Toy4Life's "Build"

After 10 years of wanting a Toyota Tacoma 4x4 and 6 months of looking for the right one, in January of 07, I bought an 02 extended cab TRD Offroad 4x4. I havn't quit smiling since.

The truck had 102,460 miles when I bought it. Here it is bone stock, a couple days after bringing it home.

The truck remained stock for 11 months. In August of 07, I stumbled across TacomaWorld. My truck's days of being stock became numbered.
In November of 07 I installed a 3" Toytec lift.

In February of 08, I bought new wheels and tires. Craigar Soft 8 15x8 black steel wheels with chrome center caps and lug nuts and 33/10.5/15 BFGoodrich AT KO tires.

Also in February, I added a Midland CB radio with a 4' FirestikII antenna.


In March I added a pair of Hella 500 driving lights mounted to the front bumper. I used a Toyota factory foglight switch courtesy of Will(tacomaman06)

 

Aww how she's/he's grown.

 

The difference the wheels make is amazing!


Nice truck!

 

Nice truck man! Gotta love tacomas and there transformations.

 

I've since done a number of inexpensive or "invisible" mods, including the Gray Wire Mod, K&N drop in filter, rear differential breather extension and Carrier Bearing Drop. I've also acquired a free tonneau cover and bought a full Manik Brushguard that I havn't mounted yet.


In August I finally decided to apply some spray-on bedliner to the sides of the truck. It is a mod I had been thinking about for quite some time.

This is how my truck looks today. It currently has just under 126,000 miles on the odometer and still runs smooth as ever.

Height from ground, through center of wheel, to bottom of fender: front-39" back-39.5"
Height from ground to frame: 19"

Money invested in modifications so far: approximately $1500
Future mods: I plan to continue the spray-on bedliner around the back
Rock sliders
ARB Bumper (someday)
Safari Snorkel (someday)
Suspension overhaul (someday)

 

Chad....you still have one of the hottest first gen tacomas that i have ever seen!!! cant wait for you to get your brackets for the brushguard and get it installed!!!

 

Looks really good Chad. i've always liked your truck. not over the top but solid looking. i really REALLY like 1st gens.... maybe i should have gotten one...

 

Good Looking Taco....I love the wheels.

Mike

 

Grown indeed!

B4 and after shots really make them stick out.

Thank you.

Thanks Will, I have a lot of pride in my truck. And, I can't wait either.

Thanks, nd, I try not to make it look tacky.

Thanks Mike, they're one of my favorite additions.

My truck is and always will be a work in progress. I wouldn't want it any other way.

 

Nice Taco, I really like the older modles

 

how much did the spray on liner run you on the sides of the truck??

 

It took 2 1/2 cans @ $8 a can to do what I did. I used Plasti-kote, available at Walmart, Autozone, Advanced, etc.... I think Duplicolor makes an identical product at the same price.

 

I have a rust spot on my tailgate that I intend to remedy with the bedliner. I'm no painter, so with the bedliner, there are no worries of clearcoat, color matching, primer, or a shiny pretty finish. All you have to do is wash-sand-clean-spray.

 

Hey I like the build.. I have a set of 33's I am about to put on but I can't decide on lift. Did you go with ToyTec coilovers or just spacers?

 

I just had spacers. If you can afford the coilovers, they would be the better option.

 

One more question.. How much backspacing did you have on your rims?

 

Wow it looks so damn sexy!

 

Sorry Alex, idon't remember and I don't still have the truck. The info is probably here on TW, but I'm not sure if I can find it. Also, sorry for the late response. I don't get onto TW nearly as often as I used to(or want to)

 

Went back through some old threads.....I think those wheels had 4" of backspacing.