John's "should have bought the 4x4" build thread

SOLD!!!

New trucks build thread...https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...h-any-and-all-bs-nonsense-shenanigans.449858/

Hey guys...my name is John and im from Powdersville SC. I figured it's time to start this page...In August 2015 I purchased my 2015 Tacoma PreRunner SR5 V6 from Toyota of Easley. It is my first and only brand new vehicle and so far I love it.

I got a pretty good deal on the truck because my boss is friends with the owner of the dealership and did some talking for me. I purchased the PreRunner because I have owned many 4x4's over the years and I can count on one hand how many times i've actually used/needed it.

Unfortunately...after buying the truck...I came to know this little website that ya'll may know called ...Tacoma World. lol. I started learning about off roading trails around my area and that TW members meet up and hang out/wheel/have a good time. I now have buyers remorse for buying the 4x2 but...rolled negative equity from my Ford into the taco. Now...im stuck in the 4x2 till august of 2019.

Now that the bad news is out of the way...all I can do is try and make her look good and enjoy her while I have to.

Mods Completed to date: 6/1/16

• Debadged all emblems on tailgate
• Debadged door emblems and replaced with decals
• Plastidipped chrome grill surround
• Hardwired dash cam to ignition circuit.
• Installed subdued American Flags on the front doors
• Installed a Yeti Tundra 45 in the bed
• Installed 4100K LED interior and tag lights
• Installed Yakima roof rack system
• Plastidipped wheels black
• Installed 4" LED ditch lights
• Deleted mud flaps on the front and rear
• Installed TRD grill emblem
• Tinted front windows to match the rear
• Installed TRD OR badge
• Installed T3 Halogen reverse light bulbs
• Installed 5000K HID headlights
• Installed 5000K LED fog lights
• Installed Quick Fists tool mounts and ax in the bed.

Mods to be completed/ wish list:

• Fog light anytime mod
• Rear diff breather relocation mod
• Map lights on with Dome light mod
• Anti-theft tailgate mod
• CB radio setup
• Weathertech floor mats
• Flush mounted LED reverse lights mounted in rear bumper
• Painted to match camper shell
• Larger/aggressive tires - have not decided size or tire yet
• 16" steel wheels
• 3" suspension lift
• Billstein 5100 shocks
• Rear plate bumper powdercoated black
• SOS concepts front plate bumper in black
• SOS concepts sliders
• SOS concepts front skid plate
• SOS concepts bed rack
• Axe mount for bed rails
• Mag light mounts
• ...I'm sure there's more... I'll add to the list once i think of them

I've completed a few minor mods...mostly appearance but I do plan on making it look a little more aggressive...larger all terrain tires/ 3" lift / maybe plate bumpers? idk yet. I'm still on the fence about sinking the money on plate bumpers into a 4x2. Time will tell...

Here's how she sat the day I picker her up from the dealership and the fusion I traded for it is sitting behind her...


Step one was to take her home and clean her up...my way


I then debadged and painted my emblems gloss black and reinstalled them....Dont have step pictures for this but you see is the next pic...I then ordered and added my subdued American flags on the front doors. Love how they turned out...


Next thing I did was order and install 4100K LED interior and tag light bulbs. They made a huge difference!!



Hater's gonna hate but ....I don't like the way the bed didn't have any decals...I like a stock look so I ordered and installed the TRD sport decals for the bed. I know it's not a TRD nor will it ever be one but I like the way it looks and I like to go off road.



I wanted to change my wheels out to black steelies wrapped in an aggressive MT or AT like this pic... This guy is on TW also and honestly when I saw it ... I wanted to build one similar to it...minus the spare tire mount.

I then ordered a Yakima roof rack from a TW member and installed it using the factory OEM roof rack mounting holes in the roof. I did not want to use the door clamps that are used for the naked roof that would end up messing my paint up. Luckily...the guy I bought the rack from made custom aluminum brackets for the landing pads.



