it's so close I can see trouble off-road. With the boat on the front receiver it just rubs the front of the fender, and if it weren't for the pinchweld mod it would rub the rear of the fender badly! I'll adjust it up another 1/2" or so, flex it out and check the rub.

Now I need to get the out on a more interesting road!

 

[CYi5]

You can always crank them up installed, might even be easier. Man $200! That's a steal! I remember paying $800 four years ago, and that was a good price . Then again they've gone through 2 trucks and 60,000 mi., so their quality stands up to the DR reputation (the old one, not the new rep ).

And remember, you'll get the best ride out of your DR's offroad going about 35 mph.

 

[Haggis]

The bushings in the old set were shot, and after 135,000 miles (70,000 of which were with the 1-1/2" lift) the shocks really needed replacing.

The ride difference is totally amazing. No more nose diving in hard braking, it floats over large bumps in the road now - before it was big bouncy time....

How much of a difference in ride quality would you think the DRs would have versus a lower mileage set of coilovers. How about the Bilstiens?

The only mistake I made was adjusting the coilovers on the workbench. I let them down too much and I'm sitting with about a 1/2" lift. No rub on the street, but it's so close I can see trouble off-road. With the boat on the front receiver it just rubs the front of the fender, and if it weren't for the pinchweld mod it would rub the rear of the fender badly! I'll adjust it up another 1/2" or so, flex it out and check the rub. Now I need to get the out on a more interesting road![/

You get that done yet? I know you've been running some roads in WV, so I assume you've got to test 'em out. Any rub?

 

[jim65wagon]

How much of a difference in ride quality would you think the DRs would have versus a lower mileage set of coilovers. How about the Bilstiens?

Versus your Bilsteins....not sure if there is much difference. Between the stock coilovers with the lift. The Dons are better. Firm but not harsh. You can tell they are compressing when you hit a bump, but they compress smoothly. No jarring. On washboards in WVa last weekend I could go alot faster than usual, without any bad ride. Beth even commented on how much smoother the ride was....

You get that done yet? I know you've been running some roads in WV, so I assume you've got to test 'em out. Any rub?

No, hopefully this weekend. I was getting a bit of rub at the front of the flare on compression. We didn't do anything dramatic either. It's gotta come up a bit.

 

[rover4x4]

Believe it or not I've used Pennzoil Synthetic 5w30 and Walmarts Super Tech filter (almost exclusively) since the 500 mile mark. Before you laugh at the filter choice, it's actually a very good filter; it's waaay better than the Fram and the oil at a 5000 mile change interval is clean smelling and not discolored at all.

Thanks everyone else for the kind words. The water system kicks! Articulate was very correct when he said it's just plain fun.

As for the winch, yeah I hope I never have to use it, but now it's there, just in case. I did try it out for the first time. Real simple to use, a PITA to rewind the cable. Future plans for that monster are a change to synthetic cable. I'm fairly strong but it's about all I can do to carry the winch from the garage and mount it into the receiver! Whew! I hate to work that hard!

"Not over the top" - that's me to a "T"

If you loved your truck you wouldnt use that oil or filter.

 

[Funrover]

Very cool!

 

[Haggis]

If you loved your truck you wouldnt use that oil or filter.

Please elaborate...based on what info/experience are you making this conclusion from?

 

[CA-RJ]

Here's what a Super Tech oil filter looks like inside.

 

[Harp]

Nice thread!

Enjoyed the thread and nice truck. I'm from NC and have a 2002 Tacoma I'm doing about the same to right now. My wife and I have had every camper from a pop up, a 36ft fifth wheel, and a Lance truck camper, but are getting back to our camping roots with delivery of a flippac for the Taco in 2 weeks. Will post a thread once I take delivery and get the process moving a bit. Thanks again for a great story.