Subway4X3 Shameless Copycat Build

Well, my newfound friends at TW have suggested it, and it’s now time to start my build thread. I’ve been using my signature line to document what I’ve been doing to the truck and it’s starting to get lengthy.

I always had 4x4’s because the wife and I work in healthcare. We need to get to where need to go, no matter what: Floods, storms, hurricanes, earthquakes, blizzards, you name it, we gotta get through it.

Here’s the 4x4's I’ve owned so far and where I’ve had it:
Nissan Pathfinder, stock- San Diego, Boston, Las Vegas
Toyota Forerunner, bought lifted with 35’s, ARB Bumper, Warn 8000- Seattle
Dodge Durango, stock, engine blew up at 35k - Seattle

And my all time favorite (except maybe for my Dad’s ’72 Scout II)...

Toyota Tacoma 2005 TRD OR DCSB, 4.0L V6

Ordered early 2004 and took delivery late 2004.Ordered everything possible at the time: ABS, VSC, DAC, JBL and other acronyms that I thought I might need. Paid $200 over invoice.

Was about to sell the truck in 2015 because the frame was all rotted from the salt laden winter roads of the Northeast (moved from Seattle to NY in 2007 for a job) but found out about the frame replacement campaign. After frame replacement, I fell in love with the truck all over again.

Never took a picture of the damn truck for 11 years. Didn’t know that was the “in” thing to do LOL.

Here’s the oldest pic (just prior to the frame replacement) November 2015


Here's one of my favorite pics. Dunno why. Maybe because it looks surreal...

... or maybe because I took it
July 2016, Toyota Takeover


Rausch Creek, Nov 2016. Photo Credit @MY50cal


NNJ, Jan 2018


Here’s what I’ve done so far. I’ll try to post links and photos as I progress through this build thread.

Miscellaneous Stuff:
K&N Oiled (Anti-Dry) Air Filter – installed this on week one of ownership. Lot’s of people on TW seem to dislike this filter. I’ve been using this filter on all my vehicles. I like it. It has served me well.
SnugTop color matched fiberglass shell
New Bedside Decals - installed October 2016
Coverking Ballistic Tactical Seat Covers - Front
Wet Okole Seat Covers - Rear
RAM Mounts everywhere
New Frame and Rear Leaf Pack

Tailgate anti-theft solution
Pop'nLock
Rear Diff Breather Relocated
ADD W1 Oil Catch Can
1.5" Driver and Passenger Seat Lift Mod
Exhaust Relocated
Tail Pipe Trim and even more trimming
Extended Brake lines - 1/12/17
Speed Bleeder Brake Screws
Poly Radiator Support Mounts
Non-Snorkel Mod
@Bentrodder 's Bed Supports
AC Drain Hose extension
AeroCatch 120-4000 Bonnet Pins
Weld-on 2” receiver into BFF swingout for bike rack
6 lb Worthington Propane tank


Front Suspension:
Bilstein 6112, Eibach 700# Coils -1/22/17
SPC Light Racing UCA's - 1/22/17
Wheeler's Super Bumps - 1/22/17
Anti-seize LCA Cam Bolts, 1/22/17

Rear Suspension:
Full Dakar Leafs w/ 29XL AAL, with home made anti-squeak solution
AllPro UBolt Flip
Bilstein B110 Rear Shocks
Wheeler's Super Bumps

Armor:
Mobtown Bolt-on Sliders
RCI Aluminum LCA Skids
B.A.M.F. Rear Diff Skid - Dec 2017
Pelfreybuilt Aluminum Fuel Tank Skid
Mobtown reinforced 1/4" steel IFS Skid, 3/16" reinforced Transmission Skid, 3/16" T-Case skid - 1/14/17
Bruteforce Fab front plate bumper, full hoops, SmittyBilt 12k X20 Comp Gen 2 winch
Bruteforce Fab rear High Clearance plate bumper, rear tire swing-out, (swingout bearing bookmark) fold-down table, dual and singe Jerry Can holders

