Flemster's Build and OvErLaNdInG ADvEnTuReS

Alex Fleming

Owner at Sherpa Equipment Co.
Joined
Oct 7, 2018
Messages
159
Age
25
Location
Fort Collins, CO
Really awesome trip out to Moab with some fun dudes.

It was great to get the runner out of the garage and finally use it for the first time in a while. The new 5.29 gears, front locker, and tires proved to be extremely impressive. The tires especially were above my expectations, they road awesome on the highway and performed way better than expected offroad. So much grip on the rock, plenty in the sand, they seem strong so far. Time will really tell but first impressions are awesome.

For a quick rundown, we ran Steel Bender first, this was with myself, Chad in the blue runner, Chase in the orange taco, Ryan in the single cab Tacoma and Jesse in the green 4Runner. Good group of dudes to wheel with for sure!










Even the bypass on this one is a bit eerie. The short wheelbase on this truck made The Fall a little less appealing. If I had my bumper done I would have gone for it though!
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We played around on this optional line for a bit. Got a little excited and broke the first CV for the weekend.
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Then played on this one and broke the second one.
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The rest of the trail was easy and overall had a blast.
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Steel Bender is up there in great trails. Outside of "The Fall" the trail can be made as hard or as easy as you want to it's a fun one to get into if you're looking for some challenges but don't want to go over the top.
 

Alex Fleming

Owner at Sherpa Equipment Co.
Joined
Oct 7, 2018
Messages
159
Age
25
Location
Fort Collins, CO
The next day we decided to run Cliff Hanger which is certainly one of the harder trails in the area. We only had me, Chad, and Chase for this one. IMO the smaller the group the better on the hard trails, which makes it go way quicker and less likely to have a break in the group slowing everything down.

This one has been on the bucket list for a while but it's hard to talk people into running it and easy to talk yourself out of it!

It now is one of my favorite trails in Moab but also the most technical I have done. I think it's due to the fact that there is not an insane amount of options so to drive everything you have to have good vehicle control and a decently capable rig. That being said the 4runners did amazing, the Tacoma proved a bit challenging with its wheelbase and width.
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Super cool trail, we had to pull winch on the Taco twice, but both 3rd gens walked everything including a few of the optional harder lines.
 

Alex Fleming

Owner at Sherpa Equipment Co.
Joined
Oct 7, 2018
Messages
159
Age
25
Location
Fort Collins, CO
Fixed some steering rack mount issues I have had for a while. The middle bolt has been unable to thread into the nut and I have been lazy about fixing it. I finally got to it and found the bolt was seized to the sleeve.

To solve this I ended up cutting off the mount entirely and rebuilding it all. Here is how that happened.

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I also picked up a 1st Gen Magnuson Supercharger and 7th injector kit. Waiting on the last few parts to make it in before I get it all installed!
 
Joined
Sep 25, 2021
Messages
258
Location
Roaming
Its hard to tell...your photos play tricks on my eyes. Are those 35's or 37's on that stock IFS setup you got there? I'm jealous you picked up a SC I've been patiently waiting till that's doable for me. Maybe if I stop breaking shit I'd have more money...oh well
 

Alex Fleming

Owner at Sherpa Equipment Co.
Joined
Oct 7, 2018
Messages
159
Age
25
Location
Fort Collins, CO
Its hard to tell...your photos play tricks on my eyes. Are those 35's or 37's on that stock IFS setup you got there? I'm jealous you picked up a SC I've been patiently waiting till that's doable for me. Maybe if I stop breaking shit I'd have more money...oh well
These are 35x10.5r17. Tall skinny 35 and I love it! I don't think I will ever go up to a 37 unless I do some major parts upgrading including front and rear diff.
 

Alex Fleming

Owner at Sherpa Equipment Co.
Joined
Oct 7, 2018
Messages
159
Age
25
Location
Fort Collins, CO
The supercharger sadly has not made it in yet. I am waiting on a new Dynamic Tensioner from URD as well as fixing a crack in the supercharger manifold.

I did however replace my timing belt and water pump, new hiflow fuel pump from URD, got the spark plugs in, trimmed the timing cover and did a few other odds and ends.

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I also fixed a rust spot on my driver floorboard from a leak I used to have.

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I installed a new radio, a Yeasu FT2900. This thing is a beast compared to the old radios I have run. This will be perfect for at races, doing chase support, pre-running, etc.

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Lastly on the new things docket. A 3rd Brake chase light for my S2's I used to run on my rack. I have seen these a couple of times and I thought it was really clean looking so I pulled the trigger on one. I do plan to do something different for brake light so that will come soon. This is from SRQ Fabrications.

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Joined
May 15, 2019
Messages
162
Location
KY
Super fun weekend trip. The 4Runner did awesomely and it had no mechanical issues.
Hard to beat that.

How’d you mount that radio, and do you hit your knee on it ever? I’ve got CB and GMRS radios hanging off the other side of my trans tunnel (phrasing) but am apprehensive about mounting anything on the drivers side.
 

Alex Fleming

Owner at Sherpa Equipment Co.
Joined
Oct 7, 2018
Messages
159
Age
25
Location
Fort Collins, CO
Hard to beat that.

How’d you mount that radio, and do you hit your knee on it ever? I’ve got CB and GMRS radios hanging off the other side of my trans tunnel (phrasing) but am apprehensive about mounting anything on the drivers side.
I just bolted through the plastic. I may add some aluminum to it to make it more rigid. It doesn't bother me as far as hitting it, I have an inverter on the other side as well.
 
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