The Lexus Off-roader Build - 2018 Bright Blue Pearl, Dual Cab, Long Bed, TRD Off-road

After lurking and learning for so long I finally picked up my rig. It's a 2018 TRD OR DCLB with Premium, Tech, and Black-out packages. Pictures coming soon, and I will edit this post.

Before taking delivery I had already ordered the TRD Intake (didn't feel a difference in performance, but I didn't experience it stock long enough if I were going to feel one), Subaru Kicker speakers (which I found out doesn't work with JBL so up for sale soon), and an OBD2 adapter so I can do OVTune soon.

I'll be ordering the Accutune Stage 4 Fox lift kit and some 17's with 285/70/17 KO2's next.

I'm coming from a 2006 Wrangler LJ that rides like shit on the street/highway, but's great on the rocks. I don't want that anymore. I want a capable off-roader that rides as close to a Lexus on the streets as I can get it without compromising too much off-road ability. I'll be updating as I modify it.

 

SUSPENSION

Accutune 05+ Tacoma Mid Travel Suspension Kit, Stage 4 – Fox*- After talking to @*TRD* at Accutune Offroad, and reading their suspension tech articles I feel extremely confident I'll love their setup and tuning. I get a mix of the best suspension pieces to form the best on-road and off-road suspension for my needs. I was turned off from just going with an Icon suspension because of their digressive shocks, and honestly 95% of the time this will be street driven.

Kit includes:

• Front Coilovers: Fox 2.5 Remote, 0-3″
• Front UCA: Icon Delta Joint
• Rear Shocks: Fox 2.5 Remote, 1.5-3″
• Rear Springs: Icon RXT Pack
• Rear U-Bolt: Archive Garage Flip

*I just ordered as of 8/7/18 so I'll update as I get pieces in and installed with impressions. They have an adjustable stage 4, and then also a stage 5 and 5 adjustable. The stage 5 requires welding to get an additional 1.5" of down travel. It sounds nice, but there won't be many times I would ever use it. If I ever need more travel than this I'll go to a long-travel setup.

 

INTERIOR / ELECTRICAL / ACCESSORIES

Switch Pro SP-9100 8 Switch Panel Power System - Switch system for my ARB air compressor, and soon to be some additional lights and front/rear anytime camera mods. We'll see what else I can come up with.
SDHQ '16-Current Tacoma Specific 8-Switch Power Panel With Concealed Mounting Hardware - I'm trying to make this as factory looking as possible and the SDHQ replacement for the stock cubby hole is perfect. I never use it anyway.
Expedition Essentials - Toyota Tacoma Bedside Compressor Mount w/ ARB Twin Compressor - One of the most useful things I ever did to my old Wrangler LJ was to add an underhood ARB air compressor so it was one of the first things I knew I needed on my Tacoma. It's even better if I don't have to open the hood every time I want to use it.

 

EXTERIOR

Extra-wide TRD Offroad Hood Decal by @mcmnos4r2 - Looks amazing, can't wait to install it.
Stock Toyota Blackout Package
Cali Raised LED - Toyota Upgraded Bed Tie Downs - Hopefully be able to use these to attach a hand winch to pull my track car onto a trailer. It's only about 1800lbs so it shouldn't stress it too much.

 

PERFORMANCE / ENGINE

TRD Performance Air Intake System - PTR03-35160 - Hopefully It'll breathe a little easier with this intake and also be more ready for whenever a Magnuson supercharger, or OVTune turbo becomes available. You can save a few bucks by buying the parts separately, but I just wanted the kit and to be done with it. Here's the thread that details the individual part numbers.

Upcoming

• Exhaust reroute (I'm not sure if this is technically a performance mod if I leave the rear cats)
• TRD Performance Exhaust for LB
• Supercharger or Turbocharger
• OVTune

 

As a Longtime lexus owner, it’s a slap in the face to say any Tacoma will ever ride like a lexus ....

 

Ha! This is very true. The GF has a GX 460 and it's pretty plush. I'm more meaning it's gonna be upgraded with the highest quality of parts I can find and not scrimp or try and rig anything like I may have in the past with my Jeep. I'm also going to see if her Lexus seats will fit in the Taco so I can have a lower sitting position. Basically I was meaning like when people say "It's the Cadillac of whatever", but since Toyota already has a division arguably better than Cadillac, why not say I want to make the Lexus of Toyotas? It's mostly a joke. Hopefully that explains it better. If it still offends you there's not much I can do to help you other than say you probably should ignore this build/thread.

 

I did the software reprogram today (TSB 0062-18 PDF Link) to fix the stumble present when you take off hard, or around 40-50mph, and the truck feels so much better. Now I can hold off on the OVTune till I at least hit 10k miles and am reasonably sure nothing is going to go wrong with the truck. I would recommend everyone do this. It's my first vehicle with an auto in ten plus years so I didn't even realize how bad it was shifting. After the update I feel like I have more power, and it doesn't jump around in its shifting anymore. It makes the truck feel even better.