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When I tested all those deflators I of course checked them for accuracy, and do so now and then on the ones I carry every day. All the current ones are consistent within a pound in the 15 PSI range, which is insignificant. I've never had one accidentally completely deflate a tire. The...

Please, please change your priorities! First, tire failure is the number one cause of breakdowns in the field, and having the proper equipment to handle it will make your life infinitely easier. Second, airing down when traveling off pavement is the single most effective way to enhance your...

Hmm . . . on the trucks I've seen with Timbrens installed, they did not contact the axle until the truck actually sagged under load; in other words, they acted like extended bump stops rather than full-time support, as an air bag does. Is there a different method of installing them? This is...

Foy is completely correct. Bump stops are designed to serve one purpose: to prevent the springs slamming into the frame or inverting during a sudden drastic overload, such as running into a speed bump at full speed. Under normal conditions the springs should never touch the bump stops. Most...

Esimmers, Timbrens will do nothing to correct the sag you are experiencing. You need either higher-rated springs to level the truck with the camper installed, or air bags. Each approach has its advantages; air bags are the only way to go if you remove the camper between trips.

This sounds to me like a lack of shock control. I also agree with ntsqd.

It seems to be well accepted in the bicycling community, where small CO2 cartridges are popular for flat repair. I'll be back where I can compare two BFG AT tires side by side in a week or so. I'll report.

Exactly. As Wallowa said, it's strictly about available volume in a reasonably sized cylinder. No benefit to the gas itself, and possibly a disadvantage if it really does permeate through the tire that quickly. I know it will do so through a butyl bicycle inner tube. Powertank, one of the...

Interesting. I have a CO2 tank as well as several compressors. I use the tank for tire repair classes at the Expo since it's faster then even my Extreme Outback compressor, and quieter. I need to set up a test to compare loss rates.

DOT compliance aside, they're simply overkill for the vast majority of trucks carrying campers. There's rarely any need for us to air down lower than 12-14 PSI even in really soft sand, and you're in scant danger of losing the bead at those pressures. If I were headed to a region where I might...

"Are we not defeating the dependability of a Toyota itself by doing so?" Why? Adding air bags affects the reliability of the truck not at all. You haven't compromised a single factory component. Furthermore, the air bags give you the capability of fine-tuning the stance of the truck to suit...

If you're going to run your fridge off your main battery you should consider a low-voltage cutout to protect your starting capability. And carry a MicroStart! There are many good portable setups; the Zamp is excellent and allows you to pick which output suits your needs. I wrote here about a...

Hi Matt, The best suspension setup for a camper depends on whether or not you plan on leaving it mounted all the time. If you want to remove it between trips, air bags are the only way to go, as they allow you to compensate for the significant load variation over the rear axle. If that's your...

I documented the installation of an ARB rear locker on our Tacoma, including the compressor, here and here. The second part is a video. If you click on the Vimeo link you'll get it in HD.

Boys, boys. Of course there are many variables that influence one's choice of tire pressure. Example: A few years ago on a trip in Egypt with three Land Cruisers, we needed to ascend the Dakhla Escarpment, a 1,000-meter-tall ramp of sand that spills off a cliff north of Mut—seen in the...

In the Tacoma, yes—it's the ARB Heavy Duty version, one step up from their basic but below the twin-cylinder version. It's decently fast. The twin-cylinder is noticeably quicker. In my FJ40 I carry an Extreme Outback Extreme Air Magnum, which is really quick.

We've owned the original pop-in style dinette table, and now the front dinette (with shower) on our Fleet. We love the current setup. There's plenty of table space for the two of us to work on our computers, and it keeps whoever is not working the galley (either Roseann cooking or me cleaning)...

An 8,000-pound rig will need higher pressure than a 6,000-pound rig, whether on the street or in soft sand. Chalking your tires is still the best way to determine correct street pressures in my opinion. Our 6,000-pound Tacoma/FWC likes 45 psi in front and 50 in the rear on the street; in soft...

I don't think that one will be appearing in any FWC ads. I wonder if Deaver makes springs for a '64 Dodge? And maybe a set of Fox internal-bypass shocks? He'd be good to go.

I really don't have anything against the Tacoma's composite bed. It is amazingly tough, and obviously rust-free forever. I just wish they'd put a better chassis underneath it.

That would be very smart. A lot of 'tow hooks' aren't really even tow hooks; they're simply tie-down loops to secure the vehicle during transport. When I demonstrate using a receiver for recovery, I always use a receiver insert with a shackle attachment, rather than simply looping a tow or...

You're probably right. But notice our choice of words? "Suspect" and "probably." The inarguable fact is, a receiver hitch is designed for pulling a trailer, not winching. The only winch mount I trust fully is one designed to withstand the stresses of winching.

The receiver/portable winch option is tempting. But keep a couple things in mind. First, with your truck you're going to want at least a 10,000-pound winch, and that is going to be a beast to move around, even with synthetic line. It will also put a lot of lever moment waaay out on front of...

Traditionally, I believe GMC trucks were aimed slightly upmarket of Chevrolets, with more luxurious standard interiors—sort of like the difference between a Chevy sedan and a Buick. I don't know if that's still the case. I believe only the Nissan Titan is getting the Cummins diesel, not the...

What Dr.J said is true—it's critical for batteries to regain full charge (at least 13.5 volts) as frequently as possible whether or not they are being used. If you've camped in it 35 nights over a year you should have easily maintained sufficient voltage between trips if everything is working...