Carolina_Taco's v2 build

CAROLINA_TACO'S v2 BUILD


JUN 2022
THIS IS MY 2015 TACOMA; I UPGRADED FROM A 02-ACCESS CAB TACOMA THAT WAS MILDLY BUILT; I UPGRADED BECAUSE OF SPACE AND UPGRADABILITY. THE GOAL FOR THIS TRUCK IS TO BE ABLE TO CAMP AND WHEEL IT RELIABLY WHENEVER I WANT AND HOWEVER FAST I WANT.
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2015 TACOMA MAGNETIC GREY
4.0 V6 TRD OR
120,000+ MILES

BORING STUFF
AFE PRO DRY S FILTER
SUPER START 24F BATTERY
TRD CAT-BACK EXHAUST CUT BEFORE AXLE
JBA LONG TUBE HEADERS
VIBRANT ULTRA QUIET RESONATOR
DERALE TRANSMISSION COOLER 15660
WATER PUMP
BELT AND PULLEYS
THERMOSTAT
POWER STEERING PUMP
CRANK SHAFT SEAL

EXTERIOR
MCNEIL +2" FIBERGLASS FENDERS / BEDSIDES TRIMMED TO FIT 37s
JD FAB INNER FENDERS
CUSTOM BATTERY TRAY
REDLINE HOOD STRUTS
CUSTOM SLIDERS
CUSTOM REAR BUMPER
CUSTOM FRONT BUMPER
TRD SPORT GRILLE
TRD PRO INSERT
BED CUBBY SEAL KIT
2 TON BIG WHEEL PRO-EAGLE
PRO EAGLE JACK BRACKET GEN1
CUSTOM TUBE JACK MOUNT
CUSTOM BEDSIDE SUPPORTS V2
CUSTOM TIRE CARRIER WITH JACK MOUNT
sALL PRO CAB MOUNT RELOCATION
CUSTOM CAB MOUNT RELOCATION
15lb POWER TANK

ARB SINGLE COMPRESSOR
SLEE OFFROAD COMPRESSOR MOUNT
10LB POWER TANK/CUSTOM BED MOUNT
BAMF CAB MOUNT CHOP
AVD SLIDERS

WHEEL/TIRE
TOYO MT 37/12.50/17
KMC GRENADE CRAWL 17" BEADLOCKS
POWER TANK MONSTER VALVES
SPIDERTRAX 1.5" WHEEL SPACERS (REAR)

TOYO MT 315/75/16
BFG KO2 285/75/16
SCS F5 16" 3.5 BS

FRONT SUSPENSION
KING 2.5 IBP 8" STROKE RR COIL OVERS WITH ADJUSTERS
KING 16” 700 LB SPRINGS
CUSTOM COIL BUCKETS
JD FAB 2.25" LONG TRAVEL KIT
JD FAB 934 CV AXLES
JD FAB UPPER ARM DOUBLE SHEER
JD FAB HIEM STEERING DOUBLE SHEER
CUSTOM FABRICATED SPINDLE (IN PROGRESS)
CUSTOM FABRICATED UPPERS (IN PROGRESS)
CUSTOM FABRICATED COIL BUCKETS (IN PROGRESS)
JD FAB STEERING DOUBLE SHEER
JD FAB LOWER PIVOT KIT
CAMBURG STEERING CLEVIS
CUSTOM ALUMINUM TIE RODS v2
TOTAL CHAOS SPINDLE GUSSETS
WHEELERS SUPER BUMPS

EIBACH 16" 600LB SPRINGS
KING 2.5 #650 EXT TRAVEL RR COILS
SPC UPPER ARMS (TUBULAR)
MARLIN CRAWLER FRAME BRACE KIT
KING 18" 600 LB SPRINGS

REAR SUSPENSION
KING 2.0 2" STROKE HYDRO BUMPS
DIRT KING FRAME BOX KIT
DIRT KING BUMP MOUNT AND FRAME NOTCH
KING 2.5 16” RR COIL OVERS WITH ADJUSTERS
CUSTOM TRAILING ARM 3 LINK WITH PANHARD BAR

