Petrolburner
Explorer
I should be more specific, it looks like the tranny skid is very NARROW. Thickness of metal is not my concern, it just looks like it tapers a lot near the rear when it could span the whole width of the cross member.
100,000 miles
- Thread starter jim65wagon
- Start date
RoundOut
Explorer
That is true, but it has approximately 1" folds on each side for reinforcement. There is not much to protect outside of its width, so it would just be extra weight to have frame to frame protection in that area.
.
Redline
Likes to Drive and Ride
jim65wagon
Well-known member
Redline
Likes to Drive and Ride
The seat probably won’t be as comfortable as I would prefer after that many miles, but I'm not opposed to replacing it after the first 150k or so 
Nuclear Redneck
Adventurer
Jim,
Where did you purchase your skid plates? I know they are SkidRow products, but they don't have a very local dealer to me here in Hampton Roads.
Edit: Never mind. I finally saw the shopping cart icon to buy online. Must remember to think then type!
Where did you purchase your skid plates? I know they are SkidRow products, but they don't have a very local dealer to me here in Hampton Roads.
Edit: Never mind. I finally saw the shopping cart icon to buy online. Must remember to think then type!
jim65wagon
Well-known member
It's not much and I have no pictures to provide but I do have a quick (not really I'm a windbag!) update since our camping season (ie wife's out of vacation time) is over. Not in any particular order but:
1)The wireless VR3 backup camera died in the spring. I bought an el cheapo Pyle bullet (wired)camera and mounted it in the back bumper. The VR3 monitor wouldn't interface so I bought a 3.5" monitor that would and mounted it on the sunglasses door on the overhead. Works pretty well, but you can tell the camera is cheap and not long for the world....
2) I was getting some bad tire wear on the front (June). Turns out the steering rack bushing (donut on the pass side) was toast and letting the rack move far enough up or down that I could put a finger between the rack and the bushing! Fixed that with a Total Chaos poly bushing set......just the one I still have to install the other two for the drivers side, but they seem tight still so I'm in no hurry.
3) The tires were just shaping up nicely again and the front of the truck seemed like it was sagging a bit (end of July) they began wearing funny again (alignment is set for the 1-1/2" lift from the old Daystar puck) so they were tilting in as the Donahoes (over the course of a month or so) sagged down to about stock ride height. I was still in trip mode so I fretted and used them as is for the Earl trip and the Elk run. Right before the Elk Run the drivers side let go a pile of oil onto the driveway, but I creaked and squeaked my way along until I had enough spare time to deal with the issue. No way I'll get 50,000 out of this set of tires now! I'll be lucky for 40,000, but I've already got 35,000 on them.
4) Once we got back from the Elk Run, I was able to reinstall the old Bilsteins and Daystar set and shipped off the Don's to Icon. Just got word today that they are rebuilt and in the mail!:wings:
5) the water tank and gear rack are off and in the garage, waiting there till spring
6) that doesn't mean we won't get out, but from it'll be daytrips or hotel overnights when we go....I can deal with that....
7) We're working on a plan for our year long trip (counting down about 7 years yet to go!), since we got talked out of a trailer/tent combo (thanks Jay!) we're leaning toward something homebuilt and teardrop shaped...
8) I managed to bend a skidplate bouncing along Dictum Ridge on the old Bilsteins....you'd think a shock with over 100,000 miles on it could control a fullsize truck with a winch hanging off the front!
1)The wireless VR3 backup camera died in the spring. I bought an el cheapo Pyle bullet (wired)camera and mounted it in the back bumper. The VR3 monitor wouldn't interface so I bought a 3.5" monitor that would and mounted it on the sunglasses door on the overhead. Works pretty well, but you can tell the camera is cheap and not long for the world....
2) I was getting some bad tire wear on the front (June). Turns out the steering rack bushing (donut on the pass side) was toast and letting the rack move far enough up or down that I could put a finger between the rack and the bushing! Fixed that with a Total Chaos poly bushing set......just the one I still have to install the other two for the drivers side, but they seem tight still so I'm in no hurry.
3) The tires were just shaping up nicely again and the front of the truck seemed like it was sagging a bit (end of July) they began wearing funny again (alignment is set for the 1-1/2" lift from the old Daystar puck) so they were tilting in as the Donahoes (over the course of a month or so) sagged down to about stock ride height. I was still in trip mode so I fretted and used them as is for the Earl trip and the Elk run. Right before the Elk Run the drivers side let go a pile of oil onto the driveway, but I creaked and squeaked my way along until I had enough spare time to deal with the issue. No way I'll get 50,000 out of this set of tires now! I'll be lucky for 40,000, but I've already got 35,000 on them.
4) Once we got back from the Elk Run, I was able to reinstall the old Bilsteins and Daystar set and shipped off the Don's to Icon. Just got word today that they are rebuilt and in the mail!:wings:
5) the water tank and gear rack are off and in the garage, waiting there till spring
6) that doesn't mean we won't get out, but from it'll be daytrips or hotel overnights when we go....I can deal with that....
7) We're working on a plan for our year long trip (counting down about 7 years yet to go!), since we got talked out of a trailer/tent combo (thanks Jay!) we're leaning toward something homebuilt and teardrop shaped...
8) I managed to bend a skidplate bouncing along Dictum Ridge on the old Bilsteins....you'd think a shock with over 100,000 miles on it could control a fullsize truck with a winch hanging off the front!
