Extreme 4x4 builds an Expedition Tacoma

[JCMatthews]

I think its the current trend of ExPo snarkiness, one upmanship and bloated ego and opinion and the only point being made is how superficial members here are becoming.

Yep.

 

[JCMatthews]

I really did not like how the truck he used was black. It should have been expo white. Epic Fail.

 

[Rider192]

Run what ya brung

i guess if my truck doesn't look like yours,i'm doing it wrong????
just my $.02

Yeah Dave, it's a tough crowd. I work with what I have available, and within budget. My overland vehicle is an obnoxiously neon green, rock crawling, Jeep. I know, it's blasphemy... hahaha
I'm planning on building my Tacoma into a SAS, (not an IFS fan, but I love my Toyota otherwise) with a custom camper body on the back. Kind of like Sonke's Landcruiser but, less classy I guess.
I say be prepared and run what you brung.

 

[Mc Taco]

The more demand, the busier the routes -- sure -- but also the better the aftermarket technology.

Also, the more folks that wheel (responsibly) means there will be more advocates for keeping trails open. IMHO.

 

[ian from xtreme]

OK,

So to answer some of the questions that came up in this thread....

1) Extending the diff vents: Of course the diff vents were extended they are on all the rigs that we build....it is not a very exciting thing to watch on TV...but maybe on a build in teh future we will cover that topic.

2) Fridge in the bed: If the truck was a true 4 door truck with the rear suicide doors to make getting into the back easier I would have considered it. I was thinking of making a slide out shelf for the rear seat with some of the more expensive tools like my battery operated MIG welder to keep them safe and handy.....but without th erear swing out doors it makes getting into the back difficult.

3) SAS: Seriously.....who does not want an SAS!

4) weight in the bed....one stick of 1.5 welded seam is not any heavier than 5 gallons of water or fuel....that is what the bed cage was made out of.

5) Turbo: No I left it on, tied the snorkel into the flexible air hose that feeds the turbo. I added a skid plate to it, but it never ever came close to the rocks on the trail ride. I had thought about pulling it off, but I wanted to see if it really made a difference with the truck.....I think it does help.....ideally in the long term I think I would relocate it to under the hood but I really do not go through "deep water" wherever I wheel but it would be some added confidence.

5) My hair: My wife buys high heels, I let my hair grow.......it is how I stay taller!!!

 

[Booosted Supra]

if you guys had really watched,they took the turbo kit off the truck.the truck guys put the filter setup for the turbo in the tool box.it was a good setup for a road truck,but not an off road vehicle.
i wish i could do a SAS.i wish i could bend tubes and weld as well.i like the rack he made for the tent and solar setup.as for the fridge in the bed or in the cab? i would do both.a small one behind the passenger seat for soda and snacks.and a larger one in the bed for the supplies for the trip i am on.

i guess if my truck doesn't look like yours,i'm doing it wrong????

as for the snorkel,here in the pinelands of NJ.i have seen holes that would swallow trucks whole.not alot of rocks in the pines,but there are plenty of trails with rocks the would kill and ifs front end...


just my $.02

All about knowing your truck and how to use it, my truck is well known in the NJ Pinelands and all over and it is IFS, daily driven and beaten for the last 8 years on locked F/R 5.71's on 37-38` metric KM2's and at one point on 39.5 boggers(back when i was into the mud and all the stupidness that comes along with it) It is used on ALL terrains, mainly rocks anymore, and used for all travels, camped out of, great all around expo vehicle I have been building for years

 

[Booosted Supra]

I just watched and let me just say. No two expo vehicles are the same, any kind of modified vehicle should directly reflect the owner/operator of the vehicle. Everyone here is looking for journey and adventure and I don't see how SAS automatically makes a truck a "rock crawler". Even if someone has a rock crawler, rock crawler/expo hybrid, expo vehicle, what does it really matter if its what THEIR idea of what they need for their expeditions. I run a rather large tire size, and alot of armor and enough gear for anything that can happen as I like to take the difficult way over the easy way 9 times out of 10. Most of the people I frequent with locally are known rock builders who always use to break balls because I am "top heavy" and "ifs" yet still amazed them the capabilities of a "top heavy ifs" vehicle is. If I built my truck with the grain of most Toyota drivers rather then against the grain like I have then it wouldn't reflect me and it would not be the truck it is today. Alot of open minds and good people on Expedition Portal. No need to turn it into a one way close minded forum like many others.

 

[jds0912]

OK,

So to answer some of the questions that came up in this thread....

1) Extending the diff vents: Of course the diff vents were extended they are on all the rigs that we build....it is not a very exciting thing to watch on TV...but maybe on a build in teh future we will cover that topic.

2) Fridge in the bed: If the truck was a true 4 door truck with the rear suicide doors to make getting into the back easier I would have considered it. I was thinking of making a slide out shelf for the rear seat with some of the more expensive tools like my battery operated MIG welder to keep them safe and handy.....but without th erear swing out doors it makes getting into the back difficult.

3) SAS: Seriously.....who does not want an SAS!

