Trout Truck?
- This topic has 55 replies, 19 voices, and was last updated Oct 28, 2008 at 10:14 pm by
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All this truck talk made me start thinking. When is Toyota going to introduce diesel to the American market? They have it everywhere else. They have a clean twin turbo full size that gets about 23-25 miles to the gallon and the technology to get more. This engine runs cleaner than gas. Americans are missing out. Why have they not tapped that market.
We also have the tacoma which is different that the rest of the world – who has the hilux. The Hilux ride is not smooth enough, so Toy built a different truck for us. The hilux is still built on the frame and suspension that made the toyota truck famous. The T1000 was built on the same frame then it changed to the tundra for the Americans. No one else has this soft ride tundra as well, it’s an american thing.
What happened to the good ole beater that was tough as nails. I remember my first truck and it was made like a good stout beer. In comparison our trucks now are like a weak pilsner. They ride better but I’m scared to get off the pavement
Dual Fuel, Flex Fuel…. another little rant. Why abuse our land by subsidizing corn. If we want to use a plant for fuel, use something that is drought tolerant and doesnt need all the pesticides and fertilizers that destroy our streams – soybean is better and more efficient and doesnt leach the soil as bad, i mean… kudzu would make great gas.
Don’t get me wrong, I have a Ford F150 Super Crew and love it, I was looking at the Toyotas and could not get the price within budget – I bought the ford at wholesale cost from a family member which you cannot beat, (far less than a Tacoma even). I have a Subaru Outback Wagon and love it. It is rough sleeping in there now but I have done it.
Before those vehicles I had a Jeep Cherokee that was just a bad vehicle. I will not crack on them, it was just time for me to be in a bad vehicle. I owned a Subaru impreza for years that made it 375,000 rough “kayaking the east” mountain miles before trading it for our present Outback. My first truck was a 78 Ford Bronco that made it 425,000 similar miles ( I did have the engine rebuilt in that time) but that truck was a truck.
I would love to have one of the Toyotas that the Australians can choose from because they are made to be abused and used and worked on like Glenn said.
All this truck talk made me start thinking. When is Toyota going to introduce diesel to the American market? They have it everywhere else. They have a clean twin turbo full size that gets about 23-25 miles to the gallon and the technology to get more…
Let me get this right…
Toyota does not have a diesel in your market?? hell about 60% of our fishing “trucks” are diesel… Isuzu, Toyota, Nissan, Landrover, Pajero… etc…
I don’t have a fishing truck, I drive an Opel Astra, I just haven’t gone out to buy a fishing truck, I know I need one, but I always tend to find someone with a truck to take me… make for good company in the car, I get to teach them stuff and they get drive me there…
I am planning on an Isuzu double cab or a Subaru Forrester… I think the Forrester is the best of both worlds, great for life in the big city and great for dirt roads…
Let me get this right…
Toyota does not have a diesel in your market?? hell about 60% of our fishing “trucks” are diesel… Isuzu, Toyota, Nissan, Landrover, Pajero… etc…
You got it right… None of those manufactures have a diesel in our market and we do not even know what an Opel or a Pajero is…. And if I were to choose between the Isuzu and The Subaru – the Subaru would get might buy. I love my Outback and the Impreza I had before it was a beast in ALL conditions.
Kev, I like the Forester… I need a Forester… I must have a Forester… I will get a Forester
Must find a Forester… Finding Forester…Opel = Vauxhall = GM subsiduary
Well the Trout Truck project has come to fruition. I wanted a dependable truck that was good on gas….and could tow the driftboat. It had to be outfitted with a fiberglass cap so I could pull into a rest area and climb in the back to sleep. So…..I decided on the Toyota Tacoma Access Cab with the V-6 4.0 liter engine and TRD Off Road Package. I took it on it’s maiden voyage this weekend with the ARE fiberglass top. Zero money spent on lodging and I threw some groceries in the back and took off. Only costs….I renewed my NC fishing license and used about $70 worth of gas…..19mpg with the boat.
Well….she passed with flying colors!
