Toyotally Awesome 2012 4x4 DBL Cab

[badlinesgoodtimes]

Cruised up to big bear for the weekend. Ran a couple easy trails..
2N01 to Heartbreak ridge to 2N02 (Burns Canyon) back to Baldwin lake.

First time actually wheeling the truck and I have to say I'm stoked on how well it did. I still have some tire rub issues up front to address. Need to hammer The pinch weld down and trim more of the plastic inner fender. The auto limited slip leaves a little to be desired but that was to be expected. Will fix that down the road.

Heartbreak ridge had some fun sections. Ran the AC the entire day lol

My buddies Dodge getting a little tippy

I think my favorite part was we had the little man with us. He did great slept most of the t

 

[badlinesgoodtimes]

Had a great time out at Cuddeback dry lake over thanksgiving. Towed the pop up out with the taco.
Had to play tetris to get all the shit in the tiny bed.

Little tailgate turkey?

Smoked him for 9 hrs

We had 4 birds total Smoked, deep fried, bacon wrapped on gas grill and one done on weber BBQ

Spuds....20lbs worth....

Dinner is served

Wasnt all puppy and balloons.. had a a few broken trucks cracked frame and another buddy had ripped a beam mount of on his ranger.... with the silly scissor suspension

Had a buddy of mine tow out the Prerunner. So naturally drove the prerunner most of the time out there.

 

[badlinesgoodtimes]

We did take the taco to the prison and to pinnacles.

C just going for it at the prison

Good times

 

[badlinesgoodtimes]

yesterday finally got my life together and installed the rest of the skids plate I picked up months ago....

Fired up the paint booth and painted the gas tank skid

Also started rock light/bedlight project.

This little guy.....might just live in the worthless tray.. Does any one actually use this ?

Did a little prep
Oil change
air filter
Cabin filter
Greased the upper bushing so they would stop squeaking on every bump lol
Rotated tires


long overdue

Cabin filter was even better.

Picked these bad boys from @christyle few weeks back finally got around to installing them truck rides way better with them.. I think the stockers were pretty tired.

After adding the skids and sliders front lost probably an inch of ride height.
So, need to crank the front more and break out the angle grinder again take care of a few spots I'm rubbing. Also I have noticed some creaking/vibration coming from the skids. Going to add some rubber washers to hopefully get rid of that.
Thinking about doing the 3 leaf Add-a-leaf and ditching that lift block to get rid of the shudder @DMCtacoma is trying to talk me into airbumps out back...

Haven't wired anything up just yet should get both knocked out shortly and then on to the next thing....

 

[badlinesgoodtimes]

Swapped in some new Hawk LTS pads yesterday.

Also cranked the coils down a bit more to help out with the ride height loss after installing the skids and sliders.
the baby spanner wasn't cutting it so I had to get a pitted with the metric rounder...

sitting more level now

Heading up to big bear this weekend...pretty sure we are gunna do a run down to Pioneertown and then over to Giant rock and maybe hammer town. So I'll be reporting back with some photos from that extravaganza.

Had a great time up in big bear this weekend. Buddy rented a cabin we cruised up Friday night after traffic died down. Had a few sport sodas once we arrived hung out and discussed world issues before we crashed out. Next morning woke up and whipped up a little feast.

Everyone got their lives together and we loaded up and rolled out.

We ran Burns Canyon down from Big Bear to Pioneertown. Pretty mellow fire road really a few spots have some rock gardens to navigate over. Nothing crazy. Did everything in 2wd. Didn't take really any photos at top. Just outside of Pioneer Town... The Joshua trees are huge!

Little man cruising

Original plan was to grab lunch down at Pappy and Harriet's but once we found out the wait was 2 hrs. We just ate at the trucks.
after lunch we headed out toward giant rock in Landers.

 

[badlinesgoodtimes]

Headed back to the hwy... aired up and hit the pike back up to big bear....

Good times. Can't wait to get back up there.

 

[badlinesgoodtimes]

Little Fog light upgrade.
Stock headlights

Baja Designs Squadron Pros Wide cornering

Quick spur of the moment snow run up to Mt Pinos in Frazier Park Saturday.

Olive was a little less than impressed

Little man looked like Randy from A Christmas story haha

Spotted couple other tacos up there.

next time we head up there we gunna scope the 4x4 camp area.

