BlakeM's 2017 build thread

More pics on Instagram
@ blakem_716


Wheels
-FN Fx Pro 17x8

Tires
-Cooper STT Pro 295/70/17

Front Suspension
-OME886
-Nitrocharger 90000
-JBA Upper Control Arms

Rear Suspension
-Chevy 63" leaf springs
-Bilstein 5125 (14") shocks, relocated

Armor
-Pelfreybilt steel front bumper
-Brute Force Fab rear bumper
-Pelfreybilt skids
-4XInnovations weld on sliders

Other shit
-KB Voodoo bed rack
-Smittybilt XRC 9.5K winch
-Martin roof rack
-Dobinson’s snorkel
-Sy-Klone precleaner

 

I've always wanted a Tacoma, but never had one before. While shopping for a Highlander for my wife in January/February of 2017, I started looking at the Tacomas. I didn't even know there was a 3rd gen until then, but once I saw one, I had to have one. The only problem was that I wanted a manual and they're nearly impossible to find in the Gulf States. Also, I'm an impatient SOB, so ordering one and waiting was not going to happen. I got on the interwebz and found 3 manuals that I was interested in. After contacting the 3 dealers, I chose one about 600 miles away in Georgia. The price was right, so on 3/24/17 I became the proud owner of a Shiny new Taco.

3/31/17
It was delivered to my house


The first thing I did was change out the grille.


4/8/17
Small lift
+1.5" in front (5100s)
+1" in rear (blocks)


Dead Gar fish mod


Pissed off baby gator mod


Around June, I finally decided on wheels. I wanted FN Fx Pros, so I sent a text to Dustin with FN. while I was waiting for him to reply, I thought I'd check out the for sale forum on TW. I found someone selling the exact wheels I wanted. They were still new in the box. Sold!
I received them on 6/13/17


Then came the only decision I regret. I kept going back and forth between 265 & 285. I chose 265/70/17s. I should've gone with 285s. Oh well.

6/16/17
New shoes

 

I started riding dirt bikes at around 9 years old. I started racing enduro and motocross at about 13 years old. Eventually I quit racing due to injury, finance, wife & kids, etc., but I always rode. Dual sport type stuff. I like to pack all my camping shit on a motorcycle and take of. Go meet friends far away, sit around a camp fire, pass around a bottle, and just shoot the shit. Good friends, good times.







Slowly, since summer 2017, I've been losing interest in the bike thing and have been gaining interest in traveling/camping/off roading in the truck instead. This is the reason for the build.
Upgrading suspension and tires. Adding armor and recovery gear. All that good stuff.

11/18/17
Ordered Pelfreybilt steel bumper with full hoops and IFS skid plate. Also, some sweet Pelfreybilt swag.

12/3/17
4XInnovations slider install. It's basically a kit. Some of it comes welded together and some of it you have to weld yourself.

 

The UPS man makes me happy.

OME 886s & Nitrocharger 90000s


JBA UCAs


63 swap kit


Chevy 63" springs

I ordered the 3+1 leaf pack, then saw a message from @Trident904 (Go check out his build thread ) saying to get the 4+1 leaf pack and remove the overload.
Well shit. Sometimes I pull the trigger too quick.
I'll Try the 3+1 (without the +1), and if that doesn't cut it, I'll order the 4+1s. They only cost about $90 each.


It's going to be a long weekend when I get around to installing all of this.


All I'm waiting on now is my order from Pelfreybilt.

 

Got some Hikari LED lights.
They aren't any brighter than the factory lights, but they look better.
It was a Christmas gift. I'm not complaining.

I also got some LED fogs for when my bumper arrives. (@Pelfreybilt I've been checking my email every five minutes looking for that tracking number )





And since I've been working a metric shit ton of overtime and don't have time to build a bed rack, I went ahead and ordered one from KB Voodoo.

 

Dont regret the 285’s. So much money goes into them. Im in process of upgrading my gears now 2700$ later. And speedo calibrator tune etc.

 

Damn. The gears ain't cheap.

I definitely plan on going bigger though. Probably 295/70/17.
Even thinking about an oddball size, 305/65/17.

Which reminds me.... I guess I should go ahead and do the CMC when I start installing everything in a few weeks.

 

I didn't need one for 285 but havnt flexed much offroad yet. Not a bad idea todo just to have it done.

 

​

 

Got my kb voodoo rack and RTT put on today.

 

What was the RTT installation like? I'm about to pick up a CVT for my high voodoo and am curious if it's relatively painless. Did you notice the back end drop much with the weight of the tent?

 

It took right at 2 hours to put the rack together and put the tent on it. And that was working alone. Very simple job.

The back end doesn’t look like it dropped. If it did, it isn’t noticeable.


CVTs are nice.
When I was shopping for tents, I was looking at CVT and Tepui. Then, right before Christmas, I got on the 4 Wheel Parts website. They were doing a “12 day’s of Christmas” sale where they feature different items every day. The tent was on sale for $650. I couldn’t pass it up.

 

Yeah I wouldn't be looking at CVT but I'm getting a Mt Shasta with the annex for $1k from a guy off here, hard to pass that deal up

 

I got some Pelfreybilt goodness today.




Bumper





and IFS skid




Oh I can’t wait to get this installed!


Edit: finally got help to get this thing unloaded.

 

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Subd for pelfreybilt install. That's probably the same bumper I'll end up ordering. Debating aluminum or steel

 

I did the same. Couldn’t decide on steel or aluminum. Finally just decided to go with the steel. The only thing I would do differently (if I were to do it over) is have them powder coat it.

 

Installed front skid today.





And while I was under there, I went ahead and ditched this thing...




If I can get enough work done to take off this Sunday, I plan to paint the bumper, weld some brackets for the 63 swap, and install the longer brake lines.

 

Sub'd for this build. Looking good so far man!

 

Thanks! I just wish I could get some time off of work to get this done. It’s killing me to see all of this stuff in my garage.