Tactical Overland Build

TRUCK:

2013 Toyota Tacoma, Double Cab, 4WD, TRD OFF-ROAD

Miles: ~115,000 (06 JAN 2018)

I built this truck for rugged exploration, extended travels and bug-out functionality; all with a tactical flair. It is my daily driver and I also use it for hunting, fishing, exploring and general off-road travel.

BLACK are completed modification, HYPERLINKS locate posts on TW, GREY are future modification. This will help me keep track of where I am going.

As it sits today: 8 MAY 2016




SUSPENSION:
OME 3" Lift Kit
886x Coils
Dakar Leaf Packs
Icon UCA's
Swaybar Relocate
Extended SS Brake lines
Cab Mount Chop
U-Bolt Flip Kit


WHEELS & TIRES:
Fuel D551 Wheels
285/70/R17 Nitto Ridge Grapplers


ARMOR:
Pelfreybilt Plate Front Bumper (Steel)
Pelfreybilt Standard Rear Plate Bumper (Steel)
Pelfreybilt IFS Skid Plate (Steel)
Pelfreybilt Mid Skid Plate (Steel)
Famous Fabrication Rock Sliders


LIGHTING:
Rigid Industries 20" E2 Flood LED Bar
Rigid Industries 20" SR Spot/Flood LED Bar
Rigid Industries Dually's (LED fog lights)
Rigid Industries Grill Insert
SwitchPro 8100 (mounted to center console)
Pelfreybilt Fuse Panel Mounting Bracket
Blue Seas Fuse Panel
Blue Seas 100A Breaker


HEAD UNIT:
iPad Mini 3, 128GB, WiFi
Sony GS-610bt Radio
Hardwired Garmin GLO as GPS/GLONASS Receiver


IN-DASH iPad APPS:
Sony App Remote
StreetPilot by Garmin
Hema USA Road Atlas
Gaia GPS
Topo Maps
DashCommand


COMMUNICATION:
Uniden Bearcat 680 CB Radio
Browning 45.5" SS Whip (roof mounted)
CB Radio PA All-Weather Speaker
HAM Radio


OVERLAND / TACTICAL / BUGOUT:
Spartan Tactical VMP-C
Blue Ridge Overland Gear MOLLE Seat Panel
48.5" Aluminum MOLLE panel behind the rear seats
Custom Bed Rack
CVT Mt. Shasta RTT



RECOVERY:
Warn Zeon 10s Winch
Warn Winch Remote Control
ARB On-Board-Air
Hi-Lift Jack
Hi-Lift Winch Recovery Kit
All-Pro High-Lift Bed-rail Mount
Bed Mounted Shovel
Bed Mounted Axe
Nylon Tow Straps
Snatch Block
Shackles
Chain
MaxTrax


MISC:
Viper 2-Way Remote Start
Viper SmartStart
Winterized (block heater, trickle charger, heating pads for the oil pan and transmission)
Console Vault
WeatherTech Floor Mats
GoPoint BT1 OBD-II Scanner (DashCommand App)
Glovebox Organizer
Flipster Front License Plate Bracket


FUEL ECONOMY:
These fuel economy statistics were gathered through daily driving, trail riding, towing, and all other vehicle use. I keep my receipts from the gas pump and annotate the current odometer reading, and how many miles I drove on the tank I just refilled. I also make any relevant notes that might affect my fuel economy for that tank. I do not have a record of every tank of fuel put through the truck (receipt print errors, etc.), but I have a pretty good sampling. It is of relevant note that during the winters in Fairbanks, AK (October - April) I drove in 4WD all the time. I suspect that this would lower my fuel economy for those tanks.

I have broken the statistics up by major modifications to the truck, such that I predict they would affect the fuel economy. They are: "stock configuration", "Post-Lift", and "Post Pelfreybilt Front Bumper" (plus Warn winch, IFS & Mid skid plates, and LED bars). I will post the statistics of the "Post Front Bumper" once collected, as I do not have any data for this phase of the build.

STOCK CONFIGURATION:
ODO: 307 - 20,192
Date: 10 OCT 2012 - 11 JAN 2014
Average MPG: 15.3 (miles / gallon)
Standard Deviation: 2.1
Number of Tanks: 69


POST LIFT:
ODO: 20,426 - 63,378
Date: 15 JAN 2014 - 4 MAY 2016
Average MPG: 16.3 (miles / gallon)
Standard Deviation: 1.5
Number of Tanks: 93


I would have expected the "Post Lift" statistics to be lower than the stock configuration, however I think the truck wasn't broke in yet. I might have dropped fuel efficiency with the larger tires (without regearing), but gained more fuel efficiency with the break-in.