 

[badlinesgoodtimes]

Finally got my radio installed. Had to break out Dremel and notch out cubby so it would sit lower and not interfere with my morning coffee. For now routed antenna under center console into back storage area. When in use I can either run through the rear window or out the driver side rear door and slap the mag mount on the roof.

Took the 10 mins to do the fog any time mod on Saturday.

 

[badlinesgoodtimes]

Have a sweet power steering leak off one of the hard lines on rack....

Going to pick up a new rack and swap the lines out and keep the freshie as a trail spare...

also have a sweet new clunk in the driver side front..... While I was laying under truck I noticed my lower bushings are in great shape.

Might be time to SAIL or Long travel or SAS.
Met up with @SixthSnail and picked up his Camp kitchen fold out table dealio.. Thanks dude!

Had the day off so decided since we made the drive up to Santa Barbara might as well run West Camino Cielo. Ran it from Refugio Rd back to 154. Just my son, dog and I. We didn't see another soul on the trail the entire 2 hours or so. Cool to see all the new growth after fires.

Good times. Can't wait to take him out again. #dadlyfe

 

[badlinesgoodtimes]

my parts pile hasn't grown in awhile...so picked these up from @christyle

Stock leaf pack with icon AAL so I will be able to delete that lift block and hopefully get rid of the drive line shudder.

Also picked up new steering rack and some new rotors.

Trying get this puppy prepped for Mammoth at end of the month.
Even though I have a more important things I should be installing/fixing on truck...

Rack installed over the weekend

Before

after

after

 

[badlinesgoodtimes]

Done
Wheel bearings assembly both sides.
New Rotors
Install skid
install bed bars and RTT
Install Bed tiedowns
Clean and pack tent pillows sleeping bags.

As far as Mammoth prep goes.

Not happening
Replace hard line on steering rack and or replace steering rack (going to run the leak for the trip, pretty sure the rack Detroit axle sent me isn't going to work. )

Maybe
Install fox resi shocks.
install leaf spring pack with AAL


to do
smog
Mount CO2 tank in bed
Remove stock spare
Clean camp kitchen
Fluids check


Pumped that the truck fits in garage still with rack and tent.

New wheel bearing on both sides. Driver side was bad for sure. Truck had a little shake when braking at speed on the freeway that is now gone. going to save the passenger side as a trail spare. Swapped out the drilled and slotted rotors with OEM.

Repainted the IFS skid while I had it off. Installed a TC sticker I've had laying around for ever.

over and out

E

 

[badlinesgoodtimes]

Had an awesome trip to Mammoth.
Bunch of photos from trip

Zero issues with the truck minus wasting the trailer wiring plug on a rock after listening to my spotter... :bananadead:

Oh well shitt'll buff out. Need to move it out of the way anyways.

 

[badlinesgoodtimes]

Went out to Big Bear on the San G run couple weekend ago.... Had a great time hanging around camp meeting some new people and also a few familiar faces as well. Towed out the Destiny, thinking since it was a base camp style trip would be nice not having to set up the tent each time we wanted to move the truck. Some photos...

Bacon of course...

with in the first 45 mins my little guy sent the body out of the pop up on to the asphalt....

Woke up made breakfast and loaded up for Gold Mtn.

@christyle leading the way

I was pretty impressed how easy I walked up the first obstacle without a locker. (still waiting on some photos )

@CaliRaisedLed dudes powered up it no problem with the long travel

 

[badlinesgoodtimes]

Last little climb which had a bypass I decided mmmm why not.. got out spotted @Taco TRQ up without issue. Got in knew the line... ended up slipping off said line once I got the front up and wasted my drive shaft

Wasn't to bad but for sure noticeable once we got on the road.

All good we aired up had a little snack and let the little guy run around

Back to camp for tacos and beer ! picked up 12 lbs of meat cause why not.

Cruised it home with the driveshaft situation. between 45 - 55 there are some good vibrations for sure haha.

All and all good times. Can't wait to get back to Big Bear love it up there.

As for the drive shaft I picked up at used driveshaft from @fatfurious2 (thanks dude) that I just got in the mail yesterday. Planning on installing that for the time being and getting the mangled driveshaft re-tubed. Then reinstalling the rebuild one and keeping the one I just got as a trail spare for the next time I decide to bring the fail. Came with a nice little case with foam and all will be perfect to through on the rack

Also whipped up 6 these little guys up for eyelet tie downs that slot into the rack. Just had to hit eyelit with a cut off wheel and take a little of the the bottom and one side of the nut with flap disc.

