'94 truck build, the Toy

A

Acorn

Observer
well I just priced out some Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires, I'll be grabbing the suspension as soon as I can though. I broke my spine a couple years ago and I suffer from back pain, so I need a slightly softer ride :p

I priced out some OME stuff, I'm looking at leaf spring kit, front and rear shocks, and shackles, right?

the flippac will probably come summer, but untull then I can start working with a normal camopy and a small interior with benches storage and a table for cooking I think... The advantage to living so far north is I can drive 10 minutes and be completely out of the city :D

and Seattle is a 12 hour drive... lol. But there's enough big 4x4 trucks up here, I have to be able to find something
 
red87

red87

Adventurer
Acorn said:
well I just priced out some Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires, I'll be grabbing the suspension as soon as I can though. I broke my spine a couple years ago and I suffer from back pain, so I need a slightly softer ride :p

I priced out some OME stuff, I'm looking at leaf spring kit, front and rear shocks, and shackles, right?

the flippac will probably come summer, but untull then I can start working with a normal camopy and a small interior with benches storage and a table for cooking I think... The advantage to living so far north is I can drive 10 minutes and be completely out of the city :D

and Seattle is a 12 hour drive... lol. But there's enough big 4x4 trucks up here, I have to be able to find something
Click to expand...

I'd put a locker on that list too. Makes a massive difference in low traction situations.
 
4Rescue

4Rescue

Expedition Leader
Acorn said:
well I just priced out some Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires, I'll be grabbing the suspension as soon as I can though. I broke my spine a couple years ago and I suffer from back pain, so I need a slightly softer ride :p

I priced out some OME stuff, I'm looking at leaf spring kit, front and rear shocks, and shackles, right?

the flippac will probably come summer, but untull then I can start working with a normal camopy and a small interior with benches storage and a table for cooking I think... The advantage to living so far north is I can drive 10 minutes and be completely out of the city :D

and Seattle is a 12 hour drive... lol. But there's enough big 4x4 trucks up here, I have to be able to find something
Click to expand...
NICE, I really have started to drool over a set of those tires for OR use on my 4Runner. They look really NICE and urly while still being a good all-around'r eh...

yeah I know Seattle's not RIGHT there, but 12hours is alot closer then Australia and I've gotta elive with all the sweet Toyotas and neat trucks in Canukistan there has to be SOME way to get the parts you need eh ;) I've got a ton of Family in Brandon Manitoba and both my cousins have OME suapended Toyotas, I'll see if I can't find out who they went through for ya.

An yeah you've got the right idea for the kit, you need the rear springs, shocks and personaly while you're at it, the Steering Satbilizer is a nice adition. Just don't forget to SOAK the front mounting hardware (on the SS) in penetrating lube cause it took HOURS to drill mine out after all the years it had been on. You'll also probably want teh greasable shackles and their bushing kit. The military wraps and what not REALLY help keep the truck for hopping around and for as much load as the OME's can carry comfortably they flex REAL well too eh. i DO notice that come these cold months I need to grease the shackles more often and they DO get a bit squeeky when they're nearing their time of need but once greased they're super smooth adn I like the ability to DO something about the squeeks now instead of just having it annoy me eh.

Cheers

Dave

Edit:
red87 said:
I'd put a locker on that list too. Makes a massive difference in low traction situations.
Click to expand...
For now though, if he's ahving trouble with a bad suspension I gotta say that a locker will just make the truck squirelier in the slick stuff. An open diff. or a selectable ;ocker yeah, but an Auto unit can be down right spooky unless you're always in 4wd. Though I do agree it helps ALOT in most situations I've had some REAL bad experiences when Auto-lockers are used in snow. not saying they can't help or they'll automaticly give you trouble, but they sure can speed up the sliding process if you're not used to driving one eh. The added WB of a Pick-up over say my 4Runner (or is your truck a regular cab Short bed Acorn???) will certianly help and it's still no SWB Jeep (YIKES I don't know how I ever survived winters on Mt. Hood with my idiot friend and his fully locked YJ on the road :Wow1: ) But agian, sometimes that one wheel that DOESN'T spinn can be all the difference between making it around a turn or ending up spinning around and sliding all over the place.
 
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red87

red87

Adventurer
Very true. I was meaning more of in the long run with the locker. I can definitely agree that a locker would be terrible on a truck with an already squirrelly rear end, haha.
 
A

Acorn

Observer
squirly? my back end reminds me more of a cracked up midget with a fully automatic shotgun... *borderlands reference*

The locker is on my list, but later down the line, it depends on what I end up doing. For the areas I go hunting the absolute most important feature is size and articulation/clearance so I'm going to tro to maximize that as much as i can to get through the road deactivations, if not, I have a quad.

but aside from the road deactivations and occasional downed tree... or forest, I won't be riding in much other than forest roads, I think, depends on what I get up to I guess! I swear I had summer pics of this truck somewhere... AHA! found em!

okay, so here's some pics, not great for looking at the suspension, sorry, but gives you an idea of what I'm driving...





as you can see, it needs some body work, but its not bad considering it's age and mileage, and in my hands it will be very well cared for. This summer when I switch to my bike I'll be rebuilding the engine, or dropping a diesel in it since theres an importer down south that can get me a hilux for 2 grand!

