downpour11
New member
X2 that trail looks like a ton of fun :thumb3:
NateMob's "DD" Build
- Thread starter NateMob
- Start date
NateMob
New member
[MENTION=67615]Dirtco[/MENTION] and [MENTION=56044]downpour11[/MENTION], if you fellas are ever anywhere near here I would gladly lead you through! So, when will you be here?!:rapture:
I had to back part way down the hill to start the recovery to get Matt on flat ground to remove the busted shaft.
The recovery truly sucked, I couldn't get enough traction to keep from sliding down while serving as his winch anchor and there was nothing ahead of me to tie off too. No one could get around us so I had to make it happen! :cheer2:
Brent anxiously awaiting at the bottom.
And the rain is about to move in!
So we hooked up the snatch block and let out as much rope as we could, i dropped it in D and put my truck to work.
The combination of some steady throttle on my end and his winch and FRONT wheel drive got us a little ways up the trail, til we got to the last big hill. Then more bad luck struck for Matt. Mesquite root straight through the sidewall.
The sand just swallows you if you're not carrying enough momentum.
Luckily a fullsize spare was swapped out NASCAR style and we were almost home.
I had to back part way down the hill to start the recovery to get Matt on flat ground to remove the busted shaft.
The recovery truly sucked, I couldn't get enough traction to keep from sliding down while serving as his winch anchor and there was nothing ahead of me to tie off too. No one could get around us so I had to make it happen! :cheer2:
Brent anxiously awaiting at the bottom.
And the rain is about to move in!
So we hooked up the snatch block and let out as much rope as we could, i dropped it in D and put my truck to work.
The combination of some steady throttle on my end and his winch and FRONT wheel drive got us a little ways up the trail, til we got to the last big hill. Then more bad luck struck for Matt. Mesquite root straight through the sidewall.
The sand just swallows you if you're not carrying enough momentum.
Luckily a fullsize spare was swapped out NASCAR style and we were almost home.
downpour11
New member
Nice tire carnage. Welp, once I finish the swap I have a lot of friends to visit in Tucson. I might just possibly trek on over to ABQ!
NateMob
New member
Sounds awesome dude, I would be up for some AZ wheeling sometime in the future for sure! My wife and i really enjoyed Tucson and Phoenix when we went for a few days last Christmas.
Thanks Mikhail, I really appreciate your kind words. You've got an excellent build going also!
I got a few more photos to post from the same trail...
Channeling my inner [MENTION=34852]crazydubman[/MENTION] here.
This one is just awesome looking i think, my buddy shot it while they were driving past me, i took a right instead of taking the left fork!
The B&M cooler that i am running kept my truck at a pretty comfortable transmission temps for the better part of the day. I saw temps touch 210* when pulling the Tacoma up a steep hill before stopping for a break to cool down. In regular 4-lo conditions in the rocks, I was hovering right around 160* on a 100* desert day! Very pleased with the choice to run a large single cooler by itself and not have to worry about the radiator trans cooler springing a leak.
Ill leave you with a teaser.
:girl:
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crazydubman
New member
Looking good Nate. Liking the flexed out shot. Wish I lived around more trails lime that...
Can't wait to seeing the new front bumper on your runner.
Can't wait to seeing the new front bumper on your runner.
the great him
Elite Member
did you buy jims bumper?
Toyotacolin
New member
NateMob
New member
Thanks bud, believe me I'll be posting shots as soon as i'm allowed! :ballchain:
Thanks Crazy, I thought you would like that picture. Mine needs meatier tires to fill out the fenderwells like yours does! Bumper shots soon.
:girl: Awesome compliment, had me rolling! I think you will be happy with what is to come.
His yardsale came a couple weeks too late, otherwise, hell yes it would be on my truck.
Nope, he isn't selling it now.Other wise I would have bought it.
And this still makes me feel like shit, now time to see what ANB can do for you!
NateMob
New member
With Thrill on the Hill 2013 at the end of the month I have a few loose ends to work on to get her ready for 3-4 days of fun trails with strictly Toyotas! I have had good intentions on going with a Lil Skips tank skid or one of Any7's new skids, but im short on funds and time.
Ive abused my poor skid til recently it gave me a pretty good scare in the form of a couple sizeable dents that not only could have ruined my day but also is keeping my fuel gauge from reading as "empty" as it did before. I also lost a bit of fuel capacity. :crybaby: Time to take matters into my own hand with a BFH and some 1/8" steel plate.