Windshield mounted Garmin Etrex. The 4.0 liter pulls the driftboat quite well….even in the mountains:
Rod Racks mounted on shower curtain rods. Wire shelfing (the attic) rests on top of the rods to hold maps, reading materials, etc
Here’s a large photo showing the removable sleeping platform with storage beneath (the basement):
The sleeping platform consists of three pieces….the frame and two pieces of birch plywood:
The scenery was hard to beat:
And even fooled a few brownies:
Almost forgot the obligatory IA food shot……tailgating after sunset …boiling water for some Mountain House and Folgers.
I like it Drifter–nice and simple, and versatile. Did you make the bottom panels? Any details on them would be fun.
This http://www.fleetwoodcampingtrailers.com/series.aspx?id=3 plus my old Durango and I am set.
Tough looking ride. That sleeping quarter looks great. I might consider adding one of those to my 1500. How is the lock on the shell?
NICE!!!!! It is cool to go back through this thread and then get to see the final product. Looks like you did a great job. Enjoy it, and post some pictures along the way.
Thanks guys.
Scott….the panels are 1/2 inch birch plywood, custom cut to fit the nooks and crannies of the truck bed…..with a light stain and sealed with poly. The black surface is a brush-on Line-X to prevent things from sliding around. The three pieces (frame and panels) can be removed in seconds. I added a small cross brace (about an inch in width) to the panel at each end to give it some rigidity.
Josh….I opted for the “Windoors” on each side of the ARE cap after reading a few websites about expedition travel ( http://www.expeditionportal.com ). The advantage is the easy accessibility to items in the forward end of the truck bed. Each window also has a small sliding panel that has a screen. With each window open, you have some nice cross-ventilation and as a result…..negligible condensation. I also added velcro to one of the Windoor frames and cut a large piece of plastic mesh screen to cover the opening….for those hot summer nights when I want to sleep with the Windoor open. To your original question….there are a total of five (5) locks….2 on each Windoor and one on the rear door. Nothing special about the locks. If you are inquring about security….I’ve though that one through as well. Cabelas makes a steel tool box for ATVs that will fit perfectly in the access cab portion of the truck. It will be bolted to the seat belt mounts and used to store my camera gear while away from the truck. Burglar proof? No….but almost. Most car thieves carry a rock or a pair of pliers and a screwdriver (I used to work a street crime unit). It would take somebody quite a long time to get in the box once they break into the cab of the truck with those tools. They would probably need a large pry bar and small sledge hammer to get in the steel box and still might not be successful.
Next on the list is a Black Widow Safari Basket so I can throw the folding chairs, canopy and table on top….freeing up some space in the camper shell.
As I’ve mentioned before….the neat thing about this setup is I can head for the stream without worrying about campground or hotel reservations.
Aaron…I checked out the Fleetwood but decided I’d rather have the driftboat along (although you could put a canoe or kayak on the Fleetwood). If you are going the trailer route… also look at http://www.adventuretrailers.com/ along with a rooftop tent.
Another reason I went the camper top route…in addition to pulling a boat…I can pull into a Walmart parking lot or truck stop and sleep inside without drawing a lot of attention.
Looks like you have your bases covered and you’re correct on the security issue. If someone is determined enought to get in, they will. I’ve been on the bad end of car break ins multiple times and almost to the point of just leaving the doors unlocked and carrying everything on me. On an older Cherokee, I had both door locks and my rear hatch lock punched out trying to get it. The locks held tough but the triangle front window latch didn’t. All in all, the cost of goods stolen was less then having the 3 locks and body work done.
You have some good times ahead of you and really don’t have limits on where you can go.
Pajero’s are sweet.
Aaron…I checked out the Fleetwood but decided I’d rather have the driftboat along (although you could put a canoe or kayak on the Fleetwood). If you are going the trailer route… also look at http://www.adventuretrailers.com/ along with a rooftop tent.
Another reason I went the camper top route…in addition to pulling a boat…I can pull into a Walmart parking lot or truck stop and sleep inside without drawing a lot of attention.
That is a great looking truck and a beautiful boat. The Walmart option is a plus and no doubt there is a tremendous advantage to being able to pull in late at night without a need to set up anything.
Thanks for the link on the pop up alternative. I will check those out. So far, I have a canoe, a fishing-rigged kayak and pontoon. I figure I can take some or all of them along with a pop up. I would do what you did if I was pulling a real boat.
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