Cruzer's Re-Build for the Rubicon

That is ridiculous. Nice @Cruzer !

 

Great video, @Cruzer! It’s cool you had a buddy walk alongside during that last bit— fun to watch the truck walk up the rocks.

 

The ones taking the video were my friends that, fortunately for me, tapped out at the trail entrance and walked up

 

I’m still bummed we missed going in December, but super glad I didn’t go to KOH for trail running. If I’d have gotten stuck I was prepared to be your video producer. I’d still like to see what Hulk can do there with LT but open diffs. It didn’t look impossible, based on what I could see in your video, but definitely would want a wide open trail so I could have a choice of options over or around some of those obstacles.

Looks fun!

 

Left the Bay after traffic died down, heading to Moab. I get sleepy easily driving at night so only got as fas as Reno. Gonna sleep for a bit at a truck stop. Should be back on the road soon.

 

Be safe, brother.

 

Safe Travels Cruzer

 

Badass man! I see you have that trasharoo just on your tailgate, I know you probably dont care lol, but do you find that it scratches the paint at all? I been thinking about setting mine up like that.

 

What’s the list of trails you’re gonna conquer?

 

I haven’t noticed and you’re right I don’t care

 

for what it’s worth - I have mine the same way and it does scuff up my black paint. But also not super concerned about it.

Get it Cruz!

 

Cruzer... One of those guys you meet and can't help but like.

 

Safe travels.

 

Yup, it will scuff paint.

 

Welp... lots of carnage in Moab. I had issues with my brake calipers and my drive shaft is on its last leg. Second truck had transmission fluid issues. Third truck snapped a drive shaft flange on the 3rd member. We spent a lot of time not on the trail but good times were still had. I should be heading back to Moab in mid May.

Next week I'm going to get measured for a custom drive shaft - the larger second half at least. It'll be made of a thick steel DOM and more narrow tube than the aluminum Tundra fatty tube, with sealed joints.

 

Some pics from Moab. 3 totally different style of trucks on 40s.








I'm scared of heights so here's me trying to take a picture of the edge at Top of the World:

 

@Cruzer were those two other trucks at T2S they look familiar

 

Yes, they were. That's where I met them. We did Smiley Rock with them.

 

Thought so...

 

Damn it! I was out there at KOH with my son! Would’ve been nice to meet your truck… I mean you lol.

 

Just ordered a bunch of stuff and my to do list just got longer :
- Upgrading to a high output alternator so I can use a fat ass power inverter
- Bought a new serpentine belt, tensioner and idler pulleys to replace while I'm in there
- Rear brakes are squealing so I bought new pads and will adjust the parking brake as well
- And since I'm doing brakes I bought steel braided lines for the front (already replaced the rear)
- Bought thread sealant cuz my airlines have a leak somewhere - I did replace the quick connects for large bore valve stems so hopefully that's where the leaks are
- Hoping to get the new drive shaft this week
- Will need to redo some of my wiring because all the off roading has just shaked things apart causing intermittent issues

 

You going to do the big 3 (or is it 4?) while you’re in there replacing the alternator? Might be worth it depending on how much current you’ll be pulling for that new inverter. Plus, you’re truck will start faster

 

Upgrading to a 300 amp and will be using 2/0 for the big 3 - only because I'm running 2/0 to the cab for the power inverter and will have excess wire.

 

ok what is big3...

 

Cable from alternator to battery positive terminal
Cable from engine block to frame
Cable from battery negative to frame

Need to upgrade to thicker gauge wires when increasing the amperage output on the alternator

 

How big is your inverter?

btw, do you ever face with oil starvation when crawling?

 

2000 watts.

Oil starvation as in being on a steep incline? Nope and hopefully never. Only thing you can do is to make sure oil is always full. I’ve been pretty much as vertical as a Tundra could possibly be and haven’t had any problems. Also didn’t have any problems when I drove my truck through a creek at 37 degrees (sideways), I was practically looking at the dirt floor out my driver window.

 

That's good to know, I saw the thread on TW about Matt's towing video with that Taco blew its engine while on an incline, made me wonder if we have similar problem.

just curious, what do you planning to power with 2000watts?

 

I saw that video too. My buddy in a Tundra tried to do the same obstacle, The Chute, when it was raining, he couldn't get all the way up cuz it was slippery but didn't have any issues with oil.

Using the inverter to heat up water quickly in a Jerry can

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