*RIP* Bijan's #EXPOASF Long Travel Build

This truck has been sold! Check out the new build thread though: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...w”-2019-cavalry-blue-access-cab-build.649655/

My Youtube Channel: https://youtu.be/qWw-9cR8JS4

Current Truck State (it changes a lot so just check back next week)




You can follow my build and photography obsession on instagram @socalexpeditions!!

Currently

Armor
-Pelfreybilt 12-15 Aluminum $1500
-Bruteforce Fab High Clearance Rear $2450
-Mobtown Skid Plates $750
- @Shmellmopwho Sliders $650

Suspension/Gusset Work
Front
-Total Chaos +2 Race Kit $3514
-Total Chaos Spec King 2.5's $1399
-Custom +2 Axles $850
-Coil Bucket Gussets $125
-Spindle Gussets $125
-Cam Tab Gussets $250
Rear
-OME Heavy Duty Leaf Pack with Toytec AAL shoved in there $875
-Wheelers Superbumps $275
-12" King Smoothie 2.0's with Custom Relocation Hoops $1750

Wheels
-315/75/16 Falken Wildpeak AT3W $1400
-FN Type X Countersteer in 16x8 -20 $1200

Exterior
-Cut fenders and flares $Free
-Hilux Snorkel $225
-Wrapped Avery Gloss Dark Grey $3000
-25% front, 15% rear tint $250
-Custom Morimoto D2S Headlights $1100
-Camper Shell $2250

Interior
-Custom air freshener mod
-New headunit $550
-Stain in backseats due to...yeah long story *now front seats too*

Misc
-Pedal Commander $250
-CMC $150
-Pinchweld beating $Free
-Hammer beating where I rub $Free
-Sledgehammer beating where I rub $Free
-Jerry Cans and Hi-Lifts, ya know $100-250
-Recovery Gear, a.k.a. a tow strap and some traction boards $300

Gears
-Nitro Gears 4.88 Front and Rear: $2500

Here are my future plans:
-Complete Mid-Travel King Suspension: DONE and LT
-Slide-Out Bed Platform: OVER IT
-U-bolt Flip Kit: DONE
-New Lower Ball Joints, Inner and Outer Tie Rods, and any bushing that is looking worn DONE
-More Skids...Because safety: DONE
-255/80/17 tires: DONE and went to 35's
-A travel companion (DOG!!!)
-Go Fast Camper: Ordered and Switched to Flippac and...yeah... DONE

Things on Order/Coming as Soon:
-4.88 Regear with ARB Rear: ORDERED
-12-15 front end swap: DONE
-Vagabond Camper (sometime summer of 2020): IMPATIENTLY WAITING

Intro

Hey guys! I've had my Tacoma for quite some time now, but never had the time to make a build thread for it...Until now on Spring Break. I'm a college student, so I don't have as much time as I would like for overlanding and working on my truck, but it's come quite a long way.

Before owning this Tacoma, I have had the following cars in the last 3 years:
-2005 Corolla S 5-Speed
-1995 Mazda Miata
-2003 Tacoma
-2006 Subaru WRX
-2005 4Runner
-1991 Mazda Miata
-1991 Nissan 240sx
-2000 BMW Z3
-2004 Subaru WRX

As you can see, I've had more cars than some people have in their lifetime, lol. Just always loved switching it up, but now I don't have the time to do so!

Here is my truck when I saw it for the first time. I had been searching for quite some time, and bought the truck 7 hours from when it was posted on Craigslist. 2006 Double Cab, Long Bed, with 167k miles on it and one owner.

She was so pretty stock..Completely unmolested and in near-perfect condition. I paid $14k out the door, and headed on my way home. Then, came some insurance issues...Blah blah the car had to sit until the title came in the mail, which took 4 weeks! 28 days of the car sitting and I couldn't drive it.

I decided while it sat, I'd start doing a few little mods here and there. First up - Lift and an AAL! Bilstein 5100's, Rear Icon 2.0 shocks, and a Toytec AAL! I then found a shell for sale locally for under $100 and snatched it up quick. A little plastidip for the rims and some 255/75/17 tires, and she was good to go!



Some lady stomped on the brakes in front of me and I had no time to stop. Got a little front bumper damage.

I then decided I wanted to be one of those sick-ass overland guys (all jokes, lol) and jumped on the Christmas Sale that 4wp was having, and got myself a Smittybilt RTT!

I loved the tent a lot, but HATED having the center of gravity so high. It felt like a legit boat anchor was tossed out the back of my truck driving with it. So, I went on Craigslist and found a set of new bed bars for $150! Score! Took the truck out to Joshua Tree that same day, and had an amazing time. Also started to like the look of the truck without the shell...

Then threw the shell back on and headed to the snow! Gotta love Mammoth!



At this point I started to consider selling the truck and going to a 4x4 4Runner. The shorter wheelbase is much better for rock crawling, and I love 4Runners just as much. BUT, I decided to keep the truck and just go all out on it. So this is where the real fun starts...(all of this happens in a two month period) First up...Sliders! Thanks to @Shmellmopwho for putting these together! (You can also see something up on the top of my shell, but I'll get to that later).


Then that same day after the installation was done, I got a text from the DV8 warehouse manager saying they had a dented but never used front bumper for sale for $250. I left straight from Ryan's house and picked up the front bumper!

