fifthcircle
Adventurer
Original plan: get a jeep, and have fun with it.
Well, the plan changed drastically, and I ended up with a brand new 06 Tacoma TRD ACC cab. :wings:
After several years, I am really happy with it over a jeep. The main reason is simple, more highway comfort. I just got back from a trip to Moab with a good friend that is driving a very nice Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon. He was less than happy with the highway performance, power in the mountains, and wind noise. Of course, it did a bit better on the trails, but if you break it down to % of time spent behind the wheel, you might say I was overall a happier guy. (I still love Jeeps, and his is awesome. Basically if he stays off the interstate, it's superb.) Since I am on the highway 80%+, the Taco is better FOR ME.
Here is the new plan, and where the Keep It Simple Stupid Tacoma Anti-Build sits:
Suspension:
Bilstein 5100 front adjustable shocks front and rear,
Front set at 1.75" lift on stock coils, Rear TSB leafs.
Removed front sway bar.
Tires:
Treadwright 235/85r16 Crawler (skinny! 9.5 x 32 "mud terrain" tread)
These are on the stock wheels that have some nasty surface corrosion...
:Wow1:
Engine:
All stock.
Drive train:
All stock.
Armor:
Sliders, stock skids, and custom bumper scratches.
Other Equip:
ARE camper shell. CX series with slider windoors and carpet.
Bed rug...nope. $15 rubber floor mat cut to fit...yep!
Cobra 75WXST CB and hood channel mount for the firestik antennae.
Bluetooth OBDII port "dongle" and "Torque" android app on phone (to check engine codes and get other real time info from the truck's computer.
Pioneer AVH3200BT, so I can listen to music and watch movies
Garmin GPSmap 60Cx (quite possibly the most useful GPS available at a great price)
I have wishes and wants, but this set up will do just fine for everything I have encountered so far. It is reliable, smooth driving, and worry free.
I really just wanted to start a thread to encourage anyone with a stock truck to look at the essentials, and get out there. See what it will do first, and mod it later.
First trip to Moab, Stock (except for tires):
THE RED ONE!
Second trip to Moab (on Hell's Revenge) with Bilsteins and Sliders:
This years trip to Moab with ARE, Treadwrights, Bilsteins and sliders:
Here is a video that my friend David put together from our little trip to Moab last week. (I have been 3 times, once stock, once after shocks and sliders, and now with the ARE)
http://youtu.be/d9Nep4JfM5g
Now, since I am on a roll
Here are the problems, or limitations with my set up that bothered me a little.
Suspension:
Rear end bottoms out a lot on the trail. Ultra slow speed is ok, but when you go over 10mph and hit some sand whoops, the rear will hit the bump stops very easily. Granted, I was loaded up the whole time with water, wood, food and camping junk. So a nice set of Deavers would be sweet! Softer ride with more height and more flex.
Front end is SOOO much better without the sway bar. Still, it's a bit stiff and rough on the trails. Nice coilovers would surely help this...anyone wanna buy me a set?
Bumpers:
Front isn't much of a problem. I didn't hit it once on Elephant Hill, Fins'N'Things or Hells Revenge. But it does look very pedestrian. I would love to slap an ARB or something on there.
Rear is a different story. I drug it quite a bit. Mainly I was hitting the rear hitch. New Rear leafs would help a lot, and a schweet tire carrier bumper would be even better. Problem is, I would need new leafs if I got the rear bumper anyway...so the leafs would come first.
Armor:
Stock skids are holding up well. Dented up and scratched but good. The only time this is an issue is after having them off and bending them back to reinstall. Since I just yanked the sway bar, and changed the diff fluids, this is a non issue. A little more piece of mind with a T-case skid, Gas tank skid and e-locker skid would be nice....but not necessary!
Other Equip:
Extra gas/ Water/ Camping gear:
I would like to have a roof top basket to haul this stuff, and keep the bed empty for crawling into and sleeping without moving crap around. The only problem with that, is a hit in center of gravity and gas mileage. This and new rear leaf springs might just be my next mods.
