Fifthwind's 09 DC ORD build, a.k.a. Scully

So after a little prompting, and a little reflection, I decided to create a build thread for 'Scully' my Barcelona Red 09 Double Cab - Off Road Tacoma.

Here is what she looked like after she was all paid off, and before any modifications began.



I hope to dig through pictures and keep them in the order that things were changed, but I anticipate that I will undoubtedly get something mixed up.
There are many people to thank along the way for help, inspiration, motivation, good laughs, great food, and few beverages or two.

 

So the first thing I did was to add a 3" lift, using the Toytec Ultimate package, but unfortunately I cannot locate any pictures of the install.
I can tell you that I bought a spare par of UCA bolts, and used a sawsall to remove the old ones. I think the pair of bolts was a whopping $12.
Here is what she looked like after the lift, and after I trimmed the mudflaps.

 

I chose the Toytec Ultimate Kit for a number of reasons:
1. The six inch lifts with the large cross-member really only netted a gain in ground clearance equivalent to a four inch lift.
2. The largest tire that I could fit without modifying the cab mount and fire wall is 34".
3. I planned to add a winch mount plate bumper in the not too distant future, and the coilovers are adjustable.
4. I planned to continue hauling mulch, stone, etc. and the AAL in the kit would help.
5. After reading about the carrier bearing vibration, the leaf wedge appears to help minimize that.
6. The diff drop blocks would minimize half-shaft angle.

Overall, I am very happy with the choice. It is an economical package that supplies a lot of features, while providing flexibility.

Things I have learned:
1. A 620# spring on a mostly stock truck with minimal additional weight is stiff, and you bounce like a Ping-Pong ball over any rocks larger than a golf ball. Add D-rated sidewalls to that, and potholes give a whole new definition to bump-steer.
2. If you are adding weight in lumps, several months apart, a screw type adjustable coil-over is a wonderful thing. It also helps with Taco lean.
3. Add-A-Leafs (AAL) are great for the street, but when off-roading, can slap you with a rapid increase in spring rate, especially in off-camber situations.
4. Toytec is a great vendor, that keeps parts in stock, and ships quickly, however, while they are great on the phone, they are near useless when it comes to messaging, or e-mails.
5. Bilstein 5100 shocks are great for infrequent off-roading, street, and low weight applications, but when you add skids, sliders, plate bumpers, winch, etc., they reach their limit, and things begin to fly around inside the cab.
6. Harder trails, with larger obstacles, require an upgrade from an AAL to a leaf pack, as the obstacle gets more difficult when the AAL kicks in and the weight suddenly shifts.

 

I think the next thing I did was add L-Track to the floor of the bed, in two four foot segments.
The cross-section was small enough to fit into the existing grooves and only stick up a small amount, and provided a way to have tie-down points along the length of the bed.
It also provided a way to mount my 40inch UWS tool box.






After a few winters, I want to make some changes; replacing the hardware with stainless, adding a few short pieces to get the full length, and adding some pieces to the tailgate so that I can have ties downs for longer items.

 

My wife, who helped me with the L-track install, got me some goodies for my adventures.
A high-lift jack, which I installed on the back of the toolbox:


And a hitchmate cargo bar to keep stuff from flying around back there:



It's great to have a wife that likes Tacos as much as I do, and supports my adventures.

 

Nice!Way to be creative!

 

Thanks!
I went Taco for versatility, so when I need to haul various things, I can pull my tool box and hi-lift pretty quickly.
I've made a couple frames from 4x4 and 2x4 pressure treated to help me transport scaffolding and drywall.
I'll have to see if I have any pictures of those. They bolt together so I can store them more easily.
Last haul was a yard of mulch.

 

Near as I can recall, we spent the next six months of 2013 hitting the trails and enjoying the weather. Had a phone fatality that summer, and lost quite a few pics.

Checked out the abandoned town of Centralia, PA where the underground coal fire can be seen venting in this pic.


A mixed bag of rigs that day.


Also hit Shamokin that year.


I have a strange curiosity for abandoned buildings, not sure where it comes from.


Somewhere along the way, I went to 255/85/16 Cooper S/T, then I added air bags during the mod day at Ant's place during the summer.


Here is a yard of mulch.


A wintry visit to Whaleback.


And a Pittsburgh pothole killed my Billie.

 

this thread alive? lol

 

Hey!

Any recent pics of one of the most understated and wheeled rigs on here?

 

Hi Buddy, I've neglected this thread for a while now, been busy with family stuff. Here she is in stealth mode, with the top cleared off for snow removal. New frame last year, and have been slowly stripping and painting before attaching to the new frame. She will be salty in a few minutes.

 

looking so good! hope you and the fam are doing well!