Matt's Hi-Dezert Taco

Hello!
I've been a member for awhile but this is my first post. I purchased my 2018 Tacoma TRD DCSB 4X4 Off Road in Brilliant White in July of 18 as my new DD and love it! Only thing I can even think to complain about is mileage as I came out of a Scion XB with a manual trans and commute roughly 100 miles a day 5 days a week... but then again I didn't buy it for it's MPG's I bought it for it's SPG's(smiles per gallon)!!
Been a LONG time off roader and have a very "evolved" 74 Chevy truck that has been born and bred in the So Cal deserts just South of the famous Hammers(KOH).
So far I've done a debadging and my wife was kind enough to buy me the matte black badges for Christmas so of course I put them on lol, while they're a bit trendy for my liking they've grown on me. I also had the windows blacked out as I live in So Cal and the summer sun is brutal!!
Next I went ahead and upgraded all the door speakers and dash tweeters to the plug and play type mentioned all throughout TW and love them but still feel a slight need for a remote Sub.. maybe down the road but I appreciate all the behind the seat space I can get.

Then I went ahead and did a cab mount chop in anticipation of a lift and tires. I took the time to cut the foam, bend and relocate a wheel well tab mount for the fender liner and used a heat gun to remold my inner fender well also for maximum clearance as opposed to cutting and removing.
Finally I purchased a Camburg UCA with Moog BJ assembly and Fox 2.5" C.O. with remote reservoir and DSC adjusters.
To compliment the lift I ordered a set of 285 70 17 Nitto Ridge Grapplers in a C range load (wish I'd have ordered the 285 75 17 now lol) wrapped around a set of SCS Ray 10's in a jet matte black finish.

For future improvements I whole heartedly plan on some stout sliders, Nitro 4:88 gears (maybe lower for 35"s) and likely an OV tuner along with a hyper tech speedo calibrator.
Of course I need to address the rear suspension but am completely drawn on if I can make the factory leaves perform to my expectations. Here are a few pics to get rolling

 

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Looks nice so far!

 

Thanks @NunyaBizness! Just the beginning hopefully!

 

Those are the wheels I want... but in copper!

Very nice

 

LOL, I was leaning towards the brushed gold with my white contrast but the wife convinced me of continuing the B&W theme

 

Great looking rig

 

Be careful wheeling with those tires. They're the worst I have used. The sidewall is weak and I have cut one of mine to shreds on the rocks, all have major rock rash on the sidewall too. They have good bite on the tread though just poor sidewall durability.

 

Got the Nitro 5.29's installed!! Been running them for a couple weeks now, love the response I got right away. Odd shifts but they settled down a little.

 

Made it through the 500 mile break in and swapped out the rear fluid. Going to get a couple more miles of actual 4wd engaged driving before I dump the front fluid.

 

Recieved and installed my Hypertech speedo calibrator, of course it took a little adjustment to get dialed in and is now accurate up to 80 mph which is plenty good enough for my likings!

 

Obviously catching up here. This little gem showed up yesterday and fortunately I was all registered and ready to go!! Flashed a 1.05 base on 91 tune and WOW!!
So pumped to get this dialed in with a tune for the 5.29's! I submitted my request already but know that Mat is beyond busy at this point and has plenty of other things to address

 

So I'm struggling with getting a version of TS up and running on my brothers laptop I've borrowed for an "indefinite" amount of time, as it's running windows 10. I'm not much of a PC guy so that isn't helping. I'd like to wipe everything I've downloaded and start from scratch, my objective is to flash the ECU to 04A61 so I can make use of the 2.0 files when they drop seeing as how 04A60 is just getting some Beta love on the next release. Anyone have any links to anything on the easier side to get TS running on Win10?

 

@svsude

Just saw your comment, that's unfortunate to hear. I've been running Nitto tires for 8+ yrs all in the 40" size, 1 set of Mud Grapplers and 3 sets of Trail Grapplers and haven't had a single issue. The Trail Grapplers were/are a C range as well so they were the lesser sidewall ply's.
This is my first set of Rudge Grapplers but have had good luck so far thankfully. Plan on having some 315 Ridge Grapplers mounted tomorrow. Fingers crossed I get similar results!
Thanks for the heads up though!!

 

The 315 70 17 Nitto Ridge Grapplers are on and boy do they feel big!! More CMC chop and some fender trimming are in order but it drives great and has no problem pulling itself between the Nitro 5.29 gears and the OV Tune! Cant wait to get TS working when I get time so can update my ECU.
Does anyone know if there are any advantages to updating the ECU from 04A60 to 04A61 aside from the fact that more tune options exist for 04A61?

 

Time for some "more" CMC! I took a decent amount out the first time but definitely not enough! Gonna make sure these get plenty if clearance this time around.