About Inspectorgadgets: As the original owner, I have developed many changes to my truck to compensate for the things I needed to do off-road. I like to help, so I designed the truck to be more of a rescue truck than a rock crawler. Yes, it has the ability to rock crawl.
I was 44 years old when I bought the Tacoma; now I am 68. I am a military disabled veteran who served 10 years in the US Navy as a Machinist Mate Petty Officer 2nd Class from 1976 to 1986. Professionally trained in Steam Turbine Engines, Gas/Diesel Engines, Hydraulics, Pumps, Valves, Evaporators, Generators, HP/LP Air Compressors, and making Liquid Nitrogen and Oxygen. I was honorably discharged with many awards, medals, and commendations during my service. I am a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Most of my growing-up years were hard; I began my off-road adventures when I was 8 years old, living off-grid. The reason for this was due to the location where I was being raised in relation to the nearest hospital, which was 12 miles in a one-hour direction. If a member of the family was hurt or bitten by a rattlesnake, one of us had to drive. My first vehicle from 8 until I was 12 years old was a CJ 4×4, three-speed on the Column.
My stepdad sold property in Northern California called the Trinity Pines Estates, located 12 miles west of Hayfork, CA. We spent three years living in a cabin with no hot water, an outhouse for a bathroom, and no indoor heating other than a fireplace. We had to be ready for anything: rain, snow, hail. The wood had to be cut and kept dry. The water tower had to be filled every night from the gas well pump; the Generator had to be maintained so we had electricity. At 9 years, my stepdad got me a Jeep Wagoneer; in fact, he had two with winches. One thing about living in the middle of nowhere is that a winch comes in handy for many things, so it was our main tool for the trucks. The other thing was a good jack we had the old style hi-lifts, chains for the tires, and a rope. Extra gas and water were one item we NEVER went without. There were times we got stuck and had to sit it out until daylight, because at night, many things change; 1- you are no longer in control of your position when it is dark because you are among the wild. 2- You may or may not know what is coming overhead (with respect to the weather), so you do not want to venture away from what you can no longer see. 3- The temperature change can drain a man when he is trying too hard to fix something that can wait until the light. From this, I have learned at a very early age what will get me out of trouble and what will keep me safe; so, I store things in my truck that I have learned that have kept me or someone else going in a safe manner. Something’s we just cannot afford right now, so we adjust and adapt. I have lots of things I wish I had back then, like air……man, do you know how many times I walked for a spare tire!!! My stepdad used to kick my ass for not checking the spare tire to make sure it had air before taking the jeep out. I still enjoy off-roading in my truck, taking long trips in the mountains just to smell the pine and enjoy the sights and sounds. I love to fish in lakes or from a boat, and saltwater fishing. This website is a hobby as well as a photo album for the trips I take and for the club.
Anyway, now that you know a little bit about me, I will tell you that if you see me on the trail, wave; if I see you, I will do the same. If you are broken down, I will lend a hand; I hope you do the same. To me, it does not matter what you drive because it’s not the vehicle you own, it’s what you build. Be careful out there, think before you act, check before you cross, and be prepared.
How I got the name Inspectorgadget’s:
If you were wondering how I got this nickname, well, I will tell you:
After I got out of the Navy in 1986, I became a Federal Peace Officer for the Department of Defense in Long Beach, CA. In 1991, I became a Corporal Field Training Officer and had a new trainee with me. One day, at 1 am in the morning, we got a domestic call and arrived at the scene. My trainee took care of the husband while I talked to the wife. The house was a mess, and the phone was ripped out of the wall. Back then, we did not have cell phones, just 2-way radios and phone booths. The Watch Commander called on the radio and asked us to 10-21 (Call via Phone), my trainee looked at me and said, “Now how the heck are we going to do that? There is no phone in the community close by, and this one is ripped out of the wall”! I told my trainee to make sure the husband was secure in the patrol car; while he was outside, I was splicing the phone wires together. When my trainee came back, I handed him the phone and told him to call the W/C to inform him we are bringing one in. In shock, my trainee lifted the phone up and got a dial tone, looked at me, and said I was just like Inspectorgadget’s.
Aka MacGyver:
I got this one later, since MacGyver was after 1986 (I think), everyone just refers to me as the one to see if it’s broken, and he can fix it. Heck, I don’t mind, I like making things work!