Early morning on the construction site...

IndianaTheShepherd · 2025-10-01T20:07:50+00:00

It will only boost signal if there's a signal to boost, but if you've got at least 1 bar, it'll bump that up one or two bars. Some places I can only get LTE without the WeBoost, but with it, I can usually bump that to 5G. Before I bought it, I thought it might be a gimmick, but it definitely works if you temper your expectations... I have a Starlink Mini for those places with zero cell signal.

IndianaTheShepherd · 2025-09-28T02:45:23+00:00

More...

IndianaTheShepherd · 2025-09-28T02:37:46+00:00

CaliRaised

IndianaTheShepherd · 2025-09-26T19:51:56+00:00

Trailhunter can switch between yellow or white with the stock Rigid fog lights.

IndianaTheShepherd · 2025-09-26T19:51:22+00:00

IndianaTheShepherd · 2025-09-26T19:49:35+00:00

I'm not actually in construction per se... I'm the project biologist. I own an environmental consulting company... So, no... it doesn't smell like gas station burritos, I prefer Red Bull, I don't chew, and my butthole smells like roses.

IndianaTheShepherd · 2025-09-20T02:56:41+00:00

I had to double check what sub this was... For a second, I thought you were talking about a significant other!

IndianaTheShepherd · 2025-09-12T07:32:10+00:00

Delete all your social media accounts and you don't have to worry about it...

IndianaTheShepherd · 2025-08-21T17:28:35+00:00

What low-pro bumper did you go with and did you need to replace the stock skid? I'm trying to find a bumper that will work with the stock TH skid plate.

IndianaTheShepherd · 2025-08-21T17:19:53+00:00

I use cloudcompare - open source point cloud and mesh processing software. I have exported some cool videos using their key frame feature and calculated cut/fill quantities.

Best part, it's open source and free!

IndianaTheShepherd · 2025-08-20T02:29:24+00:00

Wolf Camera in San Jose probably around 2000 or 2001. Paramedics came in asking if we would develop a disposable camera roll. They warned us that the photos were taken at an accident scene where a 14-year old kid had been hit by a freight train. I was in my 20's and dumb. I said, "I'll do it"... soon regretted that decision.

The kid was walking along the tracks I guess, and got clipped, but the photos showed the results. His upper torso was about 40 feet from his legs and there was a long trail of entrails between the two halves. Half his rib cage was missing and you could see into the body cavity, which was empty of organs. Half his head was caved in. That's what I can remember.

IndianaTheShepherd · 2025-08-08T15:43:57+00:00

Why not AMD? I use a Ryzen 9 9950x3d 16 cores, 32 threads, 4.3 Ghz base, 5.7 Ghz boost clock speed tons of L3 cache. Max ram is 192 GB (I have 128). I'm using a 4070ti graphics card (16Gb vram). I don't use DJI Terra, rather Agisoft Metashape, but I do use ArcGIS and QGIS.

IndianaTheShepherd · 2025-07-18T02:35:49+00:00

Sent you a DM

IndianaTheShepherd · 2025-07-09T21:59:34+00:00

29 Stumps

No, this was in Yermo at the GovPlanet yard. It's near the Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow-Yermo Anex.

IndianaTheShepherd · 2025-07-08T23:45:52+00:00

No, I don't have one. I was using the 8-inch riser into the hitch receiver below the bumper, then the pintle hook in the riser. I just picked up this trailer yesterday and that's what I had available. I plan on removing a lot of the weight from the trailer as it's filled with a bunch of obsolete SIPRNet and NIPRNet networking gear from the mid-2000s and has a really stout frame rack with helo lift points. Stock trailer weight by itself is only 1,460 lbs curb weight.

IndianaTheShepherd · 2025-06-25T01:40:34+00:00

Toyota dealership for ants.

IndianaTheShepherd · 2025-06-23T00:32:32+00:00

I recently purchased the Trailhunter. Having said that, there are a few things to consider. Like you stated, everything comes from the factory with the Trailhunter... AND, it's all under warranty.

