Builds A Trakka Troopy Revival

[Willis]

Maybe incorporate a bungee around the outside to suck in the fabric? Like the Alu-Cab

Yeah, thought about doing that...but man that would be ugly. I'd rather just make the conscious effort to pull the fabric in for 2 seconds while I close the top haha. I'm a man of aesthetics, otherwise I'd have just dumped this money into a 4runner

 

[jfrench]

Or a bungee or 2 across the inside like on a rooftop tent that you unhook after opening and reconnect before stowing.

 

[SKULLYOTA]

Swing by the shop some time if you want to test drive it. www.thefitgarage.com

haha, missed this post earlier! I bought a 73 series, maybe i'll make my way down there some time

 

[Willis]

haha, missed this post earlier! I bought a 73 series, maybe i'll make my way down there some time

Congrats! Can't wait to see it!

 

[Reinhardtius]

Got everything sorted, just a few things left including Pyrometer and Boost gauge install.

Lastly, I installed a couple gauges. I wanted something small and period correct for the interior. I picked Auber Instruments 1813 Digital gauges. Huge fan so far, love the 80s look.

Now to take some trips!

Those gauges look great!

 

[SKULLYOTA]

Is this Steens Mtn/Alvord Desert area? It's on my list for places to explore soon. Looks super cool

 

[Willis]

Is this Steens Mtn/Alvord Desert area? It's on my list for places to explore soon. Looks super cool

It is, I highly recommend it. Stop at the Field's Station for a burger or breakfast!

 

[Willis]

I didn't really think I needed it, but I kinda got bored and decided to rebuild my front axle before my wife and I head down to Baja for a month.

Turns out a couple of the steering bearings were completely toast, as were the axle seals. The fluids had become a nice communal soup.

After the rebuild it feels like a whole new truck. New calipers, brembo rotors and bosch pads are great as well. I thought it was tight before but now it feels brand new. Very pleased.

Only took 3 bags of towels and 25 pairs of gloves.
Decided to replace the H55 fluid with fresh Redline MT-90 as well. Very glad I did, it was a few quarts low. Tranny doesn't seem to whine as much now.



Also finally picked up a winch.

And got up into the snow.

That's it, I'll update after the trip... If we get murdered it's up to ya'll to go down and recover the truck.

 

[SNLC]

I didn't really think I needed it, but I kinda got bored and decided to rebuild my front axle before my wife and I head down to Baja for a month.

Turns out a couple of the steering bearings were completely toast, as were the axle seals. The fluids had become a nice communal soup.

Good thing n you did it!

A buddy of mine lost a wheel bearing down there last week. Axle came out at 60mph. It was bent so he had to find a whole new axle to keep going.


I spent six weeks in Baja two years ago. I am really craving a trip down there.

Have fun!

Cheers

 

[Willis]

Good thing n you did it!

A buddy of mine lost a wheel bearing down there last week. Axle came out at 60mph. It was bent so he had to find a whole new axle to keep going.


I spent six weeks in Baja two years ago. I am really craving a trip down there.

Have fun!

Cheers

Come with, we're solo right now. Kind of worried actually hahah.



My OEM fuel water/sedimenter separator developed a pinhole leak on the bottom a few months ago. Took me a while to find the leak(it was about a drop an hour) but I eventually found it and just bypassed the separator until I sourced a new one. That proved impossible so I went with an Isuzu NPR Fuel separator off of Amazon.

It was going great, for about 12 hours. This brand new unit is leaking out of the petcock on the bottom, despite being incredibly tight. I'm just going to skip it. I don't need two fuel filters, these engines don't seem to be terribly picky with fuel.

 

[umpqua]

Post pics from the Baja. Look up Aqua Verde and camp on the beach there. You can thank me later for the tip.

 

[SNLC]

Come with, we're solo right now. Kind of worried actually hahah.



My OEM fuel water/sedimenter separator developed a pinhole leak on the bottom a few months ago. Took me a while to find the leak(it was about a drop an hour) but I eventually found it and just bypassed the separator until I sourced a new one. That proved impossible so I went with an Isuzu NPR Fuel separator off of Amazon.

It was going great, for about 12 hours. This brand new unit is leaking out of the petcock on the bottom, despite being incredibly tight. I'm just going to skip it. I don't need two fuel filters, these engines don't seem to be terribly picky with fuel.

Don’t be worried, Baja is very safe. I do know some horror stories but they are either way old or the person was not being smart.

Just make sure the truck is in top order for the trip. Breakdowns are not very fun in Baja.