KING 2.5 14" STROKE RR WITH BOOTS
KING 3.0 RACE SERIES 14" STROKE TRIPPLE BYPASSES w/t ANODIZED RESERVOIRS
JD FAB REAR LONG TRAVEL SPRING UNDER
JD FAB SHOCK TOWER
ARCHIVE GARAGE SHOCK RELOCATION
ARCHIVE GARAGE POLY SHACKLE BUSHING
TOTAL CHAOS LOWER SHOCK MOUNT
ALL-PRO STANDARD SPRINGS
TIMBREN'S ACTIVE OFFROAD BUMPS
CUSTOM BOLT-ON BRACKET
CUSTOM STRIKE PLATE
WHEELER'S OFF-ROAD U-BOLT FLIP
5/8 U-BOLTS
ALL-PRO SS BRAKE LINES

LIGHTING
TRS H1 MINI RETROFIT
ANY-TIME FOG LIGHT MOD
BAJA DESIGN SQUADRON PROS FOG LIGHT KIT
BAJA DESIGN 30" S8
LED REVERSE LIGHTS

HID FOG LIGHT KIT

INTERIOR
RAM PHONE MOUNT (A-PILLAR)
SCAN GUAGE II

$190 YAESU FT-60R DualBand Handheld 5W VHF/UHF Amateur Radio Transceiver - Dual Band

YAESU FT-60R HAM
GARMIN INREACH MINI
SEAT SPACERS
KILMAT SOUND DEADENING
WEATHERTECH FLOOR LINERS
REGOLITH MEDICAL WAYFARER FIRST AID KIT
KRAZY BEAVER SHOVEL

MY OLD BUILD
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2002-tacoma-access-cab-overland-offroad-build.555543/

 

THIS WAS WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE TRUCK WITH 60,000 MILES AND NOTHING DONE TO IT. NO RUST OR NOTICEABLE DAMAGE. AND MY FIRST NEW VEHICHLE WHICH WAS A BIG DIFFERENCE.

FIRST THING I DID WAS LAY ON SOME CERAMIC WAX, SOME PEOPLE SAY THIS STUFF IS A GIMMIC BUT I THOUGHT IT WORKED VERY WELL AND BROUGHT SOME SHINE BACK. I CHOOSE THIS WAX TO TRY AND AVOID THE NOTORIOUS ARIZONA PIN STRIPING.


SUPER SHINY!!!

 

AFTER GETTING THE MOD BUG I FELT OBLIGATED TO START DOING ALL THE BEGINNERS 2ND GEN TACOMA MODS. I STARTED WITH THE ANYTIME FOG LIGHT MOD.

AFTER THAT I DECIDED SOME AFTER MARKET LIGHTING WAS A MUST, THANKFULLY I HAD A GOOD FRIEND WHO WAS knowledgeable ABOUT THIS STUFF AND WAS A MAJOR HELP. I ENDED UP WITH THE RETROFIT SOURCE MINI H1 KIT. LATER ON UPGRADING TO PRECISION BULB HOLDERS AND GOING THROUGH A WIRING HARNESS BECAUSE OF CORROSION IN THE LAST ONE. I ALSO ENDED UP GETTING SOME 4500K BULBS, I DO NOT CARE MUCH FOR THE NEW WHITE LOOK ON MOST VEHICLES. IT JUST REMINDS ME OF PEOPLE WHO STICK PURE WHITE LED BULBS IN STOCK HOUSINGS. COUGH COUGH NOT ME.

 

NEXT I HAD TO THROW IN SOME HID AMBER FOG LIGHTS GIVEN TO ME BY A FRIEND. THEY WORK GREAT AND I LOVE THE COLOR.

MY FIRST TRIP OUT I HEADED UP TO THE GRAND CANYON TO MEET UP WITH MY BROTHER WHO HAD BEEN TRAVELING ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS. I WAS REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE GOOD GAS MILEAGE COMPARED TO MY OLD TRUCK THAT GOT ABOUT 12MPG.

WHILE I PASSING THROUGH PHOENIX I STOPPED AND PICKED UP A COLOR MATCHED TRD SPORT GRILLE FROM CAMELBACK TOYOTA. DEFINITELY STRUGGLED IN LUNCH TIME TRAFFIC. YOU CAN SEE ITS A PERFECT MATCH AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE WORTH BUYING A NEW ONE OPPOSED TO PAINTING MINE AND IT JUST GETTING CHIPPED IN A COUPLE WEEKS.