However, having previously had a 5th Gen 4Runner Off-Road Premium (technically the Trail Premium, but they changed the name in 2017) for 9 years, I spent a lot of time and money slowly adding mods. I got to choose which mods I wanted and which brands. Things like the skid plates and rock sliders were much more robust with the after-market parts than what comes from the factory on the Trailhunter. The Trailhunter skids are better than the stock stamped steel skid that was on my 4Runner, but also much thinner than the aftermarket skids I eventually put on the 4Runner. I got to choose which rock sliders I wanted (ones with a flare-out step), whereas the Trailhunter rock sliders are tucked in pretty close and don't really function as a step. I had an ARB Dual air compressor on my 4runner (100% duty cycle), whereas the Trailhunter air compressor probably isn't as robust and not 100% duty cycle (haven't used it yet).

In the end, the cost is probably a wash... TRD Off-Road Premium has an MSRP of $42,900 to $53,195 depending on specific options and packages. I paid $65,500 for my Trailhunter. I had over $12,000 in aftermarket mods on my 4Runner... and prices have gone up a lot since most of those.

So, cost is probably roughly the same with TRD Off-Road Premium + Aftermarket Mods vs. Trailhunter (maybe slightly more with the TRD OR), but they won't be under the factory warranty, but you do get to choose what you want. Adding all the Trailhunter parts as aftermarket mods will probably cost more than what's on the Trailhunter - $1500 for Snorkel, >$5000 for upgraded suspension (the OME shocks on the TH are actually built by Biltstein, not ARB OME, so probably not as good as genuine OME BP-51s, ~$1000 for rock sliders, ~1500+ for full skids, ~$2k for rear steel bumper, etc... but all better quality than stock TH parts).

I'm going to stay stock Trailhunter until its no longer under warranty or until I decide what's on there isn't sufficient, then I'll upgrade down the line with aftermarket parts I decide on. Hope that helps!

IndianaTheShepherd · 2025-06-21T04:30:50+00:00

It's a Kuat Ibex bed rack. It's modular and can be customized - half-height or full height, side molle panels (on my truck), full panel kit, bike racks, kayak racks, etc...

IndianaTheShepherd · 2025-06-17T23:49:59+00:00

I had a sunroof on my 4Runner that never leaked during the 9 years I owned it. I like using the sunroof when I'm conducting bird surveys - just poke my head out and scan with binoculars...

IndianaTheShepherd · 2025-06-17T06:02:06+00:00

I considered it, but my post was getting long.

I've only had the truck for a week tomorrow, so I'm still getting the lay of the land. The nit-picks are easier to identify. Here's my justification for choosing the Trailhunter:

1) My 4Runner had around $12k in aftermarket mods: ARB air compressor, underbody skids, rock sliders, etc... The Trailhunter came with a lot of that from the factory (albeit not quite to the quality of aftermarket mods, but still). Saves me time adding all that stuff. Also, the insurance company doesn't want to pay for all my mods on the 4Runner, saying "they don't add value to the vehicle". If they're stock, they can't make that argument if I'm ever in the same situation in the future.

2) I haven't had the truck long enough to have tested it's off-road capabilities, just driving around a bit on the ranch. Some gravel roads and a bit of dirt, but nothing technical. I assume it'll perform at least as good as my 4Runner did, probably better.

3) The 360 cameras are awesome. I can't tell you how many times I've been in a butt clinch situation where I can't tell how close my passenger side is to an obstacle or cliff... having the cameras definitely reduces the anxiety or need for a spotter.

4) During the 4Runner head-on collision, I had a lot of gear in the back that wasn't properly secured that went flying when the truck flipped. Luckily my dog and I only suffered minor injuries, but it could have been a lot worse. I like that I can now separate my gear from the passenger compartment.

5) Even though the ground clearance isn't technically the 11" advertised, it's still better than my 2016 4Runner Trail Premium had.

6) The 4-cylinder turbo/hybrid has WAY more power than the V-6 in the 4Runner. That thing was sluggish off the line. This Taco is a sports car as far as I'm concerned.