I then ordered an IFS Skid, as well as a Trans Skid. So no wheeling until then! I always loved the look of snorkels. I mean, the functionality of it through the desert and water is great, but they LOOK badass too! So...I decided to go the cheap route with a Hilux Snorkel, and it was a TERRIBLE idea. If you're bad with drilling, instructions, and everything in-between, DON'T buy the hilux snorkel! Buy the safari or airflow that have a working template so you drill the holes in the right places. I ended up drilling my holes about 1" too far forward, and everything was off. But, I made it work, and this is how it looks.


As you can see, I also got a couple lights on the front, AND a Morimoto Retrofit. Went with the D2S kit and did it myself!

Now for the tent setup...I loved the Smittybilt, but loved having a shell. I started to look into a hardshell RTT to be more aerodynamic, easier to use, etc. and found this Bigfoot RTT for sale in my area! Bought it a few hours later, then ordered an eBay awning to go with it. Never understood why I would buy a $300 awning when you could buy the same one for $80.

Here is where I was at.

Truck's looking good. Got everything I really wanted to do done, so I just sat there thinking what else I could waste my money on. And then bam. A CBI Rear Swingout Popped up for sale in San Fransisco (560 miles away). Hopped in my car the next day and went out for 3 days in San Fransisco with a few friends, and also to pick up the bumper! (Pictures later). At this same time in San Fran, I found 2x brand new Hankook Dynapro ATM tires for sale for $119! Bought them immediately to carry a full size spare.

Once I added the rear bumper, my stock leaf pack with an AAL began to sag. Big time. So I puckered up and bought some Dakars for the rear and OME 886 springs for the front. They arrived and I realized I ordered the EL095R pack (light duty), when I needed the heavy duty pack. I tried to make a return, but they wanted me to pay the $100 shipping. I refused, and made it work. What I did was open up the packs, shove the Toytec AAL in there, then clamp them back down and installed them. Installation was a PAIN.


*Please ignore the washer stack and everything...I got the right pin and bolt right after*

And we're just about caught up to where we are now. And for some finished truck porn...please enjoy the following photos of my last trip to Anza Borrego!

^^Best shower idea ever. $34 Amazon portable shower!


And that's about it!

 

First! Hi buddy

 

You might have a tough time getting a flip kit on with your spring set up in back but you'll figure it out I'm sure. Congrats on a nice set up for minimal dollars.

 

And we're just about caught up to where we are now. And for some finished truck porn...please enjoy the following photos of my last trip to Anza Borrego!

^^Best shower idea ever. $34 Amazon portable shower!


what shower did you get? What are your likes and dislikes. Keep thinking i'll make one or buy one, but haven't gotten around to either.

Nice truck,

 

This is the one I have:

AngLink Upgraded Portable Camping Shower, Battery Powered Outdoor Shower for Outdoors, Camping, Pet Cleaning, Car Washing, Plants Watering - Turns Water from Bucket/Sink Into Steady, Gentle Stream …

https://www.amazon.com/Upgraded-Por...2&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=portable+shower&psc=1

Only con is that it has a high water pressure, so it goes through water pretty fast. Used about 4 gallons in 4 minutes of showering!

 

Figured it was time to actually post something on here, lol!

 

I'll cross that path when I come to it, haha. Thank you!

 

So some update time! Ended up selling my shell, and selling my tent.

Then I stumbled upon a brand new tent from the same company, but newer model! He was asking $2,000..I sent a very formal text explaining I'm on a budget and only have $1,100 for the tent if he would entertain that. He first rejected...than an hour later he sent me an address! Brand new tent...Score!!



I was planning on switching to a soft-shell design, but after buying this...I realized I needed a camper shell or a tall be rack. So the hunt began once again! Today I got home from work, sat down, and saw the EXACT shell I've been looking for posted for sale 90 miles away. Immediately called the guy and went to pick it up! What's very interesting is this morning, I woke up and prayed that I could find a shell already. Then bam, there it was! And it turned out, the seller and his sons also prayed that the perfect guy will come to pick it up and hopefully a brother in Christ! Beyond stoked!


Two-tone is going to take a bit to get used to...But excited to get the tent and awning back up there! The tent has been airing out for the last few days...man is the smell strong!

 

two-tone looks good with that setup, especially against the black wheels. Good find

 

Hahaha so awesome! And so fitting that your prayers were answered on this day!

 

Thank you! I wonder how it will look once I switch to the TRD Pro rims and 255/80/17's...Still deciding what color for the rims hehe

 

Of all days! I don't need bed racks anymore (hoping relentless can cancel the order)...I almost did purchase a bed rack made by you for someone in San Diego though!

 

Haha awesome, I’m glad you found the perfect setup for your needs bro! Gonna be super rad when you’re all dialed in!

 

quick question for anyone who has tried a rack and also tried a camper shell, do you guys prefer one over the other? have a rack right now but thinking of buying a shell

 

I prefer a shell. I can keep everything locked and dry underneath the shell. I also use it a lot for surfboards so it’s nice being able to lock everything in there.

 

Really cool build.

 

How do you like those Dynapro tires? Really considering them for my next set. I don't do any rock crawling, but we deal with mud a lot here in North East Texas.

 

They cake in mud easily, and have a hard time flinging it out. I wouldn't recommend them in thick mud, but they do fine in just a little.

 

Thanks!

 

Just got back from Alabama Hills! Broke a few things, and popped a tire...But made it the 223 miles home! Got bored on the way home so I decided to go on the shoulder (no cars either way) at 60mph and didn't account for a jump...Got completely airborne and then landed. Alignment was destroyed from that second on, haha. Good fun!