 

HERE IS A HEAVY PIC DUMP OF OUR ADVENTURE FROM THE GRAND CANYON TO FLAGSTAFF AND SEDONA.

 

GOT BACK AND MY DECALS CAME IN! I LIKE THEM BUT THEY ARE NOT FOR EVERYONE.

AFTER DEALING WITH ALL THE DUST ON MY TRIP I DECIDED I WANTED TO SEAL THE BED CUBBY AND THIS KIT REALLY DOES WORK! I ALSO PURCHASED THE COVERS FOR THE DRAIN HOLES IN THE BACK OF THE CUBBY.

 

STOPPED BY 4 WHEEL PARTS AND GOT SOME WEATHERTECH FLOOR LINERS. I PREVIOUSLY HAD HUSKY LINERS AND DIDN'T LIKE HOW THEY FOLDED UP AND GOT BENT. SO FAR THESE HAVE NOT DONE THAT AND I LIKE HOW THESE DO NOT SLIDE AROUND WHAT SO EVER.

MY BUMP STOPS CAME IN, I ORDERED THESE BASED ON MY BROTHERS EXPERIENCE AND ANOTHER TW MEMBERS ADVICE. I LIKE THE MOUNTS AND THEY WERE NOT TOO HARD TO INSTALL. THEY WERE VERY TALL FOR A STOCK VEHICLE THOUGH AND WOULD NOT RECOMMEND FOR A STOCK TRUCK.

 

REDLINE HOOD STRUTS INSTALLED AND THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN A BLESSING!

SLEE OFFROAD AIR COMPRESSOR MOUNT FOR MY ARB SINGLE AIR COMPRESSOR. EVERYTHING LINED UP GREAT. OVER ALL A GREAT MOUNT OTHER THAN THE PRICE $$$.

 

GOT SOME SPC ARMS ON TW, THEY WERE WAY WORSE THAN PICTURED IN THE AD BUT I JUST DEALT WITH IT BECAUSE OF MY BUDGET AND DID NOT WANT TO WASTE MONEY ON NEW IF I AM GOING TO UPGRADE ANYWAYS DOWN THE ROAD.

AFTER GRINDING ON THEM FOR A LITTLE BIT, MOST OF IT WAS SURFACE RUST AND THEY CLEANED UP PRETTY GOOD. I USED VHT ROLL BAR AND CHASSIS PAINT. THAT IS MY GO TO PAINT FOR ANYTHING I NEED TO BE DURABLE. I WILL USE STEEL-IT ON MOST OF THIS TRUCK BUT I WAS NOT WORRIED BECAUSE ILL BE GETTING RID OF THEM WHEN I GO LONG TRAVEL. ALSO WENT AHEAD AND POLISHED THE BALL JOINTS AND REPLACED THE BOOTS.

 

INSTALLED SOME REAR SEAT SPACERS FROM ANOTHER TW MEMBER, THESE WORK GREAT AND RELIVES MY BACK PAIN ON LONGER TRIPS.

DROVE UP TOWARDS PHEONIX TO PICK UP MY SLIDERS FROM AVID OFFROAD. THESE THINGS ARE GREAT AND THE OWNER IS SUPER COOL. THEY WERE PRICED VERY WELL AND HE WENT AHEAD AND THREW SOME RATTLE CAN ON THEM BEFORE I GOT THERE FOR NO CHARGE!

DID A LITTLE TRAIL TO SEE HOW THE TRUCK FEELS WITH ALL THE NEW UPGRADES AND IT WAS REALLY COMING ALONG!

 

INSTALLED SOME SOUND DEADENING IN THE DOORS AND BEHIND THE BACK PANEL, I WILL EVENTUALLY DO THE FLOOR AND LAY DOWN SOME MASS LOADED VINYL AS WELL BUT I HAD SOME OTHER FINANCIAL PRIORITIES WITH THE TRUCK.

