2012 Taco slow build - The Escape Pod.

[Finlay]

I see. A water storage/heater/battery box is on my list of things to keep me busy next winter.

Anyone use Yakima tracks ? is it better to use the plusnuts or the bolts ? I'm thinking the bolts, because I've gotta pull the headliner anyway and I don't want issues with the plusnuts like some people have reported.

I can get a set of tracks for about 100 bucks and then Drill, baby drill.

Also, I see I have a recall notice coming the mail sometime...

 

[Finlay]

Been a while since I bumped this. It's been a busy few weeks; my wife is training for a marathon, I've been nursing an injured hip, and work, and so on.

I got a new endfed 20/40m wire antenna and have been playing with that a bit, and I also made data cable and got my laptop talking to the 857d. I also took the fairing I had made off. Accumulated some more camping gear, but nothing big.

This weekend started out with my 40th birthday party. The morning afterwards, the wife and I loaded up the dogs and drove to the Kettle-Moraine dog training area near the Horicon Marsh NWR to help out at a handler clinic.

We reserved a campsite near Long Lake which opened on Saturday, and had our first night in the tent. It went well. It was cool, but very wet. The annex worked great for the dog kennels, and the tent was comfortable and spacious. The local BSA Troops were having a jamboreee, and the tent was a big hit with a bunch of them - most of them had pup tents laid out in the wet grass, hehe. Brings back memories.....

Anyway, I need to build a chuck box - working out of a rubbermaid tub sucks. I need to work out a better tie down system, too. Got 15 MPG on the way out, in a light headwind, 16 back in a strong tailwind, and driving rain. Even with all the rain on the way back, the tent is covered with bugs.

 

[mjohns2]

Subscribed

 

[erichclimb]

Looking good. How did you disable the chime. I assume it's pretty easy but not sure

 

[Finlay]

Looking good. How did you disable the chime. I assume it's pretty easy but not sure

Here is a good guide at Toyota Nation.

It's pretty easy, although wrestling with the lower half of the steering column cover was a PITA and took about 20 minutes.

 

[DreamingOfExpeditions]

So here's a question. What benefit did you see getting your Amateur Extra ticket punched? I'm about to get my tech license and thought about doing it the same as you (I'm ready for the test, just need to go one weekend when I'm free). Now I'm an engineer also, so of course I think the same way, if I do something might as well obsess and go completely OCD over it until I've mastered every single nuance about it right? But off hand, I can't see a huge gain in going all the way, right off, specifically because of gear and its cost of entry. It'll take years before I have a shack that is all bands capable.

Top that off I have a fly fishing habit, a gun habit, and this (see the pattern here?)...

 

[Finlay]

So here's a question. What benefit did you see getting your Amateur Extra ticket punched? I'm about to get my tech license and thought about doing it the same as you (I'm ready for the test, just need to go one weekend when I'm free). Now I'm an engineer also, so of course I think the same way, if I do something might as well obsess and go completely OCD over it until I've mastered every single nuance about it right? But off hand, I can't see a huge gain in going all the way, right off, specifically because of gear and its cost of entry. It'll take years before I have a shack that is all bands capable.

Top that off I have a fly fishing habit, a gun habit, and this (see the pattern here?)...

Yeah, I have the same problem. Thing is, you can take all three tests for one fee if you do it on the same day. You can save some cash with a little extra preparation. And once you have it, you have it, so if you were ever inclined in the future to do something you need an general or extra license for, it's one less thing standing in your way.

So, as I say, I've got a degree in electrical engineering, and it wasn't much extra studying to prepare for the other exams. I'm sure that's gotta irritate some who see me as just another know-nothing, no-code, lid extra. Can't please them all, I guess.

 

[DreamingOfExpeditions]

All hobbies have those dogmatic curmudgeons like the one in your link. In fly fishing there's the dry fly purists who'll sit all day on a river bank waiting for the perfect hendrickson hatch and catch one fish a week, meanwhile the sport is dieing a slow death because it takes such a long time to become technically proficient.

 

[Finlay]

All hobbies have those dogmatic curmudgeons like the one in your link. In fly fishing there's the dry fly purists who'll sit all day on a river bank waiting for the perfect hendrickson hatch and catch one fish a week, meanwhile the sport is dieing a slow death because it takes such a long time to become technically proficient.

Well, that and in the best case you catch a slimy fish that needs to be cleaned before anything useful can be done with it...

My dad was an avid fisherman - or was, until he messed up his shoulder at work. I get the appeal, but I never had the patience for it myself. I much preferred bird hunting, myself.


Today, I got my non-resident Minnesota state Off-Highway Vehicle trail use sticker. I'll be using it in a couple weeks on the inaugural trip for the Midwest Overland Society.

I have to burn a week or so of vacation before the end of the FY, so I may ride the Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail up to Minnesota to meet up with them. I figure I can make two days of it, stop off in Duluth to drink some of my dads beer and then meet up with the MOS guys for a long weekend getting the truck muddy in North Central Minnesota.

This pleases me.

