The Dog's Spruce It Up Build (and BS)

Baja Designs Squadron Pro ditch lights & fogs w/ angled bezels.







Even without a light bar for distant lighting, it's crazy how much light the Squadron Pros throw. The contribution by the factory low beams is minimal.

 

Nice setup! Our Squadron Pros sure pack a punch for their size.

-Bailey, Baja Designs
bailey@bajadesigns.com

 

Yes I'm very pleased. Once I get suspension and the front bumper sorted I'll be putting in an Onyx or S8, though the LP9's are pretty slick too.....not bad to have so many awesome choices!

 

Subbed! Great looking taco!

 

So hub to fender measurements with a BAMF 1/4" steel IFS skid on the front, BAMF sliders & Allpro dual swing out on the rear w/ spare tire carrier, rotopax, tools & Leer canopy, gas tank 3/4 full.

Pre-lift:

Hub-Fender Measurements:

Drivers Front: 19.75" Passenger Front: 20.25"
Drivers Rear: 19.50" Passenger Rear: 20.00"

Drive Shaft Angles: Transfer Case: x.xx° Delta: x.xx° Rear Shaft Front-Half: 7.2° Delta: 5.35° Rear Shaft Rear-Half: 1.85° Delta: x.xx° Rear Diff Flange: x.xx°

 

What did you get?

 

Nothing yet. Was planning on ordering an OME set up next week - 885's, Nitrocharger sports , Heavy Dakars. Would love to have a BP-51 or King set-up but if I did that then I wouldn't be able to do a front plate bumper and winch for a while yet so I'm thinking OME for now, finish off armor and winch and then in a couple of years upgrade coilovers.

 

I only got 1.75" of lift from 885's. I doubt anyone actually gets 2.5" like a lot claim, maybe someone with an access cab.

 

Or maybe they just don't measure again in a week after it's settled. I think I was something like 2.5" after install, then I went for a drive. It dropped to 2.25 then 1.75" after a week or so. I would have to look for the email I sent ARB for the exact numbers.

 

Hmmmm maybe 887’s then. My concern with 886’s is the ride will be way too stiff until the bumper and winch go on and even then I’m planning on an aluminum plate bumper so not sure I have enough weight up front to make 886’s work anyhow.

 

If your going aluminum go with the 887's. I would guess you will end up in the 2.25" after the bumper.

 

Well to keep on moving forward with the build rather than blowing the entire budget on a premium set of coilovers I managed to grab one of the 2012-2015 TRD Pro suspension packages that were being blown out over the last month. I picked up the package for $616 shipped and then paired it with an Icon RXT leaf pack (all leaves installed). Total Chaos UCAs & Archive Garage Hammer Hangers are waiting for another install day for now along with a couple of other things.

For now, got the coilovers, struts and leaf packs installed.















Pre-lift Measurements: - BAMF IFS skid, sliders, All ProDual Swingout w/ spare tire & Rotopax cans - stock leaf springs have been in negative arch for probably about a year and a half with only about 1.5"-2" before the bump stop makes contact.

Drivers Front: 19"
Passenger Front: 19.75"
Drivers Rear: 20"
Passenger Rear: 20"



Post Lift Measurements:

Drivers Front: 22"
Passenger Front: 22.5"
Drivers Rear: 24"
Passenger Rear: 24.75"

As per Icon the RXT pack with in the heaviest configuration is supposed to give about 1.125” of lift with 600lbs constant load and 2.625” without any weight. I figured with the All-Pro dual swingout, spare tire and Rotopax cans on the back I was probably pushing 300lbs so I was hoping for about 2” of lift in the back. I ended up with a tad more positive rake than what I was aiming for but once I get a bed rack on +/- RTT it should settle some more and be spot on.

 

Looks sweet!

 

Thanks man - I’m digging the ride. Much less body roll around corners and nose diving with hard braking. Also, the annoying axle wrap thunk when coming to a stop is no more. Haven’t had a chance to test it yet on washboard.

 

Mid and transfer case skids got put on for the first time in just over the year that I’ve owned them. I need to grind a couple of places to make the install easier but happy that there is a minimal loss of ground clearance that’s been sacrificed.

 

Looking good.

 

A little out of order but before the skids went on I had Performance Muffler do the reroute - they did an excellent job tucking everything up and leaving enough space for heat dissipation behind the T-case.







Also, in preparation for some behind the grill lighting, I picked up some mesh from Bullet Proof Fab and bought a take off grill from one of the local AZ-TW members to do my own Satoshi.

 

BAMF Behind-The-Grill-Light Bar Mount installed a week or so ago.






And this BAMF Low-Profile Rack came in today.











Off to powder coating tomorrow.

 

So a few projects got accomplished over the last few days.

Total Chaos UCA's installed.

Gear Tech Custom one-piece fender aprons w/ heavy duty mounting hardware. Great product @cnote4l !!!

Wheelers front and rear super bumps.

ADS resi rear shocks w/ clickers.

Clearancing the passenger-side sheet metal in order to run the UCA bolt the proper way.




Total Chaos bushing UCA w/ Gear Tech Custom one-piece fender apron and wheelers Super Bumps. Passenger side.




Drivers side.




Dog was getting bored watching me tinker with the truck all day.




ADS rear shocks. Lower shock mount needed a tiny bit of clearancing for the lower shock mount ring.

 

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!