I will be curious to analyze the fuel economy statistics after adding all of the weight in armor.

ARTICLES ON TW:
Octane Rating Explained By an Engineer
Drive Shaft Vibrations


LINKS FOR FUTURE MODS:
FLIR Thermal Driving Camera


SolidWorks DRAWINGS:



E-Type Silhouette:





PICTURES:

 

Looking good so far. Did you have to cut the console to fit the cb?

 

I drilled a 3/8" hole on each side of the console to run the antenna cable (right) and the power cable (left). Other than that, I simply mounted the CB radio itself with industrial velcro to the bottom plane - one stack (male/female pieces) up front, three stacks in the back to achieve the seen angle. If the radio was mounted parallel to the bottom plane - one layer of velcro on the front and back - the radio would contact the top of the space, and it would have interfered with the cigarette lighters (lids, and whatever you wanted to plug in). The outer dimensions of the radio fit within the space seen. Also, the antenna cable plugs into the back of the CB, (I used a 90 degree angle plug here), which pushes it out about 1" from the back wall. If one were so inclined, they could remove the center console plastic, make a hole for the power cable and antenna cable, and mount the CB radio itself flush against the back wall. I will probably do this when I switch over to a HAM radio.

The antenna was permanently mounted to the roof. A hole was drilled, and the cable was ran along the head liner, under the side curtain air bag, down the door sill and under the dash to the CB radio. See picture of antenna below:

 

Nice truck. I like what you're doing with it. I just got that same CB with the hopes of mounting it exactly where you did, but on my '08 the cig lighter and power outlet interfere a little too much.

 

Thanks. Too bad about the cigarette lighters. I rotated mine 180 degrees to get more clearance with the lids; maybe that will help?

 

Lol. Just read your build page. It looks like I'm heading in the same direction Nice looking truck!

 

Thanks!

Grab that Hi-Lift before you do anything else too. Go for the 60" if you think you'll go bigger than 33's as well.

 

Hey TW,

I just completed my latest adventure trip in Alaska. My girlfriend and I were gone for five days, and drove over 1,300 miles. We started in Fairbanks, AK and drove south to Seward and Homer, AK via the Richardson Highway. On our return, we drove north on the George Parks Highway, stopping for a short visit into the Denali National Park.

We took the truck on three trails starting off the Richardson Hwy; each one harder than the last. I have quite a few new scratches that run almost the entire length of the truck from a narrow trail meant for ATV's, not trucks. Oh well, it was quite an experience and worth it. I just had the truck professionally washed and waxed, and most of them came out. A few trail scars give it character

On our next trip, we will go back to Denali to try a jeep trail that we didn't get a chance to try. This trail should take us to the "magic school bus" where the student from Emory (e.g. "Into The Wild") died. We also want to make the drive up to Prudhoe Bay / Deadhorse, AK.

Below are some pictures of the Tacoma along the way!

COAL MINE RD: mile 254 on the east side of the Richardson Hwy








FISH CREEK TRAIL: mile 190 on the east side of the Richardson Hwy



MIDDLE FORK TRAIL: mile 169.5 on the west side of the Richardson Hwy

Starting the trail...











We survived! ... but we didn't go all the way down.




A BEACH: near Homer, AK



A BRIDGE: Glacier overlook off the Glenn Hwy

 

Love the scenery!

 

Awesome.

 

Great trip!

 

Love where you're going with this build. Subba-subba-sub'd!

 

Had a few soldiers get their trucks stuck driving around post; giving me a great excuse to pick up a HiLift Jack



I then mounted my axe and shovel on the other side of my bed...



I went on a quick "test" trip and found that the HiLift rattles a lot. I added a handle holder (single plastic slip on thing), so hopefully that will snug everything up.

 

I'm so jealous of you guys in the northwest. Seems like that terrain yields some amazing views. I'll be following this build! Also look into policing one of these up to protect your jack from the elements:

Hi-Lift Jack NJC Neoprene Jack Cover

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003CEFJ2A?pc_redir=1404541777&robot_redir=1

 

There are some great views up here in Alaska. From the test trip:



I already ordered a neoprene cover

 

Every time you turn around there are some great views!

Saw one from the Richardson today. Looked stunningly beautiful-clouds and blue sky

 

Rub it in why don't ya!

 

Hey TW,

Here is a collection of photos I took on my last off-roading trip towards the end of the summer, 2014. I made another attempt at making to the end of the Stampede Trail - I made it past the first set of river crossings, but didn't attempt to cross the couple miles of muskeg. This spring, I'll give it another try

Stampede Trail

Entering Stampede Trail Driving down a river on Stampede Trail







Muskeg Mudholes. Many more than just this!






Denali HWY