Badass Brunette Tacoma - Build & Adventures

Hey guys!

This here is Ronan - my adventure rig and (currently) my home on wheels. Full-time living on the road since June 2021.

Most current photo:



Find me on Social Media

• Instagram @badassbrunette (or click here)
• My YouTube
  
• Facebook: The

Truck:

• 2015 Double Cab, TRD Sport, 4X4, Automatic 4.0 V6

Front Suspension:

• 3.5" KING Shocks, Reservoirs, with 700 lb springs - Mid-Travel
• Total Chaos Upper Control Arms
• Sway bar removed

Wheels and Tires:

• 265/70/R17 Falken Wildpeak ATW3
• @SCSPerformance 17" Ray 10 wheels
• 1.5" Spydertrax wheel spacers

Rear Suspension:

• 2.5 14" KING Shocks, Dual Bypasses
• Custom shock hoops by Reise Outfitters
• Custom bed cage by Reise Outfitters
• 63" Chevy leaf spring conversion
• Rear E-Locker axle swap (4Runner axle)
• U-Bolt flip kit
• Timbren Bump Stops

Armor:

• Bay Area Metal Fab Hybrid front bumper
• Brute Force Fab dual swing-out rear bumper
• Reise Outfitters rock sliders - welded to frame

Recovery:

• ENGO E10000 Winch with synthetic line
• Factor55 Flatlink
  
• Maxtrax Recovery Boards
• 48" Blue Hi-Lift Jack
• ARB 10,000LB recovery strap
• NOCO Boost GB40 1000 Amp Battery Jumper

Performance:

• Nitro 4.88 gears front/rear

Tech:

• Midland MXT115 Radio
• Midland MXTA26 Whip Antenna
• Garmin inReach GPS

Lighting:

• Code4 LED 8 Gang Switch Panel
• 30" Heretic Studios light bar - front bumper
• Heretic Studios Ditch Lights
• 20W Amber Cube Lights - Amazon
• JWoffroad Amber lights - Rear
• Genesis White Pod Lights - rear

Exterior:

• AlphaRex NOVA-Series LED Headlights
• McNeil Racing 2" Front Fenders
• Vagabond Outdoors Drifter Camper - powder coated black, fantastic fan, 2x 100W solar panels
• Decals by Envision Automotive (SLC)
• OVS 270' Awning
• LifeSaver Filtering Water Jerry Can
• 5 Gallon Gas Jerry Can
• 6# Propane Tank

Interior:

• Rear Seat Delete
• Dual Zone Snowmaster fridge/freezer
• WeatherTech floormats (TW Group Buy)
• Patches galore

Misc:

• ExtremeOutback Onboard Air - dual compressors, 2 Gallon tank
• Low-Range e-locker wiring harness
• Cab mount chop and front fender chop

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The Progress:

Square one.

On November 4, 2014 I walked onto the dealership to look at a used truck and walked away with a brand new 2015 TRD Sport 4x4 Double Cab. After many years I finally had the keys to my dream car.



Goodbye to the old and hello to the new. Quite the upgrade.


Brand new slate - oh the mods in store for you.


First things first: ditch the chrome.


First time tasting dirt (and that very first pinstripe) at less than two weeks old. Let the addiction begin.


New set of shoes, offset, lift, and removing mudflaps did WONDERS for the look.



Custom rear bumper design and build by Reise Outfitters.



Well, I bought a truck so I took it camping. By my lonesome. Not nearly as fun but I hadn't met many Toyota friends yet. (Oh how far I've come!)


(January 2016) - Reise Outfitters custom front bumper. I had a particular design in mind and he followed through with flying colors.



Before the hoops.


With the hoops.


(February 2016) - Offroading at Five Mile Pass. This was the trip I learned all about 4-Low and using those low gears. Discovered where a rear locker would have been nice to have. Also realized the lack of flex in that stock suspension.




(March 2016) Unofficial establishment of Microlander Overland with our first trip to Dinosaur National Monument. This trip I realized: how important lockers would be, again; need to pick up Maxtraxs; I really wanted a RTT .






(March 2016) TRD BAJA front shock swap. Had to remove the sway bar and decided to keep it off.

#IDoMyOwnMods - mostly.


(April 2016) Utah Toyota Offroad Expo. Shows = excuses for upgrades. My truck would be representing Reise Outfitters at his booth.

Additions: Reise Outfitters sliders installed ; Front bumper removed, sandblasted and Gatorlined ; OEM roof rack ; window tinting.



Adventuring in Southern Utah / Zion's National Park



Salt Flat sunsets - because it looks badass.



Follow for updates as the project and adventures continue!

 

Nice looking truck. What is that old car? I can't even tell what it is

 

Hyundai Accent. Two door, roll-down-by-hand windows, cassette rocking beast. The first thing I did when I got the truck was roll the windows down with the push of a button. #thelittlethings

 

Nicely done! Looking forward to your YouTube channel.

 

September 2-5, 2016
The trip that began launching Microlander Overland into official status and establishing the core members, myself included. Our trip took us West across Utah on the Pony Express Trail towards Ghandi UT and then on to Great Basin National Park.

First campsite was at Simpson Springs. Since I didn't have my roof top tent, I still wanted to make use of that new bed rack.



Checking out Fish Lake - a beautiful oasis in the middle of the dry, hostile Utah desert.








Nice change of scenery for campsite 2.


Thanks to our non-Toyota member Dan (who happens to have a KILLER overland setup on his full-size Ram), we ate pretty damn well that night.


Not truck related, but we decided that since we were already at Great Basin National Park, we should just hike Nevada's tallest summit, Wheeler Peak, and check it off our list. So we got up bright and early and did just that.



Heading home, we snagged a photo opportunity.

 

September 9-11 - Return to Dinosaur National Monument
In celebration of Microlander Overland launch, we decided to have a rerun of the first Dinosaur National Monument trip. This time with no snow to block the roads. Since we started posting trip routes on Facebook and planning them in advance, we had 13 trucks show up this weekend.
Our trip took us through Dinosaur National Monument Park, following the scenic Green River and ending the trip checking out Flaming Gorge.



Exact same spot 6 months apart.


This spot was covered in soft, slushy muddy snow on our first trip and ultimately forced us to turn around and change the trip route. Dirt roads are a bit more kind.




Bumper Game is strong in this group.


The desert is beautiful if you know where to look.


Short Instagram GoPro edit weaving the beautiful canyon roads.




Campsite 2





"All roads lead home"

 

Rear bumper is crazy!

 

Rad

 

Nice build! Can't wait to see where it goes!

 

Will you marry me? I have money and I'll make a great husband.

 

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

 

Only if the dog can sleep on the bed, you claim spider killing duty, the garage is a tool shop and.... we order pizza on Fridays.

 

Nice truck! I like that front bumper too! Fab guys did a great job!

 

Done

 

sweet build! liking the unique front bumper

 

Thank you!!

 

Incoming "so are you like...err...um...single?" post.

Nice truck though, digging the bed rack. Just needs a RTT on top.

 

RTT is on its way! The waiting game SUCKS.

Haha and yeah lets clear that air right away. Yes, I'm single. Been that way for a long while and its been great.

 

Sweet build

Subbed for mas