Trekking Tacoma Part 3

(ANNOUNCER)>> WITH THE RIGHT GEAR THE TOYOTA TACOMA MAKES A GREAT EXPEDITION RIG. TODAY ON XTREME 4X4 WE'LL DROP IN COMPRESSED AIR, CUSTOM KEYED LOCKS, AND EVEN A HOT SHOWER. ONCE IT'S FULLY OUTFITTED WE'LL SHAKE DOWN THE SUSPENSION AND TEST THIS TRUCK ON THE TRAILS. PLUS JUST HOW MUCH POWER DO YOU REALLY GAIN BY SWAPPING OVER TO SYNTHETIC FLUIDS? WE'LL FIND OUT!

(IAN)>> TODAY ON XTREME WE'VE GOT OUR TREKKING TACOMA PROJECT BACK IN THE SHOP.

NOW WE HAVE A FEW ODDS AND ENDS TO TAKE CARE OF ON THIS RIG. THEN WE'LL TAKE IT OUT AND SEE HOW WELL IT DOES ON LONG DISTANCE HIGHWAY DRIVES, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY OFF ROAD IN THE DIRT. NOW IF YOU REMEMBER, THIS WHOLE PROJECT STARTED WHEN WE BORROWED THIS TACOMA FROM THE GUYS DOWN ON TRUCKS TO PUT TOGETHER OUR FIRST EVER DEDICATED EXPEDITION TRUCK. THE TRUCK WAS A GOOD ALL AROUND HEAVY DUTY WORK RIG WITH JUST A FEW MODS, BUT BASICALLY STOCK. THE FIRST STEP IN XTREMIFING IT WAS TO CUT OFF ALL THE STOCK SUSPENSION AND INSTALL A STAGE THREE TRAIL GEAR

SOLID AXLE SWAP KIT. ONCE IT WAS SITTING ON SOME 35 INCH TALL MICKEYT BAJA CLAWS, IT WAS TIME TO FOCUS ON THE EXPEDITION SIDE OF THIS RIDE. A NEW ARB BUMPER AND WARN WINCH, AND A BED CAGE TO HOLD THE ROOF TOP TENT, SOLAR PANELS, LED LIGHTING, AND A TON OF STORAGE. NOW IF YOU GUYS REMEMBER, THE FIRST STEP IN OUR SOLID

AXLE SWAP WAS TO INSTALL A NEW ENGINE OIL PAN, AND WE STILL NEED TO TOP OFF OUR MOTOR WITH SOME FRESH ENGINE OIL. AT THE SAME TIME WE NEED TO FILL BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR DIFF, AND WHILE WE'RE AT IT WE'LL CHANGE THE OIL

IN THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE. NOW WE'LL REPLACE IT ALL WITH ALL FULL SYNTHETIC

LUBRICANTS FROM ROYAL PURPLE.

SOME MAX ATF FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE, SOME HPS ENGINE OIL FOR THE ENGINE, AND MAX GEAR FLUIDS FOR BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR DIFF. NOW A FULL SYNTHETIC SWAP LIKE THIS IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT. I'M SURE SOME OF YOU ARE WONDERING IS IT ACTUALLY

WORTH THE COST AND EFFORT TO CHANGE OUT ALL THOSE FLUIDS. WELL WE HAVE A CHASSIS DYNO DOWN THE HALL AND WE HAVE A ROOM FULL OF ROYAL PURPLE FLUIDS. I CONSIDER IT MY JOB TO FIND OUT IF IT IS WORTH IT, SO WE DID. THE TAHOE WE'RE USING TODAY ALREADY HAS SYNTHETIC FLUIDS FROM THE FACTORY, BUT ACCORDING TO JARED MARTIN, THE ROYAL PURPLE FORMULA FIGHTS FRICTION BETTER.

(JARED)>> AND REALLY WHAT MAKES ROYAL PURPLE ROYAL PURPLE IS NOT SO MUCH THE BASE STOCK. I'M MEAN YES, WE USE A SYNTHETIC BASE STOCK, THAT'S NOTHING NEW, IT'S BEEN OUT FOR 30 YEARS. WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGY, WHICH IS AS MUCH AS 15 TO 25 PERCENT OF A FINISHED PRODUCT, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE DIFFERENT.

