A build for going...off the beaten path

[deadbeat son]

I realize it's been a while since you originally posted the photos, but it looks like you and your friend did a pretty good job on the body work. The truck looks great with the matching topper, and the LC wheels really set it off!

[offthebeatenpath]

I realize it's been a while since you originally posted the photos, but it looks like you and your friend did a pretty good job on the body work. The truck looks great with the matching topper, and the LC wheels really set it off!

Thanks! I was stoked about how it turned out. My original plan was to just color match the topper in my driveway and leave the bed the way it was. My friend Brandon hooked me up with Mike, who has the paint booth, so that went a long way in helping out the finished product.

I love the LC wheels, it's a good look. Now all I have to do is get rid of that monstrosity on the front.

[offthebeatenpath]

Had the chance to get out twice so far this summer- which I think is more than all of last summer, so we're off to a good start.

A few factors have tipped the scales in the favor of our fam having a bit more time to get out. My wife went from working full-time down to part-time, which has had an impact on the pace at which mods are done to the Taco, but we have more free weekends. Also, our kiddos are now 2 and 4, which means they're getting a bit more flexible about getting out and really starting to enjoy it. Ruth is our oldest and she can't wait to get out- she always asks when we're going camping again.

On the other hand.... she's pretty critical of the suspension on my Tacoma... or the condition of the back country roads. I like to think the former. So it looks like some type of tire deflation system and onboard air will be in the future sooner than later. Coilovers will have to wait.

I went to the ExpeditionOverland episode 4 release party on Sunday evening, the whole crew of that show is local to me and mutual friends with friends of mine. If you haven't checked it out, it's an overlanding tv series that is very well done. They now have 4 episodes under their belt, each one surpassing the previous. In the past few months they've got some pretty notable sponsors on board, so hopefully the shows will continue. It's good stuff and excellent cinematography. Plus, it makes you want to get out

Overland Expedition

Clay Croft, the creator of the series and videography master had his truck written up in the June issue of Tacoma Magazine. You can read it on the web, or you can get a printed copy. Check it out here: Tacoma Magazine

[offthebeatenpath]

Here's some photos from our May trip into the Tobacco Roots. Great time, it was good to get out even though it was still a bit chilly up there. Crazy though, all the area where we were has just been burned out by one of the early forest fires we're dealing with here in Montana.




Our campsite, tucked into the trees and right next to an excellent stream.



Anna helping me gather firewood.....



Dinner spot....



Gorgeous views-



View back down to the lake where we ate dinner-



A short hike. Well, that might be an overstatment. A short walk.



The fam. And Anna being the little stinker she is.

[Firebear MD718]

Great pics of MT., and the FAM., now I need to take your lead and get out and fish

[offthebeatenpath]

Great pics of MT., and the FAM., now I need to take your lead and get out and fish

Do you know when the best time to go fishing is?










Any time you can.



I need to also.....maybe this weekend.

[offthebeatenpath]

Well, I made it out to go fishing-

A friend and I mountain biked in to a back country stream that I'd seen once before. Looked epic.
It was. It was the best mountain bike ride I've done this year.
The fishing was forgettable......

Anyway, here's a few pics from our last trip out. Just a one-nighter, making sure the kids still have fun-

The eastern slope of the Bridger Mountains....












Keeping them involved.....



Overland gourmet?






My three ladies

[offthebeatenpath]

Got out this past weekend, again just for an overnight that seems to work pretty well for us, especially because there are so incredibly many different places that we can be in the National Forest inside 90 min from the house. We headed back into the Tobacco Root Mountains to check out a few of the "primitive roads" as the State of Montana chooses to call them. Also looking for some lake frontage to spend a bit of time at. We found both.

Fire regulations have been put at a Level 1, so that means no fires except in the fire rings at the campground. I would have prefered to stay further back country, but the kiddos would have been pretty disappointed with no fire.

Had been thinking for awhile about an air-down aid, such as the ARB tool or one of the valve caps like the Stauns. Went into the local 4x4 shop (Mike's Offroad) to chat with them since the deal with ARB. I ordered the tool, decided to be a good local and keep my $ in town, then the guy proceeded to do nothing but make fun of Toyotas. It was pretty stupid. Look- I like my Toyota. I liked my Jeep. I have nothing against Ford, Chevy or Dodge, I just don't want one. I don't think that a stock truck of one or the other companies is notably More or Less capable off the road than any other. Unless you've got a factory locker, like me. It kinda ticked me off. I don't think I'll be back there to pick up my order.

So.... I just started taking the valve stems out to air down, and I couldn't believe how much simpler that was than I remembered. Took me about a minute total per tire to go from 45psi down to get it exactly at 18. I was very pleased. I think I'll be putting my $ from the air down tools into a compressor instead. That was further enforced once we got into the mountains and I wished I had a boat of some sort to get out in to a few of these alpine lakes. I think I'm going to look into some inflatable pack boats for fishing and for keeping the kids occupied.

Here's the highlights:







My navigator? Not so much.

[shmabs]

Amazing pictures!!! How do you like bozeman? The surrounding area looks gorgeous.


Mike

[upcountry]

Nice adventure pics with the family. I am envious of the open space so close to home.

"A short hike. Well, that might be an overstatment. A short walk."

Haha!! I know this well! It seems like we only get a few hundered feet at times. Kids are great at seeing so much anywhere they go. It reminds me of the times I have hiked and biked routes I normally drive and how different things seem at a slower speed.

One question: How do you keep your kids warm at night at higher elevations when the temp dips down?

I have wanted to buy a tent heater, but my wife laughs at me, but when my kids wake up in the tent cold or needing to hit the "potty" my wife wakes me up and says "can you deal with them"..... which I do while she goes back to sleep. I have wondered about modifying a RV heater or finding a Zodi (since they dont make them anym,ore for some reason) - http://www.zodi.com/Consumer/zodihotvent.html . My kids would do sooo much better in a warm tent!