I then decided since I am not buying tires until my stock tires wear out... I would just plastidip my wheels for the time being and I am quite happy with them... I removed them and did 4 thick coats of dip on them. So far... no issues at all. Once I am ready for tires...I am going to purchase the steelies and larger aggressive tires.



Next on the list was installing LED ditch lights so I ordered ditch light brackets from @RelentlessFab, a set of LED lights from Ebay, and a stock looking switch for the dash.



I love this small mod and recommend anyone to do it. Those little LED's really throw out some light!

I then wrapped my door and "oh shit" handles in a 550 Paracord that kinda matches my trucks paint color. It's still growing on me at this point.





This is how she sits today....plus tinted windows in the front...


I have only been trail riding in it one time so far and she did excellent...I was riding with all 4x4 vehicles with winches just in case I needed a pull... They stayed in 4 wheel drive the entire trip...the lil PeeRunner never missed a beat. There were some pretty steep inclines and a couple smaller river crossings to go through. I was pretty proud of it and will continue to push its limits. Below are some pictures from the ride.


I'll continue to update this build thread as more changes come my way! Hope you enjoy. Thanks.

 

Looking great John, Sub'd

 

Thanks buddy...its a slow build but hey...i'll get there haha.

 

Spent most of today coating the chrome grill surround with plastidip, and hardwiring my dash cam. I'm pretty happy with the results.

 

Completely debadged the tailgate!! I already debadged it when I first got it but painted them black and re-installed them. I should have just left them off. It looks so much cleaner without them on there.

 

I wanted the same clean look on the two front doors also but I still wanted to retain a little identity. I ordered my decals from @Hard Luck GraphiX and replaced the front two emblems with these nice clean looking decals. Very happy with this mod.

Old.....


New...

 

Worked on installing the HID replacement bulbs last night....Yes @Boogyman I'm that guy.... Just for now though! Till I find a good looking housing that I like with projectors. It's honestly not too bright. They are brighter than stock no doubt but I had my wife and I did a test drive and its nothing like my F150 was. The picture makes it look worse than it really is.

 

Looks nice. Curious, are you really upset you don't have 4x4? Seems like you have gotten along O.K. without it. Maybe in 3 years you'll be so used to it you'll want to keep it longer, who knows.

 

Thanks man I appreciate it. I love the way it looks so far but I'd like to do sliders, off road bumpers, 3" lift and skids but that just doesn't make sense with a 4x2. Most places I wanna go either don't allow 2wds or the 2wds just won't make it. I'm heading to the outer banks this weekend to do some beach driving but I have to leave my taco at home and take the jeep cause 2wds usually get stuck in the sand according to everyone on here. Just kind of annoying

 

@Shwaa ^^

 

I would suggest sticking to low cost mods and not trying to make your truck into something it is not. You traded for it when you were upside down that was a mistake. Now you are dumping money that will not increase the resale value into it before it is paid off which I suggest is another mistake. Stop making mistakes and get ahead of your finances THEN build a mad tyte truck yo... Apologies if this post offends you I will delete it from your build thread upon request.

 

I did the same thing back in 2012. Bought a PreRunner then found this site. I ended up buying a jeep to off road in and traded my truck in. But I missed the tacoma ever since. Finally bought another one this time with 4x4 and love it. Either way though it's still a tacoma and it will last forever. Such awesome trucks.

 

Oh yeah man I think that's a pretty common story here on TW lol. I've had so many 4x4 trucks that never got used which is why I went with the prerunner. Oh well lol there's always next time!

 

No ur good dude, that's what the build thread is for. Being upside down in a vehicle is a hard cycle to break once ur in it. But at the end of this lease all of the negative will be gone. I'll finally be back to square 1. I appreciate the input, no offense taken

 

Installed a pair of Quick Fists tool clamps to hold my Ax in the bed. Next time I need it, it'll be there! Till someone steals it

 

Should have bought a 4x4 John.






























Just kidding. Truck looks good!

 

Proud to announce its traded in

 

Yes sir!!! She's gone lol gotta start the new build thread now

 

*Update* new build thread for the new truck.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...h-any-and-all-bs-nonsense-shenanigans.449858/