(IAN)>> WE STRAPPED THE CHEVY TO THE CHASSIS DYNO TO PERFORM A FOUR WHEEL DRIVE DYNO PULL TO GET OUR BASE LINE NUMBERS.

[ engine revving ]

(IAN)>> AFTER THREE PULLS WE YIELDED AN AVERAGE OF 233.2 HORSEPOWER AND 262.4 POUND FEET OF TORQUE AT THE WHEELS IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. THEN WE MOVED FROM THE DYNO TO THE LIFT TO PERFORM A COMPLETE FLUID SWAP.

DRAINED THE OLD FLUID FROM THE FRONT DIFF AND REFILLED IT WITH THE MAXX GEAR REPLACEMENT. A COMPLETE OIL CHANGE WITH A NEW ROYAL PURPLE FILTER PULLED THE PAN OFF OF THE TRANSMISSION TO PERFORM

A TRUE TRANSMISSION FILTER SERVICE. THIS REQUIRED CLEANING THE PAN AND REPLACING THE FILTER INSIDE, AND FILLING IT UP WITH SYNTHETIC AUTOMATIC

TRANSMISSION FLUID.

WE DRAINED THE TRANSFER CASE AND FILLED IT WITH

SYNCHROMAX, AND PULLED THE REAR DIFF COVER OFF AND REFILLED IT WITH MAX GEAR FLUID. WITH THE TAHOE BACK ON THE DYNO FOR THREE MORE RUNS, THE RESULT, AN AVERAGE OF 240.6 HORSEPOWER AND 268.4 POUND FEET OF TORQUE. THIS IS A VERY IMPRESSIVE GAIN.

(JARED)>> YEAH, IT PICKED UP EIGHT PEAK AND IT LOOKS LIKE

THROUGHOUT THE POWER BAND, OR THROUGH MOST OF IT IT PICKED UP ABOUT 10.

(IAN)>> MIKE YOU DO THIS ALL DAY EVERYDAY. WHAT'S THAT SAY TO YOU?

(MIKE)>> YOU KNOW, WE CHASE HORSEPOWER WITH DIFFERENT SPEED PARTS AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T SEE THESE TYPE OF GAINS. BUT THE BIG THING IS ON THE TORQUE SIDE, WE PICKED UP QUITE A BIT AND THAT JUST SHOWS THE FRICTION LOSS THROUGH ALL THE THINGS YOU CHANGED.

(IAN)>> YEAH, SO I THINK THAT IN THE END YOU KNOW, WE KIND PROVED IT.

SO OIL DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

(JARED)>> ABSOLUTELY!

(IAN)>> NOW THE TRAIL GEAR HOUSINGS HAVE A FILL PLUG THAT'S ACTUALLY RAISED UP A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN THE STOCK TOYOTA AXLE. THAT ALLOWS MORE FLUID TO STAY IN THE CENTER SECTION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OFF CAMBER.

NOW TO MAKE FILLING UP A DIFF A LOT EASIER YOU CAN PICK UP ONE OF THESE SMALL TRANSFER PUMPS JUST AT YOUR LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE. INSTEAD OF HAVING TO TRY TO POUR THE GEAR OIL INTO THE AXLE, YOU SIMPLY PUMP IT OUT OF THE BOTTLE AND INTO THE DIFF.

(ANNOUNCER)>> COMING UP THERE ARE THREE THINGS YOU ALWAYS WANT ON THE TRAIL, A GOOD AIR SUPPLY, A WAY TO SECURE YOUR STUFF, AND A NICE HOT SHOWER.

(IAN)>> THE SECRET TO BUILDING A GOOD, DEDICATED EXPEDITION RIG IS TO DOUBLE UP ON SOME OF THE KEY SYSTEMS. NOW WE'VE ALREADY SHOWN YOU OUR PRIMARY SOURCE FOR COMPRESSED AIR, THIS HEAVY DUTY TWIN AIR COMPRESSOR FROM ARB. WE'LL USE IT TO RUN OUR FRONT AIR LOCKER, TOP OFF OUR TIRES WHEN WE COME OFF THE TRAILS, AND RUN AIR TOOLS WHEN WE'RE PERFORMING REPAIRS. BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG WITH OUR PRIMARY AIR SOURCE, AND THAT'S WHERE SECONDARY ONE COMES INTO PLAY. THIS LARGE CO TWO TANK FROM POWER TANK IS A COMPRESSED GAS CYLINDER WITH A REGULATOR SYSTEM ON THE TOP OF IT. WITH THE REGULATOR WE CAN BLEED OFF COMPRESSED AIR AT A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PRESSURES TO PERFORM ALL THE SAME FUNCTIONS AS OUR AIR COMPRESSOR. RUN OUR AIR LOCKER, TOP OFF OUR TIRES, AND RUN SOME TOOLS. BUT WHEN YOU HAVE TWO DEDICATED AIR SYSTEMS AND ONE AIR LOCKER, HOW ARE WE GONNA MAKE THAT WORK? WELL WE DID IT WITH JUST SOME SIMPLE PARTS FROM OUR LOCAL PARTS STORE.

