Remco Driveshaft Install On Toyota Tacoma

[Eric Johnson]

Getting a Toyota Tacoma pickup set up to tow behind our bird. Plan to install
the Remco
driveshaft disconnect parts this weekend. If anyone has done one of these,
would appreciate
any tips you can pass along. Will also be mounting a Blue Ox tow bar on the
front.

Eric in San Antonio
84FC35SBWL2

[birdshill123]

Eric: What year Taco are you getting. We tow an 05 with the Remco and
the Blue Ox. I had Remco install the Driveshaft disconnect. They made a
whole new driveshaft. That way if I sell the truck I can simply remove
the shaft and install the original. Remco will allow you some sort of
trade for a new shaft. As for the Blue Ox: Mine was maybe the 2nd unit
they had produced and it was hell. I dont know if the new units are
made better. The problem is that Blue Ox claims that each truck is a
slightly different width. I think this is BS. However the fact remains
that the brackets fit very tightly.

Bruce
1988 FC35

[Eric Johnson]

Hi Bruce,
Remco sent me a new driveshaft and I plan to keep the old one for the same
reason you
did. The Toyota is a 2005 like yours, which was the first year of the current
model. I note
the same warning about dimensional tolerances in Blue Ox literature. Sounds
like that
part of the conversion is going to be fun. I agree with your assessment of Blue
Ox
excuses.

What model Tacoma do you have? Standard cab, access cab or double cab? Where
did
Remco drill through the body pan to feed the actuator cable into the cab? What
procedure
do you use to disconnect/reconnect the driveshaft? Did you have to adjust the
idle speed
to prevent excessive gear clash when reconnecting?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Eric in San Antonio
84FC35SBWL2

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "birdshill123"
wrote:
>
> Eric: What year Taco are you getting. We tow an 05 with the Remco and
> the Blue Ox. I had Remco install the Driveshaft disconnect. They made a
> whole new driveshaft. That way if I sell the truck I can simply remove
> the shaft and install the original. Remco will allow you some sort of
> trade for a new shaft. As for the Blue Ox: Mine was maybe the 2nd unit
> they had produced and it was hell. I dont know if the new units are
> made better. The problem is that Blue Ox claims that each truck is a
> slightly different width. I think this is BS. However the fact remains
> that the brackets fit very tightly.
>
> Bruce
> 1988 FC35
>

[birdshill123]

Eric:

We have a double cab SR5 4x4. Fabulous vehicle. However they are a
litle heavy at 4300 lbs. The cable comes in on the hump right beside
the driver. I find that if you connect the disconnect a few seconds
after start up the idle has slowed down juts the right amount for a
quick coupling. It takes a little practice. Remco used sheet metal
screws to attach the cable to the floor. I would have attached the
cable to the reinforced parts of the floor. I had to fix mine twice.
Blue Ox recommends a reciprocating saw to cut the front crossmember. I
had to grind mine afterwards and the brackets still would not fit. I
did not have a torch to heat them up and could not bend them by hand.
Finally used the "fork ears" on our 6 yard waste bin . Hooked one end
of the bracket in the ear and bent it outward. Did the same for the
other side. After clamping the bracket to the frame I used a huge c -
clamp to draw the bracket tight to the frame. I figure Blue Ox was out
by 3/8 of an inch!! Many Blue Ox installations require you to butcher
the vehicle. The truck tows really well. Good Luck

[mbulriss]

> Blue Ox recommends a reciprocating saw to cut the front crossmember.

Wow, cutting crossmembers with a reciprocating saw?! I'm sure the
Lone Star Bird members are frightened at the idea of Eric and
reciprocating saw in the same sentence! ;^) Yo, Eric, remember the
bbq grill...... <>

In all seriousness, the sound of this install sure makes me glad I
bought Jeep(s). The Blue Ox install on those do not require
implements of destruction and are simple bolt together operations that
took maybe an hour at my pokey pace.

Eric, holler if you need help grinding and cutting.

