"Hardcore" 89 (Black and Blue). IT RUNS, DRIVES, AND STOPS. BUILD ON HOLD

[MTBLAZER89]

You're gonna have to start cutting on it sooner or later... I would wait and enjoy it before you deploy...

Yeah Luey you are dead on! This is the smart plan. Then I have loooots of time to sit and think, draw, and plenty of $$ when I get home.

I will probably end up with a door design similar to yours. Mine never open anymore either. They can be opened, but its easier to just climb in and out.

My thoughts about chopping the top are do it, thats what I'm going to do. It will make the cage work tons easier.

Yeah the top is going away for sure.

I have a few ideas.

 

[MTBLAZER89]

Here is my kind of idea I have. Its a combo of a few rigs. Eric and Luey's along with Bowties old rig and Jason from Norcal. Thanks to Avery for posting the pic in the TTC thread. I knew I had seen an example of what I wanted somewhere before.

Kind of a Hybrid exo/internal cage. Cab cut to just a windshield frame.

Some 2x6 or 2x8 rec tube for boatsides and base to build from. A pillars will come up from them outside the firewall but behind the front fender skin. Continue up the windshield frame to the front halo. Taper the cage back to tie into the B pillar which will be a little narrower as to fit inside the rear skins. Full cage for the rear portion.

From A pillar tubes it would be easy to bring tubes either inside the front fenders and tie into the bumper, or outside like Bowties old rig to protect the tapered front some. I'd also run a cross tube either above the wiper cowl, or bring it inside to stiffen up between the a pillars.

Doors would be similar style to what I have now, but fixed in place like Lueys between the A and B pillar.

Jasons truck

Bowties old rig

Horton

 

[blazinzuk]

Most times I would say ditch the windshield but you live in a wet climate and I live in a very dry climate. Not having the windshield actually reduces the amount of dust in your face when driving on a dusty road, by a long ways.

I am really looking forward to what you are going to do Brian.

Just for info my boatsides went right to where the bottom hinge would bolt on for the door. Its a good height much higher and it would be alot harder to get in but where they are is plenty tall enough to clear so many things I never could before.

Lets me get stuck worse basically

 

[MTBLAZER89]

Ok cool thanks for the info Eric. That may still be a little high for me to get in and out cause I'm short, but oh well I can climb

Yeah the windshield is a must for now with the weather over here. I dont wanna wear a facemask and goggles to wheel all the time

I think with the big rectangle as sliders and a base it will really simplify the cage design too. Like Luey said though with my upcoming deployment I will most likely leave it alone for now so I can keep wheeling. I do think I may build a small 4 point to cover the rear so I can put a back seat in and get out with my kids a few times before I leave. I can just sell that later as a bolt in deal for any later 2nd gen K5.


Got some more pictures from this last weekend from a buddy. It seems I rarely get pictures of me actually driving cause I'm the photographer in the group usually.

This line has degraded badly over the winter. Used to be able to come straight up where the pic is taken from. The lower rock is so badly dug out its undercut and only the lighter rigs can get the rear tire to pop up it. I tried it a few times then resorted to try the Samuri/Yota line to the right.

Its a little tight between the stump and the rock

Thought this was a good marketing picture for Kert!

Ended up having to use the winch as I was wedged in pretty tight between the rock and the stump.

Hooked pretty good on the slider and it did not want to go through here.

My winch decided to quit working for unknown reasons. I was able to just back down the way I came up with my tail between my legs It made a clicking sound but that was it. I took the bolts out to access the solenoids diring lunch and it started working again. Didn't have to use it the rest of the day, but wasn't real happy about it quitting at all!

 

[blazinzuk]

Ok cool thanks for the info Eric. That may still be a little high for me to get in and out cause I'm short, but oh well I can climb

Yeah the windshield is a must for now with the weather over here. I dont wanna wear a facemask and goggles to wheel all the time

My wife does not like the height of the sliders but you get used to it.

I do wear goggles when we go out wheeling and we might do some stuff at faster than a crawl

I agree with the don't touch it till your back, you deploy in May right? thats 3 more months of solid wheeling none of your body panels are really reusable at this point anyway



I have got to make it over there sometime those trails you guys have look awesome

 

[MTBLAZER89]

My wife does not like the height of the sliders but you get used to it.

I do wear goggles when we go out wheeling and we might do some stuff at faster than a crawl

I agree with the don't touch it till your back, you deploy in May right? thats 3 more months of solid wheeling none of your body panels are really reusable at this point anyway



I have got to make it over there sometime those trails you guys have look awesome

Yeah mine has a hard time getting in it now as it is. I try and park her side where the ground is close when we stop

Yep a few more great Spring months of wheeling before we go. Early may sometime as far as I know.

Yeah the place where all these pics are taken is about 1 hour for us so it's really nice. They are only real fun this time of year when its wet and tore up. All the smaller rigs whine about the trails this time of year, but I wheel more during the winter cause I actually get to use 4wd! Summer time at Walker is like a drive in the woods.

I really really want to get down and wheel with Luey (dirtygoat) before I leave at Elbe. Look it up on youtube there are some gnarly trails down there, but it's about a 3.5 hour tow for me so not just a day trip.

 

[dirtygoat]

Yeah, keep the windshield... And figure something out for the top... I wheeled mine for years after I cut the top off and it sucked in the winter... I still get a little wet with how I did the new top, but it's way nicer than before...

