CLASS ACT

For mer Colorado school teachers’ f i rst-gen T u nd ra t u r ned i nto a n u n l i m ited ha l l pass for overla nd i ng advent u res

When former Colorado school teachers Martha Waterhouse and Mark Cavaliero watched their daughter head off to college three years ago, it marked the beginning of a life-changing adventure of their own. The four-wheeling, outdoor-loving couple tossed aside lesson plans and classrooms to set their sights on exploring backcountry twotracks across the Western states, logging more than 10,000 miles through seven states while living in their camperequipped, superbly outfitted ’06 Toyota Tundra Limited.

Sometimes those backcountry miles were just for the fun of four-wheeling. But most of their year-round overland adventures have been for the pure joy of sharing life together.

“No matter if it’s camping, hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, or backcountry skiing, four-wheeling has been a part of the fun even if it’s just to find the trailheads,” Martha told us. “Mark is addicted to climbing and skiing Colorado’s highest peaks, while I love to bust out half marathons in the coolest locations all over the

West. Any time we can do some overlanding to literally connect these activities together, we know we’re living the ultimate dream.” And we had the chance to share the ultimate dream with Mark and Martha during the 2020 Four

Wheeler Overland Adventure.

|> Martha summed up their time wheelin’ in the backcountry, “Any time we can do some overlanding to literally connect our individual activities together, we know we’re living the ultimate dream.”

The Colorado couple bought their 4.7L V-8–powered first-gen Tundra in 2013, and during the decade since then have slowly invested in making it robust and reliable. Mark told us the suspension and axle mods have been added to specifically carry the weight of the Four Wheel Camper over rough terrain. The many modifications include a long-travel front suspension, lockers front and rear, taller tires, stout skidplates, beefy bumpers, and a custom wide-track full-floater rear axlehousing hitched to custom rear springs. These types of mods give the couple confidence whatever the next turn in the trail brings.

The truck/camper combo is also heavily accessorized with a multitude of items that add to Mark and Martha’s comfort, self-sufficiency, and safety along the way. Mark, who is a snowmobile guide in the winter and landscaper in the warmer months, told us their Tundra’s setup has served the couple well over these past years and miles. They are out about once a week wheeling or camping somewhere in Colorado or Utah, usually for two- to three-day outings.

The only planned changes Mark has for the Tundra is stepping up to 35-inch tires very soon because the 33s are wearing down and he wants that extra inch of ground clearance. He’s also “drooling over an RCV Ultimate IFS.” In the interim, he and Martha will continue to roll up the miles in search of life’s next overlanding adventure wherever the highways, byways, backroads, and less-travelled two-tracks lead.

|> Front end protection comes via an Addicted Offroad tubular front bumper. There’s no winch on the truck because Mark depends on the Harrop electric lockers at both ends to keep his Tundra moving. -> The Toyota 4.7L V-8 is stock, but there’s few things underhood that aren’t. Mark installed an IBS dual-battery system and a Viair on-board air system with 2.5-gallon air tank and Viair 450C model compressor.

/> Behind the Skid Row Offroad skidplate is a Solo Motorsports 14-inch long-travel suspension with heavy-duty fabricated spindles, 1-inch lower uniball conversion, 7⁄8-inch Heim steering upgrade at the outer tie rod, 3⁄4-inch Heim upgrade at the steering rack, and King Racing 2.5 remote-reservoir coilover shocks. FOUR WHEELER OCTOBER 2022 43

Vehicle: ’06 Toyota Tundra Limited Double Cab Owner: Mark Cavaliero and Martha Waterhouse Stomping grounds: Highlands Ranch, Colorado Build time: 9 years DRIVETRAIN

Engine: 4.7L Toyota V-8 Transmission: A750F 5-spd auto Transfer case: VF2A 2-spd Low range ratio: 2.57:1 Max crawl ratio: 44.0:1 Front axle/differential: Toyota 7.5-in, Solo Motorsports extended axleshafts (3.5-in), Nitro 4.88 gears/Harrop ELocker Rear axle/differential: Front Range Off Road Fabrication Diamond Axle axlehousing, Toyota 8.4-in differential, full-float RCV axleshafts, Front Range Off Road Fabrication disc brakes, Nitro 4.88 gears/Harrop ELocker SUSPENSION

Front: Solo Motorsports 14-in long-travel kit, heavy-duty front spindles with lower uniball conversion, King 2.5-in remotereservoir coilover shocks Rear: Custom Alcan Spring leaf springs, Archive Garage shackle flip kit, Toytec Boss remote-reservoir shocks TIRES/WHEELS

Tires: LT315/70R17 Falken Wildpeak A/T AT3W Wheels: 17x9 KMC XD Series MISCELLANEOUS

Steering: Solo Offroad 7⁄8-in Heim steering upgrade at the outer tie rod; Solo Offroad 3⁄4-in Heim upgrade at the steering rack Armor: Skid Row Offroad aluminum skidplates, Addicted Offroad tubular front bumper, homebuilt rear bumper with double swingouts (bike rack/spare tire), Stubbs Welding rocksliders Cool stuff: Fiberwerx fiberglass front fenders, RotopaX 4-gal fuel carriers, RotopaX 2-gal water carriers, X-Bull traction boards, 12-ton bottle jack, tow chain, snatch straps, shovel, Hi-Lift jack, Lynx leveling blocks, Ryobi 14-in cordless chainsaw, ’07 Four Wheel Campers Eagle camper, IBS dual-battery system, Viair 450C air compressor w/2.5-gal tank, 160W solar panel /> The Tundra Limited’s interior is almost bone stock. Navigation comes via the first-gen Tundra’s factory electronics and the couple’s iPhones.

</ It’s common to see Mark and Martha’s Tundra Limited leading the way among a group of like-minded friends along any number of their favorite overlanding haunts in Colorado and Utah. “We love wheeling any Colorado mountain trail in September and October,” Mark said. FW

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