Thank you for the invite, I would love to go! I am just to buried with work and sold my Cruiser not long ago.

Also get the Baja Atlas if you don’t have it, it is better than GPS! I also suggest you take an old cell phone and SIM card it as soon as you hit Mexico. Coverage is pretty spotty in Baja but it could be your lifeline to the world. Way cheaper to sim an old phone than do some international plan.

I highly suggest taking a sit on top kayak for two people. That or an inflatable. Better yet if you have nice sea kayaks, take those! Besides surfing, sea kayaking Baja is most excellent even if just close to shore. Fishing poles and the kayak can most certainly get you fresh dinner!


If you want anymore tips or locations to seek out hit me up in pm. I have spent a lot of time down there but am not sharing all the good spots here in public.


Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Oh ya if on the SoC side and camping on a beach, be wary of tides! Not really a problem in the developed camping spot but I had a close call boondock camping on the SoC. Some of the largest tide fluctuations happen on the SoC, especially up north.


Cheers

 

[Willis]

Oh ya if on the SoC side and camping on a beach, be wary of tides! Not really a problem in the developed camping spot but I had a close call boondock camping on the SoC. Some of the largest tide fluctuations happen on the SoC, especially up north.


Cheers

Thanks for the advice, I'll definitely send a DM your way. If not here, then on Instagram. 5 years ago we went only as far south as San Felipe and I almost lost our 80 series into the sea because of the tide!

We're bringing a couple of those fold out kayaks so we should be set! Very stoked.

 

[SNLC]

Man your pics on Instagram make me want to go to Baja badly! And they make me miss my Shiba badly.

These last two are of him in Baja.

Next dog for me is for sure a Shiba, they are a handful but so good. Apologies for spamming your thread with pics but there are not many Cruiserheads out there who also have a Shiba.


Stay safe down there and enjoy the waves!

Cheers

 

[Willis]

Oh man, those are adorable! Did he figure out how to roll the windows down in that 80 series? Ours would help himself to rolling the window down multiple times per drive.

 

[umpqua]

Are you back from the Baja? Trip report? Pics?

 

[Willis]

Baja was excellent. We camped alone a few nights and in a few campsites as well. All was safe and no issues. The truck absolutely killed it. I broke one swaybar bracket on the 5hour dirt road from Scorpion Bay to Guerrero Negro. I shouldn't have a swaybar anyway.

Performance was great. There were only 2-3 hills the entire trip (there and back) that required me to get into 4th gear. Still loving the 12ht with stock power but eventually I may look into boosting a little past 8psi and a small intercooler.


19.5mpg average including off-road and I-5 75mph cruising.
Got a record 839mile range before I reallllly needed gas.
$168 total on that one

3000 miles and I needed to add maybe a 1 quart of oil out of the 11qt system, not bad for a 30 year old diesel.



First night near Mammoth

Second night in Alabama hills

Third night camped in Joshua Tree, but all I got was a good photo of driving Queen Valley Road, which is you follow it long enough drops you off about in Desert Springs and you don't have to pay to exit... next time I'd rather just pay hahaha.

First night in Mexico, camping alone. We got the jitters out though. This spot is called Punta Cabra, you are well hidden behind some rocks and deep sand on the peninsula. Good surfing in the morning.

The ocean washed the access road away, so getting there required driving through farm roads.

We cut across the the Sea of Cortez, stayed at Bahia de Los Angelos

This guy shipped his Triumph Tiger over from Australia and has been traveling from Argentina for the last 2 years. He was 5 days from completing his trip in LA. He watched a women get stabbed to death on an Amazon ferry. Great guy, tons of stories.

 

[Willis]

From here the days all blend, but I'll try to list the places.
Coyote Bay - Conception

The road to San Jaunico (Scorpion Bay) and the surf.

On the way back up this was my favorite spot. Ioverlander said not to travel to the bottom of the hill because everyone gets stuck even 4x4, aired down, matrax, etc. We got out in 4hi with 32psi hahah

Surfed in TJ (watched friend surf from beach because I am an awful surfer)

Then we booked it back over the border. TJ border crossing is the most entertained I've been in awhile. At the boarder with an extra 300 pesos is a great place to be. All the Tamales. Visiting my buddies at Stanceworks in LA, and met up with Yota Imports finally. Man that guy is a trip! Incredibly hospitable, loves helping people, and absolutely a trip. He's always going 1000mph. Now slaving away back at the Shop. Changeover season is still firing off and I've got a giant backlog of jobs (one including another Troopy 12HT swap)

One left-

 

[TonyP]

Great pics!
I need to get back down to Baja.