more like GROUP SEX! there is a lot going on in there! lol
SOcalTrail's 2011 Trail Edition Beast Build Thread
- Thread starter SOcalTRAIL
- Start date
FactoryRide
New member
Looking good. Body mount looks awesome. Makes me want to redo mine. Bumper is looking killer as well. Can't wait to see it finished up.
ToyoTech
New member
sweet runner. cant wait to see how the rear bumper will be once its all done.
i havent really played with the navi units in the 5th gen and if they are any different they what was being used so i could be wrong about this. bypassing the speedo reading to the navi unit can cause problems. reason why they allow the navi to read speedo is to help with the navi itself to know where you are by predicting where you are by speed along with other readings it collects via satellite. im sure it still works now but just a heads up if it ever puts you slightly off on the map
i havent really played with the navi units in the 5th gen and if they are any different they what was being used so i could be wrong about this. bypassing the speedo reading to the navi unit can cause problems. reason why they allow the navi to read speedo is to help with the navi itself to know where you are by predicting where you are by speed along with other readings it collects via satellite. im sure it still works now but just a heads up if it ever puts you slightly off on the map
SOcalTRAIL
New member
Correct, it uses the VSS for "dead reckoning" purposes among others. When I hit the switch that interrupts the actual VSS input and substitutes it for the simulated VSS input, the pointer on the map either stops moving or moves off course very slowly. As soon as I do what I have to do in the navi unit and flip the switch to re connect the actual VSS input, it takes about 10-20 seconds and the pointer jumps to the actual correct position on the map. No problems at all, it works perfectly.
SOcalTRAIL
New member
Just a little update and teaser----
Just got back late last night from my Death Valley trip, overall it was absolutely awesome!!!! Truck performed flawlessly! We ran about 180 miles of trail in 5 days, total trip mileage was just shy of 800. I snapped around 500 pics and have 4 hours of HD movie from my GoPro to edit and condense into something I can post on YouTube.
It was some of the gnarliest four wheeling I've had that rig in thus far and it took everything with a smile, nothing even came close to stopping it. I used every piece of rock armor I have on this truck as well, it all worked perfectly. the new rear bumper and added clearance was put to use as well.
I went with a co-worker who drives a built Jeep Cherokee and another friend who's dad drives a built 1980 FJ40 (absolutely awesome truck!!!). After the trip, my buddy's dad who is a Baja 1000 winner, works in Mc Millan Racing's Pit Crew, and about the most accomplished four wheeler I know of, said that my truck was " the most capable 4x4 he had ever been on trail with" He was a little skeptical at first, but the Trail Beast outdid even his built FJ40 in more than one occasion.
I had my Garmin GPS on the whole time so I have the .GPX file of our whole trip if anyone is interested.
Here are a couple teaser pics until I get the rest edited and uploaded.
Just got back late last night from my Death Valley trip, overall it was absolutely awesome!!!! Truck performed flawlessly! We ran about 180 miles of trail in 5 days, total trip mileage was just shy of 800. I snapped around 500 pics and have 4 hours of HD movie from my GoPro to edit and condense into something I can post on YouTube.
It was some of the gnarliest four wheeling I've had that rig in thus far and it took everything with a smile, nothing even came close to stopping it. I used every piece of rock armor I have on this truck as well, it all worked perfectly. the new rear bumper and added clearance was put to use as well.
I went with a co-worker who drives a built Jeep Cherokee and another friend who's dad drives a built 1980 FJ40 (absolutely awesome truck!!!). After the trip, my buddy's dad who is a Baja 1000 winner, works in Mc Millan Racing's Pit Crew, and about the most accomplished four wheeler I know of, said that my truck was " the most capable 4x4 he had ever been on trail with" He was a little skeptical at first, but the Trail Beast outdid even his built FJ40 in more than one occasion.
I had my Garmin GPS on the whole time so I have the .GPX file of our whole trip if anyone is interested.
Here are a couple teaser pics until I get the rest edited and uploaded.
Last edited:
mikey's2010SR5
New member
Nice photos. Can't wait to see the video.