Cheers,
Kurt AKA:fifthcircle
Well, the plan changed drastically, and I ended up with a brand new 06 Tacoma TRD ACC cab. :wings:
After several years, I am really happy with it over a jeep. The main reason is simple, more highway comfort. I just got back from a trip to Moab with a good friend that is driving a very nice Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon. He was less than happy with the highway performance, power in the mountains, and wind noise. Of course, it did a bit better on the trails, but if you break it down to % of time spent behind the wheel, you might say I was overall a happier guy. (I still love Jeeps, and his is awesome. Basically if he stays off the interstate, it's superb.) Since I am on the highway 80%+, the Taco is better FOR ME.
Here is the new plan, and where the Keep It Simple Stupid Tacoma Anti-Build sits:
Suspension:
Bilstein 5100 front adjustable shocks front and rear,
Front set at 1.75" lift on stock coils, Rear TSB leafs.
Removed front sway bar.
Tires:
Treadwright 235/85r16 Crawler (skinny! 9.5 x 32 "mud terrain" tread)
These are on the stock wheels that have some nasty surface corrosion...
:Wow1:
Engine:
All stock.
Drive train:
All stock.
Armor:
Sliders, stock skids, and custom bumper scratches.
Other Equip:
ARE camper shell. CX series with slider windoors and carpet.
Bed rug...nope. $15 rubber floor mat cut to fit...yep!
Cobra 75WXST CB and hood channel mount for the firestik antennae.
Bluetooth OBDII port "dongle" and "Torque" android app on phone (to check engine codes and get other real time info from the truck's computer.
Pioneer AVH3200BT, so I can listen to music and watch movies
Garmin GPSmap 60Cx (quite possibly the most useful GPS available at a great price)
I have wishes and wants, but this set up will do just fine for everything I have encountered so far. It is reliable, smooth driving, and worry free.
I really just wanted to start a thread to encourage anyone with a stock truck to look at the essentials, and get out there. See what it will do first, and mod it later.
First trip to Moab, Stock (except for tires):
THE RED ONE!
Second trip to Moab (on Hell's Revenge) with Bilsteins and Sliders:
This years trip to Moab with ARE, Treadwrights, Bilsteins and sliders:
Here is a video that my friend David put together from our little trip to Moab last week. (I have been 3 times, once stock, once after shocks and sliders, and now with the ARE)
http://youtu.be/d9Nep4JfM5g
Now, since I am on a roll
Here are the problems, or limitations with my set up that bothered me a little.
Suspension:
Rear end bottoms out a lot on the trail. Ultra slow speed is ok, but when you go over 10mph and hit some sand whoops, the rear will hit the bump stops very easily. Granted, I was loaded up the whole time with water, wood, food and camping junk. So a nice set of Deavers would be sweet! Softer ride with more height and more flex.
Front end is SOOO much better without the sway bar. Still, it's a bit stiff and rough on the trails. Nice coilovers would surely help this...anyone wanna buy me a set?
Bumpers:
Front isn't much of a problem. I didn't hit it once on Elephant Hill, Fins'N'Things or Hells Revenge. But it does look very pedestrian. I would love to slap an ARB or something on there.
Rear is a different story. I drug it quite a bit. Mainly I was hitting the rear hitch. New Rear leafs would help a lot, and a schweet tire carrier bumper would be even better. Problem is, I would need new leafs if I got the rear bumper anyway...so the leafs would come first.
Armor:
Stock skids are holding up well. Dented up and scratched but good. The only time this is an issue is after having them off and bending them back to reinstall. Since I just yanked the sway bar, and changed the diff fluids, this is a non issue. A little more piece of mind with a T-case skid, Gas tank skid and e-locker skid would be nice....but not necessary!
Other Equip:
Extra gas/ Water/ Camping gear:
I would like to have a roof top basket to haul this stuff, and keep the bed empty for crawling into and sleeping without moving crap around. The only problem with that, is a hit in center of gravity and gas mileage. This and new rear leaf springs might just be my next mods.
Cheers,
Kurt AKA:fifthcircle
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