The S.S. TRDFerguson: Captain’s Log

Reading his post I was thinking of posting “that Hansel is so hot right now” gif

 

Are we testing clearance on sandman rd?

 

y’all tapped out too soon….

 

I feel like I did a different sandman Rd or maybe a offchute with the 4Runners, it definitely wasn’t a quick jaunt to get back to cottonwood

 

There are a couple gnarly ones close by - Ajax Mine and Elvis to name a couple.

 

I’ll have to ask LC80 where we went.
That’s where I peeled most of the Bedliner off my sliders hahaha
But we definitely popped out close to the waterfall entrance off the trail we took

 

We definitely did Elvis, if only I had IG or something I could share the wall the 4R climbed and went down

 

@mowithnoinsta

 

I need to get a matching high clearance front bumper and I’ll start doing all the stupid lines.

 

Enjoying the thread...

Question for (OP) TRDFerguson:
Why is there not yet a winch on the front of your Tundra?

Pirate question for AZBoatHauler:
Are you happy with the Demello plate winch setup?

(Prefer stealth appearance: Have concerns about access to manual clutch release. Am debating between Demello and CoastalOffRoad)

 

And, there's a partial answer before the question is asked... :smiles:

 

Welcome Timothy!

 

Thanks!

BIG plans whirling in my head for this new to me 2008 Tundra... So far, I'm mostly experimenting on an RC model of it (Tamiya High Lift).

Even that is proving I have holes in the bottom of my pockets.

 

I am happy with the Demello. My only complaint is they don’t quite bolt on straight - i know two other people that have the same issue, they like to slant down on the sides towards the wheels.

As far as function, I did a crazy winch recovery on a full size 80’s Bronco up a steep hillside and it was rock solid.

 

….soooo the excuses will stop?

 

I'll likely lean that direction: Stealth. Glad to know about a potential problem... perhaps from heat / shrink during fabrication. I have a 20-Ton press that might help nip / tuck.
(Think I can actually see it in the mfg's canned pics)

 

We like pics…… was this at the lake?

 

I’ll be honest - I was way too nervous to worry about pics. It was at the lake - an over the mountain trail from the trailer park. My neighbor called in a panic saying he drove off the road almost at the top and needs help. We’re having dinner but me and Mason go up to help.

Guy was driving on a downhill section of trail cutting across a steep slope. For whatever reason - he got distracted and drove off the left side of the trail getting his whole front end and drivers side rear hanging over the berm down the hillside. I snuck by him to get above him and turned around. We tried winching from where he was hung up but we couldn’t get momentum to get over the berm and was just sliding along it. We agreed we needed to send him the rest of the way off the trail so we could get a more perpendicular pull in relation to the berm.

I had Mason in the truck holding the brake while I was outside running the winch. Steve was in the Bronco giving it hell to help. He got stuck and the winch loaded up about three different times, once pulling my truck about six inches forward. Thankfully he made is up over the berm and back on the road. Haven’t had the craving to do an off-road recovery since!

 

Pucker time for sure!!! Glad mason is there to help and learning!
Also I’ve watched this one recovery guy, and he uses “scotch blocks” to help not slide like your saying, I could probably build a pair for a 1st gen and a 2.5, but again I don’t want to be in that situation to really need them, something something hindsight

 

A winch?? Are we planning for failure???

But really though, it’s on the list, just not super high up there. Like you already gleaned, I’m still looking for my forever front bumper, which will hopefully have a good winch setup with it. Adam’s Demello is awesome.

 

RC cars are a freakin racket… I’ve already doubled the initial investment on my boy’s LaTrax from all the replacement parts.

 

Yes - it’s there. Clearance is tight AF in the middle then it spreads on the edges.

 

take your winch lead and tuck it under the truck and hook it to your hitch block and give her a tug...

 

What are your gaps at the rear edges of the bumper? Unfortunately, I think I’m the largest at like 1.5”. Cruz is right near 1” all the way around. But those gaps close up quick if you’re flexing..

He’s gotta be at like 2.5” on the right in this picture

 

I have right at an inch on the sides near the tires.