Blanche - The Lost Golden Girl

[CreasyBear]

Hey y'all. I have been hanging around for long enough I figured it was time to post up my LX. I bought my LX to replace a Extra cab Tacoma that I had for years. My wife and I went all over the US in that truck with a rtt over the bed. We are teachers and love to travel during the summers.

So my lady decided it was time for kids and so we now have a monster that is about to turn two. My truck didn't accept a car seat and so she was sold . I found my LX at a BMW dealership as a trade in and we bought her the next day. Since then she has taken us on a few road trips and has been wheeled a few times. Currently she is my daily driver.


3 major categories of work

Offroad mods
285/75 KO2 on LC wheels
White knuckle sliders, bolt on - completed
Tow points front and rear - completed
New lower control arms
Lower control arm armor
Rear locker
Onboard air
New front bumper


Utility mods
Vision X rock lights (perfect for camping) - completed
KISS drawers (not yet installed)
Cargo barrier - completed
Baja Rack roof rack (will be for sale) will be replaced
Light bars in the bumper - completed for now

Ongoing Maintenance
Timing belt/water pump at 140k
AHC fluid flush (upcoming)
Brake job (upcoming)



I'm a teacher so the budget is small, but she will continue to be built as a family tourer.

I ask a ton of questions and as I slowly do work on her I'll post more pictures!

 

[CreasyBear]

This past thanksgiving I rented a SoCal teardrop for our 5th wedding anniversary trip to Big Bend NP.

It towed really well and besides watching the fuel gauge drop you would have never know it was there. We drove every back country road they have, Black gap included with the trailer and it was great.


We LOVED the trailer, but not the price to own.

 

[ReallyACruiser]

Very clean looking build! I have an identical '01 LX that's about to get a set of KO2's in a week or so. I'd love to hear more about the light bars in the bumper. I've thought about doing something like that but haven't quite pulled the trigger on it yet.

 

[beachbumin]

Good looking truck and the camping looks sweet. Any tips on the front bumper lights? That is exactly what I am looking to do with mine.

 

[CreasyBear]

Just got her back after 3 days at the mechanics. She finally got her new water pump and timing belt and all the jazz that go along with it.

$1400... OUCH!

She needs more work, but I'll be doing much of it myself. I am a 1 banana mechanic, but for the prices they are asking, I'll get busy on the weekends.

-Brake system flush
-new pads/rotors
-AHC flush

@beachbumin - SO I was looking for light output for dark country roads. I had some huge HIDs on my last truck, but I didn't have a good way to mount them. I have seen some dudes here with later models put a 20-30inch bar in a larger opening that mine doesn't have.

I started with Auxbeam cubes. They weren't worth the $25 they cost from amazon to me. So after talking to a buddy that works for Baja Design he told me I needed to use a 'real' brand and plunk down some real cash for quality lights. I didn't believe him.

So they are Auxbeam 12" combo bars. I bought the $12 wiring harness to try and make things easier for myself. It was a good buy.

If you want, I'll post some pictures with the bumper off, I had to drill 4 holes through the bumper support to mount them.

Amazon.com: Auxbeam 12" 72W LED Light Bar 7200lm Combo Beams 24pcs 3W CREE Driving Light Waterproof for Jeep off road Van Camper Wagon ATV AWD SUV 4WD 4x4 Pickup Van Off-road: Automotive

 

[beachbumin]

Yeah man. I'd love to see how you went about mounting. Still pretty green on the lx. Thanks a ton!

 

[ReallyACruiser]

A short write up would be awesome!

 

[bucfl]

The complete parts list for the timing belt can purchased for $500-600 or less and any good mechanic can do it for same price depending on where you live.

Nice ride!

 

[Thunder90]

Been looking for lights like this, would love a write up.

 

[PhrogsPhorever]

Very Nice, you need to go to Violent Little Machine Shop and get one of these stickers for your truck

 

[bucfl]

Is Creasy bear from Man on Fire?

 

[devildogcruiser25]

Very Nice, you need to go to Violent Little Machine Shop and get one of these stickers for your truck

View attachment 1380918

Second this. The guys from violent little have a pretty rad sense of humor. Sign up for the mailing list if you need a chuckle.

 

[billbrown72]

Yes would love room see how you mounted those lights...my oldest son got some for Christmas for his lx and we still trying figure out how mount them

 

[CreasyBear]

Creasy Bear is from Man on Fire. I actually have one of those stickers waiting to go on the truck! Just not sure where yet.

Light writeup is coming along, I'll post it this evening.

 

[billbrown72]

Okay

 

[CreasyBear]

I used 12 inch Auxbeam combo led bars. I cut the trim out of the openings in the bumper and after fitting it a bunch of times I was ready to drill. Two holes per light, they were easy to drill, but the nuts were hard to get inside to thread on.

The Auxbeam lights mounts are under the light instead of on the ends. As a result the lights sit a little too high for my liking.

 

[CreasyBear]

1st photo is without the light bars, 2nd with.

I would suggest buying higher quality bars for better light output.

 

[CreasyBear]

Brake job happening now, pics will follow.

 

[CreasyBear]

Yikes! Lots to update here.

HIH7 was the catalyst for lots of work to happen. Talk about an amazing time with great people!

Work that was done that will be shown here.

New Lower control arms with armor installed

7 pin wiring installed for trailer

Installed ebay light into bumper

Installed Solar panels and controller

Installed KISS drawers

Installed fridge slide and fridge/wiring

Installed camp lights

Installed jacket Rack

 

[aaronrules]

Links for eBay lights, and camp lights?