SOcalTrail's 2011 Trail Edition Beast Build Thread

Update to my bumper build. The bumper itself is almost done. I have some internal reinforcing to do yet, and still have to mount the shackle attachment point on the passenger side. So far I am very happy with it. Its looking like the stock rear bumper covering is going to interface very nicely.

IMAG0582.jpg~original


Still a lot to do - tire swing out, bottom skid plate, aux. fuel tank and all that entails. I have my work cut out for me. :bravo:
 
Did you leave the rear crossmember in?

T-Minus 2 days until mine goes under the knife.

Keep posting the pics. Wish I had metal working, welding skills, a place to manufacture cool stuff.
 
mikey's2010SR5 said:
Did you leave the rear crossmember in?

T-Minus 2 days until mine goes under the knife.

Keep posting the pics. Wish I had metal working, welding skills, a place to manufacture cool stuff.
Click to expand...

EDIT** yup, rear crossmember left intact. I basically ended up plating over it. Very strong
Exciting! So how long are they going to have your truck for?

I will be stalking your thread next week to check up on your progress.

I am definitely lucky to have the facility and tools to do projects like these. Makes me wish that building custom trucks was my full time job.:surfer:
 
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SOcalTRAIL said:
EDIT** yup, rear crossmember left intact. I basically ended up plating over it. Very strong
Exciting! So how long are they going to have your truck for?

I will be stalking your thread next week to check up on your progress.

I am definitely lucky to have the facility and tools to do projects like these. Makes me wish that building custom trucks was my full time job.:surfer:
Click to expand...

Luke says he wants to have it done early October since he goes on vacation. So we will see. As far as I know he isn't building any other rears off of my truck, and he said he had completed most of his other projects.

Stalk away my friend...

Sooo did you leave the crossmember in?

:hunter:
 
mikey's2010SR5 said:
Luke says he wants to have it done early October since he goes on vacation. So we will see. As far as I know he isn't building any other rears off of my truck, and he said he had completed most of his other projects.

Stalk away my friend...

Sooo did you leave the crossmember in?

:hunter:
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Can't wait to see how it turns out! I've enjoyed seeing all the unique features and creativity that has gone into everyone's rear bumper builds. This is not an easy truck to build one for!!!

Sorry, got carried away and forgot to answer your original question. I left the rear crossmember intact, it lent itself well as a good starting platform for the build. I plated right over the top with 3/16" plate and some strategically placed stiffening webs and gussets. It ulbolts in about 5 minutes, starting to get pretty heavy already and I don't even have the tire swing out hardware on yet.:wow:
 
SOcalTRAIL said:
Can't wait to see how it turns out! I've enjoyed seeing all the unique features and creativity that has gone into everyone's rear bumper builds. This is not an easy truck to build one for!!!

Sorry, got carried away and forgot to answer your original question. I left the rear crossmember intact, it lent itself well as a good starting platform for the build. I plated right over the top with 3/16" plate and some strategically placed stiffening webs and gussets. It ulbolts in about 5 minutes, starting to get pretty heavy already and I don't even have the tire swing out hardware on yet.:wow:
Click to expand...


Nice! Not going to lie but I'm green of envy with your skills and tools you have. Curious... What's your current weight? What's you estimated overall weight of the bumper (with hardware and swing outs, tire etc..)? Love it!
 
MeBe4running said:
Nice! Not going to lie but I'm green of envy with your skills and tools you have. Curious... What's your current weight? What's you estimated overall weight of the bumper (with hardware and swing outs, tire etc..)? Love it!
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RIght now I am right at about 5,500 lbs with an empty vehicle, no occupants. I am estimating that the bumper, swing out, 285/70/17 Spare and other misc hardware will put me right at 5700 +/-

I really really want that TRD supercharger to come out. I'm starting to notice the weight difference coming up the hills out of the desert. My gas mileage is still decent (in my opinion) - I get about 16-16.5 around town and 17.5-18.5 on freeway.

