As seen in Toyota Trails!
Various articles written here have been published in TLCA's Toyota Trails magazine and on their website. After roaming around our site, click on the magazines to visit TLCA.
Fabrication
Skidplate Clearance
While looking around for the leak in my t-case I found something interesting.
I had made my skidplate with very little clearance for my t-case and while this was great for clearance under the rig, it did create a minor problem.
I found that my t-case was actually rubbing on my skidplate. No noise or anthing obvious, at least until I pulled the skidplate and noticed a shiny spot on the inside. Then I took a look at the bottom of the tcase and saw what’s in that pic. Not a lot of damage but too much of this and there could eventually be a problem.
Special Service Tools
By Tony K
If you have read the Factory Service Manual you frequently come across the dreaded mention of an SST or Special Service Tool. I say dreaded because the only place you seem to be able to get them is from Toyota and we all know that means they are not going to be cheap. But I have to admit I have never bought an SST from Toyota as with a little thinking you can come up with many serviceable alternatives that do the job really well but also do not cost you an arm and a leg.
Skidplates
By Tony K
If you have ever crawled under a Land Cruiser you will have seen some sheetmetal that can best be described as gravel shields even if Toyota does call them skidplates. If you are gonna hit the rocks you are going to need a decent skidplate and for us wagon guys that means fabrication.
Modified Trailer Jacks
By Eric
I haven’t been too fond of the trailer jack I am using. It served its purpose for the initial stages, but needs to be replaced for what i need.
The problems I have with my current one is mainly the mounting. It requires a bigger surface area to mount to than just the tongue. Sure I can make a plate on the side of the tongue and then have the appropriate mounting surface, but I don’t care to do that. The other problem is it’s not easy to remove when off-roading.