Oh, PS. I don't have the tires anymore, got the guy to drop the price because I didn't think I would want those tires (and in reality, I kinda don't and do at the same time) but the winch was included, and has only been used once!
 
A

Acorn

Observer
I'm pretty young but I was top of the class in three things, metal shop, automotives, and computer programming.... strange combination, I know, but hey, it comes in handy.

So I've got a welder in the garage and access to a huuuuge scrap yard, I'll take a look at the springs there



edit: did a little research, how much softer, or how would these preform vs the old man EMU baja springs?
 
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4Rescue

4Rescue

Expedition Leader
The truck looks GREAT man. I know what you mean about the tires, I think you were ahead to go with your own choice, it'll make you happier with the truck down the road. The winch is an awesome thing to have on a new truck, nothing will get you unstuck quicker.

Nice truck mate, I see now it's an X-cab so it's a bit longer, def. want to get some sliders on er before one fo theose "road deactivators" reaches up and kinks your rocker panels. ut the added W/B will definatly help with the stability once you get the suspension sorted out.

Cheers

Dave
 
4Rescue

4Rescue

Expedition Leader
hey Acorn, I just realized I hadn't pointed you to this Toyota sections Sponsor. TRDparts4U.com got me my OME's REAL quick and I'd assume they'd ship to you up in Canada. Plus they have EVERYTHING you need. Jacque is a great guy and the customer suport is fantastic... Give'm a jingle I'm sure you'll be happy if you decide to go through them eh. The prices are great too. i actualy got my younger Cousin to go through them after the shop the older cousin had build out his rig clossed down. He got his stuff shipped to me in Portland and then picked them up on his way home, but like I say, I'm SURE they'd ship dirrest to you.

Cheers

Dave
 
A

Acorn

Observer
I'll check it out thanks! my next paycheque might go there!

right now I'm comparing tire size and I would love input

I have a few options, I could go for a 235/75/r15 (approx 9.2x30ish on a 15" rim)

or I could go for 31x10.5r15 for $100 more, or go for something like a 33" tire
 
T

tanglefoot

ExPoseur
I love the feel of smaller tires on a 4x4. I have 31x10.50's now but they're a little too wide for me. I like the steering feel of narrower tires. If these 10.50's ever rot, I'll probably go with a 30x9.50. Many of the 235/75 tires are lighter-duty, P-metric tires (unless the size has an "LT" in front of it). Going with the flotation size generally gives you a tougher tire with more load-carrying ability.

Although a set of P-metric tires might help your ride-quality, whenever I try them here in Colorado, the little rock shards that cover the trails cut their way under the tread blocks and let all the air out. Those kind of cuts aren't usually repairable. I've never had that problem with a flotation-size tire (like 30x9.50 or 31x10.50).

Keep an eye out in the local 4x4 forums and clubs for used tires. A lot of 4-wheelin' folks switch types or sizes when they still have a lot of life on them. That's how I got mine.
 
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A

Acorn

Observer
tanglefoot said:
I love the feel of smaller tires on a 4x4. I have 31x10.50's now but they're a little too wide for me. I like the steering feel of narrower tires. If these 10.50's ever rot, I'll probably go with a 30x9.50. Many of the 235/75 tires are lighter-duty, P-metric tires (unless the size has an "LT" in front of it). Going with the flotation size generally gives you a tougher tire with more load-carrying ability.

Although a set of P-metric tires might help your ride-quality, whenever I try them here in Colorado, the little rock shards that cover the trails cut their way under the tread blocks and let all the air out. Those kind of cuts aren't usually repairable. I've never had that problem with a flotation-size tire (like 30x9.50 or 31x10.50).

Keep an eye out in the local 4x4 forums and clubs for used tires. A lot of 4-wheelin' folks switch types or sizes when they still have a lot of life on them. That's how I got mine.
Click to expand...

I have been looking around and I unfortunately have not seen any tires I would like. Sure they could be cheap and nice, but sadly up where I live here 4x4ing isn't like it is in more populated places, so the tire selection is pretty bad. Far as I know there are no local clubs for 4x4ing, everyone just drives till they're off the road, which doesn't take long.

I'll check into the weight ratings of those tires, there aren't a lot of rocky trails like you would have in Colorado up here, any trails I go on will be tree rot, underbrush, or mud with gravel, since that's about all we got.
 
A

Acorn

Observer
I looked into treadwright and I have to admit, I like the idea, however all the tire sizes that fit my truck are on backorder, even 33's. So maybe in a few weeks I'll check back and see how its going.
 
red87

red87

Adventurer
Oh, that happens with them sometimes. I wanted 235/85-16s for my truck but that size was backordered for like 4 weeks or something so I had to get the 265s I have now. I was in a rush because one of my tires had literally exploded on the freeway and I was driving on the spare. It wasn't a treadwright tire that blew up, just a really old tire that I should've replaced :)
 
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