Also, I FINALLY got me a set of 285 Hankook MT's coming. Should be on either Tuesday or Thursday of next week. Stoked to finally get rid of the 265's even though they have been great tires, outperformed and and all of my expectations. The 285's will look much better and give me a bit more clearance and a little wider foot print. CANNOT WAIT FOR THE DESERT TO COOL DOWN!!!!!! I was down doing a little dove hunting with my dad yesterday and we got done early so we did about a 30 mile section of trail down in Ocotillo before it got too hot. Quite a tease but so fun. These trucks are absolute beasts.
 
SOcalTRAIL said:
RIght now I am right at about 5,500 lbs with an empty vehicle, no occupants. I am estimating that the bumper, swing out, 285/70/17 Spare and other misc hardware will put me right at 5700 +/-

I really really want that TRD supercharger to come out. I'm starting to notice the weight difference coming up the hills out of the desert. My gas mileage is still decent (in my opinion) - I get about 16-16.5 around town and 17.5-18.5 on freeway.

Also, I FINALLY got me a set of 285 Hankook MT's coming. Should be on either Tuesday or Thursday of next week. Stoked to finally get rid of the 265's even though they have been great tires, outperformed and and all of my expectations. The 285's will look much better and give me a bit more clearance and a little wider foot print. CANNOT WAIT FOR THE DESERT TO COOL DOWN!!!!!! I was down doing a little dove hunting with my dad yesterday and we got done early so we did about a 30 mile section of trail down in Ocotillo before it got too hot. Quite a tease but so fun. These trucks are absolute beasts.
Click to expand...

Oh nice. Sadly thats is where you'll lose your MPG's. When I upgraded my tires from 265/70/17 I quite literally lost 2-3 MPG. I now average 15 in the city and 16.5-17 on the highway @2500-3000. I'm thinking my next tire set up will be one size down like a 275/70/17- we will see there though.

Nice glad you're having fun out in the desert with your old man. I believe you that its to hot. Its been high 90's here in Denver for the past couple of days. Though I have been out east recently where its been miserable with the humidity! I cant begin to imagine the desert temp's!

Looking forward to watching this rear bumper build complete. Last question for the minute, are you putting a swing arm for fuel/water. I know you said you are thinking about an auxiliary fuel tank but I'm thinking that weight is going to get you BIG time?
 
MeBe4running said:
Oh nice. Sadly thats is where you'll lose your MPG's. When I upgraded my tires from 265/70/17 I quite literally lost 2-3 MPG. I now average 15 in the city and 16.5-17 on the highway @2500-3000. I'm thinking my next tire set up will be one size down like a 275/70/17- we will see there though.

Nice glad you're having fun out in the desert with your old man. I believe you that its to hot. Its been high 90's here in Denver for the past couple of days. Though I have been out east recently where its been miserable with the humidity! I cant begin to imagine the desert temp's!

Looking forward to watching this rear bumper build complete. Last question for the minute, are you putting a swing arm for fuel/water. I know you said you are thinking about an auxiliary fuel tank but I'm thinking that weight is going to get you BIG time?
Click to expand...

I'm already running the Hankook 256's which are LT tires (load range E) and the 285's only weigh 5 lbs more each. I know I'll see more mileage drop but hopefully not as drastic as going from a C load tire to a E tire. It was like an 11 LB increase per tire going from the Crap tires that came on my truck to the Hankook MT's. Unsprung weight does horrible things to gas mileage unfortunately.

I am going to hold off on adding a mount for water cans since I usually throw those inside. I am going to have a very stealthy place to attach my high lift back there and I may make it modular so I could add a Jerry can holder in the future.

THe auxiliary fuel tank won't weigh much itself because it is being made out of aluminum and the ancillary equipment like the fuel pump, filler neck, etc wont weigh a whole bunch either. All together, I would guess approximately 25 additional pounds for the pump, tank, hoses, etc. I don't plan on filling the aux tank except for road trips and off road trips because you are right on, that extra 14-16 gallons of fuel is heavy ( 15 Gal. @ ~6lbs/gal= approx. 90 additional pounds).

