2006 'Pico de Gallo' Red DC Build

No rush..heh...heh..

 

As promised, here are some better cell phone pictures. I promise I have a good camera, but in the winter my motivation level is in the basement to take the time to get a good photo.

Pictured are the new Victory4x4 Rock Sliders (which should be available to buy today or tomorrow online), my new Element LED Amber Cannon foglights and the new Konig Countersteer Type X Wheels in Matte Bronze thanks to FN Wheels.

Untitled by Blake Nichols, on Flickr

Untitled by Blake Nichols, on Flickr

Untitled by Blake Nichols, on Flickr

Untitled by Blake Nichols, on Flickr

Untitled by Blake Nichols, on Flickr

Untitled by Blake Nichols, on Flickr

Untitled by Blake Nichols, on Flickr

Untitled by Blake Nichols, on Flickr

Untitled by Blake Nichols, on Flickr

Untitled by Blake Nichols, on Flickr

 

Little snafu this morning; on my way to work and it is so far the coldest day of the year (-13° on the thermometer in the truck), the coolant froze and my truck started to overheat. I got a little less than 3/4 of the way up on the dummy gauge before I was able to pull off the highway into a rest area and shut the truck off. Luckily after about 10-15 minutes of sitting there, I fired it back up and the coolant must have thawed enough for me to continue on my way.

I placed an order for a ScanGauge II, no more of this dummy gauge bullshit, I want to know exactly what temperature my engine is at. Also going to go pick up a gallon of Toyota full-strength antifreeze this afternoon and pour some in the radiator to hopefully get a more cold-resistant mixture.

Pro-tip: Don't add just water when you want to top off your coolant, because then this will happen.

 

Vey nice!!! Glad to see more companies making products for us first gens. Those look good! Sliders saved me last trip. Not from Rocks this time, but from jacking my truck up with a hi lift to change my flat.

 

@trailbikerider looks like exhaust might have to be next ... kidding, just gettin alittle rusty

 

Haha yeah I don't understand why it's got so much rust considering the truck has been in FL and WA it's whole life.

 

Got my grill and bumper grill bar back from paint on Friday, so I installed everything. Sooooo much better than the factory chrome grill bars...

Untitled by Blake Nichols, on Flickr

 

Are you planning on painting the mirror caps to match?

 

I wanted to do them at the same time, but I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to remove them without breaking the caps. There's 6 clips that hold each one on, and 4 are easily accessible, but there are 2 that are hidden and I haven't yet found out how to release those. Once I can get them off they'll be painted.

 

Hey guys, having a bit of a dilemma. The reason I bought the cap was so I could camp in the summer without having to set up a tent. However that being said, I've never been the biggest fan of the looks of caps. I'm debating one of the two options:

Add load bars to the top of the cap. I don't really have a need for these; anything I need to haul can always go in the bed, but I think caps look a lot better with them.

tundracapwithloadbars by Blake Nichols, on Flickr

Options two is I add a vinyl roll-up tonneau like the Truxedo Truxport. I had the exact same tonneau cover on both of my old rangers and it was awesome. Then when Victory releases their bed rack, add that. The only thing with this is similar to the load bars, I don't really have a need for it. A RTT is out of the question due to price (for how much use it will get) and I don't necessarily want to be rolling around rocking the 'broverlander' look with maxtrax and jerry cans on it at all times.

truxedotonneaucover by Blake Nichols, on Flickr

Decisions, decisions...

 

I went with the Truxedo because I already have a rtt and it’ll work with the KB VooDoo rack I’m planning on.

I love the price and simplicity of the Truxedo but a shell would offer better security and better for the snowy months.

 

A heavy duty tarp ($20) and some bungees work well for rear bed cover camping. Have a couple 2x4’s a little longer than the width of the bed for center tarp support. Rolls up and tucks away when back on the trail. Light weight and modular.

 

Not a terrible idea, except it rains quite a bit here in the midwest during the summer. I want whatever I do to be watertight.

 

Also a benefit of the cap. It's nice to put stuff in and not worry that it's going to get damaged from the weather or stolen.

 

Thats up to the tarp quality and how well you bungee and set up the 2x4 ribs. Better than a tent if you set it up right and less than 10lbs total. Only reason I recommend this is you sound like you don’t want the weight and looks of the camper shell (best option for camping) and want something temporary and on the go. Tarps have been my best friends in many places around the world.

The tarp idea is just when you want to sleep. Not for full time storage/hauling obviously.

 

I always thought the shells screamd "old man" but I just got one for my truck for the same purposes as you. I think the roof bars make them look meaner. I'm thinking of doing the same thing. I say go that route. Apparently Yakima makes a great set.


Obligatory Craigslist special old man camper pic. My shell was actually made for a DC.

 

I can give you some insight since I’ve had both (truxedo on my current 06 and shell on old 06). Loved the shell for camping and hauling general life materials around as it kept them dry and dont have to deal with a tarp. Hated that it was a pain to remove if needed (garage is too short for my truck to fit). Also narrow entry for large objects or bikes.

Truxedo is on my current 06 and I love it. Super simple to install/remove and provides a water tight closure. Takes 10 seconds to roll back and have full access to my bed. Cons are it can rip and only fit to the top of the bed when closed. Also either fully closed or open. I have a rtt so will have to be removed to accommodate my bed bars.

 

Your truck looks awesome. Fantastic job.

 

Drive to Arizona and I'll trade you our custom bed rack for your camper shell. I want one so bad

 

Shouldn't be too hard to find one, most people practically have to give them away lol

 

I've actually been struggling to find a decent one.

 

Check in Sun City, plenty of old people out that way

 

Build might be happening slower now; I went to Chicago on Sunday (my birthday actually) and picked up this '94 Mustang GT with the venerable 5.0L pushrod engine, which was pre modular engines.

This is replacing my Supercharged 2002 Focus as my summer toy, so for the forseeable future, most (all) of my money will be going towards getting this thing set up.

Untitled by Blake Nichols, on Flickr

 

Long overdue update;

Went to the junkyard a few weeks back and grabbed a factory roof rack from an early 2000s Nissan Pathfinder. Installed it on Friday so I could get my kayak out on the river.

Untitled by Blake Nichols, on Flickr

 

Finally got around to painting my mirror caps! Slowly but surely I am de-chroming the truck. Next plan is to re-do my headlights; I'll probably pick up a D2S kit from TRS this fall and a pair of black headlights.

Also I'm looking for suggestions for a good looking steel rear bumper. I don't want a high clearance, so it seems the only option for double cabs that fits that bill is a Brute Force bumper. Does anyone else actually make one? It seems all of the options are for access and regular cabs.

Untitled by Blake Nichols, on Flickr

 

Leather steering wheel swapped from a 2nd gen Tacoma. It's the little things.

Untitled by Blake Nichols, on Flickr

 

No picture Blake. Just a link to log into your Flickr account.

 

Good, thought I was the only one.

 

Interesting, fixed now.

 

Damn you Blake! You’re costing me more money now that I know this works. Simple swap?