cbechtold's Long Travel IFS Crawler Tacoma Build

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Apr 17, 2019
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Wondering how you like the 18" 500lb springs? Are you preloading them to get ride height or is that as low as they go?

Hammers is coming right up... :beerscheers:

So far they're great. Running about 2" of preload on them. I actually might look at going to 450lb springs since I plan on doing more crawling than desert stuff.

Truck is as ready as I can get it for Hammers! I'll be doing one last oil top off on the crawlbox before I head out, but I'm ready!
 
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Im in the middle of trying to decide at the moment as well. Cant find much input on this bottomless pit of the interwebs.

Will see what kinda "rig" I get this year
 
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Im in the middle of trying to decide at the moment as well. Cant find much input on this bottomless pit of the interwebs.

Will see what kinda "rig" I get this year

Well KoH will be the trip that makes or breaks these 500lbs springs for me. Once I decide on spring rate, I'm going right into shock tuning.
 
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King of the Hammers 2023 is in the books. Had an absolute blast out in the desert! I will definitely be going back next year if I can. Met some awesome people. Saw some awesome rigs. Made some new friends. The truck did phenomenal as well for the first break in trip after the rebuilt last year. She soaks up the desert stuff pretty well for being untuned. The rear suspension is inherently the weak point for anything go fast. Not enough up travel means I'm riding on bumps pretty much the whole time. For rock though, the rear is more than sufficient right now. So far, I'm super happy with how she's doing and with a few trips to the Rubicon and possibly a Fordyce run in the works. I guess we'll be pushing the IFS on this truck as hard as I can to see if I want to stay with it for the long run.

Here are a few of my favorite photos from the KoH this year. Link to the full Flickr album at the bottom.


IMG_7132 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_7414 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_6970 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_7185 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_7233 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_7329 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_7356 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_7388 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_7431 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_7489 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_7572 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

King of the Hammers 2023 Flickr Album: Click Here!
 
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Joined
Aug 20, 2019
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King of the Hammers 2023 is in the books. Had an absolute blast out in the desert! I will definitely be going back next year if I can. Met some awesome people. Saw some awesome rigs. Made some new friends. The truck did phenomenal as well for the first break in trip after the rebuilt last year. She soaks up the desert stuff pretty well for being untuned. The rear suspension is inherently the weak point for anything go fast. Not enough up travel means I'm riding on bumps pretty much the whole time. For rock though, the rear is more than sufficient right now. So far, I'm super happy with how she's doing and with a few trips to the Rubicon and possibly a Fordyce run in the works. I guess we'll be pushing the IFS on this truck as hard as I can to see if I want to stay with it for the long run.

Here are a few of my favorite photos from the KoH this year. Link to the full Flickr album at the bottom.


IMG_7414 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_6970 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_7185 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_7233 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_7329 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_7356 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_7388 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_7431 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_7489 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_7572 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

King of the Hammers 2023 Flickr Album: Click Here!
Terrible pictures. Better luck next year :flipoff:
 
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Currently waiting on parts to fix my blown steering rack, so I decided to start working on the auxiliary wiring revamp that I've been meaning to start for awhile now. This is mostly just to satisfy my OCD, but I've always wanted to make the wiring in this truck a little more robust, easier to work with, and serviceable (if need be).

Currently, my plan is to mount everything where the passenger side airbag was to ensure that everything stays clean and out of the elements, plus one less things under the hood. I'll also be adding a second battery later on once I start wiring everything.


PXL_20230417_235104059 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr
 
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Well after an eventfully day with the Tacoma, I decided to work on the 2 current projects for the truck.

Started off with getting the steering links primed and painted. Going to let them sit for a few days before I pull them apart to throw anti-seize on the threads of the heims.


PXL_20230426_014630717.PORTRAIT by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

While waiting for primer and paint to dry, I got back to work on the new wiring setup. I had some sense talked into me and here we are with a Switch Pros unit. Super neat kit. Pretty excited to try it out. I have a few more things to knock out before I look into ordering another battery, but once I knock out all the steering upgrades I should be able to finish this up shortly afterwards.


