Applejack's 2005 Taco Adventure Build
- Thread starter Applejack
- Start date
Applejack
Explorer
As mentioned in my first post, I don't need and "Expedition" truck, though I'd like one. My fam and I go on several back country treks throughout the year though and the need to carry extra gas and water is a necessity. Having dogs in the back means the gas can have to go somewhere else, so rack over the roof or bed was the logical solution.
I buzzed through several different designs and gave myself a week to finish the project, but as things got super busy at work it turned out I only had the night before our trip to complete 80% of it.
The end result was a compromise of what I was really shooting for and what was easier/less time consuming.
I wanted to place aux light tabs and mounts for my HiLift jack and shovel but wanted to get to sleep more, so those details were scrapped. I will add those later before I sell the rack. It will hold at least 300lbs but I only run a max of 150. 4/5gal gas cans, 4/5gal water, my tire chains and some camp chairs is the most I've run with up top.
I'm waiting for a friend to get his tubing bender and then it will be back to the drawing boad.:elkgrin:
I buzzed through several different designs and gave myself a week to finish the project, but as things got super busy at work it turned out I only had the night before our trip to complete 80% of it.
The end result was a compromise of what I was really shooting for and what was easier/less time consuming.
I wanted to place aux light tabs and mounts for my HiLift jack and shovel but wanted to get to sleep more, so those details were scrapped. I will add those later before I sell the rack. It will hold at least 300lbs but I only run a max of 150. 4/5gal gas cans, 4/5gal water, my tire chains and some camp chairs is the most I've run with up top.
I'm waiting for a friend to get his tubing bender and then it will be back to the drawing boad.:elkgrin:
soonenough
Explorer
I like the roof rack! Figuring ~6 lb/gal for gas and 8.3 lb/gallon for water, wouldn't the four 5-gallon cans of gas and four 5-gallon cans of water weigh close to 300 pounds by themselves? Not trying to be a smart-***, just pointing out that you may have run more than 300 pounds up there already (counting the weight of the tire chains and camp chairs), so it may be stronger than you thought. It definitely looks sturdy to me.
Applejack
Explorer
Ah yes! Twas an early morning post. what I wanted to say was that 150lbs max is what I run if I'm on any kind of 4wd road or trail, where things might get tipsy or stress the rack too much. Down the highway to wherever, is when I have loaded it up. On the trail I may take 2/5gal cans if any, otherwise it's a spare tire and and my jack and shovel. My tire doesn't fit with the cans up there.
Applejack
Explorer
Sliders
After much deliberation and scrutinizing, I've decided to build my own sliders. I am a competent enough welder so doing this will help me a lot with my build budget. My material is 1.75 ID, heavy wall tubing. I bought 40' of it for $65, plus some 2"x 1/4 wall, square tubing I already had. I'm paying a guy $8/bend X 4 bends=$32 So for less than $100 I'll have my sliders built if I weld them on. If I bolt them on it'll be more, hardware etc... but still should be less than $150.
I would like to go bolt on, though it's more of a complicated fab job, I think I'll be glad I did. If it goes well I think I'll go ahead and build a tube style rear bumper similar to what ARB offers for the Navara/Frontier.
After much deliberation and scrutinizing, I've decided to build my own sliders. I am a competent enough welder so doing this will help me a lot with my build budget. My material is 1.75 ID, heavy wall tubing. I bought 40' of it for $65, plus some 2"x 1/4 wall, square tubing I already had. I'm paying a guy $8/bend X 4 bends=$32 So for less than $100 I'll have my sliders built if I weld them on. If I bolt them on it'll be more, hardware etc... but still should be less than $150.
I would like to go bolt on, though it's more of a complicated fab job, I think I'll be glad I did. If it goes well I think I'll go ahead and build a tube style rear bumper similar to what ARB offers for the Navara/Frontier.
Applejack
Explorer
Transmission skidplate
Today I added some belly protection to my Taco. I decided to go with 1/4in aluminum to save weight. I also decided to do my transmission skid plate first.
The fist step was to first make a cardboard template.
I didn't have to make it exact which is good because it was kind of difficult to do. Then I took it to my friends shop where he took some extra measurements to put into his AutoCad program. Then his CNC plasma table did the rest.
Here is the finished product. Tomorrow I will bolt it up and post on that.
I will have to drill out the front 3 holes and get some bolts for them.
Today I added some belly protection to my Taco. I decided to go with 1/4in aluminum to save weight. I also decided to do my transmission skid plate first.
The fist step was to first make a cardboard template.
I didn't have to make it exact which is good because it was kind of difficult to do. Then I took it to my friends shop where he took some extra measurements to put into his AutoCad program. Then his CNC plasma table did the rest.
Here is the finished product. Tomorrow I will bolt it up and post on that.
I will have to drill out the front 3 holes and get some bolts for them.
Applejack
Explorer
So here are a few shots of it bolted up.
I think the aluminum will be strong enough for what I do. This was really an easy thing to make as long as you know someone with a CNC plasma torch and a Press Brake. If anyone is interested in trying one PM me. If enough people are interested I think I might just start making them. Right now I'm thinking the cost for the 1/4in alum. would be about $125-150 un-coated, add $25 to have it powder coated. And of course this for now would only apply to '05-09 Tacomas.
I think the aluminum will be strong enough for what I do. This was really an easy thing to make as long as you know someone with a CNC plasma torch and a Press Brake. If anyone is interested in trying one PM me. If enough people are interested I think I might just start making them. Right now I'm thinking the cost for the 1/4in alum. would be about $125-150 un-coated, add $25 to have it powder coated. And of course this for now would only apply to '05-09 Tacomas.
SirCampalot
Adventurer
Sweet rig! I need to do the diff breather mod on my FJ... thanks for the reminder. :snorkel:
Jacket
2008 Expedition Trophy Champion
Good call.
Applejack
Explorer
14.66 lbs. I will switch the bolts later. I thought about running some grade 8's initially but Lowes was out of my desired size, would carriage bolts be better?