Either way, its gonna be a beastly heavy rig when its all done. I'm saving some weight by swapping the read skid that compliments my bumper from 3/16" steel to 1/4" T6 Aluminum. Having a big solid plate of steel measuring 40" x 20" was too heavy, T6 is very strong and so much lighter. I designed it to bolt on and off separately from the bumper as well as hold the aux. fuel tank so if it is damaged somehow, it is easily replaced .


T4rman said:
looks great. definitely subscribing to this one. how do you like the rear floods?
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Thanks bro, I love the rear floods. I hardly ever end up using them as back up lights but they come in very handy on hunting trips when were loading gear and setting stuff up or camping trips. A few months back we made a trip up to the mountains and I swear those lights were on for 6 hours straight each night. I backed my truck up to our site and turned the lights on for poker games, cooking, cleaning, etc. Very handy!
 
SOcalTRAIL said:
I'm already running the Hankook 256's which are LT tires (load range E) and the 285's only weigh 5 lbs more each. I know I'll see more mileage drop but hopefully not as drastic as going from a C load tire to a E tire. It was like an 11 LB increase per tire going from the Crap tires that came on my truck to the Hankook MT's. Unsprung weight does horrible things to gas mileage unfortunately.

Yeah mine are 285/70/17 D Load rating (8 ply). I just need to find an equilibrium between tire sizes and load range/tread pattern. I'll get there!

I am going to hold off on adding a mount for water cans since I usually throw those inside. I am going to have a very stealthy place to attach my high lift back there and I may make it modular so I could add a Jerry can holder in the future.

Sweeeet!

THe auxiliary fuel tank won't weigh much itself because it is being made out of aluminum and the ancillary equipment like the fuel pump, filler neck, etc wont weigh a whole bunch either. All together, I would guess approximately 25 additional pounds for the pump, tank, hoses, etc. I don't plan on filling the aux tank except for road trips and off road trips because you are right on, that extra 14-16 gallons of fuel is heavy ( 15 Gal. @ ~6lbs/gal= approx. 90 additional pounds).

I know nothing about fuel tanks nor would I even begin to know how to install one. Looking forward to seeing how you go about your's as its "an up in the air" idea weiter to or not install one. I love the idea of not faffing around with jerry cans and just being being able to flick a switch as such.

Either way, its gonna be a beastly heavy rig when its all done. I'm saving some weight by swapping the read skid that compliments my bumper from 3/16" steel to 1/4" T6 Aluminum. Having a big solid plate of steel measuring 40" x 20" was too heavy, T6 is very strong and so much lighter. I designed it to bolt on and off separately from the bumper as well as hold the aux. fuel tank so if it is damaged somehow, it is easily replaced .


Good thinking, love that's bolt on, love that your choosing 6061 with T6 temper as as a posed to 3/16" steel, thats a heavy chunk of steel! I'm making notes, keep us posted and thank you for letting me pick your brain!
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Got some new shoes for my rig!!!!

Finally got me some 285's!!! I got a pretty good deal on the same tires as I had before (Hankook Dynapro MT's) so I grabbed them and gave the 265's to my dad for his Tacoma. Absolutely love these tires.

IMAG0593.jpg~original
 
SOcalTRAIL said:
Got some new shoes for my rig!!!!

Finally got me some 285's!!! I got a pretty good deal on the same tires as I had before (Hankook Dynapro MT's) so I grabbed them and gave the 265's to my dad for his Tacoma. Absolutely love these tires.
Click to expand...

Love it, looks really BAD ASS
 
Looks good man! I'm loving these Hankooks so far. Haven't gotten to really use em yet, just a little bit of clowning around.

How's the progress on the bumper coming along??
 
FactoryRide said:
Looks good man! I'm loving these Hankooks so far. Haven't gotten to really use em yet, just a little bit of clowning around.

How's the progress on the bumper coming along??
Click to expand...

Its moving right along - You can see in the pics I have the shackle attachment points permanently welded to the frame and all reinforced - beefy 3/4" plate! The tow hitch is welded in as well and I actually got to use it this weekend, worked out well, I just need a hitch with more drop in it!

I'll have a bit more time this weekend to start to get it all buttoned up. Most of the heavy cutting / grinding is done, just final fit up then I have to start to figure out my swing out!
 
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