Sean's Big Baby Blue

First off, a huge thanks to everyone here on TacomaWorld. Without you all, my truck would be near stock, and I could probably have invested all that money and been living the life by now. But here is my truck, B-trips aka Big Baby Blue.

2005 TRD Sport 4.0L Manual Trans 4x4 Access Cab

On the truck
5100s front and rear - 2" lift
Light Racing UCAs
Wheeler's Alcan 8 leaf pack
Spidertrax 1.25" wheel spacers
265/70/17 Duratracs
Optima Redtop battery
Weathertech floor mats
Kobalt tool box and Toyota bed mat

Waiting to go on
ARB Rear Air Locker
CKMA12 ARB Air Compressor

Possible Future mods
Rock Sliders and skidplates
Front and Rear Bumpers
Hood Scoop LED mod
Aftermarket Wheels
King C/Os and rear shocks
HomerTaco Satoshi grill while I'm here dreaming
Other things!



This build thread is going to be more a story of my dream truck than it will be a list of my modifications and such. I've had it for over 7 years now and still every day I drive it feels special.

My mom and dad both used to own 1984 toyota pickups, so I like to think it's in my blood. Unfortunately, once I started high school, these were the cars I got to drive. Each one had character and I loved them, just not entirely cool or most importantly, mine.

The original Big Blue, this was our family roadtripper from Indiana to Seattle each year. Mom, stepdad, and 5 of us kids in the car for 4 days each way. Also the car I took my drivers license test in, and drove on my own for the first time. Aced the parallel parking test, just fyi

photo taken from internet

The Buick, again not the coolest car but comfy enough to take my date to prom in, twice!

photo taken from internet

My dad's 94 econoline van that replaced the 86 econoline van I drove down gravel roads everyday. Another shaggin wagon in my car history.

photo taken from internet

By far the most fun to drive, my dad's 94 yj. This jeep began my love for offroading, despite being completely stock. I dreamt of lifts and big tires and winches. Ours was nowhere near as clean as this picture though.

photo taken from internet

So time goes on through high school to college, all the while dreaming of my own car. Specifically, a new toyota tacoma. In 2007, I managed to get pre-approved for a bank loan for $20k (dad cosigned). This began a serious search for my tacoma! I eventually found a 2005 TRD sport in Speedway Blue with 17k miles being sold in Pennsylvania. I hadn't considered a blue tacoma at first, but my Indianapolis Colts had just won a Super Bowl and I took that as a sign that this was my truck. I talked to the seller for a few weeks and finally decided to visit the truck. I got a Greyhound Bus ticket from Indianapolis to Philadelphia (the trip itself is worthy of a story), met up with the seller and drove the truck for a day. I gave him my bank check for $20k plus $500 cash and the truck was mine.

The first picture of the truck as mine


I drove the 13 hours back to Indiana, stopping only for a couple hours to sleep on the side of the road. I was already in love with the truck.

I was very lucky in having my parents help with most of my college costs, but my part time job during school wasn't cutting it for my truck payments. Because of this and also because of needing an adventure (I went to college in the same town I was raised), I spent two summers gutting fish in Alaska. The first time I went by myself, and had no idea what I was getting into. The pay was ok, but since you would easily work over 110 hours each WEEK, overtime pay made everything worth it.

Me on the left, working beside Slovakians, Bulgarians, Mexicans, Americans. Afterwards, I forgot about the horrible hours and working conditions, and convinced two of my friends from Indiana to join me the next summer. This time, we drove my truck all the way to Seattle. Three of us in the Access Cab, but we made good time. We folded the rear seats flat, filled the area with sleeping pads and it made for a solid bed.

Again, afterwards you forget about all the shit and only remember the good times. None of us would trade in that horrible experience for anything.

From here on out this will mostly be pictures of mods or various good times I've had with the truck, and I'll keep it updated as I go along.

There's not a lot of off-roading in Indiana, but there are good opportunities to embarrass your buddy by towing his jeep out of the mud




Tailgating an Indiana University Football game. This Tacoma is made for tailgating!


Roadtrip with my dad down to the Everglades and Florida keys


After college in 2010, I moved with my girlfriend to Colorado, and finally paid off the truck in 2012.

First proper offroad in Colorado, going over Pearl Pass. Made a pretty cool video of it too


Added Light Racing UCAs to my lifted 5100s (finally proper camber!), as well as spidertrax 1.25" wheel spacers and 265/70/17 Duratracs.


With this setup I went to Moab with my Toyota buddy from Indiana. He's not afraid to let his yota flag fly...


He did an awesome write up on our trip, so click here for tons of pictures, videos, and drunken mishaps.











A recent trip to Escalante, Utah with my girlfriend. "Shooting Star RV Resort" was an awesome place to stay there. Drive In theater and Airstream rentals!


At the end of the Hole-in-the-Rock Road in Escalante


Most recent mod, added Wheeler's Alcan 8 leaf pack and 5100s to the rear. No more bro lean!


New leaf pack with my favorite mod to date; MAGNETIC TACOMA BEER COOZIE. Made by TW Member Kyle, here's the thread


The best part about working at an airport, using the aircraft maintenance hangar for truck stuff.


Just so you have some perspective of what it's like to live in Aspen, CO on a yearly salary of under $40k. RENT FUCKING SUCKS. This was an actual ad in the local classifieds. "one bed"


But life is good here. My girlfriend is amazing and can even turn a wrench! She's actually much better at swinging a hammer though.


Latest mod:

I'll put up a better picture later, but thanks CBoy808 for the awesome work!

After that mod, I have an ARB Air Locker and compressor sitting in my living room, patiently waiting to be attached to my truck. More pictures will follow!

Thanks for reading if you made it this far!

 

I love the build so far. I have big plans for mine this summer. I'm happy to see another Colorado guy with an access cab here on TW.

 

Thanks Andy! What sort of things are you planning? I'm not too smart with these trucks, but I've learned a lot from all the mistakes I've made so feel free to ask if you have any questions

 

I'm thinking of getting Kings on all four corners for suspension and then either the Icon progressive AAL or Dakars in the rear. I'll also get some Total Chaos UCAs. It's going to be pricey, but I kinda just want to mess with the suspension once and calll it good. From there I'll get a plate bumper, but I'm not sure which one I want yet. I'll definitely let you know if I've got any questions. I'm going to school this summer, but hopefully the money I earn this summer can fund my Tacoma habit.

 

Definitely, good luck with that! you probably have heard of them, but when you're ready to pull the trigger on the suspension, check out Down South Motorsports. They have custom packages to save you a couple bucks that include all those parts, their customer service is awesome, and they'll be able to valve your shocks to whatever type of driving you want to do. A ton of people on here go through them

 

"every day I drive it feels special."

im right there with you man!

love the pics, thanks for sharing em =)

 

Nice truck with great stance. Looks like you know what your truck is for. Keep having fun.

 

Thanks guys. Stickers are going on today, will update with pictures! Tru I've looked through your build before, love it!

And Kelly I just looked through yours - any taco with the FJ SE wheels is a winner in my book, but you've done awesome stuff to it well beyond that!

 

Really liking it, love the decals too!