Coach

Thanks Bonecollector. I've got 5 5 gallon tanks, and I figure I'll need at least 10 just to stay mobile up there. I sent out a text to some buddies looking for any available, and lots of nice people have replied. Where are you located?

Sorry, I didn't take any "before" pix. Think of a dirty black roller skate worn by many before you, lol - some journey, disco lights... you get the picture. It wasn't pretty. My skid plates are so amazingly mangled from trying to make this truck go places stock my older toyo trucks went. Next project is get with Standman and his cousin to build some real skid plates, then on to the rock sliders. These tacos aren't 1/2 of the 1st and 2nd gen toyota trucks we're used to. One little limb and we get an education on "crumple zones". LOL.

I'm not really sure where to post this, but I've got an '08 taco that needs more ground clearance. I'm looking at some 33" tires and 3" lift kits. ToyTec has a nice one by Old Man Emu with Bilstein shocks, Skyjacker has another for around 1/2 the price that looks good. Just wondering what the best way is to get a little ground clearance and run bigger tires.

Well, It's finally done. I got some great feedback from you guys and Chef really educated me on a lot of things to look at. I opted for and Old Man Emu setup sold by Toytech. It's about $300+ or so cheaper than their "ultimate lift", but has essentially the same compontents, just different brand. The main difference is, the OME front coils provide about 2.5" of front lift, but for $150 they send the front coils already compressed with a .5" spacer to give it a full 3" in the front. The back is pretty much the same, an add-a-leaf and better shocks - just OME heavy shocks instead of Bilstein. The instructions were easy to follow, and while it took the better part of a day to do the fronts, I could do it in a couple hours, having done it once. The backs were harder than I expected because you really have to be careful to not stress the soft brake lines when separating the leafs from the rear diff. At first it's easy, but it can get tricky. If I had to do it again, I would totally separate the rear leaf springs and re-install them instead of trying to force the add-a-leaf in while the main springs are still attached. That would have saved some work for sure. After doing the 3" lift, I had Discount Tire add 255/85 r16 BFG Mud Terrains with some zero offset wheels give more clearance of the upper A-arm. Lifting a Taco and adding bigger tires is pretty delicate since the stock tires and wheels are so close to the mechanics. There's very little room to work up front, and some guys have to do a lot of cutting to clear bigger tires. Luckily, I only have to trim a little plastic to accomodate the 33" tires. One after a bath...

Ok, can someone help sum this up. I can see how this works with a smart phone - but what if I'm somewhere with no cell signal and no smart phone? Does the unit still send a message home that I'm OK, and give the option to get help if something goes wrong?

Nicely done sir! I hope you find the owner.

I'm really considering one of these for my 13B hunt. Looks like a good way to send a quick "I'm OK" message home.

That is awesome! Huge congrats to Chase - awesome shooting there buddy. And nice job dad!

Gotta add the Family pic...

Back when I was a teenager, a buddy and I set out for some quail hunting. We decided at some point to eat only what we shot. We had trouble finding quail the first afternoon and as it was getting close to dark, a jackrabbit was the first thing we could find. We cooked it over a spit and the texture was about like boot leather, and the taste was even worse. In the morning we put a can of Dinte Moore beef stew on a fence post and shot it, just so we could get a meal and not go back on our agreement. I used to love eating rabbit back in Oklahoma, but that was the first and last I ever tried to eat out here in the desert.

Happy Birthday from the mountains.

Great photos, Doug. I just spent the last 6 days up there with the family. It's just unreal how amazing the mountains are this time of year. Thanks for the great pix.

I'll be up there camped somewhere near Buffalo Crossing. Look for a blue Expedition. My 2 oldest boys have the 27 youth deer tag AND the Unit 1 cow tag, so we're going to go for deer first, elk second. If you can find bugles, you'll find cows. The big boys are done and the smaller bulls are going to be actively tyring to make the best of it. Find a well used trail that goes into thick North slopes. Walk the trail slowly and quietly. Many times you'll walk right into their beds and if you keep your eyes peeled ahead of you, you should get a shot. Good luck to your daughter.

Awesome - thanks for the ideas guys.

Lasik was the best investment I ever made. I can remember clearly camping out in the back of my 4runner, trying to fidget with extended-wear contacts and sometimes glasses. My eyesight started going down hill during college. I got the Lasik surgery in my mid twenties, and was blessed with perfect eye-sight for almost two decades. They told me when I hit 40, I'd probably have to be back in for an adjustment, as your eyes naturally change shape, and they were right. I'm 41 now and my eyesight is not what it was just a few years ago. There is no doubt I'll go back in for more Lasik vs. dealing with contacts or glasses.

Nice buck - well done, sir!

Nice footage!!!

Nice post, very refreshing. I agree whole-heartedly. The problem is most voters aren't as informed as you are. Keep fighting the good fight.

Rock River Arms builds a nice, tight mil-spec lower. Their 2-stage National Match trigger sets them apart from the ml-spec providers. A RRA lower with their trigger and the houge grip makes a really solid lower platform to put anything you want on top. I'd look for an E.R. Shaw upper. YHM has some great floated uppers with the shaw barrell.

Happy Birthday, Chef!

That's a stud bull. Huge congrats!

+2 Ernesto. In .270 WSM and .300 WSM, I usually go for 3-4" high at 100 and dead on at either 250 or 300. From there I find the drop at 50 yard increments out to 500 - that's about my max, and draw a diagram of exactly what point to aim at or between mil dots between zero and 500. Then tape that on the inside of my flip-up scope cap. So at max power you have a visual aid of where your bullet will hit at ranges above your zero. Anything below your zero, hold on the lower half and you'll be in the zone. I don't trust ballistic charts - best to shoot at all ranges to see where YOUR load hits.

That's freakin' awesome!!! Love it!

Outstanding bull. Huge congrats to the hunter and everyone involved. Nice work.