The Does Everything, but Sucks at Everything Build

2013 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab
4x4
TRD Offroad
Automatic Transmission
Short Bed
V6
Weight: A lot...

The Front
Total Chaos +2 Long Travel Kit w/ Heimed UCA #86002T-R-H
King Long Travel Shocks #TC5119-03A
Total Chaos Upper Coil Bucket Tower Gussets #59653
Total Chaos LT 4WD 4340 +2 Extended Axles #86305T
Total Chaos Secondary Shock Hoop
King Triple Bypass shocks
Limit Straps
Cab Mount Chop w/ Relentless Plates
Timbren Active Off-Road Front Bumpstop System
ECGS built 4.56 Gears
ECGS built ARB Airlocker

$1,114 RD121 Air Locking Differential

RD121
The Truck Shop Spindle Gussets
Total Chaos Cam Tab Gussets
CVJ Remanufactured Axles (REMOVED)
Dirt King Stock Length Perfomance Lower Control arm (REMOVED)
ICON 58735 Extended Travel Remote Reservoir Coilover Set w/ CDC (REMOVED)
ICON 58550 Uniball Billet Aluminum Upper Control Arm Set (REMOVED)
ICON 14" / 700LB Front Coil Spring (REMOVED)
Total Chaos Lower Control Arm Skids (REMOVED
Toytec Ultimate Lift Kit Front Shocks (REMOVED)
SPC/Light Racing Adjustable Control Arms (REMOVED)
Sway Bar (REMOVED)
Total Chaos Non-sway bar spindle gussets(BROKEN & REMOVED)

The Rear
Deaver U402 Stage 3
King 12" Triple Bypass Shocks
Custom Shock Hoops
Currie Rockjock 60 Axle
Wheeler's Performance Rear Brake Line Set, +4"
Icon 56503R-EXT 2" VS Series Remote Reservoir Rear Shock Set (Wheeler's Offroad)(REMOVED)
Old Man Emu CS047R Dakar Leaf Spring Set(REMOVED)
Timbren Rear Bumpstop Kit(REMOVED)
All-Pro U-Bolt Flip Kit(REMOVED)
ECGS built 4.56 Gears(REMOVED)
Bilstein 5100 (REMOVED)
Old Man Emu

$77 D29XL Leaf Spring

D29XL Extra Leaf Set (REMOVED)
Bora Wheel Spacer 2" (removed)

$43 ARP 1007715 Wheel Stud Kit for Lexus

ARP 1007715 Wheel Stud Kit for Lexus (trimmed 1/4" for easy install) (REMOVED)

Tires/Wheels
OMF Beadlock Converted Stealth Custom Series F5 w/ 4.5" BS
315/75/16 Goodyear MT/R
Full Size Spare
Spline Drive E/T Ultra Style Conical Lug Nuts
Procomp 7089-6883 w/ 4.5" Backspacing (REMOVED)
Stealth Custom Series F5 w/ 3.5" Backspacing (REMOVED)
285/75/16 BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 (REMOVED)
265/70/16 BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO (REMOVED)
315/75/16 Cooper MTP (REMOVED)

Armor
Pelfreybilt Front Plate Bumper w/ Center Hoop
Pelfreybilt Rear Hi Clearance Bumper w/ Swingout Tire Carrier (personal customizations)
Pelfreybilt Rock Sliders
BAMF 1/4" Steel IFS Skid
BAMF 1/4" Steel Mid Skid
BAMF 1/4" Steel Trans Skid
Pelfreybilt Gas Tank Skid
Pelfreybilt Steel IFS Skid (REMOVED)
Pelfreybilt Steel Mid Skid (REMOVED)
Pelfreybilt Steel Rear Trans Skid (REMOVED)

Over the Top
Plano 109540 Field Locker Double Long Mil-spec Hard Gun Case X2
40" Wraith LED Lightbar
Prinsu Toyota Tacoma CABRAC
Custom Scepter MFC x3 Holder

In the Bed
Custom home built platform for sleeping

$35 Plano 171900 Plano Storage Trunk, Black, Medium, Lockable Storage Box, Airline Approved Sportsman Trunk, Hunting Gear and Ammunition Bin, Heavy-Duty Containers for Camping, 68-Quart

Plano 171900 Medium Sportsman Trunk X4
Commander XL Storage Bins X2
Lucid 5" Gel Memory Foam Dual-Layered Queen Mattress (Trimmed)
Extruded Solutions Ultimate Tailgate Seal
Genuine Toyota Accessory

$192 PT580-35050-SB Bed Mat for Short Bed Tacoma Models Black, 59 1/2" L X 52 1/2" W X 3/8" H

PT580-35050-SB Bed Mat
Signature Sleep 8" Memory Foam Queen Mattress (Trimmed) (Removed)

Recovery
Superwinch Tiger Shark 12v Winch w/ Aluminum Hawse & Synthetic Rope
ARB Tree Saver
ARB Snatch Strap
ARB Snatch Block
Shovel custom mounted on swing gate
Hi-Lift Jack

