T.Com community unites, swaps steering rack in desert AMAZING

Friday afternoon, having started driving just before 4 am, @joonbug and I had wheels in the Anza Borrego dirt. 15 min. later I blew the steering rack. @osidepunker called @papasmurf who we were to meet the next evening. Someone else called @Vizsla who was coming the following day too. Both Viz and Bruce located steering racks and could have them out to us sometime late the next day. I think it might've been @jc153 who suggested putting the word out to the forum since a large group of SoCal tundra owners were heading to Anza the following day.
Holy smokes, did the T.com community mobilize! Might've been @Sunnier who sent the word out. I don't even know who all got involved but I got the impression that there were quite a few very kind people exerting themselves to help someone they've never met. I'm exceedingly grateful to everyone!
In all of SoCal there were only 2 steering racks at dealerships. I was told Gardena had one but when I called they said they didn't have one. I pressed and found they'd just sold their only rack, ostensibly to someone trying to secure it for me. Meanwhile, @15whtrd, whom I've never met, arrived at the parts counter. I pressed the parts guy and he called the person/shop that had purchased the rack and the buyer released it to me to buy. Then, the parts guy wouldn't take my CC over the phone w/o a photo ID. WTF??? @15whtrd stepped up after patiently waiting and bought the rack, remember I've never even met this guy. Sean then met up with and delivered the rack to @nishibot who then took it to @Porschetech29. I'd never met Steve,(@nishibot) either but that didn't stop him from helping. @Porschetech29, aka Francis is someone I've had the privilege of meeting.
Back in the desert, Alex towed me +/- 5 mi. to where we were camping for the night. We started to jack the truck up with HiLifts but there's no way you can work under a HiLift. That's when Monet, aka @Pinay came to the rescue. She was already in AB and relaxing at her campsite when she got the mayday. With just a pin drop on a GPS map she found us and loaned her Pro Eagle jack and jack stands to the effort. Alex, Joon and I began removing the axles, then the diff while @jc153 and Stewie made dinner and @DividedSky prepped breakfast for the next morning.
It wasn't long before trucks arrived en masse. Francis brought the rack, ATF fluid, rags and brake cleaner, and 4-5 more trucks. (can't thank Francis enough) Jimmy brought some great lights on work stands, @eccracer104 brought his camera and Colton and Patrick. Colton jumped straight under the truck to start wrenching.
By around midnight, after a lot of beer, dented craniums and an unofficial but hearty farting contest, we had the diff and rack out of the truck.
Up at 7 I threw the new rack in, Alex got up and with Joon we got the diff back in then reinstalled the axles. Alex then did an alignment which was accurate enough that I have no need to take it to the shop. When I got home I removed the pinch bolt under the steering wheel from the shaft and squared up the steering wheel.
I'm really sorry that mine was the truck that kept our group from getting more wheeling in.
I'm inexpressibly thankful and grateful to all those that helped in this endeavor. I've never experienced anything like it, never seen so many selfless people unite to help a stranger.
Thank you all and please forgive me as I'm sure I've failed to mention some note worthy efforts. Thanks T.com. Without this forum and it's great SoCal members it would've been much worse.

 

Cool story, Bro.

It was kinda dicey there a couple of times, true of any good suspense thriller. But, since it had a happy ending, it was kinda fun! Glad it worked out and you got a bit of play in before you made that long trek home (not to a repair shop).

Hoping you’ll come back for a do-over soon.

 

Yeah, the do-over is a must. Sorry we didn't get to talk more. My brain was completely fried. And, thanks for the help!

 

The SoCal members on here are some of the best people around. When @Cfincke was in a jam (all the way from TX) @Sunnier and others did what they could to make him and his family feel at home down in SD and helped out with whatever they could.


I can say from a personal experience, the SoCal fam even went out of their way to throw me and my wife a surprise baby shower and we are truly grateful to all of them. These are generous and genuine people.

 

Did we eat chili cheese dogs that night?

 

Happy Halloween Warren! Sunny and Monet were first to solicit me. A friend of theirs, is a friend of mine. You’ve been on this site for quite a while, “steered” me in the right direction many times and vouched for another member who I bought stuff from. When you read enough posts from someone, you do get a feel for that person’s character. Plus all the folks you roll with around here... no brainer. Small effort to help you out. I can only imagine how sucky that felt being in that situation, everyone waiting on you. We were not just helping you but also everyone else who was tackling it with you.

It was meant to be, I’m probably 2 miles from South Bay Toyota. I bought my truck there. From the time I was notified, I think I had the rack in my possession in an hour. I’m really happy it all worked out for you. And at the end of the day, it felt good to help. I can tell from all that had a part in this, that it’s just in our nature to lend a hand.
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Worth the read

 

Hopefully this will help. A few of the pics from the night -

 

Awesome job socal tundra crue

 

You ain’t kidding, owe us a do over dammit. @Sunnier be like.

 

You guys rock!!

 

Haha, that's actually my fuzzy face down there. We met up with Bruce the following day, couple hours after the repair was complete. Francis with the cameo and Joon supporting Alex's tired neck muscles. A rack is $750 if you have time to shop, $1,200 if you're desperate and $950 if @15whtrd is there talking the parts guy down from his "rape the desperate guy" $1,200 price. Thanks again Sean!

 

That's wild. What a stand up group of men

 

And women. haha
I'll be out the door and on my way if ever any SoCal folks need help, lemme tell ya.

 

I've been curious about Howe racks and if it might be possible to swap. I mean, of course it's "possible", but w/o having to rob a train.

 

Incredable, very good to hear of people coming together like that.

 

Awesome story. Solid work everyone, always glad to hear people are willing to step up and help out.

 

Ok, I will. Thanks.

 

WOW awesome job guys!

 

Hmmn, looking now. After this event happened, I’ve considered buying and carrying an extra rack for my 1st gen because they’re waaay cheaper than the racks for the 2nd and 3rd. Bruce and I were hypothesizing about having the “regulars” chip in to buy an extra for the big trucks. Available to anyone in the “pool” that needs it. Maybe not to carry because it’s heavy and inconvenient but it would remove the “emergency” supply/ demand price gouging, plus the amount of coordination to make a purchase during business hours.

How’d you get this pic of me? I must have been too drunk to remember I posed!

Sean = #1 Good Guy!

We know you would. For a bunch of Bastrds, y’all are right gentlemen.

Thanks for this, Chris.

 

I did forget to bring cheese for my scrambled eggs; I tried to get Sean @15whtrd to bring to me but got a no go!

Epic!! I can’t think of a better word to describe all of what happened from all of the people that came together to help out! And Alex had the tools and know-how to get it done!! Each and every one oozed good karma to help out a brother! Not just some dude who types on some truck forum, but someone who is part of our community and family!!
Spend some amount of time on here and you get to know people and can’t help but feel for someone who needs a hand. Glad the stars were aligned to get it all done Warren! I’m also all in for do-overs!! Not the breakdown and repair again, but a flawless run on the dirt with the BASTRDs, SGU and Shenanigans!