Last edited:
mtnbike28
Expedition Leader
Thanks Jay????
wow!
I got thrown under the bus!!!! I like my trailer, but for your trip I still think you will be happier with a different set-up.... but then again, you set up an English expedition looking camp site for one night, so what do I know ; )
I have a dirt cheap truck camper for sale locally, but have not had a chance to look at it yet. Owner was sent to the hospital the day on my appointment.
I was hoping it would be good for a season of camping to see if I like that option, and then go with a FWC or AT Flippak if so.
I still think a square box with a lifting roof is all I need on the Taco.... but I think I will have to build it.
I also had a weird tire wear issue this tire rotation, I took it into the shop today and the toe in was off, they fixed it but the steering wheel is now off by 10 degrees? I guess I have to take it back!
wow!
I got thrown under the bus!!!! I like my trailer, but for your trip I still think you will be happier with a different set-up.... but then again, you set up an English expedition looking camp site for one night, so what do I know ; )
I have a dirt cheap truck camper for sale locally, but have not had a chance to look at it yet. Owner was sent to the hospital the day on my appointment.
I was hoping it would be good for a season of camping to see if I like that option, and then go with a FWC or AT Flippak if so.
I still think a square box with a lifting roof is all I need on the Taco.... but I think I will have to build it.
I also had a weird tire wear issue this tire rotation, I took it into the shop today and the toe in was off, they fixed it but the steering wheel is now off by 10 degrees? I guess I have to take it back!
jim65wagon
Well-known member
No bus Jay! We took your experiences to heart and discussed the problems with an RTT on a trailer....things like trying to set up or tear down in the rain and wind.
We still want something to set up as a basecamp so we can use the truck to explore whatever area we're in for any length of time.....so an FWC or Flippac is out.
We decided that since we were going to be in such varied climates over the whole of North America that something hardsided and insulated might be the way to go....but it still has to be small enough to go where we want it to go. Then we got to looking at homebuilt trailers on the net, and things like ATs Teardrop...
The retro 'drop look is cool and the offroad versions are sweeter, and since we have a few years we may as well build exactly what we want! That's the plan so far at least.....
Glad you got your toes straight!
We still want something to set up as a basecamp so we can use the truck to explore whatever area we're in for any length of time.....so an FWC or Flippac is out.
We decided that since we were going to be in such varied climates over the whole of North America that something hardsided and insulated might be the way to go....but it still has to be small enough to go where we want it to go. Then we got to looking at homebuilt trailers on the net, and things like ATs Teardrop...
The retro 'drop look is cool and the offroad versions are sweeter, and since we have a few years we may as well build exactly what we want! That's the plan so far at least.....
Glad you got your toes straight!
Redline
Likes to Drive and Ride
Jim,
These are 255/85 Cooper S/T tires, correct?
To clarify, you've had alignment/front-end problems that caused irregular wear, which is going to greatly reduce the miles you get out of this set?
These are 255/85 Cooper S/T tires, correct?
To clarify, you've had alignment/front-end problems that caused irregular wear, which is going to greatly reduce the miles you get out of this set?
jim65wagon
Well-known member
Yeah, the ST's in 255/85r16. The front is aligned for a 1.5" lift, so when the front coils sagged and lost all of the lift height the tires tipped in at the top (Camber? ) causing the inside tread to wear way more than the outside tread. Since I knew I'd be putting the old coilovers on while the Donahoes were getting rebuilt, I just rode with it.....thus wasting several miles of proper treadwear. Proper alignment is a good thing to have, and until this year it was never an issue for this vehicle. Remember, my first set of ST's (same size) went 50,000 miles with no issues.
Redline
Likes to Drive and Ride
jim65wagon
Well-known member
Just a quick note: When I first got this truck I started tracking gas mileage....I filled up the little book I carried, then lost the book. On Tundra Solutions I noticed some users had a badge for the website Fuelly, so I started electronically tracking mileage. If your interested in what kind of mileage this V8 pick-up gets, looky here(click the banner) yep, that last tank really does read 18.9 mpg, (yeah, you'll have to look back to see that high mileage now - fuelly banner updates every fillup) that's it's 3rd highest in 7 years....
on a secondary quick note: My Donahoes arrived! It takes me about 2 hours to swap out coilovers on a first-gen Tundra now, that includes putting all the tools away! Wow! The ride is soooo much better than the old Bilsteins. A BIG THANKS to Mike and everyone at Icon Vehicle Dynamics for the rebuild. It's a great company that will rebuild old and secondhand equipment to like new condition....not that anyone at ICON will read this thread; but if they do...Thanks a million!:wings:
on a secondary quick note: My Donahoes arrived! It takes me about 2 hours to swap out coilovers on a first-gen Tundra now, that includes putting all the tools away! Wow! The ride is soooo much better than the old Bilsteins. A BIG THANKS to Mike and everyone at Icon Vehicle Dynamics for the rebuild. It's a great company that will rebuild old and secondhand equipment to like new condition....not that anyone at ICON will read this thread; but if they do...Thanks a million!:wings:
Last edited:
carrycorrie
New member
Trucks don't have to be extreme to be awesome, just good enough to get you where you want and back.
--------------
Auto Traffic Monopoly System
--------------
Auto Traffic Monopoly System
Last edited: