Project Fools Gold

Not sure if this will be too much if a "build" thread. Maybe more like documenting mods to get rid of the stockness.
My phone killed itself, so I don't have any pictures of when I bought it a couple of months ago. Just a stock 2006 double cab TRD 4x4 V6 with 102,000 miles and not a scratch on it and the ugly old man gold color, but it's growing on me. First thing I did was remove the running boards and mudflaps. Next I took off the tonneau cover because I think they are the dumbest thing you can ever put on a truck. I replaced that with a topper, because the 2 kids take up the back seat space, and the dog and all our junk needs to be out of the elements. Plus I'll sleep back there when I camp without the family.
Which brings me to where it is now. Last Saturday I put my bilstein lift on. I have used the same set up on vehicles in the past, so I know it works. I got it from Headstrong off road and the price was good and shipping was fast. I chose to go with the 5100's all around and OME 887's as I plan on putting an ARB bumper up front. I put an AAL in the rear, and the dealer I bought it from did the rear spring recall for me before I picked it up. Needless to say, it looks and rides way better. I have to wait until Monday to get it aligned because we live in a small mountain town and not a lot of options. Now I jave to decide on 265 75 16's or 285 75 16's. Tough decision, but I have to do it today to take advantage of the black Friday deals.

 

looks good OP!

 

Anyone have any feed back on 265 75 16's vs 285 75 16's? I know all about the clearance issues and have no problem with addressing that. I am putting different wheels on, too. Just wondering if they suck that much power and gas mileage away from the V6? I wouldn't be so concerned if I had a manual transmission , but the automatic has me considering the 265 75's. I feel the 285's might be a little more help while wheeling, but I seem to do less lately anyway. Decisions, decisions.

 

Go 265's if you don't do much wheeling and this is more of a daily-driver anyway.

I don't think the gold looks bad at all, I kinda like it

 

I run 285's on aftermarket wheels for the summer and 265's on stock wheels for the winter and really don't notice that much of a difference in power or mph.

 

Update?

 

My tires got delivered yesterday. I ended up going with the Falken Wildpeak AT3W 265 75 16's. Hopefully I will get everything mounted up this weekend, just waiting for my new tpm sensors to come in (today supposedly), because my current one's are dead. I already regret not going the 285's, but we'll see. I got the 265's for $500 with a $75 rebate from DTD, so $425 for the set. It would have been another $175 to get the 285's. I also decided to go with 265's as we have some trips planned for the summer, and will be towing my camper, and want to get the most power and mileage. I also have to replace the front driver wheel bearing now and need $ for that.
As for first impressions of the Falken's, I am not impressed. The tread depth is seems short compared to the BFG A/T's I've had in the past and they kind of look cheap for some reason. I almost don't want to mount them up, and maybe return them. But I figure I might as well give them a shot.
On a side note, Everything came out good with my alignment and the shop didn't see any reason for different control arms, but they said the wheel bearing is toast. I guess I forgot to mention that I got exactly 3" out of my lift. Rides and drives great except for the noise and feel of the wheel bearing. Hopefully I don't have to replace the needle bearings, too. Those might have to wait until after Christmas if I do, no time or money until then.

 

Post some pictures once you get the tires mounted! I'm in the same boat on whether to get 285's or 265's...leaning towards the Falken AT3W 265.

 

Will do.

 

As far as your regrets of 285’s. Pick one and never look back. If you want looks then trade and get them. If u want mpg stay 265’s and never think of 285’s again or it will drive u crazy like it did to me. I went to 285’s and love the look but truck took a huge hit on mpg. I get 14-15mpg i drove in friends taco lastnight he was getting 20mpg. I am opposite i wish i was happy with the 265 so i could have the mpg and less engine wear but i cant go back now after seeing how badass the 285’s look. The falkens are awesome tires but ur right about not as an aggressive tread. They are also an excelllent rated snow tire if you ever do that stuff.

 

I've heard good things about those Falken's, seem to be on-par with the Cooper AT3's I have. They are similar from what I understand. I think you will get over the "cheap" look quickly, I did, they are great tires. At least my Coopers are.

 

So, I've run the FJ80 wheels on a couple of rigs before. I had them on my 99 4runner and my 01 Tundra. I like the look and they can usually be found for pretty cheap. I got this set with for $125 with snow tires on them which I ended up selling for $150. They wheels were in pretty rough shape, and they looked like they had barnacles on them. I wire wheeled that and most of the factory clear coat. Primed and painted them, and they ended up looking pretty good.

 

I the tires mounted and balanced Friday afternoon and put them on Saturday morning. I'm pretty happy with how it looks and drives. Although I'm still not totally impressed with the Falkens. The wheels are 16" x 8" and they almost look too wide for the tires and the tread isn't really that wide. Not really loving these tires. I guess I just should have gotten the 285 BFG all terrains as I was originally planning. But they're on and I'll run them for the winter. All in all, I like the stance and look the truck has now. I did have to use a 1/4" spacer I had laying around because the front wheels were touching the calipers. I ordered my ARB bumper and can't wait to get that on.

 

265 70 Cooper Discoverer AT3 on left, 265 75 Falken Wildpeak on right.

 

Comparison of the Cooper vs Falken tread width. The Falkens aren't even as wide even though they are on an 8" wheel.

 

Looking good. Like the FJ80 wheels! Good to see another old man tan Taco on here. The ARB Bumper is going to look good! I love mine!.

 

Looks great man dont stress the falkens they are great tires and will perform good. They look killer on your truck. I know your partial to the coopers but the pics look awesome

 

Looks good! I ended up going with the older version of the bumper because i like the classic look of it, although having an option for lights made it hard to decide which to get. I will most likely replace the blinker with an LED fog/ off rad light. I am waiting anxiously to get it. It Definitely makes the old man gold seem a little less..... Uh mature, on your truck. Thanks for posting.

 

Good looking truck, I did pretty much same lift went with 265's and glad I did. Must admit wanted 285's lol. Did you do UCA's?