Where Form Meets Function. Steveo27’s Bolt-on Thread (Camping/Fishing/Weekend Exploring Build)

I'm Steve. I'm from Pittsburgh.

This is my "build" thread for my 2011 TRD Off Road Tacoma.


This is where form meets function.


I bought this truck as a daily driver with intentions of keeping it stock. That didn't last long.


When I was truck shopping, I fell in love with the look of the TRD Sport trucks. Color matched parts, big 5 spoke wheels. I initially wanted a Speedway Blue V6, 6 speed manual, long bed, access cab, 4wd truck.


After months of looking, I was never able to find one.


I did however find a TRD Off Road with all those features, except it was silver. Initially I wasnt super keen on the color, but I bought it because it basically had everything else I was looking for in the price range I was looking to spend in the mileage range I was comfortable with.


I purchased the truck in July of 2013 from a local Ford dealer off their used car lot. It was a one owner 44k mile truck for under 27,000$.


It wasn't until after I bought the truck I realized the trade off I made buying an Off Road over a Sport by giving up the color matched parts and big 5 spoke wheels I got Atrac and a locking rear differential.


Anyways....


- Long story short. Here's whats going on with the truck -


The initial plan for this truck started off pretty simple


1. Keep it basically stock so its super reliable, but change a few things to make it look a little bit more like a TRD Sport - 17" Sport wheels, painted door handles and mirrors, ect.


That didn't last long. The new plan was to...


2. Upgrade some things to make it more practical and capable off road on camping, fishing and hunting trips - ie a small lift to handle forest roads.


As much as I wanted to go nuts on the truck, I couldnt. I already have a full on built show car for that stuff...


Its a '92 VW Jetta. I've been dicking with it since 2005






and this is my ex's '99.5 VW Jetta. I did all the work to it as well










So here's the problem with liking to tinker with stuff, you cant leave anything alone. After building those 2 cars, I knew I couldn't leave this truck stock or almost stock for long.


It was just impossible.



I left it basically stock for the first year or so just adding small things.


Now the current plan for the truck is...


3. To make it 100% capable both on and off road.

I want to be able to drive it daily back and forth to work during the week, then be able to head to the mountains for an extended weekend of camping/fishing/hunting/exploring all while being able to live out of the truck comfortably.


The goal is to modify the truck by only adding what I need while keeping it as simple and functional as possible. The goal is to make the add ons look like they could have came on the truck from the factory instead of an after thought.




I like doing these kinda threads to keep track of stuff and post pictures.




Here is a list of the modifications as well as a list of future modifications.




- MODIFICATIONS -



- Current Mods -



Front Suspension

- Bilstein 5100s set @ .85 -
- Toytec Eibach #620 springs -
- 3/8” Wheeler's Off Road top plates (both sides) -
- 1/4" driver side top plate -
- SPC upper control arms w/ updated grease-able ball joints & Spec bushings -
- ECGS clam shell bushing -
- Sway bar relocation brackets -
- CV boot slide mod -
- Cab mount chop -
- Up rated bump stops -
- Hammered pinch weld -
- Limit straps -


Rear Suspension

- Wheeler's Off Road Progressive 3 leaf add-a-leaf -
- 1/2" blocks -
- OEM TSB 4 leaf leaf springs -
- Bilstein B110 5100s -
- Extended rear breather -
- Firestone Ride Rites w/ extended lower mounts -
- Daystar cradles -
- “modified” brake line bracket -


Brakes

- Painted front calipers -
- Powerstop drilled/slotted front rotors -
- Powerstop Z36 front pads -


Wheels & Tires

- 285/75/16 Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs -
- 16x8" et-10 Level 8 MK6 wheels -
- TRD Beadlock center caps -
- Chrome lug nuts -
- 1.25” Spidertrax front spacers -
- .75” Bora rear spacers -
- Front offset et-42 after spacers -
- Rear offset et-29 after spacers -
- Full size spare -


Interior

- Painted radio bezel -
- Painted dashboard bezel -
- Painted HVAC bezel -
- Painted gauge cluster trim -
- Painted tweeter trim -
- Painted window switch bezels -
- Painted cup holder -
- Rear headrest delete -
- Rear seat delete w/ platform -
- Black Weathertech front and rear floor liners -
-12v constant socket mounted in back side of center console -
- 12v constant socket mounted inside center console -
-12v constant dual USB socket mounted inside center console -
- "Anytime locker" rear locker modification w/ push switch -
- Center console lock -
- D cell LED Maglite mounted to driver side lower seat panel -
- Center console mounted 4Runner 120v/400w outlet -
- Grey/black Coverking Neoprene seat covers -
- Driver / passenger heated seat retrofit -
- Blue Sea ML-ACR switch -
- Peak DBI dual battery monitor -
- Ebay HVAC knobs tinted red -
- Ebay 4wd knob tinted red -
- 1/2" driver side & passenger side seat spacers -
- Molle pouch first aid kit -
- Console organizer -
- Console mount pistol holster -
- Grid It console lid organizer -
- Ultra Gauge -
- Salex glovebox organizer -
- Console mount pistol magnet -
- Fire extinguisher w/ DIY passenger seat mount -
- 12v F4c4TMP 30L fridge on custom platform -


