It's been a fun summer. We've gotten out a few times, including a really unusual trip that involved a day-long ferry ride up the western coast of Canada. It's always fun to get into new territory, and Bella Coola and Beyond was definitely that! Having enjoyed the land to the north, we went even further north, making it into Alaska for our first time ever, visiting some of British Columbia's most beautiful terrain along the way.
In addition to the trips, summer is a time to get the Tacoma ready for 8 months in the desert. That means there's plenty of work going on - either at home or in buddies' shops - to make sure it's in tip-top shape for the winter to come. This year was no different, and the truck is - fingers crossed - in great shape for the long drive south.
Most important in the work this time was (hopefully) finally solving the alignment issues I've had since the Roaming Capitol Reef trip in spring 2025. It's not just that I got the new alignment tab gussets installed; we also found a significant crack in the frame that we were able to get buttoned up.
It was also nice to finally have a couple years of data on my R452 5th gear swap. As expected, it improvemed mileage, but probably wasn't a real money-saving modification.
TL;DR - The mounting bracket for Diode Dynamics SS5 pods has a design flaw, but the company did a great job standing behind their product.
TL;DR - Got a new mudflap installed! Thanks to Derek @unstpible.
TL;DR - I've always just worn my "current old pair" of tennis shoes when I'm out hiking because I never liked hiking boots. They get beat up quickly on desert trails, and so I finally bought some purpose-designed hiking shoes. Wow, what a difference!
TL;DR - Hiking poles are really helpful and make hiking easier.
TL;DR - I've had a slow leak in one of my Kenda Klever RTs for the last two trips. With a bit of soapy water, I found the problem and got it plugged up.
TL;DR - Thank goodness for good friends. Zane @Speedytech7 noticed this crack in the metal frame that secures the passenger front lower control arm when we were reinforcing my alignment cam tabs. I wasn't even sure I wanted to go to the trouble of upgrading the cam tabs; sometimes, we all get more than a little lucky. Got it welded back up as good as new-ish.
TL;DR - After not having issues for years, I've been having trouble with my alignment for a while now. To resolve it, I installed some cam tab gussets that I probably should have installed a long time ago.
TL;DR - On the last two trips, the ARB compressor hasn't held pressure on cold mornings, but once the engine bay warms up, it starts to work again. I'm hoping that replacing the seals will solve the problem.
TL;DR - I had to weld the CBI spare tire carrier back together again. It is clear to me that CBI did not design this carrier for prolonged real-world use.
TL;DR - I swapped out all the gear oil in my diffs and transfer case, and some was in better shape than others.
TL;DR - I had another limit strap break. I suppose that means they are doing their job, but dang, they are costly to replace!
TL;DR - The extra weight of the new wheels and tires is less of an issue than I thought, and I've decided to keep them - largely because I really like both their looks and the Kenda Klever RTs I'm running on them - rather than looking for something lighter.
TL;DR - The new 5th gear definitely increased my fuel economy on the freeway. Of course, I probably still spent more on the swap than I'll save at the pump!
Seemingly solved from previous Rig Reviews
- The jury is still out on whether the 5th gear swap was worthwhile - financially, I'm a year from breaking even, but it's been a lot of fun, so I think that puts this mod squarely in the #WorthIt bucket.
- As a result of #1, I'm also resolving my concern that the Sequoia wheels and Kenda Klever RT tires aren't as great as I'd hoped. As noted above, I like the way they look and I'm keeping them!
- Is Something Wrong with My Alignment Cams? - in fact, yes, there was something majorly wrong. And now, with the cam tab gussets and rewelding the crack in the frame that almost resulting in my front passenger wheel falling off, it is resolved!
Unchanged / Still an issue from previous Rig Reviews
There are some things that have been featured in Rig Reviews that are - as yet - unchanged from when I originally reviewed them. Rather than highlight those things again, I'll simply link to them here.
- Skid plate attachment could be better
- My Cats are Empty [P0420 Check Engine Light] Still get the light. Still resetting it. Wallet still full.
- I've Worn Out My TPS (Throttle Position Sensor) [P0120 Check Engine Light]. Still have the new-to-me TPS waiting to go in.
- Giving the LutzAuto Speedo Correction Device Another Shot - I'm going to run the new device for about a year before calling the new connectors a success. ETA Summer 2027.
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