HSmith_11’s 2001 College-Budget Build

Even though I haven’t done much modding yet, I figured I’ll go ahead and start up a build thread. Here it goes...

Current Picture (11/4/18)

When I Got It (Only stock picture I have)


I bought my truck in April 2016 after searching endlessly on Craigslist (Sadly, I don’t have any pre-mod pictures). Actually, I wasn’t there for the purchase since my dad surprised me with it one day while I was working. It was pretty much my dream truck since my brother and dad both already had first gen Tacomas. In fact, my family has stuck to Toyotas for a while (we also have a highlander and tundra).

My first intentions were to keep the truck stock since I’m REALLY REALLY tight with my money. However, that got thrown out the window after a few months since I was starting to get a little jealous of my brother’s lifted Tacoma (it’s totaled now, but that’s another story). Now, here comes the “build” aspect of the thread.

Specs
- 2001 Extended Cab SR5 Lunar Mist
- Bought with 102,000 miles and currently has 130,000 miles

Engine, etc.
- 2.7L with 5-speed manual transmission
- Magnaflow 18” muffler

Suspension
- Front: Bilstein 5100s with OME 881 coils
- Rear: Bilstein 5100s with Wheeler’s Offroad 3-Leaf Progressive Add-A-Leaf
- Wheeler's Offroad Differential Drop Kit

Wheels/Tires
- 15x8 Pro Comp D-Windows
- 33x12.50x15 BFG KO2s

Lighting
- CaliRaisedLed Side Projecting Pods mounted on Rago Fabrication ditch light brackets

Audio
- Kenwood double-din receiver
- Sound Ordnance B-24 subwoofer (Dual 12”)
- Sound Ordnance B-17 subwoofer (Single 12”) (Spare)
- Alpine MRV-M500

Armor
- None ... yet

Future Mods/Wishlist (In no particular order)
- OME 881 coils (DONE!!)
- Relentless Fabrication front and rear bumper
- Sliders/skids
- Nicer wheels (maybe SCS)
- Window tint?
- More lights!!

And here are some random pictures and miscellaneous mods...


My first pics after installing the new lift and tires.


My first adventure with the new setup with one of my school buddies. It’s the Rapidan Trail in Virginia that’s about 10 minutes from my home.

Of course I had to snap a few shots for my Instagram page @ HSmith_11_
The pictures, like most of my others, were taken on my family farm in Madison, Va.

I decided to try my hand at plasti-dipping my emblems and it actually turned out quite nice. I love the look of more black than chrome.

I finally had the chance to give it a thorough cleaning, inside and out.

Took a shot with the “magic eraser” mod on the fender flares and it turned out great. This is how I managed to fit the subs in the extended cab. They have to face upwards in order to fit, but they are LOUD.

I was super stoked to get my LED pods installed. They were a Christmas present from my grandparents. The bottom two pics are before and after... huge difference at night while avoiding dear on the road.

Here’s my sticker collection, just recently got my hands on a tacomaworld sticker.

Of course I had to make sure the suspension was still working while snapping a few more pics for Instagram.

Last but not least (for now), my senior pictures couldn’t be complete without a picture of me and my truck.

Feel free to ask any questions or make any comments. I’ll be updating as frequently as I can.

 

I’m currently 17 years old (turning 18 in March). I’m in my senior year of school in a small town high school (about 120 students in my class). I’ve applied to James Madison University, University of Virginia, and Virginia Tech with JMU being my top pick and UVA a close second (both of my parents attended UVA). I plan on majoring in chemistry and biology and possibly taking over my dad’s dental office. An interesting thing about me is that I’m a pretty smart guy (1490 SAT and 4.3 GPA), but the majority of people I meet would never know, which is how I like it (I’m a pretty goofy and like to being an idiot all the time)

I’ve grown up in a small town Madison, Va that’s about 1.5 hours away from Richmond. My family owns a 1200-acre cattle farm (which is where I take most of my truck pictures). Some of my hobbies... fishing, baseball, and mainly my truck and Tacomaworld.

That’s about it for personal stuff for now since I’m having trouble thinking of stuff, but I’ll update as I go, and feel free to ask away.

 

Reserved just in case

 

Great start to a build Hunter! Truck is looking great!

 

Thanks! It’s coming along little by little.

 

Hey man graduating and getting into a good college is your priority right now.

 

I’ll be without the truck for my freshman year so maybe it’ll be the perfect time to save and plan.

 

I like your taste in mods. Doesn't look trashy like all the Tacos that sat in my H.S. parking lot. Keep it up. I'm in my freshman year of college and mods to the truck are few and far between but it gives me more time to make sure I'm making the right choices.

 

Very nice

 

Got that OE sticker haha i use to work there before i joined the military like 2 years ago

 

There’s plenty of tacos in my parking lot too. All but one has a spacer lift and the other one has a 4” fabtech lift and it looks likes his cvs are about to blow. They also mostly have 18” inch rims and loud exhausts.

 

Thanks! Your truck is basically what I dream of.

 

It’s the go-to tackle shop for my dad when we are in Virginia Beach. We have a boat down there.

 

Ya man its a good shop, loved it when i was working there in high school.

 

What college do you go to? Just curious

 

Enlisted in the military right out of high school

 

Yeah mine was mostly that plus if the Amazon ad said cheap color changing L.E.D and had free shipping it was on their trucks. I, on the other rocked my dads old truck (my avatar) Built the brush guard to look like the one sold by Toyota in '92, since originals are nonexistent. One of 2 3rd gen pickups there, the other had a rattle can paint job along with what you described.

 

I think I’ve seen an older Toyota pickup at my school as well. But it’s not in good condition... lifted on who knows what with the spray paint job. The main “truck guys” around here only talk about buying diesels, lifting them, putting on 35s, and arguing about who’s is faster. Doesn’t make much since to me.

 

It's all about the squat yo... Not gonna lie, I saw a ford Ranger on what looked like 33's, 22" rims that looked exactly like this. Thought about asking him what happened to his leaf springs. Dont think he would have appreciated my humor

 

Was planning on giving my truck a complete and thorough cleaning since it's warmed up a little. I managed to vacuum and wipe down the interior before realizing the water spicket is still frozen. I guess I'll have to wait for another day, and spray it off with the power washer behind the local McDonald's to at least get the cow crap off.