Electrical:
Dual Battery Isolation System
Home Brew Passenger-Side Battery Tray
27F Optima AGM Battery,
Blue Seas 5025- Fused Power Distribution from Aux Battery
C-Tek MUS 4.3 Battery Charger
Foglight Anytime Mod
ABS Kill Switch Mod
Compass/Temp Console Re-soldered 4x 5X
Ultimate non-LED Headlight Mod
35W Backup Light Mod
Front Plate bumper LED Pods: Flood (outboard) Spot (inboard)
Rear Plate bumper LED Pods: Diffused

Drivetrain
Regear to 4.56 and front ARB Air Locker 9/9/2017

Wheels and Tires
255/85/R16 Cooper ST-Maxx on OEM OR Wheels (6 tire rotation) Review
Michelin LTX 265/70/R16 LTX on OEM OR wheels (4 tire rotation)
Swollen Nuts
Relocate Under Bed Spare Tire Carrier
Bora 0.75" Wheel Spacers
Colby Emergency Valves

Safety and Recovery:
"We Know You're Good at Jacking"
Marine/Auto B-C Fire Extinguisher Mounted to Bed Rail
Hi-Lift Jack w Rescue 42 Jack Mate – I’ve owned this Hi-Lift for about 30 years. @DoorDing recommended the Rescue 42 Jack Mate
RCI Hi-Lift Bed Rail Mount
Shovel, Machete
SmittyBilt 12k X20 Comp Gen 2 installed into BFF front plate bumper
ARB Premium Recovery Kit
Bunch of shackles, snatch blocks, straps
ARB CKMTA12 Portable Air, Switch wiring explained, I might do this.

Comm:
Uniden Pro520XL with remote speaker and PA speaker mounted under hood.
Francis 4' antenna, HD spring mount, @Shmellmopwho CB antenna mount,
I wanna get my Ham License. Finally took the test and passed the HAM Technician's License Dec 14, 2017.
Two of these BaoFeng BF-F8HP (UV-5R 3rd Gen) 8W Dual Band Two-Way Radios

$21 Authentic Genuine Nagoya NA-24J 16.2" Ultra Whip VHF/UHF (144/430Mhz) Antenna SMA-Female for BTECH and BaoFeng Radios

Supposedly better handheld antenna
Magnet mount antenna
Portable interior mount

$8 Baofeng BF-S112 Two Way Radio Speaker,Black, Auxiliary

Speaker/Mic
Interior mounting options here

Camping Gear:
ARB 50 qt Fridge install here and Efficiency Mod here
ARB 6' Awning
Sport-Brella

Sport-Brella Vented SPF 50+ Sun and Rain Canopy Umbrella for Beach and Sports Events (8-Foot, Blue)

8' All Weather Umbrella with my DIY mount on rear BFF swingout
Sierra Design’s 2 man 4 season tent
Lightspeed self inflating sleep pad with My Little Pony flannel cover
10' X 10' screened in canopy
Monk Industries Mil-Spec forged stakes
Camp Chef 24" over fire

Camp Chef Lumberjack Over Fire Grill 16"x24"

campfire grill. Got a larger 36" grill. 8/2017
Camp Chef Mountain Man Grill and Griddle.
Camp Chef propane Grill/Griddle/Stove combo
Butane stove - Back-up

Organization:
Rear Seat and Topside


On Board Water (OBW):
Version 1.0 5/2017
Version 2.0 8/2017
Version 2.5


Maintenence:
EBC Brake Pads & Rotors
BamaToy Front Wheel Bearings and here
Rear Brakes, 140k Miles, Aug 2017
Brake Bleeding made easy
Synthetic winch line maintenance
Alignment 8/2017
Drain plug option https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/front-diff-drain-plug-alternate-oem-part.604989/

Repairs:
Fan Blower

Crash Replacement:
New crash replacement sheet metal: passenger side fenderwell/front door/rear door/rear quarter panel/free alignment

