Longtravel: Banner/HulkSmash Build- PapaSmurf & Sunnier Build a First Gen

My favorite part of this forum! I love waiting for and reading your incredible updates @Sunnier . You brighten my day....hahaha, excuse the cheesy pun.
I'm still bragging to my buddies about your truck, and how I GOT TO SEE IT IN PERSON! Keep em coming!
And another fan of @papasmurf here, great work Bruce. That cantilever system is amazing, your welds are top notch....stackin dimes!
Great job guys

 

Thank you, Jake!

Next time, you gotta ride wit me!

 

Wish I lived much closer to you guys doin south @papasmurf does some awesome work

 

Chapter XIV: Piercings, Straps, and Getting Tied Up

As I mentioned, I did us no favours waiting 'til the suspension build was done to put Herculiner in the bed, because it meant time-consuming tasks had to be finished in a short time period right before T2S. Like figuring out what gear would fit into the bed, and how to secure it.

I'd been researching options for fastening gear into the bed securely for overlanding, ever since I bought the 3rd gen, then moved related plans to this 1st gen. I wanted neat, organized, strong, and low profile.

So far, I've not seen the Toyota bed rack system sold for 1st gens (looks like it'd work, just no pre-drilled holes in the bedsides. Last year @831Tun (I think) sent me info on a cheaper alternative track option that uses similar but not OEM t-nuts. @papasmurf uses airline track which he told me most of the SGU guys bought at the same time for a quantity discount; I saw his tracks had distinct corners along the upper edges (I preferred lower profile and rounded edges).

Then one day in Bruce's driveway I glanced into the bed of @jc153 's truck and realized he had airline tracks but they were different than in the other SGU trucks. He told me he bought from "max in Idaho" and I (thought I understood what he said, so I didn't ask for specifics ) ... eventually figured out he meant
http://www.macscustomtiedowns.com/

After listing my gear and sketching likely layouts to carry it all, I ordered a track kit and another of the 4 individual fasteners kits. This:
http://www.macscustomtiedowns.com/p...red-edge-series1-versatie/VersaTie-Track-Kits

and these:
http://www.macscustomtiedowns.com/product/versatie-anchor-plate-assembly-slimline-4-pack/D-Rings

To this point, I had not figured out exactly how I would secure spare tires in the bed, but I saw what looked like an ideal option here on the Mac's site, except the available sizes were for either < 32" or >35" tires.
http://www.macscustomtiedowns.com/category/spare-tire-straps

Last minute materials costs were mounting and I was stressing about every expenditure as well as looming deadlines. To temporarily stem the hemouraging of money, Bruce suggested I carry the 2 "best" of the cheap-ass Chinese-made tires that came on the truck (cupped, obnoxiously loud M/T's), for the T2S trip. Although 285 75 R16, they measure an actual 32", whereas the Cooper Discoverer STT Pro tires I planned to run are the same, 285 75 R16, but are actually 33". This means that, if I have one flat, I'll have to change/ rotate at least two tires to keep fronts and rears sized in pairs. A hassle but a workable short-term solution for this one trip.

So I called Mac's to find out pricing and delivery time for custom straps to fit a range of tires sized between 32" - 35" (never know what the future holds ).

I learned every strap Mac's sells is made-to-order, so no problem, and priced the same for multiple sizes. I got quick on-phone answers to questions I'd prepared after studying the site, then ordered one strap to attach the bottom spare to the bed tracks, with D rings built into it; and a second strap to attach a second spare stacked atop the first, to those D rings built into the lower strap. I chose the flat hooks and different colours for each strap to make it easier to differentiate between them in low light or in a hurry (or if I mount a rack and have to access spares from underneath it).

Even closer to deadline, I ordered a bit more track for more options on the bedsides but didn't meet the $200 for free shipping. I chose not to pay the extra for "expedited shipping" because the first order had arrived in 2 days, but then I got nervous and called to check delivery time. Although I was told the ship date couldn't be guaranteed because I hadn't paid to "expedite", Mac's got everything shipped the same day and to me in time. I am very impressed with this company and product. Plus, they're in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, which is a wonderful place!

Notes about install: it was a PITA and took longer than anticipated (like everything else, so close to leave-by time ). While there are probably creative work-rounds, we did it as a 2-person job, one person placing hardware from the top down through the bed, and another below to add fasteners-- then both worked together to tighten (Gggrrrrrr!*).