THIS SMALL BRASS "T" AND AIR FITTING WILL ALLOW US TO PLUG IN OUR ARB AIR COMPRESSOR OR OUR POWER TANK TO ACTIVATE THE SOLENOID AND TURN ON OUR FRONT AIR LOCKER. NOW WE'LL MOUNT BOTH OF THESE SYSTEMS UP IN THE BED

OF THE TRUCK SO WE HAVE EASY ACCESS TO EITHER AIR HOSE, AND THIS WAY RUNNING OUT OF AIR ON THE TRAIL WILL NEVER BE A PROBLEM.

TO MOUNT OUR AIR COMPRESSOR WE'LL START WITH SOME SCRAP PLATES THAT WE HAD LAYING AROUND THE XTREME SHOP. LAY OUT THE MOUNTING HOLES AND DRILL THEM.

[ drill spinning ]

(IAN)>> BOLT IT UP TO THE BACK OF THE AIR COMPRESSOR ASSEMBLY AND ATTACHED IT TO OUR BED CAGE WITH A COUPLE OF MUFFLER CLAMPS.

THE SOLENOID WILL MOUNT ON THE BED, HOOK UP THE AIR

LINE, AND A FEED FROM THE COMPRESSOR. SECURITY IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE ON THIS TYPE OF A RIG. REMEMBER IT'S A DEDICATED EXPEDITION TRUCK, YOU'RE NOT DRIVING IT EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO IT'S GONNA SIT AT HOME IN YOUR DRIVEWAY WITH ALL YOUR GEAR IN THE BACK OF IT. NOW WE TOOK SOME PRECAUTIONS EARLY ON BY MAKING SURE WE HAD GOOD STORAGE BINS THAT WERE LOCKABLE. BUT THEN COMES THE HASSLE OF ALL THOSE PAD LOCKS AND ALL THOSE KEYS. YOU'RE GONNA FEEL LIKE A HIGH SCHOOL JANITOR LOOKING

FOR THE RIGHT ONE WHEN YOU JUST WANT TO GET ONE PART OUT OF THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. WELL WE FOUND SOMETHING PRETTY COOL THAT WILL WORK GREAT ON OUR EXPEDITION RIG. IT'S THE NEW SERIES OF BOLT LOCKS. IT'S BASICALLY A SIMPLE PAD LOCK BUT IT WILL BE CODED TO THE IGNITION KEY FOR OUR VEHICLE. NOW THEY HAVE THEM FOR ALL DIFFERENT MAKES AND MODELS AND WE GOT A WHOLE RANGE OF ONES SPECIFICALLY FOR THE TOYOTA PICK UP TRUCK. NOW ONCE WE GET THESE CODED WE'LL HAVE LOCKS FOR ALL OF OUR GEAR, A LOCK FOR THE RECEIVER HITCH, AND A CABLE LOCK WE CAN USE TO SECURE ANYTHING WHEN WE'RE AWAY FROM THE TRUCK. TO CODE EACH LOCK WE SIMPLY TAKE THE IGNITION KEY, INSERT IT INTO THE LOCK, AND TURN IT CLOCKWISE UNTIL IT STOPS. NOW EACH PAD LOCK WILL ONLY WORK WITH OUR IGNITION KEY.

(ANNOUNCER)>> COMING UP, SUN, WATER, EARTH, AND SKY, ALL THE ELEMENTS OF A GOOD DAY ON THE TRAIL.