Exterior

- TRD aluminum skid plate -
- Trimmed front mud flaps -
- Trimmed rear Prerunner mud flaps -
- Debadged tailgate -
- Debadged door emblems -
- OEM TRD Sport side view mirrors -
- Poly radiator support bushings -
- Relocated trailer harness plug -
- OEM flat running boards -
- Matte black vinyl wrapped roof -
- Trimmed front flares -
- Heated mirror retrofit -
- All Pro low pro front bumper w/ hoop -
- 10K XPower winch w/ synthetic line -
- DIY trans skid -


Bed / Shell / Recovery

- Leer XR100 shell (painted Black Sand Metallic) -
- Rhino Rack HD tracks and crossbars -
- Ebay 6'x8' awning on DIY mounts -
- Ebay 4'x6' awning on DIY mounts -
- Power Pop & Lock tailgate lock -
- EZ-Down tailgate assist -
- Electric tailgate popper w/ interior release button -
- Additional bed rail D rings -
- Bed mount shovel w/ Quickfists -
- Bed mount Fiskar axe w/ Quickfists -
- OEM bed mat -
- 2 12v constant sockets -
- 3 Constant dual USB sockets -
- 12v socket wired to bed light controller for awning lights -
- Bed mounted bottle opener -
- 3.5 gallon Rotopax Fuelpax w/ custom mount -
- Bed rail mount X-Bull Recovery Boards -
- RF wireless dimmer for bed/shell lights -
- Dual cup holders -
- Tire plug kit -
- Smittybilt recovery strap -
- Bed mount quick disconnect air fitting from compressor -
- Bed mount compressor switch -
- Smittybilt receiver & shackle -
- USB powered fan -
- DIY magnetic phone mount -
- Bluetooth USB speaker -
- DIY smooth inner tailgate panel -
- 12” 20v Craftsman chainsaw -


Interior Lighting

- LED map lights (driver side red, passenger side white) -
- LED dome light -
- LED center console lighting -
- Red LED lighted 4wd indicator -
- Red LED under dash lighting -
- Red LED underseat lighting -
- LED glove box lights -
- Additional over head LED lights -
- Red LED door handle lighting -
- Red LED ambient overhead lighting -
- All switches / HVAC panel converted to red LEDs -
- Red LED lit cup holders -
- Red gel filter on compass -


Exterior Lighting

- Bi-xenon retrofits -
- Morimoto mini D2S 4.0 projectors -
- Apollo 3 shrouds -
- Morimoto 35w XB ballasts -
- Morimoto MotoControl bi-xenon H4 harness -
- Morimoto 4500k XB bulbs -​

- White LED halo backlit shrouds as DRLs -
- Amber LED halo (parking light shroud back lighting) -
- Amber LED demon eyes - ​

- Daytime running lights converted to parking lights -
- "Smoked" OEM taillights -
- LED rear turn signals (red) -
- Quad LED brake light mod -
- LED front turn signals -
- LED front corner marker lights -
- LED license plate lights -
- LED reverse bulbs -
- LED 3rd brake light -
- Yellow fog light housings -
- Nokya Hyper Yellow fog light bulbs w/ ceramic plugs -
- Any time fog light modification -
- LED bed lighting -
- LED under hood lighting -
- LED Puddle lighting in side view mirrors -
- LED under door puddle lights -
- Raptor style grille LED lighting -
- LED rear under bumper lights -
- LED overhead lighting in the Leer shell -
- Tinted LED shell 3rd brake light -
- Under tailgate 4th brake light -


Off Road Lighting

- 30" LED light bar behind bumper -
- Quad LED auxiliary reverse lights pods -
- CBI ditch light brackets w/ "side shooter" pods -
- LED rock lights -
- LED rack lights -
- LED high mount chase/reverse lights -
- 3 LP9 knockoff LED yellow pods on bumper hoop -


Engine / Trans / Under Hood

- Blue Sea System 6 circuit fuse block w/ negative bus -
- 100 amp Bussman circuit breaker -
- TRD exhaust -
- Modified MV50 compressor w/ custom mount -
- Dual battery set up using Blue Sea ML-ACR -
- Catch can -
- AuxBeam 8 gang switch panel -