First I laid out the main gear in the bed, and we planned the fastening points, and marked locations to drill. We were cautious drilling near the gas tank feed (plenty of clearance) but had trouble accessing areas beneath the bed, close to the cab. There were points we wanted to attach the individual slimline D-rings near the front of the bed (to secure a Road Shower against the wall near the cab), but could not access the hardware from underneath. It seemed a good idea to just pull the bed back off, but all the electrical wiring had been hooked back up-- short on time as we were, it just didn't make sense. We ultimately secured the Road Shower by cinching straps tightly around it, and running them through the large access/ drainage holes at the front wall and floor-- redneck but it worked! Also, we found early on, it was not productive to use a powered drill on the individual fastening point hardware and from this point, hand tightened everything.


Here's an overview of the install:




I bought straps in multiple colours off Amazon and at Harbor Freight (again to differentiate in low light, if several are co-located). All are too long at 15' but I figure, once I decide on the best configuration of gear, I'll cut the straps.

Edit: I was notified photos went missing. My side shows 'em but when I checked from another computer, nada. I no longer have all the Mac's attachment photos in my phone, so I've loaded what I could find. (And if any of you know what error caused my previously loaded photos to disappear, feel welcome to clue me in. Learning as I go.)

 

Color coordination. Fabulous!

Looking good Sunnier.

 

Bump for updates!!

 

Are some of the pictures not working?

 

maybe ill try and update the thread

 

The only thing I can say is,,,, WOW!!!!!!! and Holy $:;@!!!!

 

Hey, y'all!

The thread is fairly well up-to-date as far as what's on the truck now. I DO need to add a parts list, which I can probably do next weekend. I'll let y'all know when that done, since it'll be back at the beginning.

*** I'd like to invite anyone with pictures or video of the Hulk from T2S to post up here, since that's what happened next in the story.... After that, I'll update with a couple of day trips I've done.


Bruce has been surgerizing his truck, and Alex's, but tonight I dropped off the Hulk for elective surgery: sliders and a trans skid to start. A few little fixes we've identified. Bruce or I will post pics as soon as we have 'em!

 

Let me know what's not loading for you.

 

Thanks. I'll figure out what happened and fix it.

 

Fixed. Kind of.

 

The pics work now!

Digging that gas can, I want one.

 

I like 'em. Got 2:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07LD2HBTM?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

I've heard from friends they could not get cans with his type of spout delivered to CA, but I had no trouble.

Then, more recently, I tried ordering a locking gas tank cap and was told it couldn't be delivered to CA. I moved it to 'save for later' then tried again the next time I ordered, and it went through no problem. Weird.

 

That’s not a fast pouring spout. They won’t ship the good spouts with cans. You gotta get one like this with a vent: Toolfetch Red Long-Nose Flexible NATO Jerry Can Spout/Nozzle Built to European Military Spec https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NZXS8RX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_RnF9CbM72CK3D

 

Thank you for this! I bought a couple of fast pouring spouts I was able to get shipped here but, of course, they don't fit my cans. These look right though. They're pricey but the ones I got are slooooow, so it's probably worth it. One anyway.

 

Definitely worth it. There’s a green spout as well if ur cans are green. Pick up a pack of extra gaskets while your at it and throw one in the truck. The gasket my spout came with went bad super fast

 

Will do, thanks!

 

link to gasket please

 

Jerry Can Gaskets (Pack of 5) - Replacement Gaskets for 20L NATO Jerry Can Spout

Mission Automotive 5 Pack Jerry Can Gaskets for 20 Liter NATO Jerry Can Spout Replacement. Sturdy Rubber Material (4 x 0.7 x 4"es)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EYXVU70/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_YFO9CbKRF321S

 

If you don't want to pour from your Jerry cans you can get a super siphon. That's what I use instead of pouring from my eco Jerry can.

Oh and I think rotopax was having a sale if you look on their website. You buy a fuelpax and get a free mount. They don't hold as much as Jerry cans but they are very nice.

 

Good info; thanks!

 

paint job next ?

 

I say a 3rd gen type of color: cement, quicksand, voodoo blue..would look bitchin on a gen 1 LT

or a wrap..

 

She don’t need paint. She likes pinstripes lol