Gotta actually get to work installing some shit as we have a big trip coming up in a few weeks through NV.

Driveshaft
Leaf springs
Rear Shocks
Dust light
bed lights
Rock lights
dual battery box
RTT bars
RTT

 

[badlinesgoodtimes]

Spent all day Sunday working on the truck.

Driveshaft Done
Leaf springs Done
Rear Shocks Done
dual battery box Done
Pelfrey Fuse panel installed.


Old drive shaft looking good little candy cane action lol

Battery area all cleaned up and repainted.(stock battery had leaked all over the place from when we ran down to giant rock from big bear.)

ATO Dual battery box Painted

installed

Batteries installed. Just one battery hooked up time being until I get a battery Isolator. We piggy backed the ground off of battery closer to the fender for the moment. Going to get some new longer J hooks for the hold down and get rid of the wing nut

Super stoked on the new leaf pack and rear shocks. Ride height is just about the same as the stock pack with the over load and the 1 inch lift block that came with the truck. Actually feels like I have a little bit of up travel before it slams into the bumps like before. Also I am happy to report the driveline shudder starting from a stop is gone.

Still quite a bit left to do before trip in a few weeks

Change oil
Nut and Bolt check
re-charge Rear shocks with nitrogen.
wire up Dust light
bed lights
Rock lights
install RTT bars
install RTT
mount CO2 tank

wiring party last night.....

Couple leads ran out back.... :violent:

 

[badlinesgoodtimes]

Last night more fun. Night 3 of wiring:facepalm:

drillin holes in the firewall and in the bed... Sweet little grommet off amazon. Got idea from @webdr ( thanks dude)

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/wires-through-the-firewall-the-right-way.531829/

This will be for all the switches into the cab.(I hope) Even though currently only going to be using dust light switch and rock light switch. Down the road going to have lockers, compressor, more lights,etc. will be nice having the all ground work done and just need to wire up switches. Trying to build this thing right the first time lord knows I've hack up enough vehicles in my time.

Bed lights installed just need to figure out cleanest way to finish up wiring to the switch hopefully sort that all out along with the dust light tonight.

more forward progress last night... switch for bed lights and 12v plugs installed

Cool White

red light district

Hopefully get the rest of this wrapped up this weekend.

 

[badlinesgoodtimes]

Little more wiring bit done this weekend.
Got the oil changed
Bed Bars on.
Still have a shit load to do.
Dust light installed still need to hook switch up in cab.

Sorry about your retina.

Should have spent less time smoking meats and more time working on the truck probably.

Tonight's list:
Dust light wire switch
bed lights wire switch
install RTT
mount CO2 tank (Still cant make up my mind where i want it @#$#^ )
Nut and Bolt check
re-charge Rear shocks with nitrogen.

Wiring pretty much wrapped up for the moment. Running the wires under the dash to the switches was a party.
Huge thanks to my buddy Tucker lending a hand, last few nights. He's the one responsible for the clean install not I.

Switch all wired up red/down white

List is getting shorter:

mount CO2 tank
Nut and Bolt check
re-charge Rear shocks with nitrogen.
reorganize tools, need to make more accessible than behind the back seat where the car seat mounts lol #dadlyfe

T-Minus 3 days

 

[badlinesgoodtimes]

Had an awesome trip couple weeks ago. Through Nevada. Started in Tonopah went as far north as Austin, NV and then looped back down to through Death Valley.
The group did 500 dirt miles over 6 days. We just joined for part of the trip Thursday -Monday total dirt mileage for us was about 240...

If you are rolling through Lone Pine... you gotta stop

Met up with group Friday Night at Tonopah station Casino. Grabbed dinner and a few beverages.

Up early to hit the trail. First stop
Tonopah dunes

We pressed on north to a pretty bad ass homestead...

Crazy how straight they got this wall

 

[badlinesgoodtimes]

We headed up to the Ichthyosaur Fossil Shelter for lunch. Had a dude in new Colorado roll in with a flat while we were posted up. Went into full pit support mode slapped a plug in for him and aired him up.

after lunch we headed into the forest rad windy section of trail

and then back out into the open desert

attack cat

da fack ?

race warz

Then it was time for a little soak.

 

[badlinesgoodtimes]

Water was hot!

Hopped on the hwy for a bit and headed to our planned camp site.

We set up shop and made a feast. Brats/ couple tritips/ bacon wrapped things.

morning came and man it was chilly.

Went on a little stroll down the trail

Gassed up in Austin, NV