Toyota Project: TacoCart

[glockman]

Sweet!

 

[Herzog]

Just a little more taco spam. Headed up the mountain last Tuesday to get some camping in before the 4th rush happened. The bed rack made it nice to attach various crap to it and not worry about losing anything. So far I'm glad I added it. I think very soon I'll be adding a removable extension for the canoe.

Then on Friday I took it back up to do some camp site recon. Found a bunch of new to me lakes and good spots. Pretty happy with how well it handles the bumpy forest roads.

 

[1tonblazer]

Love this rig, I'm surprised I haven't seen it running around town...

 

[Herzog]

Back at it!

The rear frame has some pretty good rust rot going on, which I have been aware of for a while and had planned on doing this since I finished the first phase earlier this year. The truck has been a lot of fun to drive so far so I'm happy to put more work into it to improve the strength and longevity of the rig.

So I pulled the bed:

Cut out the spare tire crossmember

Inspected and cleaned up some of the really bad rust zones... (not done with this yet, I need to drop the tank still and clean up more spots)

And getting ready to box the frame

Since these plates don't go all the way to the factory boxed frame, I'll be welding these in then dropping the tank and doing another set of plates all the way in.

More to come as I get time

 

[Herzog]

Slow progress but I've now got the plates welded in and part of the rear crossmember put in.

Now I need to drop the tank and remove and clean up this section to complete the boxing as this is now the weak area.

 

[BlackSheep]

I wish I had your skills Shane! Very nice work!

 

[jedi]

How flexy is this thing?

 

[Herzog]

How flexy is this thing?

It does pretty well. I don't go for huge flex anymore, I try to keep things balanced with just enough travel to get the job done. I had the same outlook when I build my buggy and it's worked out very well, it's super stable but floats through the big rocks no problem.

 

[Herzog]

I wish I had your skills Shane! Very nice work!

I appreciate that! Thank you!

 

[Herzog]

Fully boxed in now... getting in that tight space on the driver side sucked.

Next up is the crossmember to hold the fuel tank and some extra bracing.

 

[Herzog]

I love having the swag press brake, makes dumb little things like this really easy and looks nice too!
Gas tank strap so now the tank is back all the way in and suspended

Next up will be the exhaust hangers

Gussets galore

 

[Coco]

I love this truck so much.

 

[Herzog]

All the little mounts for the evac and exhaust are done. Stinkin things.

Decided to throw a hitch reciever in while I'm in here. ( @I Lean , I know... )

And decided to weld the bumper to the frame to support all that extra junk in the trunk.

Next up - some bracing from the mid cross-member to the rear bumper cross-member and some paint of some sort.

Speaking of which: any recommendations on coating this all up to help prevent any further rust from developing? I keep reading good and bad about products like POR15. I'd love to hear input and experience. Thanks!!

 

[glockman]

I used POR 15 on a toy hauler frame, my trucks rear axle and the rear corners on my LJ. The LJ corners got the full Marine metal prep and what not. I also painted over the POR with some satin black of a brand I don't recall. They look almost brand new after 2 winters. The truck axle go the loose rust brushed off and then coated. It rusted through in one winter. The toy hauler frame chalked badly but I never top coated it. So I guess you could say if you prep and follow the instruction on POR you get the best results. Who knew?

I found this video pretty cool too. It speaks poorly of POR 15.

 

[Hickey]

I've been hearing great things about Steel it coatings. It's expensive, but supposedly last real well.

 

[BlackSheep]

I used the Eastwood rust encapsulator on BlackSheep's frame. I can't give it any long term review but I brushed and sanded the hell out of the rust, then used the pre-painting prep to wipe down the frame before applying the encapsulator. Finished that up with some automotive laquer. I did also use some type of acid to attack the deepest rust. I'll have to go out and look for what that was.

 

[Herzog]

Got the last exhaust hanger back in... still need to route it back a bit but it will do for now

Receiver is burned in

Added a couple spreaders to strengthen the this zone. Nearly ready to clean it all up and coat it! I'm excited to drive this thing some more... looking forward to some snow wheeling

 

[Hickey]

Got the last exhaust hanger back in... still need to route it back a bit but it will do for now

Receiver is burned in

Added a couple spreaders to strengthen the this zone. Nearly ready to clean it all up and coat it! I'm excited to drive this thing some more... looking forward to some snow wheeling

We should definitely do some snow wheelin together.

 

[I Lean]

We should definitely do some snow wheelin together.

In.

 

[DAA]

I'm down.

- DAA