asteffes' '06 Taco DC (because I want to be a cool kid, too.)

[asteffes]

Can you elaborate on this with pictures? I'm planning on using the same radio and I already have a 276c. Is your 276 powered from the vehicle or do you just use its own battery?

I'll see if I can get some pictures this weekend. I don't really have any of the whole setup at the moment.

I made a little hack that I should document for the board. I took the Garmin cig plug power cable apart and replaced the cord with the hardwire cord also included with the GPS. I then spliced in a second lead with a headphone plug on it for the Kenwood's GPS port. This lead connects to the serial port pins on the Garmin cord. The turn-by-turn speaker and everything else works and fits like original. I just have a second long cord coming out of the cig plug body for the Kenwood. It makes it very easy to set the Garmin on the dash, plug in the power and plug the second lead into the Kenwood for APRS use. I don't leave the GPS in plain view all the time, as I don't want it stolen. Anyway, it's slick and I'll have to take pictures and/or make a schematic to illustrate what I did.

 

[asteffes]

ARB bumper and Hella Rallye 4000s installed today! Pictures to come.

 

[Mlachica]

congratulations! Did you ever get the roof rack installed?

 

[asteffes]

Here is what she looks like today.

 

[OnlyNaTaco]

What do you have bolted in the top holes of the bumper rail abouve the hella's, I have an exact set up on my 02 taco and never knew what those holes could be utilized for except 2 more lights but that would look ridiculous.

 

[asteffes]

It's an antenna mount from Diamond. More info here:

http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4555

 

[OnlyNaTaco]

isnt it kinda annoying having those 2 antennas sticking up front of your vision?

 

[asteffes]

I don't leave the antenna mounted all the time. I'm going to move the mount to the passenger side, as well, which will reduce the distraction when it is mounted.

In other news, I ordered a Superwinch EP9.0 with synthetic line from Winchline.com today! ARB just received one a couple weeks ago to test-fit the winch on their various bullbars. They confirmed it would fit the '05+ Tacoma bullbar. I got a great deal from Winchline.com, too. Just under $800 shipped with installed synthetic line and their safety thimble, roller fairlead and Superwinch snatchblock (so I'll have two now. )

 

[daverami]

Hi, I've been following your progress. Great job. I really like the ARB bumper. What was your deciding factor on the BFG A/T's? Also,have you decided what to go with yet for the rear suspension? I have an '06 and am getting great ideas from all of you on this site.

Thanks,

David

 

[asteffes]

Hello, David. I hope you're finding the site useful.

I wanted a tire that would work for everyday commuting while being acceptable for mild off-road and snow use. I use my truck for ski trips to Tahoe during winter, so snow-capability is important. The BFG AT-KOs have the Snowflake-on-the-Mountain designation for use in snow while being mild enough for commuting. The AT-KOs also have a rugged sidewall and have a "D" load rating. They're much beefier than the stock BFG Rugged Trail tires, while being very tame on-road and much gripier off-road.

I went with a 265-75-16 which is 1" taller overall than the stock 265-70-16 tires without requiring any lift or new wheels to fit the truck. This is an almost-free 1/2" of extra ground clearance since I needed new tires, anyway.

I have the Donahoe dampers in the rear with the stock leaf packs. I don't intend to lift the truck at all so, if I need more weight capacity, I'll likely use an add-a-leaf kit. I used the DR coilovers in front to compensate for the weight of the bumper and eventually the winch, too.

 

[Davids90toy]

Hello, David. I hope you're finding the site useful.

I wanted a tire that would work for everyday commuting while being acceptable for mild off-road and snow use.

The M/Ts lasted my dad more than 60k miles commuting 200 miles a day

 

[asteffes]

The M/Ts lasted my dad more than 60k miles commuting 200 miles a day

That's pretty great! Congrats on getting that many miles out of *any* off-road capable tire. I don't need a mud tire and it seemed that the AT-KO with all its siping would be a better snow tire. I imagine the AT is quieter on-road than an MT, too. But hey, whatever works for you.

 

[asteffes]

What do you have bolted in the top holes of the bumper rail abouve the hella's, I have an exact set up on my 02 taco and never knew what those holes could be utilized for except 2 more lights but that would look ridiculous.

It occurred to me you could also put a GPS or satellite radio antenna on those tabs if you didn't want them on the roof for some reason. They're usually magnetic so they'll just snap into place.

 

[daverami]

The more I think about it, the more I like your idea of not doing a lift. With the larger tires, and the DR coilovers to compensate for extra weight up front, then do something like an AAL in the rear like you suggest. Has anyone tried the Deaver 3-leaf pack yet? That may be a good option with the factory springs. Although a custom Deaver leaf pack would be nice too if you indeed ever decided to do a lift.

David

 

[asteffes]

An AAL will lift the rear about 1 to 1.5 inches. You'll want to even it out in the front by dialing up the coilovers. So I could end up with a 1-1.5 inch lift eventually. You could also go with a custom leaf pack setup for whatever lift and extra weight capacity you want. The standard Deaver pack that Wheeler's carries reduce the overall load capacity in trade for better flexibility. I have no need for an extra-flexy suspension nor do I want to spend $500+ on a leaf pack, so I don't plan to go that route.