The Taco build has started

[Richard]

I started getting my '09 Tacoma ready for the trails, though for a few reasons I decided the drivetrain and suspension would remain stock this summer, this will make wheeling local trails challenging again and make me appreciate the mods next year. So I started with protection and the practical stuff.
First is 31" Duratrac tires, stock size is 30".
I got bare sliders from Trail Gear and painted them with Tremclad Professional.


Next up are skid plates that...

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[Richard]

These were done before the above but whatever. I installed an aluminium tool box, attached the CB antenna to it which required that I ground the tool box since the truck bed is all plastic.


Inside I bolted down a Viair 450C with tank. The tank is vertical since the ports are on the ends only and I want to be able to drain water. There's a cooling fan blowing on the compressor head.


I wanted to be able to take out the compressor and use it in the house, so I built a stand and can attache a 12V 25A A/C PSU.


Got these switches for $15 at PA, only the middle one is used for now.


And I installed this fuse block and 100A breaker under the hood for all my present and future goodies.


This next one wasn't really for offroading but is very handy since the manual tranny 1st and reverse are geared high, a mod using a relay to have 2WD Low, the switch is next to the 4WD selector.



This is also not for offroad but might come in handy in a power outage. An Anderson 175A connector to power my 1000W inverter, also goes through the 100A breaker.

 

[Richard]

Last weekend I ran the Lavant trail setup as above and it did great, never got stuck though we did have to stack rocks on the big rock step. It was a good test and I beat up the skid plates pretty good.


The rear one also slipped up making contact with the exhaust and one time scraping some plastic off the t-case shifter motor. Here you can see that the nuts were once sitting higher on the plate.



As I said, good I didn't paint them yet, I straightened them a bit with a sledge and added some extra ribs to the front skid (the diagonal ones), and thick washers to the read skid to keep it handing low.



They are currently being painted and will be ready for another trail soon.

And other minor things: yes I have a new CB, replaced the radio with a plain Kenwood double din, added hood struts, a hitch, and RAM phone mount.

 

[badcompany]

very nice, Keeping an eye on this...

 

[Logan]

Looking good!

 

[badcompany]

I have the same skid's. This might come in handy on the trails

Miko. on Instagram: "My friend @windigo.53 bought this cv axle puller incase we need to remove cv axle without removing the skid plate in the trail and we’re amaze easy and save time thanks to this GZiladesign. #gziladesigns"

Miko. shared a post on Instagram: "My friend @windigo.53 bought this cv axle puller incase we need to remove cv axle without removing the skid plate in the trail and we’re amaze easy and save time thanks to this GZiladesign. #gziladesigns". Follow their account to see 138 posts.

www.instagram.com

 

[Richard]

Nice tool, I'll have to get one and hope I never need to open the bag.

 

[badcompany]

I have the same skid's as you so it would be a real pain to remove the cv.
over 2 years of beating on that truck, no cv problems, knock on wood. shaft angle, I always kept that in mind.
hope we can get out some day...

 

[Twinkie]

It was a good test and I beat up the skid plates pretty good

On the trail re-engineering, or self clearancing, whatever. LoL

 

[Function > Form]

Wow you've been busy, looks great. Love the ingenuity on the compressor. Clean work overall man.

Also, how is it possible that there is ZERO rust on that taco??? Was it from out west?

 

[badcompany]

I did not know you can do a 2lo mod with a relay... nice one

 

[Richard]

Wow you've been busy, looks great. Love the ingenuity on the compressor. Clean work overall man.

Also, how is it possible that there is ZERO rust on that taco??? Was it from out west?

I don't know how the body stayed that good, but I got the frame replaced under a recall this past December.

 

[Richard]

I did not know you can do a 2lo mod with a relay... nice one

Details are on TacomaWorld, you can't switch straight from 4LO to 2LO or back, you always have to go back to 2H, but it's great for backing a trailer. I'm contemplating an FJ t-case swap for manual shifting.

 

[badcompany]

the fj case swap.... worth it...