(IAN)>> EXPEDITION TRAVEL IS ABOUT SPENDING AS MUCH TIME OUT IN THE WILDERNESS AS POSSIBLE. AND THAT'S WHY ON A DEDICATED EXPEDITION RIG LIKE OUR TOYOTA WE TRY TO ADD AS MANY SYSTEMS AS WE CAN TO MAKE THE VEHICLE SELF SUSTAINABLE. NOW ONE AREA THAT WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT YET IS COMFORT. AFTER A FEW DAYS OUT IN THE WOODS I'M SURE ALMOST ALL OF US WOULD KILL FOR A NICE, HOT SHOWER. BELIEVE IT OR NOT IT'S NOT THAT HARD TO ADD ONE TO A TRUCK LIKE OUR TOYOTA. WE'VE GOT A COMPLETE KIT HERE FROM CRUISER OUTFITTERS. IT COMES WITH EVERYTHING WE'RE GONNA NEED, A SMALL

HEAT EXCHANGER THAT'LL MOUNT UP UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, ALL THE HOSES AND VALVES TO HOOK IT UP, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THIS SMALL HAND HELD SHOW THAT WE CAN OPERATE SIMPLY BY RUNNING THE ENGINE TO HEAT UP THE WATER THAT IS DRAWN OUT OF EITHER A BUCKET OR THE LAKE WITH THIS SMALL ELECTRIC PUMP. ONCE WE HAVE THIS HOOKED UP, THEN THIS RIG

IS OFFICIALLY DONE. THE HEAT EXCHANGER WILL MOUNT ONTO THE FIREWALL AND TAP INTO OUR TOYOTA'S EXISTING HEATER CIRCUIT.

WE'LL MOUNT THE TWO HOT AND COLD BARBS ONTO OUR ARB BUMPER, AND HOOK THEM UP WITH THE SUPPLIED TUBING.

NOW NORMALLY WHEN YOU INSTALL ONE OF THESE SHOWER KITS YOU CONTROL THE TEMPERATURE OF THE SHOWER OUTPUT BY INSTALLING THIS HIGH TEMPERATURE GATE VALVE INTO THE FEED LINE UP TO THE HEAT EXCHANGER. IT SIMPLY REGULATES THE FLOW OF COOLANT AND IT SETS THE TEMPERATURE OUTPUT OF OUR SHOWER HEAT. BUT KURT AND THE GUYS AT CRUISER OUTFITTERS SHOWED US SOMETHING PRETTY COOL. BY INSTALLING IT INLINE WITH THE HEATER HOSE AFTER THE HEATER CONTROL VALVE ON A TRUCK LIKE OUR TACOMA, YOU CAN NOW CONTROL THE SHOWER OUTPUT BY ADJUSTING THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL VALVE FOR THE HEATER ON THE DASH. IT SIMPLY OPENS AND CLOSES THE CONTROL VALVE AND REGULATES THE FLOW OF COOLANT INTO THE HEAT EXCHANGER, THEREFORE EFFECTING THE SHOWER OUTPUT. AND NOW WE HAVE COMPLETELY FINISHED OUR DEDICATED EXPEDITION RIG. WE'VE GOT A HARDCORE OFF ROAD TRUCK WITH SOLAR PANELS ON THE ROOF TO GIVE US POWER, A COMFORTABLE PLACE TO SLEEP IN THE BACK. ALL THAT'S LEFT TO DO IS LOAD IT UP WITH OUR GEAR AND TAKE IT ON A TEST DRIVE.

(ANNOUNCER)>> UP NEXT, BEFORE WE CAN ENJOY ALL THE GOODIES WE INSTALLED ON OUR TRUCK, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE IT TO THE CAMP SITE.

(IAN)>> WITH ALL OUR GEAR LOADED UP IT'S TIME TO TAKE OUR TREKKING TACOMA OUT FOR A SMALL SHAKEDOWN RUN JUST TO SEE IF ALL OF OUR MODIFICATIONS PAID OFF. THANKS TO THE SOFT LEAF SPRINGS UP FRONT AND THE EXTRA WEIGHT WE PUT IN THE BED, DRIVING ON SOME MILD BACK ROADS, THE TRUCK FELT GREAT. RUNNING LARGER TIRES, LIKE THESE 35 INCH BAJA CLAWS ON THE STREET, CAN BE SLIGHTLY TAXING FOR A FACTORY SIX CYLINDER. BUT WITH THE LOW RATIO GEARS THAT WE INSTALLED IN BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR AXLE HOUSING, THIS TRUCK PERFORMED LIKE IT WAS ROLLING ON STOCK SIZE TIRES. BY MOUNTING OUR GOAL ZERO SOLAR PANEL TO THE ROOF OF OUR TRUCK, OUR BATTERIES WILL BE FULLY CHARGED BY THE TIME WE GET TO OUR CAMP SITE. AND SINCE WE DIDN'T BUILD THIS TRUCK TO SPEND ALL OF ITS TIME ON THE PAVEMENT, IT'S TIME TO THROW THIS