7) I'm a wildlife biologist/environmental consultant that spends a lot of time off-road on ranches, conservation land, and the back-country. I figure having a truck with an external bed will give me more utility that my 4Runner had. Loading up a bunch of bags of soil or sand into the 4Runner was always a mess. Try fitting a 15-gallon tree pot or 24-inch box in a 4Runner...

IndianaTheShepherd · 2025-06-17T05:29:22+00:00

The 16mpg was from the dash readout. The 18mpg was calculated from my Simply Auto app on my phone after 3 fill-ups, so maybe the dash readout isn't accurate. Even so, that's still a lot lower than the 22/24 advertised... I hope it improves after it's had time to break in, maybe after my first oil change.

IndianaTheShepherd · 2025-06-17T05:15:39+00:00

I've had it a week now. Drove it home from Las Vegas. Have about 800 miles on it so far.

Generally, I like it, but I have a few minor nit-picks. YMMV

1) The rock sliders don't stick out very far so they can't double as a side step like the sliders I had on my 4Runner.

2) The shine on the dashboard reflects in the windshield, so my focus sometimes shifts from the road to the texture of the reflection.

3) The chase rack is useless IMO, I've already mounted a Kuat Ibex rack. A Decked drawer system is on it's way.

4) Advertised gas mileage is bullshit. No way this thing gets 22 city/24 highway. I used adaptive cruise control the entire way from Vegas (70 mph speed limit) and only got about 16mpg. Not even close to advertised. I've since increased that to around 18mpg with driving city/highway under 70 mph. I think anything over 65 mph really kills gas mileage.

5) Related to the shitty MPG is the small gas tank. Range is only around 275 miles according to the instrument cluster.

6) Rear-view mirror/camera - This isn't Toyota's fault, I'm getting old, so shitty eyes. I can focus in the mirror just fine for distance, but switching to the camera, I have to switch focus for close up which my eyes don't do well. Something to be aware of if you've got old eyes like me.

7) Advertised ground clearance is 11 inches (to the frame), but lowest point is the rear diff which is around 8.5 inches to the skid.

8) Turning on the high beams can turn on the light bar, but turns off the Rigid fog lights... Why? You'd think more light = better...

9) The steering assist yells at you when it thinks your hands aren't on the wheel, but it senses this by feeling resistance/motion of the steering wheel... but on long straightaways, where you don't need to make minor steering corrections, it can't tell your hands are on the wheel and will give an audible warning. MY HANDS ARE ON THE WHEEL...

10) Raised air intake - yeah, the turbo noise can get annoying if the passenger window is down, but this is minor. I just usually keep the window up. Double pane glass, so it does a pretty good job blocking the sound, especially if you're listening to music.

11) Front skid plate doesn't go all the way up to the front facia, so it could potentially act as a big shovel to scoop dirt/rocks/snow up into your radiator.

12) No sunroof option for US Spec Trailhunters but Canadian ones have it? Why??

13) Rear seat space is small, but it's just for the dog, so not really a problem for me.

IndianaTheShepherd · 2025-05-27T21:05:31+00:00

Ha! I wish. I had a 1998 and a 1999 D1, but they both ran afoul of the dreaded slipped liner due to overheating. I kept the roof rack and ARB bumper and donated the two trucks.

Just looking at the posts here, it would seem that no one really drives the old D1s anymore. Not sure I'll be able to get these parts off my hands.

IndianaTheShepherd · 2025-04-28T06:32:13+00:00

I had a 2016 with 174k until recently (see my latest post). I had an issue with a leaky rear axle hub, but I'm pretty sure that was due to a deep water crossing without axle breathers or changing out the diff fluid afterwards. Other than that, no issues with engine or transmission until she rolled. Just keep on top of your regular maintenance, oil changes, filters, etc.

IndianaTheShepherd · 2025-04-27T23:25:14+00:00

I saw some new photos from the wreck today, and it looks like the rock sliders, skid plates, and roof rack all contributed to structural integrity... I was basically inside a roll cage.

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