You'll notice some of the curves have been straightened flat from rocks.
The middle took a nice hit and is now caved in pretty good.
The dent just in front of the tank strap is the one that creased the tanks metal pretty good and got me moving on this.
Hammertime!
After some cutting, bending and MIG welding, this is what i came up with. A good bit heavier than stock but not a pig like the true beefy aftermarket ones.
I'm happy with it for the time being, I think it'll stand up to some abuse til i can get a more permanent solution under there, and this cost me nothing since i used scrap metal i had lying around from other projects. 1/8" isnt the ideal thickness but i think itll suffice for a while.
Next i had to address BOTH of my bent lower links.
Ive abused my poor skid til recently it gave me a pretty good scare in the form of a couple sizeable dents that not only could have ruined my day but also is keeping my fuel gauge from reading as "empty" as it did before. I also lost a bit of fuel capacity. :crybaby: Time to take matters into my own hand with a BFH and some 1/8" steel plate.
You'll notice some of the curves have been straightened flat from rocks.
The middle took a nice hit and is now caved in pretty good.
The dent just in front of the tank strap is the one that creased the tanks metal pretty good and got me moving on this.
Hammertime!
After some cutting, bending and MIG welding, this is what i came up with. A good bit heavier than stock but not a pig like the true beefy aftermarket ones.
I'm happy with it for the time being, I think it'll stand up to some abuse til i can get a more permanent solution under there, and this cost me nothing since i used scrap metal i had lying around from other projects. 1/8" isnt the ideal thickness but i think itll suffice for a while.
Next i had to address BOTH of my bent lower links.
the great him
Elite Member
looks like its gonna be time for a lilskip soon... just saying
NateMob
New member
Yeah i know, just didnt have the $400 laying around after I had to replace the hot water heater at my rental property back in Carolina. Its usually awesome having someone else pay my mortgage, except when something breaks and my property management company just takes the money for the work done and i get whats left.
Anyway, I knew i wanted to build some beef lower links after bending both of mine in the rocks. I pm'ed [MENTION=58958]PATCO[/MENTION] about the components that he uses in all of his awesome looking links and he helped me out considerably.
I feel that square tubing is stronger for this application as opposed to round tubing as it should theoretically resist bending to a greater degree. IMO! Not to mention easier to straighten back out and reinforce once i do bend it. I also had it laying around, I was able to go with a smaller outside diameter for clearance and still having a ridiculously thick wall thickness.
I used american steel 1.5" x 1.5" x 1/4"wall square tubing for the links. I measured about ten times before cutting the donor factory links apart as i would be reusing two of the factory bushing sockets for the axle ends. For the frame end i took Patco's advice and went with Summit Machine's flex joint as i knew i didnt want to give money to Trail Gear or Currie. I was impressed by their quality and will use them again when the time comes, they are built so that as the delrin like plastic internals wear, you can tighten them to take up any slack. They also come tapped for a set screw and zerk fitting to keep them greased.
For the other end i just went with factory bushings to keep vibrations down, I also didnt want a rod end/flex joint of any kind at the axle end because of how much more road and trail grim it will see as opposed to the frame side joint.
I needed to keep the stock length to avoid clearance issues with my rear bumper so 23 1/8" was my goal for total end to end length. After some careful cutting, notching, and TIG welding this is my result. Links that weigh right at 10lbs a piece.
Took them back to work and sanded everything down smooth before rattle canning them. I didnt bother priming them, when these get hit, primer wont make a difference. I was too excited and pressed for time to wait to press and assemble the ends after paint so they had to be masked off.
Ready to be installed.
Not much too look at, but i know they are BEEFY!
Up next tomorrow, I have a leaking front axle seal that needs attention and not really sure how far it needs to be seated on the passenger side, from what i have read the right side doesnt have a stop so it can go in too far. Any advice from anyone that has done one already?
Next weekend, locker install! :becky:
the great him
Elite Member
you wanta make me a set!? you have some killer welds there my friend! if i had a welder at home i would be making these all day long. but no welder access any more.
TCMach
New member
Nice lower links! I'm getting ready to put some angle iron on mine. Cheap and it will stiffen them up enough to where I don't need to worry. Plus it's 7 bucks for 10 foot of it! Did you have to press those bushings in? Mine are getting close to where I need to do something about them.
Where's that bumper :spy:.
Where's that bumper :spy:.