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "birdshill123"
wrote:
>
> Eric:
>
> We have a double cab SR5 4x4. Fabulous vehicle. However they are a
> litle heavy at 4300 lbs. The cable comes in on the hump right beside
> the driver. I find that if you connect the disconnect a few seconds
> after start up the idle has slowed down juts the right amount for a
> quick coupling. It takes a little practice. Remco used sheet metal
> screws to attach the cable to the floor. I would have attached the
> cable to the reinforced parts of the floor. I had to fix mine twice.
> Blue Ox recommends a reciprocating saw to cut the front crossmember. I
> had to grind mine afterwards and the brackets still would not fit. I
> did not have a torch to heat them up and could not bend them by hand.
> Finally used the "fork ears" on our 6 yard waste bin . Hooked one end
> of the bracket in the ear and bent it outward. Did the same for the
> other side. After clamping the bracket to the frame I used a huge c -
> clamp to draw the bracket tight to the frame. I figure Blue Ox was out
> by 3/8 of an inch!! Many Blue Ox installations require you to butcher
> the vehicle. The truck tows really well. Good Luck
>

[birdshill123]

Mike:

The Jeep is probably one of the easiest vehicles for an an install.
Two of the most popular toads, Honda CRV and the Suzuki Grand Vitara
(newer) , also require a lot of cutting.

Bruce
1988 FC35

[Eric Johnson]

Bruce,

Sounds like we'll be towing an identical vehicle to yours. Hoping the truck
won't be too
much load for our old coach. Curb weight figures I have for Tacoma (4100 lbs)
is an
increase of 400 lbs over the Wrangler Unlimited we were towing. The 84 FC is no
whiz
going up long grades, but am hoping she can handle it. Jeep was an ideal
vehicle for
towing and off-road, but not real good at anything else.

I set up two Jeeps for towing before doing this one and can testify to the fact
that the Jeep
install was much easier. Used the Sawzall to cut off the ends of the frame
member and
the tow hook to make room for the base plate. Base plate fit up in there easy
but there is
a gap between the two ears and the frame members. Haven't tightened everything
up yet.
May have to use a c-clamp as you did. Fishing nuts back into the frame through
a small
hole is a frustrating job. Gotta be a better way!

Thanks for your advice.

Eric in San Antonio
84FC35SBWL2

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "birdshill123"
wrote:
>
> Eric:
>
> We have a double cab SR5 4x4. Fabulous vehicle. However they are a
> litle heavy at 4300 lbs. The cable comes in on the hump right beside
> the driver. I find that if you connect the disconnect a few seconds
> after start up the idle has slowed down juts the right amount for a
> quick coupling. It takes a little practice. Remco used sheet metal
> screws to attach the cable to the floor. I would have attached the
> cable to the reinforced parts of the floor. I had to fix mine twice.
> Blue Ox recommends a reciprocating saw to cut the front crossmember. I
> had to grind mine afterwards and the brackets still would not fit. I
> did not have a torch to heat them up and could not bend them by hand.
> Finally used the "fork ears" on our 6 yard waste bin . Hooked one end
> of the bracket in the ear and bent it outward. Did the same for the
> other side. After clamping the bracket to the frame I used a huge c -
> clamp to draw the bracket tight to the frame. I figure Blue Ox was out
> by 3/8 of an inch!! Many Blue Ox installations require you to butcher
> the vehicle. The truck tows really well. Good Luck
>

[Eric Johnson]

OK, OK, Mike. All I can say is I handle a Sawzall much better than I do walk-in
barbeques.
I've counted my fingers twice since I did the frame cutting and I keep coming up
with 9-
3/4 so pretty sure I haven't lost any more than I had before.

Like I said in my response to Bruce, Jeep installation is a much simpler deal
and tow is
easier with a transfer case that has a neutral position. The Tacoma is a 4X4
also but
transfer case is electronically actuated with 2H, 4H, 4L only, so you have to
install a drive
shaft disconnect to keep from overheating the tranny on the road. In many
respects the
Jeep is a better tow choice but I wanted the versatility of a double cab pickup
and decided
to make the change.

I work slow two and have about 4-5 hours in the job so far, but have saved the
$1,000
Ancira RV wanted to do the job. Plus, I'll know that the bolts are torqued
right, etc.

I'll give you a call if I get stumped. I think the Remco driveshaft could be
interesting.