Entertainment

- Full '14 non JBL headunit w/ navigation retrofit -
- Dashboard mounted USB/3.5mm socket -
- Infinity Primus 9603is door speakers w/ baffles -
- Retrofit'd rear access cab door speakers w/ 6.5" MB Quartz speakers -
- Bluetooth/voice command steering wheel controls -
- Sound Ordanace B-8BPT sealed underseat powered subwoofer -
- ASC Audio preout T harness -
- 8 awg wiring kit -




- Future Mods -



Front Suspension

- 2.5 remote reservoir Kings -


Rear Suspension

- Aftermarket leaf pack -
- 2.5 Kings -


Brakes

- Extended front & rear brake lines -


Wheels / Tires

- 315’s -


Interior

- Black "All Weather" flooring -


Exterior

- ??? -


Bed / Shell / Recovery

- ??? -


Interior Lighting

- ??? -


Exterior Lighting

- ??? -


Off Road Lighting

- ??? -


Engine / Trans / Under Hood

- ??? -


Entertainment

- 4 channel amplifier for door speakers -





Anyways, on the "build"


The Front Bilsteins are are currently on a UPS truck somewhere in the Mid West. And I have 2 more bed rail hold downs in the mail as well.




Now on to some pictures -


Here's how the truck sat when I bought it






And here's the truck today (as of 2/20/24)




I will try to update this thread when anything fun and/or exciting happen.



:beer:​

 

definately lookin foward to this thread, you VAG guys are all meticulous as hell, guessin this will be much of the same.

i too know a thing or two about VW's, my ex was all into them and stuff (lowered mk4 gti) and i went to countless shows. dub n' rub, waterfest, H20i (im going again this year)

 

:beer: Thanks.

But this thread/build won't be anything near the intensity VW stuff is. I'm gonna go easy on this one since the MK2 is still my main focus.

What part of SEPA are you from? I have a TON of friends out there who are into Volkswagens.


We'll be at H2O in the GF's MK4 Jetta. This year will be my 7th year in a row now.

 

valley forge/kop/phoenixville area

last year was my first year there, but I had a damn good time, definitely not gonna miss it this year

 

Cool. I've got some friends in Allentown, Emmaus, and Philly

 

I like the 92 jetta that thing is bad ass

 

Thanks. Heres a few more pics of it -





And heres how it currently sits -

 

These showed up today :



Should be going on sometime this week :thumbup:


And in other news, after spending an assload of time, the engine bay in the Jetta is ready for for polyester spray filler.

 

That car looks familiar, were you on Pittspeed?

 

Yes, I was. I've been good friends with Nick (Starboy) for years.

 

i was on there for a good while. Can't say i've been on there recently much though. i probably havent posted anything on there in well over a year.

This is what i had when i was on there, never should have sold this car.

 

:thumbup:

I havent been on there in atleast 3 years now.

Cant say I remember that car. What part of PGH are you from?

:beer:

 

about 40 minutes or so north east of Pittsburgh, small town of Vandergrift

 

Funny. I'm from Upper Burrell. Small world

 

Finally got around to installing these -




Before -



From the ground to the fender its about 34 1/4"



During -



After -





From the ground to the fender its about 37" now.

I set them at 1.75" and they came up almost 3". I'm hoping they settle out a little bit. If not. no biggy.

I don't have any good pics since it was dark when i finished the instal.





I'm really impressed with the ride quality of the 5100s.

I need to order the rear add a leafs now that I have the fronts sorted out.


ALso, I'll snap some better pictures in the daylight when I get a chance

:beer:

 

The 5100s have been on the fronts for a few days now.



I love em.

The front end feels so much tighter now. Doing 75mph on the highway is no longer scary. It doesn't feel like its going to roll over any more.

I'm super happy I went with these over those stupid spring spacers.

Anyways, I ordered the rear springs today. I ended up going with the Wheelers progressive 3 leaf add-a-leaf. Eventually I plan on replacing the rear shocks with 5100s as well.

And in other news, the engine bay in the Jetta finally got primered this weekend.



:beer:

 

you suck GTFO,Newb!





lol,I would have never thought i'd see you on another forum, how have you been? I was searching wheelers and this thread popped up. Jetta looks good man, mine was sold,gutted and auto-x rebuilt by a guy up in boone.

 

Woah!


Im good. Whats goin on? :beer:

 

Not much dude got my tacoma in June, getting ready to put a old man emu lift kit on mine. So what's going back in jetta, didn't you have a VR6 in it? I miss mine and wish I could have drove it with the built 16v. If I ever get another ne I'm doing ITB's.

Your truck looks good, is it a prerunner trd or 4x4?

 

:thumbup:

Its getting another 12v for the time being. I havent driven mine in 2 years. I miss it.