PXL_20230426_031840234 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr
 

4runner DOA

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Well after an eventfully day with the Tacoma, I decided to work on the 2 current projects for the truck.

Started off with getting the steering links primed and painted. Going to let them sit for a few days before I pull them apart to throw anti-seize on the threads of the heims.


PXL_20230426_014630717.PORTRAIT by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

While waiting for primer and paint to dry, I got back to work on the new wiring setup. I had some sense talked into me and here we are with a Switch Pros unit. Super neat kit. Pretty excited to try it out. I have a few more things to knock out before I look into ordering another battery, but once I knock out all the steering upgrades I should be able to finish this up shortly afterwards.


PXL_20230426_031840234 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

Honestly I dig the switch pro set up. My first one the module came loose and frayed the grounds which caused some issues. I still have it in the garage for repair. Second one I reinforced a little better and haven't had an issue since. It's just so easy to wire up accessories.
 
Joined
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Messages
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Honestly I dig the switch pro set up. My first one the module came loose and frayed the grounds which caused some issues. I still have it in the garage for repair. Second one I reinforced a little better and haven't had an issue since. It's just so easy to wire up accessories.
That was the big appeal for me. Basically makes it so that accessories are basically plug and play.
 
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Well I'm hopeful that the injectors were the correct fix for the truck. Engine sounds like it's running smoother than before. For now, I'll just monitor everything and see if anything else happens.


PXL_20230430_181003108 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

Got a decent amount of work done on small projects as well. Most notably, I made a bracket for the Switch Pros head unit.


PXL_20230501_005057873 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

Now I'm kicking myself because I've decided to relocate my charcoal canister from the driver side of the engine bay to the passenger side where the ABS control unit once lived. I might have to move a few things around to make it fit, but it is what it is. My plan is to make a power tray there and keep everything as neat and clean as possible. As much as I love the idea of having everything inside the truck at all times, running wires that close to the exhaust is something I don't want to do, as well as getting a few 4 gauge cables through the firewall or floor boards isn't that appealing.
 

Chris In Milwaukee

Ain’t no mo’
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Well I'm hopeful that the injectors were the correct fix for the truck. Engine sounds like it's running smoother than before. For now, I'll just monitor everything and see if anything else happens.


PXL_20230430_181003108 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

Got a decent amount of work done on small projects as well. Most notably, I made a bracket for the Switch Pros head unit.


PXL_20230501_005057873 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

Now I'm kicking myself because I've decided to relocate my charcoal canister from the driver side of the engine bay to the passenger side where the ABS control unit once lived. I might have to move a few things around to make it fit, but it is what it is. My plan is to make a power tray there and keep everything as neat and clean as possible. As much as I love the idea of having everything inside the truck at all times, running wires that close to the exhaust is something I don't want to do, as well as getting a few 4 gauge cables through the firewall or floor boards isn't that appealing.
I'm enjoying the build. That truck is rad AF.

How far away is the shifter and all the things around your lighting controller bracket? Do you need to get down there often? I just envision the next photo being sent includes meat chunks from your hand hanging off the corner of that bracket. :eek: Thinking about rounding that corner off a bit.
 
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Joined
Apr 17, 2019
Messages
258
Age
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Location
Pleasanton, CA
I'm enjoying the build. That truck is rad AF.

How far away is the shifter and all the things around your lighting controller bracket? Do you need to get down there often? I just envision the next photo being sent includes meat chunks from your hand hanging off the corner of that bracket. :eek: Thinking about rounding that corner off a bit.

Thanks man! I've got plenty of room between the shifters and the Switch Pros. Its not a common occurrences that I'm going that far down for much. Every now and then I'll plug the ARB fridge freezer in or plug another USB device in, but not that often. The bracket is made out of ABS plastic and I rounded all the edges on it so no need to worth about it.
 
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