Containerized: Retromod Global Tacoma

[whytebredd]

I'm really looking forward to how this comes out. My plan was to have a life like yours studying poli sci with the intent of getting out to Africa some how but I recently had a reroute. Definitely not too late for me to find a way there though.

But if your plan is to bring this to Africa why not buy a Hilux there?

[eurosonic]

wow , great build. Indeed something different.

[Containerized]

whytebredd - I've been fortunate to (and still do) work for organizations (mostly banks) that have a dozen Hiluxes and Prados ready to be borrowed at nearly every office - if I really leaned on clients for vehicles, they'd probably (reluctantly) issue me a 70 or a Hilux as a company vehicle during the contract. Don't get me wrong - those trucks are awesome vehicles and when I need them, I definitely use them (borrowed and drove a Hilux to pick up some supplies yesterday and bring them to a friend's farm). But I want something a little different, a little retro, and something that's "mine" for long weekends camping, exploring, or hunting around the New Year. Is this project vehicle, or any of the vehicles in my garage, something that I strictly "need" to have? Of course not. Would buying a 70 Series pickup or a Hilux at the local dealer right here in Uganda make more sense practically and financially? Maybe it would. But is it essentially unlimited fun to imagine something and then build it? Absolutely. And that's 99% of this project for me. That it also suits my needs and can deal with the three- or four-day overland trips that I usually do is a bonus.

Today, I'm driving with one other vehicle (4 people total) to the Albertine Nile region that separates Congo from Uganda. It's a relatively easy drive and one I've done before. Spend half a day driving out, stay two nights not far from Murchison Falls, drive back. We're doing it with an FJC and a Hilux. This is the kind of trip that would be fine in a Taco, or a Tundra, or a 70, or a whatever. And that's true of most travel here in East Africa. As long as you've got a well-maintained, reasonably capable vehicle that you're comfortable with (for me, comfort means dual batteries, winch, reasonably good tyres, etc.) then you're good to go. The rest is mostly a matter of preference, style, familiarity (from a driving and maintenance perspective), and other factors. The number of situations where I've been so close to the edge of a vehicle's capability in real-world conditions that a FJC could actually go somewhere a Taco wouldn't have, or where I'd wished I'd brought a 70 Pickup instead of a Hilux... those situations are rare, and I struggle to remember one if I'm being completely honest.

Bottom line: Life's too short, drive something you like.

[Caoboy]

Bottom line: Life's too short, drive something you like.

Sig worthy material right there.

[samguert]

whytebredd - I've been fortunate to (and still do) work for organizations (mostly banks) that have a dozen Hiluxes and Prados ready to be borrowed at nearly every office - if I really leaned on clients for vehicles, they'd probably (reluctantly) issue me a 70 or a Hilux as a company vehicle during the contract. Don't get me wrong - those trucks are awesome vehicles and when I need them, I definitely use them (borrowed and drove a Hilux to pick up some supplies yesterday and bring them to a friend's farm). But I want something a little different, a little retro, and something that's "mine" for long weekends camping, exploring, or hunting around the New Year. Is this project vehicle, or any of the vehicles in my garage, something that I strictly "need" to have? Of course not. Would buying a 70 Series pickup or a Hilux at the local dealer right here in Uganda make more sense practically and financially? Maybe it would. But is it essentially unlimited fun to imagine something and then build it? Absolutely. And that's 99% of this project for me. That it also suits my needs and can deal with the three- or four-day overland trips that I usually do is a bonus.

Today, I'm driving with one other vehicle (4 people total) to the Albertine Nile region that separates Congo from Uganda. It's a relatively easy drive and one I've done before. Spend half a day driving out, stay two nights not far from Murchison Falls, drive back. We're doing it with an FJC and a Hilux. This is the kind of trip that would be fine in a Taco, or a Tundra, or a 70, or a whatever. And that's true of most travel here in East Africa. As long as you've got a well-maintained, reasonably capable vehicle that you're comfortable with (for me, comfort means dual batteries, winch, reasonably good tyres, etc.) then you're good to go. The rest is mostly a matter of preference, style, familiarity (from a driving and maintenance perspective), and other factors. The number of situations where I've been so close to the edge of a vehicle's capability in real-world conditions that a FJC could actually go somewhere a Taco wouldn't have, or where I'd wished I'd brought a 70 Pickup instead of a Hilux... those situations are rare, and I struggle to remember one if I'm being completely honest.

Bottom line: Life's too short, drive something you like.

Wish the forum had a šLikeš button. Would have pressed for this post

[dstn2bdoa]

Keep up the creative work. Enjoying the build.

When the time is right. I hope to build a Factory Five Shelby Coupe. Poor mans version of your lost lover. One of the most beautiful cars ever made.

[Containerized]

dstn2bdoa: When the time comes, I'd *highly* recommend a Superformance coupe over the Factory Five. It was styled by Peter Brock (who styled the original car) and has the proper suspension geometry designed by the late Bob Negstad (who worked on the suspensions for the original cars, as well as the original GT40 race cars). Send me a PM and I can explain further; Peter is a good family friend and enthusiastic about Superformance's efforts to recreate the Coupe. It is, for a thousand reasons I won't clutter this thread with, a far superior product to what Factory Five offers, which is basically a car with a somewhat similar silhouette but little else in common with the original machines.

[LACamper]

Nice!

[dstn2bdoa]

I'll look into that. Thanks for the heads up.

[Containerized]

Could post more, but thought a quick teaser shot of the retromod shorty bed was appropriate...