4) weight in the bed....one stick of 1.5 welded seam is not any heavier than 5 gallons of water or fuel....that is what the bed cage was made out of.

5) Turbo: No I left it on, tied the snorkel into the flexible air hose that feeds the turbo. I added a skid plate to it, but it never ever came close to the rocks on the trail ride. I had thought about pulling it off, but I wanted to see if it really made a difference with the truck.....I think it does help.....ideally in the long term I think I would relocate it to under the hood but I really do not go through "deep water" wherever I wheel but it would be some added confidence.

5) My hair: My wife buys high heels, I let my hair grow.......it is how I stay taller!!!

Sweet. I'd love to have that truck. Did it settle at all? My only problem was that it was tall as sh%t!

 

[preacherman]

I like the build as well. Sure it is different than I would build but that's what makes things so fun. Each build is an expression of the builder. My only complaint is that I cannot figure out how to get them to let me use there shop to work on my truck.

 

[Toyotero]

I'm wondering how long until Extreme4x4 upgrades the terrible Tacoma seats.

 

[Finlay]

OK,

So to answer some of the questions that came up in this thread....

1) Extending the diff vents: Of course the diff vents were extended they are on all the rigs that we build....it is not a very exciting thing to watch on TV...but maybe on a build in teh future we will cover that topic.

2) Fridge in the bed: If the truck was a true 4 door truck with the rear suicide doors to make getting into the back easier I would have considered it. I was thinking of making a slide out shelf for the rear seat with some of the more expensive tools like my battery operated MIG welder to keep them safe and handy.....but without th erear swing out doors it makes getting into the back difficult.

3) SAS: Seriously.....who does not want an SAS!

4) weight in the bed....one stick of 1.5 welded seam is not any heavier than 5 gallons of water or fuel....that is what the bed cage was made out of.

5) Turbo: No I left it on, tied the snorkel into the flexible air hose that feeds the turbo. I added a skid plate to it, but it never ever came close to the rocks on the trail ride. I had thought about pulling it off, but I wanted to see if it really made a difference with the truck.....I think it does help.....ideally in the long term I think I would relocate it to under the hood but I really do not go through "deep water" wherever I wheel but it would be some added confidence.

5) My hair: My wife buys high heels, I let my hair grow.......it is how I stay taller!!!

This is pretty cool. I've long enjoyed the show. It was kind of a shame to see you cut up a nice first gen taco, but it turned out really well.

 

[ian from xtreme]

Yeah it dropped 2" after it's first wheelin trip....I pulled a leaf out of the rear as well to get it to level out....but more gear in the back and I would probably put it back in.

 

[ian from xtreme]

The seat do kind of suck....

 

[brushogger]

Yeah it dropped 2" after it's first wheelin trip....I pulled a leaf out of the rear as well to get it to level out....but more gear in the back and I would probably put it back in.

Hi Ian, We really enjoy the show. We watch it on the internet since we disconnected our satellite service. It exposes our industry in a positive manner to many who would otherwise never know much about it. I've "borrowed" several ideas from you guys. Keep up the good work. And if you ever need a wizened, 55 year old sidekick for the show...............well, just sayin'.

 

[AxleIke]

I think its the current trend of ExPo snarkiness, one upmanship and bloated ego and opinion and the only point being made is how superficial members here are becoming.

Couldn't agree more. Though, I'm a guy who thinks that 5 days in the desert by yourself does not an "overlanding" make. That is called Camping. But I still love checking out the high dollar builds and salivating over all the creature comforts afforded by the high end expo gear that people equip their vehicles with.

I come here to see the builds, from mild to wild, because I like to see people's innovation, fabrication, and execution of vehicle modifications. Gives me stuff to think about and dream about. I'm not a fan of everyone's choices, but I still admire their vehicles, and them, for doing something besides driving a bone stock truck back and forth to the mall (pretty much what I'm doing LOL).

As for a "rock Crawler", no. That is not a rock crawler. Not on leafs with that much body left. A wheeler to be sure, but no rock crawler.

To be honest, a SAS is really a good choice if one is going on a true expedition. They are more reliable, and, unlike the IFS on that generation taco, can be driven without an axle in the one tube, meaning, if you break something, and need to 3wd it because you either don't have a spare, or are out of spares (assuming you have a front locker), you can actually do that. Not so with the IFS. And, the parts just take more abuse before breaking.

And, to top it off, most of the photo's I see from around the world where people who expedition drive, show MAJOR obstacles in many forms (roads washed, bridges out, deep mud and water), for which the larger tire size afforded by a SAS would be very helpful.

And, to leave you with a thought (not worth much, I know), but in countries where vehicle travel is very rough, Toyota sells brand new land cruisers with live front axles. IFS provides superior ride and handling, but when reliability is needed, they still use a full floating axle with hub lockouts. Not IFS.

Does a SAS make sense for 99% of the builds here? Of course not. We have nice smooth roads to get where we are going, and parts stores abound.

Anyway, Ian, great build, and a fantastic use of the Taco the trucks guys put together. Though, you should've left the turbo