RIG INTO THE DIRT AND SEE HOW IT HANDLES. I WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS BY ALL THE WEIGHT THAT WE ADDED TO THE TOP SIDE OF THE TRUCK WITH OUR ROOFTOP TENT AND ALL THE EXPEDITION GEAR. BUT ONCE ON SOME HILLS AND FIRMLY PLANTED IN THE DIRT, THE TRUCK WAS INCREDIBLY STABLE. NOW OUR TREKKING TACOMA IS NO HARDCORE ROCK CRAWLER,

BUT IT PERFORMED WELL ON SOME PRETTY SERIOUS TRAILS. THANKS TO OUR ELOCKER IN THE REAR AND OUR ARB AIR LOCKER UP FRONT, TRACTION WAS NOT AN ISSUE AS WE CRAWLED THROUGH SOME OBSTACLES. YOU DO HAVE TO BE A LITTLE MORE CAREFUL BECAUSE OF ALL THE GEAR MOUNTED TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAGE. JUST KEEPING AN EYE ON WHERE EVERYTHING LANDS AND WATCHING FOR TREES WILL KEEP YOU FROM DAMAGING YOUR CAMPING STUFF.

OUR TREKKING TACOMA IS WORKING GREAT IN THE WOODS. THE SMALL SIZE OF THE TOYOTA MINI TRUCK ALLOWED IT TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THE TIGHT TREES WITH EASE. AND KNOWING THAT THE BODY IS PROTECTED THANKS TO OUR ROCK AND BED SLIDERS, THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT

GETTING HUNG UP OR CAUSING BODY DAMAGE. WITH PLENTY OF GROUND CLEARANCE THANKS TO THE TRAIL GEAR SOLID AXLE SWAP AND ROCK ASSAULT HOUSINGS, OUR MINI TRUCK COULD EASILY HANDLE THE ROCKS AND ALLOW US TO GET TO SOME PRETTY REMOTE CAMP SITES.

NOW ON AN EXPEDITION RIG IT'S JUST AS IMPORTANT TO CHECK ALL YOUR CAMPING GEAR WHEN YOU'RE OUT ON ONE OF

THESE SHAKEDOWN RUNS. THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO FIND OUT WHEN YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE IS THAT YOU FORGOT AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR TENT OR THAT SOME OF YOUR GEAR IS BACK AT THE SHOP.

IT TAKES NO TIME AT ALL TO OPEN UP OUR TENT AND SET UP CAMP. HOOK UP POWER FOR ALL OF OUR GEAR AND SOME LIGHTS FOR WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN.

AND JUST LIKE ANY DEDICATED OFF ROAD RIG, EVERY TIME YOU WHEEL IT YOU'RE GONNA COME UP WITH A LIST OF THINGS TO CHANGE.

NOW I'M VERY HAPPY WITH HOW OUR EXPEDITION RIG PERFORMED, BUT ONE OF THE KEY CHANGES I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE IS CARRYING A LOT MORE WATER. NONE OF THE GROUND WATER WE CAME ACROSS TODAY IS SUITABLE FOR BATHING OR DRINKING. BUT RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT OUR RIG SET UP, CAMP SET UP, I'VE GOT LOTS OF POWER, I'VE GOT FOOD AND DRINKS IN THE COOLER, I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE. YOU GUYS CAN HEAD ON OVER TO THE WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION ON ALL THE PRODUCTS SEEN TODAY ON POWERBLOCK TV DOT COM. I'M GONNA HAVE A NAP.

IT'S LIKE A CONDO IN THE MOUNTAINS. LISTEN TO THOSE BIRDS, IT'S BEAUTIFUL OUT HERE, WHOO!