jamesp
Cave Dweller 
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Jul 1, 2019 6:45:50 GMT -5
To avoid getting stuck way back in the hills some type of winch attachment was needed. Trees are everywhere and they serve as the perfect tie off for a winch cable. This model truck had few aftermarket parts made for it. I finally found a winch bumper in England and a way cheaper tube unit in Wyoming(addictedoffroad.com) for $750 + freight. On a budget here. Installation last weekend was a new endeavor and a bit of a challenge. The fit was perfect, but there were more steps than originally considered. This bumper also allows more tire clearance and front end-to-ground clearance. Remove bumper  Weld new bumper mount to frame ends  Temporarily hang bumper, weld tabs to hold skid plate, cut off ends of bumper and re-weld for better fit to fender panel  Added the outboard stock brackets and modified them to accept U-clamps for stronger support  A few more bumper details left. Too lazy to paint the bumper, will remove and have it hot dip-galvanized. An overlooked way to coat steel with bulletproof coating.  Next step is a complete steering/suspension overhaul manly consisting of replacement bushings and dust boots that may suffer from dry rot/failure. Most components seem tight after an abusive 340,000 miles. New lower ball joints for safety sake and replacement of any possible worn components. Keep in mind the people are getting a million mile out of this engine and running gear. A new shiny 4wd is the most useless vehicle on earth he he. This one ready for duty. |
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Post by fernwood on Jul 1, 2019 6:48:29 GMT -5
Nice work. Love the hot dip method.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Jul 1, 2019 7:05:11 GMT -5
Nice work. Love the hot dip method. One of the largest hot dip operations is 10 miles from the house. They do big stuff like hot dipping cell towers and large flat bed/boat trailers. The zinc is coated thick enough to add 10% weight to the item dipped. Referred to as triple dipped. They have a 300 pound minimum so it is best to dip at least that amount. Denise has a bunch of lighting components to add to the 150 pound bumper to make minimum. The steel needs to be paint free. They pre-dip in acid to remove oils and rust so no prep is needed. Easy prep. I believe they dip at 800F. All air holding compartments must have an air escape hole drilled to avoid air entrapment leading to a potential explosion. They have a rocking busy business. |
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Post by captbob on Jul 1, 2019 7:40:17 GMT -5
That works! You need to add a couple lights now as you lost the two nice -traveling down a dark road- lights that were in the original bumper.
Let me know if you find a nice replacement for the original headlights, mine get that darn fogged up look to them too. Why could't they leave well enough alone instead of making headlights out of that plastic that never stays clear?
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Jul 1, 2019 9:55:28 GMT -5
That works! You need to add a couple lights now as you lost the two nice -traveling down a dark road- lights that were in the original bumper. Let me know if you find a nice replacement for the original headlights, mine get that darn fogged up look to them too. Why could't they leave well enough alone instead of making headlights out of that plastic that never stays clear? They now have LED strip lights and are seriously bright. Like 2 feet long. The wires for the two traveling lights (fog lights ?) you mentioned are tucked in the engine compartment and easy to connect to the strip LED's. And the factory switch to turn them on/off. The useless lens issue. Seen some aftermarket replacements, have not researched them yet but they are high on the list to be replaced. will keep you posted on the difficulty of replacement and cost when bridging that gap. I did use AO 14,000 and a wet rag on them. Got them dead clear and in a couple of months they were already hazed over again go figure. |
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Post by Pat on Jul 1, 2019 10:51:53 GMT -5
jamesp Good idea! ALL vehicles should have a good bumper with the option for a winching bumper. I'd also like to see running boards again.
