Silver Eagle build (pic heavy)

Greetings TacomaWorld!

I purchased my truck in February of this year: 2016 TRD OR DCSB with factory tonneau, towing and tech package. I did mostly cosmetic changes until this month when the group buys made some components I wanted better deals.

My first intention was protection. I want to be able to explore the 'stock' off road capability of the truck with most of the important bits protected from damage. I will be heading to some off road areas this weekend to see what it can do. I've lost just under 3/4" of ground clearance from the extra weight of the armor. Unless some really good deals come along I plan to get some life out of the factory tires and suspension. Then probably Cooper AT3s and a better set of shocks/springs to level out the truck and compensate for the higher weight up front.

I haven't weighed the truck yet but plan to soon and will report back. I have added a little over 300lbs of steel; most of it sprung but about 50 unsprung.

I dipped my front grille because I didn't like the 'braces' look but left some fake chrome. I also added a couple of stickers for bro and mall-crawler cred.



I installed RokBloks mud flaps. We will see how they do off-road.



I picked up some items I think are great from TW members. @mattgecko makes the window bar which is an excellent theft deterrent if you don't have a cap. @tacitos makes a couple of excellent options to turn one of the cup holders into something more useful. I added door sill protectors, Weathertech floor mats and @rrentrop vinyl letters as well as the organizers from Salex.



I added the bumpstop from Weathertech and a complete set of undercarriage skids from RCI minus the fuel tank. I plan to get the one from Pelfreybuilt because it is the only one that uses an attachment point in addition to the weak factory straps. I installed the skids without a lift/jack so it is possible but I do not recommend it. I also got the D ring point from Relentless to replace the factory hook.



I set up mounts in the bed from Relentless and RCI to mount the obligatory shovel, axe and high lift. I used the factory tie downs and some bungee cords to secure my MaxTrax.



I installed skids from Mobtown. I strongly believe their design makes them the strongest bolt-ons available and I prefer their fill plates to others. The installation was not very much fun even though we used a lift and there were some issues worthy of their own thread in the future.



Update 11/29/18:

I broke down and got a faux pro grille from @FreshMexicanTaco.

I installed Bilstein 6112/5160s and medium OME leaf springs from @HeadStrong Off-Road. The armor was making the front sag about 3/4" and the rear 1/2". The front is lifted 1.25/1.5" from stock at 4/5 setting (I don't see much lean visually). The rear is lifted 1.25" with a full tank of gas so the factory rake is mostly maintained. I also installed the missing RCI fuel tank skid from the last group buy. I went with aluminum to save weight.



I installed @Plastics Guy Durobumps. I haven't hit them yet but I'm sure they will be a big improvement over the hockey puck stock and protect the leaf springs from overarching.

Update 12/18/18:

I installed the ECGS bushing. I think it is cheap insurance. Removing the axle was a pita. I used multiple prybars and striking tools as well as a slide hammer with a long hook attachment. I changed the front diff fluid while I was there.



I ordered Katzkin from @jhuey8947. I installed the rear seats myself then enlisted the help of a local installer for the front. They really make a big difference in comfort and I think they look much better than the stock greyish cloth.



I had Wildpeaks installed and an alignment preformed. The toe in was off but the other specs were still ok after the lift.

 

My kind of Silver Eagle:



But yours will do

 

Coming along nicely.

What's that coin holder? Who makes it? // edit - I see you said Salex makes the organizers. Thanks.

A word of warning about that hitch step: if you do any off-roading, it'll get torn off. I had the exact same one, and ended up sacrificing it to the fire gods after an off-roading trip.

Another warning: you've mounted a lot of gear on the side rails (axe, shovel, max traxx, etc.) - this stuff will sway/vibrate when you drive off road and scratch whatever it comes in contact with. If it touches the bed sides, it'll scratch them. If it touches other gear, the gear will get scratched. Not the end of the world in most cases, but worth thinking about.

 

Tacitos is a member here. He uses a 3D printer to make that stuff. PM him or look for his thread.

 

It's a great tray. I bought one on Amazon a couple of weeks ago. Nice addition!

$18 Vehicle OCD - Center Console Organizer Tray for Toyota Tacoma (2016-2023) - Made in USA

https://www.amazon.com/Vehicle-Orga...ota+Tacoma+Center+Console+Tray+(2016-present)

 

3D printed stuff:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...square-pocket-mods-updated-11-20-2016.453775/

 

Nice. Looking great!

 

Really nice initial upgrades! Have wheels/tires or lift plans?

 

I want to try to keep the stock wheel size even though right now there don't seem to be too many good tire choices. I am thinking Cooper AT3s. I don't want enough lift to need to mess with the front diff but I would like to level the truck out and increase the spring strength to handle the armor. I am thinking Bilstein 6112s when they come out with the 2016 version sometime next year then 5160s in the rear with some type of AAL and a U-bolt flip. Later on probably a hydraulic bump stop for a real desert racer.

 

You could add 265/75/16's and it would look a little bit better and no rubbing at all. Thats what i did. KO2's. Stock suspension.

 

Did you adjust the speedometer or it is not enough to bother you?

 

No adjustment, its barely off.