Eric in San Antonio
84FC35SBWL2

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "mbulriss" <mbulriss@...> wrote:
>
> > Blue Ox recommends a reciprocating saw to cut the front crossmember.
>
> Wow, cutting crossmembers with a reciprocating saw?! I'm sure the
> Lone Star Bird members are frightened at the idea of Eric and
> reciprocating saw in the same sentence! ;^) Yo, Eric, remember the
> bbq grill...... <>
>
> In all seriousness, the sound of this install sure makes me glad I
> bought Jeep(s). The Blue Ox install on those do not require
> implements of destruction and are simple bolt together operations that
> took maybe an hour at my pokey pace.
>
> Eric, holler if you need help grinding and cutting.
>
> Mike Bulriss
> 1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
> San Antonio, TX
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "birdshill123"
> wrote:
> >
> > Eric:
> >
> > We have a double cab SR5 4x4. Fabulous vehicle. However they are a
> > litle heavy at 4300 lbs. The cable comes in on the hump right beside
> > the driver. I find that if you connect the disconnect a few seconds
> > after start up the idle has slowed down juts the right amount for a
> > quick coupling. It takes a little practice. Remco used sheet metal
> > screws to attach the cable to the floor. I would have attached the
> > cable to the reinforced parts of the floor. I had to fix mine twice.
> > Blue Ox recommends a reciprocating saw to cut the front crossmember. I
> > had to grind mine afterwards and the brackets still would not fit. I
> > did not have a torch to heat them up and could not bend them by hand.
> > Finally used the "fork ears" on our 6 yard waste bin . Hooked one end
> > of the bracket in the ear and bent it outward. Did the same for the
> > other side. After clamping the bracket to the frame I used a huge c -
> > clamp to draw the bracket tight to the frame. I figure Blue Ox was out
> > by 3/8 of an inch!! Many Blue Ox installations require you to butcher
> > the vehicle. The truck tows really well. Good Luck
> >
>

[John]

Eric,

Go to my web site and you can see in there the trailer that I pull
with my '82FC35RB model 'Bird, it can haul a maximum of 10,000#, but
ONLY weighs 8,800# with my car and motorcycle in it. I have very
little problems towing it, you can find it at;

http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/finnsinn...e&page=all

You can also read my trip Blog from this summer where I traveled
through Colorado, Wyoming and Montana towing the trailer, there you
will get to see some real life experience pulling that kind of weight
with a FC model 'Bird. The Blog can be found at the link in my
signature below.

John Finn
Finn's Inn Express
'82 35FCRB
BLUEBIRD WANDERLODGE
"ON THE ROAD IN "
CHECK OUT MY BLOG AT;
http://iamflagman.blogspot.com/
VIEW THE PHOTOS OF MY 2007 TRIP AT;
http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/image/80800665
WELCOME TO THE "FINN'S INN EXPRESS" REMODELING ADVENTURE
TO VISIT, CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
http://www.pbase.com/image/24977457
HOPKINS, SOUTH CAROLINA

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Eric Johnson"
wrote:
>
> Bruce,
>
> Sounds like we'll be towing an identical vehicle to yours. Hoping
the truck won't be too
> much load for our old coach. Curb weight figures I have for Tacoma
(4100 lbs) is an
> increase of 400 lbs over the Wrangler Unlimited we were towing.
The 84 FC is no whiz
> going up long grades, but am hoping she can handle it.
>
> Eric in San Antonio
> 84FC35SBWL2
>

[Eric Johnson]

Impressive web site John! You've done some extensive mods to that FC. Looks
like a very
well cared for coach. Your trailer puts my concerns in perspective.

Thanks, Eric in San Antonio
84FC35SBWL2

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "John" wrote:
>
> Eric,
>
> Go to my web site and you can see in there the trailer that I pull
> with my '82FC35RB model 'Bird, it can haul a maximum of 10,000#, but
> ONLY weighs 8,800# with my car and motorcycle in it. I have very
> little problems towing it, you can find it at;
>
> http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/finnsinn...e&page=all
>
> You can also read my trip Blog from this summer where I traveled
> through Colorado, Wyoming and Montana towing the trailer, there you
> will get to see some real life experience pulling that kind of weight
> with a FC model 'Bird. The Blog can be found at the link in my
> signature below.
>
> John Finn
> Finn's Inn Express
> '82 35FCRB
> BLUEBIRD WANDERLODGE
> "ON THE ROAD IN "
> CHECK OUT MY BLOG AT;
> http://iamflagman.blogspot.com/
> VIEW THE PHOTOS OF MY 2007 TRIP AT;
> http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/image/80800665
> WELCOME TO THE "FINN'S INN EXPRESS" REMODELING ADVENTURE
> TO VISIT, CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
> http://www.pbase.com/image/24977457
> HOPKINS, SOUTH CAROLINA
>
> /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Eric Johnson"
> wrote:
> >
> > Bruce,
> >
> > Sounds like we'll be towing an identical vehicle to yours. Hoping
> the truck won't be too
> > much load for our old coach. Curb weight figures I have for Tacoma
> (4100 lbs) is an
> > increase of 400 lbs over the Wrangler Unlimited we were towing.
> The 84 FC is no whiz
> > going up long grades, but am hoping she can handle it.
> >
> > Eric in San Antonio
> > 84FC35SBWL2
> >
>