$150 XT485 48" Hi-Lift X-TREME Jack

XT485 60" X-TREME
Hi-Lift Jack Off-Road custom mounted on swing gate
Hi-Lift Jack Handle-Keeper
Hi-Lift Neoprene Jack Cover

Miscellaneous
Rexing V1 1080p Wide Angle Dashboard Camera
Airflow Snorkel
CB Radio w/ Firestik (INSTALLING SOON)
Rigid Industries 98003 SR-Q Flush Mount Diffused Back-Up Light Kit
Rigid Industries White Flood Duallies
Rigid Industries 20" SR-Series Spot/Flood Combo Lightbar
Rigid Industries Rock Lights 6 Light Kit + KC Cyclone x 4
Rotopax 3gal Gas Can X2 with lock custom mounted on swing gate
Scepter MFC 20l X3
Pelfreybilt Backup Camera Relocate
Pelfreybilt 2005+ Battery Cage
Optima Bluetop Group 31m
Bushwacker Pocket Style Fender Flares (Trimmed and modified)

$310 ARB CKMA12 On-Board Air Compressor High Performance 12 Volt for Air Locker Differentials and Tire Inflation

ARB CKMA12 On-Board High Performance 12-Volt Air Compressor
ARB 10800472 Fridge Freezer
Leer 180 Shell
Birddawg Techdeck w/ various RAM Mount accessories
Husky Liners 98951 WeatherBeater Series Black Front and 2nd Seat Floor Liner
Trasharoo Spare Tire Trash Bag
10lb CO2 Tank w/ non-adjustable high flow regulator
Anti-Dark Underhood Lighting
Redline Hood QuickLIFT Elite
Factor 55 Prolink
Sound Deadening Showdown full kit

Camera Gear
Canon 6D
Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM Lens
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Lens
Canon SL1
Really Right Stuff TVC-33 w/ BH-55 Ballhead & PC-LR Clamp
Really Right Stuff TQC-14 w/ PG-01 Compact Pano-Gimbal Head
Really Right Stuff Panorama Package
Gitzo 0531 w/ Really Right Stuff BH-25 Ultra-Light Ballhead

 

Reserved for photos & notes on the way to 35s with my rudimentary fabricating skills.
I will be continuously updating until I am finished with everything mechanically and aesthetically.

First step I took on the 35s was the Cab Mount Chop, I wasn't rubbing on it on the 33 KM2s so I never did it, from what I've gathered for 35s its mandatory. I did the driver side first and cut too little. Ended up trimming and grinding a lot more off to get a decent amount removed. Learning from the mistakes on the driver side I gave the passenger side 1 good cut. Still have to flex the 35s and check for any rubbing, won't be a big deal if I have to modify the cab mount but hopefully I got enough off. After I verify no rubbing I'll go back and clean up the bottom weld more so its flush. Following pics are of the passenger side.




Next step I took was removing the flares, hammering out the pinch weld to the outside of the wheel well, trimming, rattle-canning the inside of the wheel wells matte black(white wheel well behind the white fenders looked like absolute crap), spray on rubber sealant over the pinch weld, cleaning up and painting the cut edges, and lastly, installing trim over the cut edge.

I trimmed off a lot, around 3", After I throw on the modified Bushwackers I'm going to make braces to help hold the fenders steady against highway wind.

I bought a cheap-o Harbor Freight Metal Shear, but I have never used one and couldn't get the thing to keep cutting consistently. I switched it up to a jig saw with a fresh metal cutting blade and used a angle grinder with a cut-off wheel to make the starts of the cuts. I was pretty happy with the smoothness of the cuts with the jig saw, but the edge trim makes it look like the cut is a little jagged, I may need to try to reseat the edge trim to make it as smooth as the cuts. I need to take some better shots of these with a decent camera, the smartphone doesn't cut it with dynamic range between the wheel well and fenders.

Driverside Front (center cap damage front Moab the week before)


Passenger side rear


Next was trimming the rear bumper. I ended up chopping off around 2.75", cut off the end caps, cleaned up all the cuts, welded them back on the ends of the bumper, and rattle canned them.






With the wheel wells as ready as I could get them I had the tireshop mount the Cooper MTPs on the SCS F5s I had. I looked into a lot of the mud terrain tires and the MTPs were the lightest at 62# I could find and one of the narrower 35s at 11.9". They only have a 2-Ply sidewall, but I got the Discount Tire warranty, so if they start getting torn up, hopefully I won't have any issues getting new ones. Out of curiosity and since weight was one of the reasons I picked the MTPs I wanted to weigh the new tires against the old, the new set up with the 20lb F5 and the 62lb MTP weighed in exactly as advertised.


My old KM2s turned out kind of odd, the Procomp 7089-6883 is supposed to weigh around 26lb, and the tire is supposed to weigh 59.7lb. But it came out to 78.5lb. There are only approximately 17,000 miles on these tires, and I seriously doubt theres even 7.2lb of tread on these, is the weight difference due to the rubber dehydrating perhaps?


