Clutch’s deep thoughts thread...

[Clutch]

I'm partial to the early 15x7" Toy factory alloys with 33x10.50 BFG AT's. 4.88 diff gears are mandatory, but good handling and traction with plenty of ground clearance.

Ran those briefly just to "see" but pulled them and went back to 32X11.5's. Wasn't worth the re-gear for minimal height clearance at least for me anyways. Don't really wheel the truck all that hard anymore either. Use the dirt bike for the real gnarly stuff...the truck can't touch where a bike can go.

We get into discussions of fullsize vs midsize...and how the midsizes can fit down tighter trails...ummm yeah, good luck fitting a Tacoma through this.

 

[Clutch]

Gotta say @phsycle...

The Chevy AEV Bison does look awfully good...and a diesel under the hood. Check out the topper, even has a modernized window at the top front.

And the Prospector...just love that New Holland Blue. Some reason hated Dodges for the longest time, and now they are growing on me.

 

[XJLI]

Gotta say @phsycle...

The Chevy AEV Bison does look awfully good...and a diesel under the hood. Check out the topper, even has a modernized window at the top front.

Everything about that is perfect EXCEPT you can only get the 5.5 bed, so the high rise is useless because you can't sleep in the bed. I wish you could get a longed ZR2 so I could dream about not buying one with the money I don't have.

 

[Clutch]

Everything about that is perfect EXCEPT you can only get the 5.5 bed, so the high rise is useless because you can't sleep in the bed. I wish you could get a longed ZR2 so I could dream about not buying one with the money I don't have.

Yeah, not a fan of the 5.5 bed. Though you can get a non-ZR2 crew cab with the 6' bed. And just do your own suspension.

Do like the looks of the Colorado over the 3rd Gen Tacoma, interiors are a little cheesy, but that is ok, I am really hard on interiors...it won't look nice for long in any of them.

 

[phsycle]

Gotta say @phsycle...

The Chevy AEV Bison does look awfully good...and a diesel under the hood. Check out the topper, even has a modernized window at the top front.

And the Prospector...just love that New Holland Blue. Some reason hated Dodges for the longest time, and now they are growing on me.

You know, I have been searching for a topper since I bought my truck. I had been looking for just a cab height since I thought that looked so much better, especially on a double cab. But last couple of days, I'm really liking the hi-rise. It'd be nice, especially if I end up building a sleeping platform. I have a short bed, and I'm about 5'11", but I can sleep diagonally.

Ram's have really grown on me as well. Forest Service uses them around here. The Tradesman model with steel wheels. I do think in the stripped down version, Ram's look the best--simple and rugged look.

I wonder instead of that camper shell you posted a while back on fullsize trucks, if a simple hi-rise topper would work almost as well, while keeping the weight and cost down. Hmmm.

 

[bkg]

??????

 

[2manyprojects]

Ran those briefly just to "see" but pulled them and went back to 32X11.5's. Wasn't worth the re-gear for minimal height clearance at least for me anyways. Don't really wheel the truck all that hard anymore either. Use the dirt bike for the real gnarly stuff...the truck can't touch where a bike can go.

We get into discussions of fullsize vs midsize...and how the midsizes can fit down tighter trails...ummm yeah, good luck fitting a Tacoma through this.

These fit! Good ground clearance, decent traction, but the fuel economy sucks!!!

 

[2manyprojects]

??????

bkg,
If you're referring to that tubing in the rear, that's part of the new rear steel bumper AEV is providing on the Bison.

Bison Intro

 

[phsycle]

View attachment 481412

These fit! Good ground clearance, decent traction, but the fuel economy sucks!!!

Ha ha. Touche. You can go much further on bikes, but you're at the mercy of where the trails lead you.

Fuel economy: You just need better fuel. I get great GAS mileage on burritos and potatoes. Also, get some LRR, more efficient componentry to help your range.

 

[bkg]

bkg,
If you're referring to that tubing in the rear, that's part of the new rear steel bumper AEV is providing on the Bison.

Bison Intro

it looks... weird...

 

[phsycle]

it looks... weird...

It's not that bad. Actually looks pretty good to me.

 

[bkg]

It's not that bad. Actually looks pretty good to me.

camera angle issue... from the other pic, it looked some sort of mal-placed exhaust pipe.

 

[DaveInDenver]

The sliders and bumper look alright but I'm just losing interest in the tube work bed bars with every farkle bolted that is "overland". Dude is ready for a night clubbing or the Darien Gap. Whatever.

 

[phsycle]

I despise everything that is overland--bed bars and rotopax. But I dig the rest of the stuff, since it looks almost factory. I think this is why I am so drawn to the hi-rise shells, since it's almost unhip/anti-overland. Which is another reason I will not be putting LED bars (even though they're pretty effective).

 

[DaveInDenver]

I've of the same mind @phsycle. Craigslist mid height and round halogen IPFs!

Although I did just sell the topper last week to commit to getting the 'Nest back on. Mistake? Perhaps. But it was only supposed to be a temp solution until I could get the camper moved. Instead I think it lured me into slack since that was 3 years and 10 months of "temp" and I moved the WilderNest storage location twice...