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- #21
I'm good. Mine is 2020, but from what I can tell about the only thing that changes is the advertising. The content stays the same.
Builds Meet "Billy" (2 Viewers)
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Very curious. Dm'd!
sounds like I get to meet "Billy" this summer! Congrats.
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- #24
Yep. Working on timing and if I stop on the way up, or on the way back.
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- #25
A little update. I pulled the rear Dobinsons and replaced them with heavier springs. I'm still not thrilled with how the truck sits. Today I installed front springs. I got tired of the Dobinson backorder so I went cheap and bought AllDog springs (a Ken Romer suggestion). I really like the stance on the front. The back, not so much. The weight ratings on the Dobinson's is optimistic.
When I installed the rear tire/gas swings I blocked my rear camera which is mounted on the tailgate handle. Long story short is I bought another camera and tailgate harness from Toyota. I teased out the camera wire from the tailgate harness and installed the camera on the back of the bumper where the license plate should go. I went through several iterations, and I'm actually pleased with my current mounting. Yes, my welding sucks.
Tomorrow, my nextdoor neighbor is going to help me install the front bumper.
When I installed the rear tire/gas swings I blocked my rear camera which is mounted on the tailgate handle. Long story short is I bought another camera and tailgate harness from Toyota. I teased out the camera wire from the tailgate harness and installed the camera on the back of the bumper where the license plate should go. I went through several iterations, and I'm actually pleased with my current mounting. Yes, my welding sucks.
Tomorrow, my nextdoor neighbor is going to help me install the front bumper.
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- #26
Me likie. I think this will do. Unfortunately, now I have dash codes for the radar sensor.
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- #27
I made two modifications to the front bumper before I installed it. First, I installed a SAE port on the front for my solar panel. That way I don't need to pop the hood and use alligator clips. Second, this style of bumper makes access to the control box impossible. I bought the extension cable from Warn (stupid $$$$) and installed the port on the front. I also clocked the gearbox so the handle was easy to get to.
SAE port for the solar.
Winch controller port.
Clocked gearbox handle.
SAE port for the solar.
Winch controller port.
Clocked gearbox handle.
Dumpolina
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nab856
SILVER Star
Cool set-up! I feel my wallet getting lighter. 
alia176
SILVER Star
Billy got a tiny butt lift 
. Beer needs to come out before any work begins in this heat!
. Beer needs to come out before any work begins in this heat!
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- #31
Billy got a tiny butt lift
Thanks for the assist Ash. Now we just need to figure out why the driver's side is an inch higher than the passenger side.
alia176
SILVER Star
An inch? You obviously aren't drinking enough beer
Dang that's a huge difference. Let's look at it the breakfast where the ground is level. Might have to have a yard sale and empty out the rig to see what the natural lean looks like. Then stick you inside plus a full tank of fuel then go from there.
I think an inch higher on the driver side should be designed in by Toyota so when you've owned the truck 20+ years it will even out instead of being a inch short on the driver side (like a couple old trucks I've owned were)An inch? You obviously aren't drinking enough beer
Dang that's a huge difference. Let's look at it the breakfast where the ground is level. Might have to have a yard sale and empty out the rig to see what the natural lean looks like. Then stick you inside plus a full tank of fuel then go from there.
nab856
SILVER Star
Extra driver's side seats would be handy too!
The troubles with a vehicle designed to go a million miles.
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- #35
On my two shake down runs in Billy I noticed the camper caused a lot of wind noise. Mostly at the back window. I started looking at options, everything from some kind of deflector on the camper, to a roof rack with a deflector.
From my research there were only two potential roof rack options. Prinsu, and Front Runner. I contacted both companies. FR said not a chance will it clear under the camper. Prinsu wasn't sure. I asked the folks at Prinsu if I could stop by their place in Idaho Falls after the event and see if the rack would fit. They said they didn't have one, and it would be two weeks out. I told them I would be at Expo and would visit their display.
Both FR, and Prinsu, were at Expo in Oregon this last weekend. Looking at the FR I thought it was clear it would not fit under the camper. The Prinsu was going to be tight. As luck would have it, Prinsu had a rack for my truck in the booth. Between the event discount, and no sales tax in Oregon, I jumped on it (~$80 saved). A camp neighbor helped me get it installed. It was tight, as in real tight. It was also a challenge to install the back bolts under the camper. On the drive home the wind noise was significantly reduced. I also saw an increase in gas mileage over several tanks.
When I got home I pulled the rack and modified it to clear the camper. Much better, though I might need to tweak one corner. One advantage to the Prinsu rack was it allowed me to move all of the crossbars forward.
From my research there were only two potential roof rack options. Prinsu, and Front Runner. I contacted both companies. FR said not a chance will it clear under the camper. Prinsu wasn't sure. I asked the folks at Prinsu if I could stop by their place in Idaho Falls after the event and see if the rack would fit. They said they didn't have one, and it would be two weeks out. I told them I would be at Expo and would visit their display.
Both FR, and Prinsu, were at Expo in Oregon this last weekend. Looking at the FR I thought it was clear it would not fit under the camper. The Prinsu was going to be tight. As luck would have it, Prinsu had a rack for my truck in the booth. Between the event discount, and no sales tax in Oregon, I jumped on it (~$80 saved). A camp neighbor helped me get it installed. It was tight, as in real tight. It was also a challenge to install the back bolts under the camper. On the drive home the wind noise was significantly reduced. I also saw an increase in gas mileage over several tanks.
When I got home I pulled the rack and modified it to clear the camper. Much better, though I might need to tweak one corner. One advantage to the Prinsu rack was it allowed me to move all of the crossbars forward.
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- #36
Billy got a tiny butt lift
After Ali helped me with the rear springs he educated me on coil spring suspensions. He had two suggestions. First, get skids on the trailing arms. Second, correct the angle on the track bar. As much as I give this fella crap for spending other people's money, he was right on these two. Thanks Ali for shrinking my wallet, but also helping me build the truck right.
Track bar correction kit from Dr. KDSS. Looks level to me.
DV8 skid plate on the forward trailing arm mount. I probably should do the rear too, but they can wait. I was dragging the fronts in Utah, which Ali noted.
The other project was remounting the gas can carrier on the back bumper. By design, Victory 4x4 bolted their mount perpendicular to the swing-out. I really didn't like it, so with a little measuring, drilling, and new hardware, I mounted the can flat on the swing-out.
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