You're not wrong Matt, plenty of older vehicles have great specs, easier to work on, more reliable etc. I think you're doing a fantastic job, I hope you really enjoy the first trip in the new camper 🤙
Awesome build! Im gonna be making a copy of your first camper build and put it on a 98 t100! Did you install helper springs on your t100 for the weight? Or would you have liked to? Cheers
The truck had an add-a-leaf on it when we bought it. unfortunately I don't know anything about the added spring. I'm looking into options to help with the weight of the new build but with a more progressive spring rate. DIY leaf pack or a professional modification by a company like Deaver Springs are my top options so far.
Ya you are seasoned don’t let the newbies get you down the trucks they are talking about sit in the driveway while they criticize everyone else on RU-vid. The more you know the more you go I would never drive anything newer than 2003 , if you can’t fix it yourself on the trail then your the week link and shouldn’t be out there waiting for one of us to tow you out; newer vehicles have too many sensors and electronics through my experience thats what fail.
I'm pretty happy with the 1990s-early 2000s vehicles I've worked on. I accept some electronics so I can have fuel injection, but anything else is excessive😂 The only time I've ever had to use a tow truck was an electrical failure. I've had plenty of other breakdowns, but could always patch it up enough to limp it home or to a shop.
Stay with the Toyota, replace all rubber items, use synthetic grease for all mechanical moving parts, and keep driving. When you reach five hundred thousand, celebrate, and at one million, contact Toyota for their recognition. It would be great to see you two at the 2024 RTR in January.
Thank you for another inspiring video. Would you mind sharing what is approximate weight of pop-up camper shell (core and shell w/o fridge, water, etc)?
That's a good point. I'm feeling pretty committed to learning this vehicle now that we have two T100s and a 4runner all with 4x4, 5vzfe engine, and manual trans. 😂
You're providing us with a solid knowledge. Quick question? If cost isn't an issue, would you buy the T100 or the first gen Tundra? For international travels, is the T100 preferable in terms parts availability? Thanks in advance!
I think the T100 has better international parts availability (many vital components are the same as the Hilux) but you could try looking into the countries you plan to travel in specifically. If both trucks were in the same condition, I would choose the T100. It's lighter and simpler. Its payload capacity is 400 pounds more. You can get a 4x4 with manual transmission, manual transfer case, manual windows, manual door locks, manual mirrors. The 5vzfe is a non interference engine that seems pretty willing to keep on running even if its not running correctly. No serpentine belt means you can disconnect things like the AC compressor or power steering pump and still drive the vehicle. The Tundra would definitely be nicer to drive when everything is working correctly, but I feel like the T100 is more willing to be mistreated.
Amie also says I haven't aged. I looked old when I was in my 20s and now that I'm nearly 40 I'm starting to look young for may age. 🤷♂️ Amie is doing well. She told me after our last build that she was never doing fiberglass work again and she kept her promise 😂
I started watching your videos in 2018 while staying in El Salvador for the first time, since then I've been to El Salvador and Mexico again in 2022 and....... I'm eating my cereal watching this video right now while in El Salvador you have inspired me heaps over the years I travel a little differently as I'm a quadriplegic from a surfing accident. P.S: my blue beauty is a grey titanium wheelchair 😂👍
Thanks for following along and commenting over the years. It's motivating to receive comments like this. I'm looking forward to wrapping up this project and getting some more travel videos going again. 🤙
I've never driven a new truck, so I can't really make the comparison, but I've had guys in US, Mexico, Guatemala, and Nicaragua ask if I would sell them my T100. Some people just know a good truck when they see it 😉
@@TheTravelingTogetherJournal I am about to spend a few months in Mexico (mainland and Baja) driving a 2022 F150. I hope it doesn't attract the wrong kind of attention.
@@georgewashington938 I can understand your concern. You're truck is definitely more valuable than mine. Something that I was pretty adamant about with both of my camper builds is that I don't want anything mounted to the outside of my vehicle. Surfboards, kayak, fishing rods all went inside. Spare tire is still in stock, under the truck location. No high-lift-jack or traction boards. One of the reasons I switched to flexible solar panels was that I am hoping the low profile will make them less noticeable on the roof. I am going to run a light bar on the new build, but I will recess it into the stock bumper and reinforce the stock bumper instead of doing a big off road bumper and lights. In my opinion a new F150 won't draw nearly as much attention as any vehicle covered in nice looking gear.
@@TheTravelingTogetherJournal Yeah - I remember you mentioning on your first build that everything needs to be inside and that is a good idea. My truck has a topper, and my camper is a 12' converted utility trailer.
@@georgewashington938 Nice! I posted that reply and then thought, "I hope he isn't one of those guys with the rooftop tent on a lumber rack and all his gear exposed, or I just gave hime more reason to be worried." 😂 I hope you're excited because that's going to be a fun trip
You should be driving what ever works best for you and your situation. My wife and I converted a Honda odyssey into a full camper van with insulation, AC, and a small bathroom. It's not for everyone, heck it's really only for us and probably couldn't be sold for anything other then scrap, but you couldn't buy it from us for anything less then $100,000. F the haters let them build what they want, you keep doing you. Do you have a total build cost? is there a reason you didn't want a pass through from cab to camper?
That sounds like a cool and creative project vehicle. I don't have a total cost yet. I'm still doing a few more projects on the camper, but I do plan on making a video or two answering some of the common questions and that is definitely on the list. I would have liked a passthrough. I even tried drawing out a few floor plan ideas with one. In the end I gave up on it in favor of having a permanent bed and more storage in front of the rear axle.
Pretty work! Your guys videos inspired us to build out our tundra. Spent three months surfing and fishing thru baja last winter. We leave in a few days for round 2. Thanks again
Super stoked for you that your build is nearing completion. If you plan on keeping rig for a while the rust in the video is the killer of many otherwise solid Toyotas. Might want to wirewheel, rust convert and apply fluid film or similar to try to slow it down. The 3.4 V6 is a awesome engine. I’m sure the power will be lacking with the size/ weight of your platform but it will get you there and back if taken care of. I know this has been a looonnggg build and I’m sure you’re looking forward to getting back out there. Aloha.
I was waiting for someone to call me out on the rust😂 I took care of the rear frame and drive shaft before I put the camper on, but definitely need to make time for the front end and rear axle housing 😬
😂. I just bought a 2018 Tacoma with 16k miles and spent two days addressing the beginnings of frame rust. So we are all dealing with this even when spending big bucks. I don’t think Toyota will ever get the rust issues worked out. But I’m a Toyota fanboy so it’s all I drive.
@@brownworld2605 Congrats on the new truck! I have two T100s and my wife drives a 4runner. All 4x4 with the 5vzfe and manual transmissions, so I get the fanboy thing 😂
The 1st gen tundras are cool. I definitely looked into them. The big plus for me would be the extra torque of the V8. That would be pretty nice with the camper weight. I like the rear doors too. The down sides are that the tundra is longer, has a larger turning radius, curb weight is 500 lbs more, and payload is 400 lbs less. If it wasn't for the reduction in payload I would have been pretty tempted. Heck, I may have still been tempted if I hadn't seen a 1st gen tundra fold in half while driving a dirt road with a small slide in camper in the back.