This weekend, I need to hit up the local junkyard to get some parts. If they don't have what I need, the sales droid at the dealership promised me a good price on them. More to follow.

 

[sytfu510]

nice looking rig, looking forward to updates.

 

[Finlay]

Stopped by the dealership today. The sales dude was impressed with the work on the truck - so much so, I got a really great price on the recovery hook (p/n = 51961-35080) for the Taco. The OR comes with it, the sport doesnt, but it can be bolted on.

I was always planning on aftermarket skids, so I'm not going to sweat the Toyota ones. Although, I was hoping to maybe get them for cheap from the local junkyard. But, all of the scrapyards near me tell me that they can't keep second gen tacos on the yard - they sell the parts way too fast. I can put in an order and wait - but I'd pay close to stock price anyway.

So yeah, I'll just have to be careful and wait until I can get aftermarket skids.

My CB took a crap on me a week or so ago. I put it on the bench and diagnosed at least the initial voltage regulator as bad. But, it's under warranty, so I sent it in. I got my replacement back today, and got that installed.

Day :


Night :



All of my plans are complicated by the fact that I got a message from the doctor today - I'm going to need hip surgery. I have a tear and deformation of the acetabular labrum and will need to have that corrected if I want to walk normally in the future. Le Sigh.

This first trip is on, though. My leg can friggen fall off, I don't care. I've waited far too long. This will happen.

Negative energy just makes me stronger.

 

[deadbeat son]

All of my plans are complicated by the fact that I got a message from the doctor today - I'm going to need hip surgery.

Sorry to hear about the impending surgery. Enjoy the trip!

 

[Finlay]

Thanks. It hurts like hell today. I was planning to work on the truck tonight, instead I'm gonna have a few beers and watch some movies. Tomorrow will go better. I can't wait to get this fixed.


Tomorrow, I'm doing the yellow wire mod, mounting the fire extinguisher, and running power for the XOOM - I'm going to use that as my GPS on this trip. I'm also going to start fabbing up a switch box for the overhead console if I have time.

The sales droid called to say that the hook wasn't going to be in today after all, but he offered me a free car wash as a consolation prize. I hate how great this truck looks when it's clean - it makes me feel bad when I neglect it for a few weeks.

Got a new sticker in the mail, too. When I was a kid, my favorite part of building model airplanes was putting the decals on. That and blowing them up with fireworks.

And a bonus action photo of the GSP playing frisbee.

 

[Finlay]

Yellow wire mod day. Also got a first aid kit and fire extinquisher.

The kit and the extinquisher fit nicely in the suicide door pocket. I'll want a retaining strap for them in the future, but for now they work nicely right there.



Now, the fun part. The 09+ TRD Sport comes equipped with an Electronic LSD. However, in 4LO, this E-LSD is not engaged; most likely so as to create greater product differentiation between the Off-Road and Sport varieties.

It is possible to enable the E-LSD in 4LO on the TRD Sport - the Yellow Wire Mod. Basically, by cutting the signal wire from the actuator to the computer, you trick the truck into thinking 4LO hasn't actuated and it is still in 4HI. This retains the E-LSD functionality even though 4LO is engaged.

It isn't quite as effective as A-TRAC, but it is better than stock.

After you do this mod, the beeper will beep if 4LO has a problem engaging or disengaging, same as always. The 4LO light will blink at all times, even when fully engaged.


Pictures to follow. The harness in question resides behind the glove box, and you will have to remove the glove box to get at it.

The harness it the top middle one, with the two yellow wires above the cluster of white ones.



The wire we will cut is the yellow/black one second from the top. Do not cut the top wire.



Like so. Tape it up and plug it back in.
For extra credit, you can add a switch if you like so you can return to stock function. I might do that later.



Test and miller time.

 

[Finlay]

Today I got the hook installed.

In this photo you can see the stock tie down point that was removed, and the TRD Offroad hook that bolts into the same location. Also, the bolts. If you need to order this part for your TRD Sport, you also need the bolts. Don't forget those, you'll look stupid to the dudes at the parts counter.

TRD hook (P/N: 51961-35080) and the two bolts (P/N: 90119-A0193).



I also got the RAM mount for the XOOM tablet situated. So far this is what I'm using :

RAM-B-166U-C Suction cup mount and medium length 1" ball arm.
RAM-HOL-TAB6U Tablet tray for XOOM




I'm not the very happiest with the placement, but this is the least obstructive. It will work for now, anyway. I think if I got the double ball adapter (RAM-B-230U) and another socket arm (RAM-B-201U), I'd be golden on that front - but that is for later. Being a tall guy helps, too.

Also, the 10" XOOM is enormous. I suspect I'd be happier with a 7" tablet, a la the Galaxy 7.2 But the wife insists I have spent enough money. As if.

So far, I am impressed with the fit and finish of this mount. We'll see how it holds up on the trip.

I leave Monday morning - three days on the Trans WI trail. I'm roughly following this route with some changes and detours here and there. Then 3 more days with the dudes from The Midwest Overland Society near Brainerd MN...


Hehe.