Builds wiseinvestor's budget build of "Big Slick" (19 Viewers)

[wiseinvestor]

Cruise Moab,
When LCDC announced they were turning the page, I started planning for Moab. Top of the World and Hells Revenge seemed to be the next horizon. Let's go!
Hit Slap's BBQ on the way out.

Ribs were good but not my favorite bbq.
Hit 160K

Met up with @tincan45 in Kansas and we rolled to Grand Junction CO. Hotel Maverick was nice.
TOTW (Top of the world) Pre Cruise Moab run.
This was a trail I did not want to do alone or with a group. I wanted to be able to attempt it while taking my time and the freedom to bail if it was out of my comfort zone. @tincan45 was down so we decided to do it as soon as we hit town. We darted down 128 which is a beautiful road.

This trail was a bit of work. Once on the trail it was 2.5 hours of consistent rock climbing to get to the top. Some big steps and obstacles for sure but nothing the trucks couldn't handle. Full disclosure, we decided to play it safe and take the bypass on the gatekeeper/crux. We also double backed down the loop.

Getting to the top we were treated with an amazing view. Worth the price of admission.

 

[wiseinvestor]

We played in the park and ran Hell's revenge.

 

[wiseinvestor]

After the group run in the park, @TheGrrrrr ran a small group into Canyonlands Park down Shafer. The switchbacks were unbelievable and trail along the colorado river was spectacular.

 

[wiseinvestor]

We did onion creek and ran it all the way around to the kokopelli trail
This was a easy fun run that turned out to be one of the better trail days.

We got to see dinosaur tracks!

With about 2 hours left during our last day, we ran 135/Long Canyon road just for fun. It looked like a dirt road on the map. There is no such thing as just a dirt road in MOAB!

 

[wiseinvestor]

Moab was next level. Wonderful trip with great friends.

 

[wiseinvestor]

Just bring an extra pair of drawers.

 

[linuxgod]

You did a bunch of the really great stuff I’ve done there too.

I’m glad there’s a bypass for that gatekeeper on TOTW now, I completely destroyed my tires on it. So many lugs chunked up, it was insanely noisy driving home

 

[kcjaz]

Just bring an extra pair of drawers.
View attachment 3895741

Awesome! We talked about doing TOW as part of Kokopelli but decided to run up to a couple different overlooks of the valley (which were spectacular) because it was already mid afternoon and we didn’t want to risk it turning into a long day. TOW will be a priority next year!

BTW, next time you are rolling West through KS, DM me. I’d love to convoy with you and @tincan45!

 

[wiseinvestor]

Sounds like a plan! Glad you got to do some exploring.

 

[kcjaz]

Sounds like a plan! Glad you got to do some exploring.

I'll be in your hood tonight and picking up the Taco tomorrow morning. Can't wait to see it in person!

 

[TheGrrrrr]

Just bring an extra pair of drawers.
View attachment 3895741

Thats a photo I did not expect existed. Well done!

 

[wiseinvestor]

I'll be in your hood tonight and picking up the Taco tomorrow morning. Can't wait to see it in person!

Nice! It looked great. Hope you love it.

 

[wiseinvestor]

Thats a photo I did not expect existed. Well done!

Not sure if that's due to my mediocre offroad skills or fear of heights... either way made it up with no drama and no turn signals.

 

[TheGrrrrr]

Not sure if that's due to my mediocre offroad skills or fear of heights... either way made it up with no drama and no turn signals.

I have no doubts about your skills, but I know you prefer to be in the truck next to a ledge, not standing at the edge. Glad you got that shot, its a great one and you should be proud of it. I know firsthand how disorienting and adrenaline inducing that can be. It took me a lot of work to mostly overcome it, so I know its not a fear of heights, its a chemical response to an uncommon danger. Only way for me was to make it common and a lot of what you did at CM is exactly that. It was great getting to wheel with you guys.

 

[wiseinvestor]

I have no doubts about your skills, but I know you prefer to be in the truck next to a ledge, not standing at the edge. Glad you got that shot, its a great one and you should be proud of it. I know firsthand how disorienting and adrenaline inducing that can be. It took me a lot of work to mostly overcome it, so I know its not a fear of heights, its a chemical response to an uncommon danger. Only way for me was to make it common and a lot of what you did at CM is exactly that. It was great getting to wheel with you guys.

You are 100% right. Illogically I do feel safer in my truck. It was a trail that I felt proud to check off the list. The photo was the cherry on top. I had a blast wheeling with you, and thanks again for taking us down Shafer. That was incredibly beautiful. And here is my favorite picture of you from the week.

 

[wiseinvestor]

Old Truck Maintenance item 1.
At 167K on the clock the truck is currently running strong. I was having to top off coolant over the last 10 months and initially a pressure test did not reveal a problem. I knew there was a problem and put the scope to work. Pink in the window.

Found coolant between the timing cover and the heat exchanger leaking.
Replaced Tube and O-rings, resealed valley plate and replaced the t- fitting, pcv valve, sensor and spark plug tubes.

 

[wiseinvestor]

Maintenance item 2.
I wanted to replace the sunroof seal. Parts are beginning to disappear for the 2013 200. I did a bit of Wikipedia YouTube research and learned two things.
1. The scars on seals face were caused by a childhood battle with lupus.

2. Is that Toyota doesn't have a stand alone part number for the sunroof seal. It is only available as part of the glass -sub-assembly 63201-60132.

This was a tough pill to swallow because my glass was fine. About $1400 with edge trim plus 4 hours of shop labor rate.
OCD aside, on older vehicles I fight rust and water intrusion at all costs. My sunroof drains are clear, my windshield gets replaced with oem glass, and my roof rack gets resealed every couple of years. But this felt like a questionable decision. It's done... moving on.

I have since been told that Lexus does offer the trim as a separate part number and that it will fit the land cruiser. I can not confirm this... nor to I want to.
@linuxgod lol

 

[wiseinvestor]

Maintenance item 3
The armor on the truck is there for a reason, but over the years the trips to Colorado, Tennessee, and recently Moab made me want to give it a bit of love.
A bit of fender trimming was needed to increase tolerances.

Some new edge trim from grainger and some touch up paint on the slee bumper and the bud built sliders freshened things up.

 

[wiseinvestor]

Tires
In 2019 I purchased some K02 dt a few months after I bought this truck and probably put well over 60k miles on them. They performed fantastically!
I was the first person at my local tire shop to buy the K03s. My initial impression was positive as they were much better in the wet and the truck felt better in long sweepers. But they fell apart during the first 10K both on road an off. Off road when aired down, the sidewalls would "chip" for a lack of a better word, as they came into contact with river rocks or whatever.

 

[wiseinvestor]

And they started to delaminate on the seam of the sidewall.

I filed a warranty claim and they gave me 80% credit after nearly 17K miles. I give them credit for the warranty service.