Built2Ride ‘17 TRD Pro Tacoma Build

New to this forum. I appreciate the welcomes and info that TW has offered!
I am about to start a build on a ‘17 TRD Pro Tacoma.
I live in Atlanta Ga and above Asheville NC. I like to help out my neighbors both members and vendors when I can.

I use this truck for long distance camping trips and the wheeling that happens on the way there. I also pull on Offroad trailer as well, that carries my KTM.
I need to be conscious of weight when I build this out, as a lot will being added to the truck and trailer.

The truck is currently all stock suspension wise and has no armor on it as of yet.

I will adding the following and would like both vendor and members input on this build.

It will be getting the following:
Armor (Leaning towards Aluminum to save weight).
- Front Bumper with slim led cutout , and preferably a small hoop like as seen on the CBI T3 Bumper.
- Rear Bumper with dual swing outs. I would like for it to have options for a drop down table, gas, hi-lift).
- Sliders with kickout and fill plates.
- Skids (don’t plan on hard crawling this truck, but it’s so long I feel like I should go ahead and put them on).

Suspension: (this is the area I could really use some advise).
The truck is a Pro model and I like the progressive ride it has, feels plush or it did until I loaded the bed.

Weight: This Tacoma will have armor all the way around.
It has a Decked Drawer system in it and an Aluminum half rack with a RTT. It will also be put fitted with a pressureized water tank (25-30 gallons).
In the future the tent and bed rack will be sold for a steal to someone on here and I will buy a Habitat.

Bring it TW members, I want to know your thoughts in this new build. I am interested in some creative minds getting in on this. I am not Brand loyal, but I do like to spend money locally, unless the products elsewhere are unmatched.

 

Subbed

 

I wanted to get this going, and I have followed all of you TW members throughout multiple threads.
I value your opinions and experience, so I come to you for advice. If you would check out the build thread I just started.
@Acerwin
@YF_Ryan
@MacFly
@excorcist
@ovrlndkull
@BYJOSHCOOK
@backcountryj

 

Sub'd

 

Sub’d buddy. One of my favorite colors on the 3rd gens. Can’t wait to see the transformation.

 

Ok so for some of your questions and description of use for the truck I would go Aluminum definitely. It will hold up well to your intended use and will take some pretty significant hits. If you start wheeling hard and hitting the parks hard then upgrade later to steel.

@Casper66 Runs an SOS Aluminum bumper and I think skids and he does a lot of what you are describing. He hit the trails pretty hard at AOAA a few weeks ago and the stuff held up well. I am sure he can chime in and give you a better description and after action report.

As far as what you are doing with suspension and question on springs from what I've seen (no experience) the Icons just aren't as strong. I have the heaviest Deavers available and they are great for weight carrying just go in my build thread and check out the pics of the trailers and stuff I haul. Now there are pluses and minuses to these and I think there is a much better choice on the market which would be Dobinson they are fairly new (a few yrs.) to the US market but are big in Australia. I like their leaf design and pack set up better than the other offerings. Again no experience with them but my experience tells me they are the go to these days. I have seen many Dakar packs needing AALs after a good amt. use to hold the loads they use to, same goes with Al-pro but there are other reasons I'd stay away from them.

Like I said in the SOS thread Marie @HeadStrong Off-Road can help out a lot with discussing suspension upgrades just wish they offered Dobinson. My deavers came from them free shipping!!!!

 

I concur on the color!!!!! A guy in Charlotte painted his like 92 or earlier pickup this color and it looks sick!!!!

 

Nice!! ​

 

Meet Chad he's everywhere and like everything!!!!

 

​

 

I appreciate the response, I knew that I had tapped in with the right crew. I agree with you on all points. I have Dobbinson’s on my FJ40, and they are stout. Also have had Alcans.
I have never built a truck specially for this purpose, I have more experience with crawlers. Thus I don’t know how to dial in the suspension I am after to make it feel, well as plush as possible lol

Adding @HeadStrong Off-Road
It’s my understanding you have some insight into my suspension setup.

 

Yeah buddy! I like dancing tacos! All the way into my belly! Thanks for being there with emojis my brutha!

 

If you have anymore questions about the armor just hit me up in the PM's buddy. I'll be more than happy to help you.

 

If you are going for a more plush feel then a larger multi leaf pack like Deaver may be a better choice. If you have experience with Alcan then you know they'll build you whatever you want same with Deaver. But you are going to pay as you know.

 

Yep there are several of us that can help with that.

@Built2Ride if you hang around the local threads you'll see multiple people that are very familiar with the SOS stuff and can help with choices and bring some good insight into what would best suite your needs. Andy is a good dude even though he turned to the Darkside and got an XJ

 

Will do, you will be hearing from me soon. With a cabbage roll for armor

 

Thanks, I will check them out and get insight from at headstrong as well. Your correct, I really like the feel of something tuned as much as possible.
I was looking at the Icons at first, as I have experienced good things with them on my 4runner. From the stand point that they felt more progressive. But I do understand that that was a bit of a different situation, being that I am loading this sucker down now, and driving like I own a Baja truck might not make sense anymore

 

You will get/see the pissing contests between the big brands and which is better. Personally any of the Big names like King, Radflo, Icon, Fox, ADS (think they make stuff for the taco) will be a great choice for tune-ability. You just have so much you can do with them. There are some dealers of these shocks (forget them all) where you give them info on what you have as far as weight and stuff and they do a lot of the base work for you then all you'll essentially need to do is fine tune with the adjuster knobs if you get the adjustable ones. Or they'll get you a decent set up for the non adjustable. Pick your poison though there are some differences in them based on how they work but to me for what we do any would be an excellent choice.