Retired:
Rear Suspension: Factory leafs, Headstrong 3 Leaf AAL's, Bilstein 5100’s- Installation Tip
Temporary "Axle Limit Strap"
Bilstein 5100, OME 884x
RCI Aluminum IFS/Tranny/T-case Skids
MobTown Front Recovery Bar/Receiver
SmittyBilt 12k X20 Comp Gen 2 Winch with Warn Portable Receiver Tray/Cradle
Dented, Dented AGAIN Rear Bumper/Factory Receiver Hitch refresh
Trailer Plug Relocated to Bumper
Cobra 75 WXST CB Radio
Wet Okole Neoprene seat covers - Front
Coleman Propane Camp Stove - replaced with this
Trasharoo
RCI Rear Diff Skid -retired 12/2017
Extang Tonneau – installed 2007, retired 2016
Bestop Supertop – front corner leak fix, retired 12/2017, SnugTop Cap replaced this.
¼” DS top spacer

Ongoing:
Sound Proof Interior

Rebuild/refresh:
OEM spare LCA’s (to this spec), spare CV Axles, spare Driveshaft: (These are all winter projects) Steering Rack Steering Rack Steering Rack w/Poly Bushings Part
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/subway4x3-shameless-copycat-build.459570/page-61#post-17645395

In Garage:
2nd gen Box Frame kit
eBay special knockoff Hilux 167 Snorkel

Future Mods: TC Weld On Cam Tabs prep here , ebay Hilux 167 Snorkel, axle pulling cable

Wish List:
Knockoff Prinsu TopRac
Swingout mounted chainsaw holster
Reinforced/refurbished OEM LCA
Tie Rod gusseting
Big 3 Electrical upgrade (waiting for more money.)
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...rce-fabbed-gear.247195/page-143#post-18463025

Trips:
2016 14th Annual Toyota Takeover, Rausch Creek, July 29-31 Pics here Vids here

NJDB Rausch Creek, Sept 24-25 Pics here Vids here and here

NJDB Rausch Creek (Nov 4/5/6 2016)
Pics - Photo Credit: @MY50cal
Nice water crossing vid - Photo Credit Tyler Raymond

NNJ Day Trip - 12/17/16

NNJ Day Trip - 2/5/2017

Subway here, here, here

My other passion is here

Flank steak marinade recipe

Carnitas recipe

Here's how I found TW. I googled "how to replace license plate bulb" and landed on TW.

$9k later...

 

My best friend, my wife, is the love of my life. She beat the hell out of breast cancer that we discovered over three years ago.
I pinked out the truck this October. Check it out:






Hit the shovel with some pink:

 

Slowly starting to install the stuff that's starting to accumulate in the garage:

It's like a giant puzzle.

 

Got my exhaust rerouted. Brandon at Manbeck's in Schuylkill Haven PA did a fantastic job! Thanks @stairgod for arranging this and hanging out with me!




This is where the pipe used to run under.
Who's Mohawk is peaking out of the lift deck?

 

Happy to help you out with the exhaust reroute. Always great hanging with you.

 

Rear OME Dakar's with 29XL AAL, Overload delete.



Installing leaf isolators using Squeaky Dakar thread as a guide.

Painted reference marks on the leafs to make sure I get them back on correctly. I used green nail polish for driver's set. Pink nail polish for passenger side.


Verified holes that need to be drilled are 1/2"


Drill press was helpful


Isolators installed:


Internal view.




Full droop:

 

I recognize that mowhawk haha.

Subbed, love build threads.

 

Guess I need to make a build thread now.

 

Yep

 

You're a lot more patient than I am.

 

Lol. Date changed to reflect impatience.

 

Need a pic of Subway in her truck.

 

Yup

 

Suub'd!!

 

Flank steak defrosting. Wasn't expecting to find a recipe here. Thank you sir

 

About time you had a build page

 

Pic dump before your "crazy bumpers"

 

Will work for for any lean cuts: Flank, skirt, etc.
Here's a pic to get you going...

 

Looking good! now I want a steak sandwich