I am a Florida based overlander who loves exploring new places, meeting new people, and trying new things. I gain confidence through doing the uncomfortable and invite you to come along on the ride.
I'm also a bit of a gear nut. I'll be taking a look at and showing tools I use for enhancing my travels, making it both safer and more comfortable, and giving you my thoughts.
I'm currently driving a GX460 during my adventures, but my travel companions drive everything including fullsize trucks, Jeeps and if course Toyotas.
@campfirestories744 the light are part of the awning. tarucausa.com actually has a newer, beefier version on now, and from speaking to the owner it will have red light, as well as the others. Can't wait to see it!
@mikemitchell9138 my attic stores 2 FrontRunner chairs, a rain jacket, and a hat. The bags underneath hold a headlamp, my 4 pack of Hardkorr lights, and my inflation devices for the air bed in the tent. I also had a small bag for all of my tire air needs, but it rattled too much there, sonits on the side panel now.
@7kangher rammount.com/products/rap-b-gop2-un7u That's the Ram mount. I used a curved adhesive gopro mount on one of the blank switch locations on the console. I didn't know if it would stick very long, but it's been there for 5 years and working perfectly. These are the GoPro mounts. gopro.com/en/us/shop/mounts-accessories/curved-plus-flat-adhesive-mounts/AACFT-001.html
@cottonmouth521 the motor was a big reason I wanted to trade from the FJ into the GX. It's bomb proof. That and 4 real doors. The buildmis coming along, with 3 large items going on in the next few weeks. Thanks for checking it out 🤙
@controlledchaos8851 I could do that I guess, but I was trying to get into why I've chosen what I did. You can search IH8MUD.COM and find my handle there, and find exactly what you're looking for. 😉
@@RunYourLuck while I agree with you, I still appreciate his honest feedback. I'm really new to all this content making stuff, and while it's getting better, I have a lot of work to do. I'll take all feedback.
@@Jade_Overland just look at Last Line of Defense or the like. They’ll talk in front of their trucks for a whole hour. And their views are great. Just depends on the audience you want to reach.
@RunYourLuck I appreciate more of a deep dive build video or gear review, so that's what I did. It's definitely not for everyone. And I tend to be a little long winded, which I'm working on. Hopefully people enjoy it and can gather some info, but if people hate it, I need to do better. I'll take all criticism, that's how we improve. For now though, I'm going to talk a lot lol.
While the factory bed wasn't bad (it was better than the Smittybilt and the Tepui), it still wasn't great. I purchased and Exped Megamat Duo and it fits perfectly. I use a Foxtail usb rechargeable pump to inflate it every night. It adds about a minute to the setup and is definitely worth the upgrade. Memory foam mattress on an inflatable core...amazing.
Great video. At the 51:45 mark of the video do you happen to have any coordinates to that camp site? We take a big trip in March every year with about 15 of us and always have a hard time finding a site big enough for all of our tents. Thanks
@jeremynewton666 34.8312049, -83.6764096 I believe is it. It was maybe 2 hours before I made it to Chattahoochee National Forest Campground. If you'd like, send me your email and I can add you as a user for my traverse map. It has the full map and all of my waypoints. All the camp spots are labeled with how many vehicles will fit. 5G is shown where you get phone reception, gas stations and all of your water crossings. I'll send you the Smokey Mountain 500 as well, since it's some of the same track, but has a ton of waypoints and is a slightly longer track.
that sucks..once a can of bright green spray paint fell out of someones pickup and bounced around the highway right into my car... good thing it was a beater... wd40 got it out for me buit it was only on the hood and windsheild....
My set up is a little unique. I wasn't happy with the tent feet that FrontRunner has out, so I bought their Thule crossbar mounts and Thule crossbars, and then mounted the tent to that. The awning and tent would work fine together just using FrontRunner mounts though.
I had a shop reroute it up under the spoiler. You could always just extend the wires and run it to the swingout, but I didn't think that would look very clean, so we just moved it. If you look a foot off center on the right side of the spoiler, you can see it underneath.
They are Project Kics R40 in neochrome. Little but of a pain because I'm 6 lug and run an exposed spare. You either have to know someone willing to break up a set, or order 2 sets. I also have Chasing J's burned titanium valve stem caps on now to match.
That event in helen is called AVF alpine volks fair. I was in town for it. During the week of the event they do a trail ride with Porsche cayenne and vw touaregs or similar vw audi Porsche vehicles.
It would have been cool running into that on the trail. We have local Audi's and Porsche that wheel down here, and I know they go up that way. Must be for that. There were some very cool builds driving around.
Amazing video! I grew up in NW Georgia and spent many family trips in those mountains. The pocket wilderness near Cohutta is one of my favorites. Those mountain streams are spectacular! Thank you for allowing me to tag along with you!
Are you able to open the tailgate on the car with the awning fully open? If not can you make the awning be 180 degree mode easily to open the tailgate?
The GX has a barn door rear, unlike the 4runner that has a lift gate. I can open the back door with no issues, and that's actually why I went with a driver's side awning. I can open it and stay completely out of the weather while going to the fridge.
On their Instagram site. They started making a front bumper, so I asked about a rear. They said "it's in the works", but who knows what that means. I'd love to see one like theirs like they have for the 200s and 100s.
Great video! I can't believe how lush it is! I'm planning on taking on the GA Traverse in Feb. or March. I'll be reaching out for some tips. Let me know if you are interested in going.
Let me know when you're going. If nothing else, I can send you my Gaia folder with my map and waypoints. I've got a ton of camp spots marked and labeled.
Great video and nice setup. Just installed mine on 21 tacoma last week. I bought the rear camera relocation kit but ultimately couldnt find a good mounting solution. Do you still have a functioning back up camera on the lexis with the tire swing on?
I do, but it took me a couple of years to bother with the relocation. I had mine moved from above the tag to up on the spoiler over the back window. On the Tacoma I'm not sure what the best place might be. Maybe the bracket Expedition One sells for their swingout that mounts the camera in the center of the spare wheel would work. 🤔
@@Jade_Overland I was thinking the same after I sent it back haha. They wanted $225 for it. I'm positive it's the same one you can get anywhere. Overland Tax! I saw you had the light wiring running on the swing and that was my thought for a center of tire mount. Thanks for responding. Hope your trip went well.
The owner is revamping this whole lineup with some very exciting stuff. I believe he's debuting everything at Overland Expo West this upcoming weekend. Thisnis the Dale page though... tarucausa.com/collections/awnings
I debated it too. I tried swapping the factory bulbs for super bright LEDS, but they didn't do much. This little light packs a big punch and is 100% worth it. The install was very easy too. Baja Designs did a nice job with it.