I got the gears a couple days prior, the 3rd member teeth ripped through the box but luckily the teeth were not damaged. You can see the ripped cardboard remnants on the teeth.




Reading up on all the information about gear break in I was curious to monitor the differentials as they break in via temperature. I ordered a infrared pyrometer off Amazon but their shipping team is really slacking ass and I won't get it until Thursday. Wednesday I wanted to start swapping things out. I wanted to get a baseline temperature for the differentials after they run, but having already cleared out the wheel wells, I'm not looking to suck a bunch of sand and dirt into the intake so I settled for just the rear with a stupid simple solution to not having a infrared pyrometer on hand that I discussed with a work buddy. This is about 30mi of driving on the 210 with a little bit of traffic, but mostly free flowing. I don't know if this would get hotter after an hours long road trip, but its a baseline to compare with. But unfortunately I realized late this might not be a good baseline......


So after I got the temperature (that I would later find unreliable) I pulled out the 3rd member, here are shots of the teeth, I know ECGS doesn't like synthetics and recommends Lucas Dyno, but with Redline 75w-85 GL-5 I don't think these look bad at all after 40,000mi. I will be following their recommendation of Lucas Oil 85w-140.




Following Monkeyproofs great write up at
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...d-installation-of-e-locker-3rd-member.193828/
I ended up hitting a road block. Everything went well up until I pulled out the 3rd member and found this:



A broken oil deflector with a perfectly symmetrical crack . I had a little trouble wiggling out the 3rd member due to the driver side axle not pulled out enough, but I seriously doubt I did this while removing it, I have no idea exactly when or how it happened, but that may have thrown off the temperature readings, and I am thinking I didn't cause it do to these damage marks:

Looks like it may have been broken recently and hit the 3rd member a couple times, I looked for any marks on the 3rd member but cannot find any, might have been the lock tabs on the bolts hitting the broken piece. I went ahead and ordered a new one, I'll start working on the front end while I am waiting for the parts to come in.

 

Dam, this build is so dope! How have you hiding it from the tw world! Im interested in seeing everything about to be done, get some picks of the inside of the shell man. Besides having hi lift mount on the rear bumper anything else? Also you sell those lca skids?

 

Definitely going to get some pics of the oddball stuff, nothing ground breaking or unique, just variations of sleep system and some odd ball stuff in the cab, gonna have to wait on that though, the truck is on jack stands in the garage, tearing into the front suspension tomorrow and waiting on a replacement part for the rear, currently posting up pics of what I've already done.

 

No rush man, just can tell you have photography skills and can't wait to see whatcha been up to. Like how clean everything looks and Im stoked to see it transform into a beast. Just photograph the whole process man!

 

Awesome truck man!
Have any photos of the sleeping platform? Been thinking about making one in the future

 

Cool, very interested to see what it takes to fit 35s into a 3" lift. Been playing with the around with the idea and would love to see what I am getting myself into.

 

I'm interested in the sleeping platform aswell

 

It's nothing unique, just a variation on ideas already in use, and it only sleeps 1 in the back of a short bed.

 

Drawer system? And anything mounting in the shell?

 

No drawers, I think they take up too much space and aren't as easy to remove as bins. My setup is just some, welded up aluminum stands that across the bed, similar to how some people are laying down 2x6s in the slots in the beds, just higher for a large storage space increase, which of course leads to less space for sleeping, but I don't mind it, it's like sleeping in a rack when I was in the Navy.

 

Stock LCA to Dirt King stock length LCA comparison photos:


They are quite a bit beefier than the stock LCAs, have greasable cam bushings, limit strap mount, and a uniball. Are they worth it? Depends on who you ask, but damn they are nice. Not a fan of having their name plastered across the front of it, I'll probably Plastidip the name plate to make it less obnoxious.

 

CVJ Re-manufactured axles VS stock axles. The CVJ come with silicone boots, if I was to order them again I would request the red boots for the inside and OEM boots for the outside. I had some clearance issues with the black silicone boots on the outside.

 

Very nice build!

 

What do you store in the plano cases over the prinsu?

And pics of sleeping arrangements!

 

Camera tripods, panoramic rig equipment, cooking stuff, extra food, dog food/bowl, and anything else I don't want cluttering up the cab. They are the biggest cases Plano makes, so they can help get quite a bit of loose items out of the cab.

 

What does your camping set up look like?

 

I'm still working through all the little issues that popped up on the work I did, after I get it all cleared up I'll start posting up photos of everything.

 

Cam Tab Removal, have to drill out the welds and then knock them off, a chisel and hammer knocked them off easily. I just used a small drill and 2 drill bits swapping between them when one of them got hot.

 

Prepping cam tab pieces, I've seen some people tack the ends of the gussets, I saw some pictures on Total Chaos's website that didn't have tacks on the end so I didn't put them on there either, but I can't see why tacking the ends would hurt, I just opted not to.