ToyoTech
New member
ahh. did not know you had it on a switch. well carry on lol. nice pictures of putting the runner to work
Go JayBee
New member
Thanks for the link to the struts. I've got a brand new T4R TE that I upgraded speakers on. You know....put "real" speakers in. So now the tailgate will not open all the way on it's own....I have to push it up the rest of the way. Can't blame this on Toyota, so am being pro-active and getting the struts from Mr Lou's Stuff. Very reasonably priced.
Thanks again for your research efforts.
Thanks again for your research efforts.
SOcalTRAIL
New member
You are welcome sir, enjoy!
quick question, do you have any issues with heat buildup in your hid foglight conversions? i wanna make mine hids, installer wants to make sure i wont melt the housing. also, do you know if you can hack the factory navigation so the car thinks you are sitting still when you are moving? thanks!
Bay33saw
New member
Great pictures SOCal...absolute great time to visit Death Valley is in the spring or fall, good choice.
Please tell me you didn't make camp in that dry river bed Pict 8>.....Flash floods can be bad out there.
All in all great pictures and proof that your runner deserved to win the truck of the month last month.
I look forward to seeing the other pictures while I am on vacation in Carlsbad next week.
Please tell me you didn't make camp in that dry river bed Pict 8>.....Flash floods can be bad out there.
All in all great pictures and proof that your runner deserved to win the truck of the month last month.
I look forward to seeing the other pictures while I am on vacation in Carlsbad next week.
SOcalTRAIL
New member
Thanks man!
It was an excellent trip!!! Ya, we set up our cooking area down there in the wash, but the tents were all set up on a little flat spot just to the right of the trucks and out of the wash. We had absolute outstanding weather every day until Monday when we drove home...20+ mph winds the while time until we were south of the Cajon pass.
Now that I'm somewhat familiar with the area and have the GPS tracks, I would love to organize a similar trip for the west coast T4R guys.
Enjoy Carlsbad, the weather is great down here right now, I'm actually headed up to Santa Barbara to visit with the girlfriends family this weekend.
Bay33saw
New member
Will do we go every year, and as an added bonus we are heading to SB in December for a week with the dogs.......love Cali, but it's so God damn expensive.
That bumper is tits, sir!
Great job, and if you need someone to take that vision x mount off your hands, let me know! Best idea for mounting lights I've seen yet. I may have missed it in the thread (and I'm fairly confident I know the answer), but did you fab the grill as well?
Great job, and if you need someone to take that vision x mount off your hands, let me know! Best idea for mounting lights I've seen yet. I may have missed it in the thread (and I'm fairly confident I know the answer), but did you fab the grill as well?
AI*Phoenix
New member
Rear bumper is coming along great. Can't wait to see the plans for the front.
SOcalTRAIL
New member
Thanks! I took a 2 week break from working on it to play in the desert, now the work begins again!
Thanks!
I was happy with how the Vision X mount came out. It was a very tight fit,you could say it was like trying to fit 11 lbs of chit in a 10 lb bag. I did fab the grill as well.
I'll hafta see where if I still have the water jet program that I made to cut out the sheet metal for the light mount.
SOcalTRAIL
New member
Just got back into town again so I figured I would post a few more pics of play time in my truck!
Notice the XJ Jeep and the FJ40 at the bottom.... they wouldn't try this hill, it was naaaaasty.
TE Wheel Carnage!!!
Awesome pic, entering Titus Canyon.
Nasty rock section.
Gas prices at Furnace Creek
Slot Canyon
The gear - the Pelican cooler is awesome. Keeps ice for weeks!
Notice the XJ Jeep and the FJ40 at the bottom.... they wouldn't try this hill, it was naaaaasty.
TE Wheel Carnage!!!
Awesome pic, entering Titus Canyon.
Nasty rock section.
Gas prices at Furnace Creek
Slot Canyon
The gear - the Pelican cooler is awesome. Keeps ice for weeks!
FactoryRide
New member
Looks like you've been busy having a good time! Pics are sweet.