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Post by captbob on Jul 1, 2019 11:39:34 GMT -5
jamesp Good idea! ALL vehicles should have a good bumper with the option for a winching bumper. I'd also like to see running boards again. I agree! Can't believe that our Georgiaboy doesn't have running boards to knock the dirt off his boots! My same year Tundra. No 4 wheel drive... but I live in FLORIDA. We don't have hills or mountains!  |
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Post by HankRocks on Jul 1, 2019 12:15:26 GMT -5
jamesp Good idea! ALL vehicles should have a good bumper with the option for a winching bumper. I'd also like to see running boards again. I agree! Can't believe that our Georgiaboy doesn't have running boards to knock the dirt off his boots! My same year Tundra. No 4 wheel drive... but I live in FLORIDA. We don't have hills or mountains! I suspect that dirt and mud in on the floor of the truck is a requirement for those Georgia boys!! captbob Good looking truck, are those tires rated for gators? |
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Post by captbob on Jul 1, 2019 13:00:24 GMT -5
captbob Good looking truck, are those tires rated for gators? Never run over a gator! Snowbirds and anyone else from north of the Mason-Dixon line are fair game though. |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Jul 1, 2019 18:34:32 GMT -5
captbob Good looking truck, are those tires rated for gators? Never run over a gator! Snowbirds and anyone else from north of the Mason-Dixon line are fair game though. I believe your truck received it's first serious scratch down by Falcon Lake. Remember that precarious tree that had fallen half way across that rarely used lake access road. Where that little 'butte' was that was loaded with pet wood. This new bumper is specially designed for New Jersey/New Yorkers along the east coast of Florida. That big factory Tundra bumper looks like it weighs 300 pounds, surprised that it was more like 40 pounds. However it had many structural supports across the width of it making it structurally strong. The fire pit business has given some financial freedom. No way I'm going out and purchasing a new off road vehicle. This truck is getting a serious ongoing redo. It wants to do another 340,000 miles. Even in it's early stages of modifications there is not a factory off road vehicle that can touch it yet provides a fine ride on the road. Next step is replacing all the suspension/steering bushings/dust boots/worn(if any) suspension components with original Toyota parts. The rear leaf springs do have worn out bushings that clank. $16 + labor for all four. I doubt you have put your truck thru what this one has gone thru. |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Jul 1, 2019 19:01:43 GMT -5
jamesp Good idea! ALL vehicles should have a good bumper with the option for a winching bumper. I'd also like to see running boards again. My wife loves that truck Pat. She delivered plants in it for 18 years and now fire pits for several years. The seats now sit 5 inches higher making access difficult for her and she is infuriated. I can't install running boards due to clearance for off road situations. This truck will eventually be kept at the mountain cabin so I bought a similar truck needing no ladder for her ingress/egress and looks cosmetically newer. Problem(s) solved ? Not sure, she continues to drive this old truck. Thankfully she is very loyal but her loyalty to this truck is perplexing me at this point. I have always respected your wealth of wisdom. Perhaps you can shed some light  |
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Post by parfive on Jul 1, 2019 19:31:25 GMT -5
Good looking truck, are those tires rated for gators? It’s not about running them over. : ) |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jul 1, 2019 20:13:13 GMT -5
Oh, my! They should hire those Gators at the scrap yards to dismantle vehicles! They'd probably work cheap. No, they'd work just for the fun of it!
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Jul 1, 2019 21:23:35 GMT -5
Jersey tags
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Jul 1, 2019 21:31:01 GMT -5
It's a Nissan. Toyota's use them for fuel.
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Post by Pat on Jul 2, 2019 22:11:43 GMT -5
jamesp Good idea! ALL vehicles should have a good bumper with the option for a winching bumper. I'd also like to see running boards again. My wife loves that truck Pat. She delivered plants in it for 18 years and now fire pits for several years. The seats now sit 5 inches higher making access difficult for her and she is infuriated. Thankfully she is very loyal but her loyalty to this truck is perplexing me at this point. I have always respected your wealth of wisdom. Perhaps you can shed some light hard to define love. You already hit the nail on the head. She loves that truck.... and old shoes... and you...  |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Jul 3, 2019 7:38:27 GMT -5
My wife loves that truck Pat. She delivered plants in it for 18 years and now fire pits for several years. The seats now sit 5 inches higher making access difficult for her and she is infuriated. Thankfully she is very loyal but her loyalty to this truck is perplexing me at this point. I have always respected your wealth of wisdom. Perhaps you can shed some light hard to define love. You already hit the nail on the head. She loves that truck.... and old shoes... and you... concise accurate to-the-point = Pat. The magic of love, I should have known. Thanks |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Jul 4, 2019 5:27:38 GMT -5
My wife loves that truck Pat. She delivered plants in it for 18 years and now fire pits for several years. The seats now sit 5 inches higher making access difficult for her and she is infuriated. Thankfully she is very loyal but her loyalty to this truck is perplexing me at this point. I have always respected your wealth of wisdom. Perhaps you can shed some light hard to define love. You already hit the nail on the head. She loves that truck.... and old shoes... and you... She also loves her old dish rags Pat !! |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Jul 4, 2019 5:35:56 GMT -5
Some brutally steep clay hills about 10 miles from the house. Photos provide no justice. OK to go climbing when dry, make quick escape if it starts raining ! Tire treads quickly fill with damp clay and traction is severely effected. As is with about all 4wd pick up trucks, the truck climbs steepest hills best in reverse. Due to most of the weight being on the front tires. Good to know if in a pickle. Andy's Mountain, only 220 feet above adjacent elevation.   |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Jul 4, 2019 5:46:56 GMT -5
Hope to remove the bed and shorten the frame eventually. Making room for yet bigger tires. Weld up a bed similar to below, the dump feature may be necessary. A bobber, mine would have a big cab though:  |
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