 

[MTBLAZER89]

Yeah, keep the windshield... And figure something out for the top... I wheeled mine for years after I cut the top off and it sucked in the winter... I still get a little wet with how I did the new top, but it's way nicer than before...

Yeah I get a little wet how mine is right now too Kinda part of the topless doorless game I guess..

Yeah I figure if I do a design like the pickup above with the foward halo extends a little passed the top of the windshield frame it ill cut down on the waterfall inbetween the cage and windshield.

Luey did you shear yours up with 18 ga right? I plan on that for the top over all of the passenger area for sure.

 

[dirtygoat]

Brian, I'm not sure what the gauge is but it measured 1/8" thick... Ended up being right around 90lbs installed... Well worth the extra weight if you ask me...

Down at Elbe, a lot of tree tops fall if they get bumped... I've personally seen a few... I feel a lot safer with all that metal over my head...

 

[andyblack]

As far as the winch going intermittent like that, it's probably not the solenoids if you're hearing the clicking sounds. I have to take the motor out of mine about once a year and clean off the corrosion that has accumulated where the brushes are supposed to make contact. I guess moisture just gets trapped in there and makes everything rust over time. I read a magazine article recently that said that one of the guys at Warn that rebuilds and repairs the winches that come back to the company for warranty work recommends disassembling and cleaning the inside of the winch annually. I put a light coat of motor oil on the metal armature in mine last time and that seemed to help. This may not be your problem though. Good luck on the boat sides by the way.

 

[BulldogK5]

Tundra towed freakin Awesome!

What are you a paid R&D guy with 'yota now? That's just wronger.

 

[MTBLAZER89]

What are you a paid R&D guy with 'yota now? That's just wronger.

I was actually impressed how well it did. I definitely don't wanna tow with my V3500 anymore I know that now. Doesn't get the mileage of a Diesel, but kept up with my buddys just fine. I wasn't a believer either so I had to see

 

[shady]

I absolutley loved my 08 tundra. Shoulda kept it realy. But I wanted to build an old chevy(mid life crisis) and my $700 a month payment and travel habit didnt alow it. and they do tow freakin sweet dont they

 

[BulldogK5]

I definitely don't wanna tow with my V3500 anymore I know that now.

Why is that? Comfort...mileage...acceleration?

My dad has a 2000 Tundra and it tows well but I can tell a big difference between it and my '02 2500hd. Both are xtra cab but his is 2wd & mine is 4wd, other than that mostly the same in size. Both are V8 too but the ride is way different when towing with his. Obviously because of the springs but still I would not want to use his unless I had to.

 

[pblaze725]

Tundra tow rig/ TK5.com?

I tow with a Tundra too. I thought I was all alone. I flat tow my rig, until I can afford a trailer. It tows so smooth - sometimes I forget I am towing!

 

[andyblack]

What gear are you supposed to put the transmission and transfer case in when you flat tow?

As a side note, if this thread were on pirate 4x4, there would be all kinds of flaming going on about having a non-Chevy truck on the site and all that. So immature. I say if it's your thread you can show whatever make of truck you want. And tow with it as well! Roll on!

 

[pblaze725]

What gear are you supposed to put the transmission and transfer case in when you flat tow?

As a side note, if this thread were on pirate 4x4, there would be all kinds of flaming going on about having a non-Chevy truck on the site and all that. So immature. I say if it's your thread you can show whatever make of truck you want. And tow with it as well! Roll on!

I disconnect BOTH drive shafts at the axle, tape the U joint & tie wire them up, I put the transmission in N, I put the NP208 in N, I disconnect 1 battery, leave a key in the ignition so the steering wheel is unlocked.

The kind folk's at CK5 are very respectful & tolerant of things like Threadjackers & non GM vehicles & I really appreciate it.

 

[MTBLAZER89]

Why is that? Comfort...mileage...acceleration?

My dad has a 2000 Tundra and it tows well but I can tell a big difference between it and my '02 2500hd. Both are xtra cab but his is 2wd & mine is 4wd, other than that mostly the same in size. Both are V8 too but the ride is way different when towing with his. Obviously because of the springs but still I would not want to use his unless I had to.

Comfort, Mileage, Acceleration Yeah you pretty much hit them all. The Tundra is the 2007 which is the big body with the 5.7 motor. Its rated to pull 10,100 Just pulls so effortlessly compared to my Crew which seems is a constant struggle. The crew cab could use some steering work, and it just doesn't do hills at all. Mileage is around 8 all the time. The only thing I can say I like better about towing with the crew cab is it feels more stable with the HD leafs and weight. The Tundra is sodt and you can "feel" the trailer a lot more.

 

[BulldogK5]

Now I am curious as to the actual size differences between the two model Tundras. I was talking to a friend of mine who started using his crewcab (old body) for work towing his tractor almost daily. He toasted the trans and decided to go with a newer GMC 2500hd. Says he doesn't worry as much about it now.

Of course there is a huge difference between the '90 crewcab with a big block and a newer GM with a 6.0. All the comforts, better mileage, better acceleration, aerodynamics of something other than a brick. It just doesn't look as good. Maybe it's the whole retro thing.

 

[MTBLAZER89]

The old body style Tundras are only slightly larger than the newer double cab Tacomas. The inside of a new CrewMax Tundra is comparable to a Mega Cab. The rear seat slides forward and reclines. It's a lot larger inside than it looks.