Welcome to the forum Mike. We have a lot of friendly people here. With some time and a little effort you can find the answers to any question for your build here.
Don't be afraid to ask, members are more than happy to share their knowledge and experience with you.
Being from California, you may be interested in the West Coast Mini Truckers. We are a club encompassing the Western States of the U.S.
For more information, check out:
http://www.westcoastminitruckers.com
Thank you.
- RCT