The WaterWagon project

[blakeape]

Slow but steady progress. Some stuff showed up in the mail. I got the new Marlin Knuckle Gussets, upper axle re-inforcement gusset, and a TG axle armor I picked up cheap burned in. I was real careful and took about 5 hrs to do it so hopefully I shouldn't have any warp issues. I ripped the cab off a 96 Tacoma I'm parting out and delivered it in between welds. I didn't opt for the $20 steering stop weld in's and just pounded some 15/16 nuts and bolts in instead I had laying around.

 

[Wainiha]

Don't lie, it's you, we know you love the air guitar.:hehe:

 

[blakeape]

Well the IFS went away this morning. I unbolted a few things I wanted to save and torched off the rest. It went very well and having the engine out sure makes this job a lot easier. I have a big afternoon of grinding ahead of me!

A friend and I also made the paper doing a little downwinding on our paddle boards (a bit of what I'm building this truck for) during a storm on Monday. Somebody thought we were in trouble, called 911 and alerted Search and Rescue. They had a helicopter, fixed wing and 2 boats looking for us. We were totally fine and just doing what we planned to that day which was to paddle/surf across about 6 miles of open lake, visibility was crap and they actually didn't find us. I heard from a guy at the Fire Department I work at that they were looking for lost paddle boarders and canceled the search by phone.
http://www.dailyinterlake.com/news/local_montana/article_802fb5d0-b12a-11e2-a503-001a4bcf887a.html

 

[Wainiha]

Paddleboarding in Montana? Wow. Brrrr!

When I lived there my new friends scolded me for walking to the store in winter. -60 with wind chill. I didn't know any better. Hawaiian.

I wish I had money for a house there too. Awesome state!

 

[blakeape]

Got the frame ground down, the front spring hanger tacked on and the front third bolted in last night. I'll try to get the axle hung during my next days off but looks like I might be going wheeling/camping on Sat/Sun. Poor me.

 

[blakeape]

I was looking at a few old pics and found some from when I took this thing on a 1500-ish mile road trip back in Sep of 09 with my just 103 lb black lab/mastiff mix "Bishop". The main reason for the trip was a wedding in Jackson Hole WY, but I was able to include some kayaking, dirt biking and visiting friends on the way.




It was a great trip I spent some time alone, saw some good friends on the way, had fun and then met up with my wife and lots of old friends and family at the wedding!

 

[surlydiesel]

Ok, totally off topic but did I miss a build report about the 1-Ton Tacoma? My question is, was that a reg cab truck you put an extended cab on? Or was it an extended cab that you bobbed and put a cap off of a double cab on. I love the wheel base of my reg cab but would give up the bed space for 12 inches of cab space...

-jorge

 

[blakeape]

Ok, totally off topic but did I miss a build report about the 1-Ton Tacoma? My question is, was that a reg cab truck you put an extended cab on? Or was it an extended cab that you bobbed and put a cap off of a double cab on. I love the wheel base of my reg cab but would give up the bed space for 12 inches of cab space...

-jorge

Sorry, no build thread on the Taco. I think I posted the specs before but they are:
Dana 60 front with 5.38's and an ARB, 14 Bolt rear with a Detroit, both on leafs with traction bars, dual cases with 4.7 gears in 1, bobbed bed front and rear, cut out cab, 116" wheel base, 3.4 and 5spd, 42" Iroks on re-centered H1's for wheelin' and 40 MTR's on H2's for Daily Driver status
It is the factory extended cab frame that I moved the rear axle forward 7" on. So 7 inches out of the front and I think 13 out of the rear. I bobbed the frame and cut a topper down to match. One thing I love is that with the front seats slid forward I still have almost 7 feet from the seats to the tailgate for very comfortable sleeping!

 

[Rot Box]

Lookin good! Looking forward to updates :coffeedrink:

 

[surlydiesel]

Thanks!!!

 

[blakeape]

Might not be a lot of progress on the 4runner for a week or so because it is beautiful in NW and I'd rather be paddling then welding! I went paddle boarding on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River yesterday and then drove up past Polebridge MT and camped with some friends on the North Fork. Also headed to the Lochsa River next weekend!

 

[blakeape]

No real progress on the 4runner too busy surfing in Montana! I plan on a good day on the truck on Friday though.

[video]http://s851.photobucket.com/user/blakeape/media/IMG_1144_zpsf86a034a.mp4.html[/video]

 

[mountainsports2002]

Did you ever finish this project? Love your builds!