GOT MY AFE PRO DRY S FILTER IN AND CAN FEEL THE ENGINE IS RUNNING A LITTLE SMOOTHER, MAYBE CAUSE MY LAST ONE WAS PRETTY TRASHED. I LIKE THE PRO DRY CAUSE IT IS OIL FREE AND STILL WASHABLE. SO IT KEEPS THE THROTTLE BODY A LITTLE CLEANER.

ALSO GOT SOME AMAZON LED REVERSE LIGHTS, THESE THINGS ARE CRAZY FREAKING BRIGHT.

 

WENT AHEAD AND DID MY CAB MOUNT CHOP AND GOT MY KIT FROM BAMF. EVENTUALLY I WILL RELOCATE CAB MOUNT AS A WHOLE BUT FOR NOW THIS WAS A GREAT WAY TO GET INTO WELDING. I KNOW THE WELDS LOOK LIKE TRASH BUT CLEANED UP I WILL NEVER SEE IT AND I WILL REPLACE ANYWAYS IN TIME.

 

DECIDED TO ORDER THE BAMF SHOCK RELOCATION WHILE IT WAS ON SALE AND DID BETTER ON MY WELDS BUT STILL NOT AS MUCH PENETRATION AS I WANTED. BUT IT DIDN'T MATTER BECAUSE I ENDED UP NOT EVEN GOING THIS ROUTE ANYWAYS.

AFTER I REALIZED I WILL BE WELDING MORE ON THIS TRUCK I WENT AND PICKED UP A MILLER 211, SO FAR THIS MACHINE IS A BEAST! I REALLY WONT NEED ANY MORE THAN THIS EXCEPT MAYBE A DEDICATED TIG MACHINE IN THE FAR FAR AWAY FUTURE.

ALSO MADE A SMALL KART WITH SOME SCRAP AND SOME HARBOR FREIGHT CASTORS.

HAD A WIRE CONNECTOR GET CORRODED FOR MY RETROFITS, RTS REPLACED THE HARNESS BUT ITS FRUSTRATING AFTER JUST PUTTING THESE IN AND ALREADY HAVING PROBLEMS. I ALSO INSTALLED SOME PRECISION BULB HOLDERS WHILE I WAS DOWN THERE SO I AM NOT CUTTING MY HANDS TAKING THE BULBS OUT. ALSO THIS TIME I USED A METRIC SHIT TON OF DIELECTRIC GREASE.

 

ORDERED SOME TOTAL CHAOS MOUNTS FOR THE LOWER SHOCK MOUNT. THE GOAL WITH THESE ARE TO FIT A BIGGER SHOCK IN WHILE COMPROMISING GROUND CLEARANCE BUT THESE MOUNTS HAVE A BUILT IN SKID AND ARE 1/4" THICK, SO ID SAY THEY ARE GONNA BE PLENTY STRONG.

 

STARTED MY SUSPENSION INSTALL WITH SOME KING 2.5 REMOTE RESI 650 LB COILS AND SOME TOTAL CHAOS GUSSETED SPINDLES FROM @glorifiedwelder . FOR THE REAR I INSTALLED SOME ALL-PRO STANDARDS WITH SOME HAND ME DOWN BILSTIEN'S FROM A FRIEND.

INSTALL TOOK ME ABOUT 2 DAYS FOR THE FRONT BECAUSE OF PAINTING AND STUPID MISTAKES GETTING THE TIE ROD OFF. SO FAR THESE SPINDLES ARE SUPER STRONG AND I DID HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT HITTING THE WHEEL SO I GOT SOME SCS WHEELS WITH MORE BACK SPACING.

EXPENSIVE MISTAKES BECAUSE I ASSUME THINGS WILL JUST WORK BUT RESEARCHING IS A BETTER OPTION AND WILL END IN LESS HEADACHE. DON'T JUDGE MY MISTAKES LOL. I PUT A SMALL BEAD ON THE BAD AREAS AND USED A FLAP-DISK TO SMOOTH IT OUT, STUCK SOME PAINT ON IT AND IT LOOKED NEW AGAIN.

THE NEW WHEELS ARE 16" STEALTH CUSTOM SERIES F5 3.5 BS, AND I WENT AHEAD AND ORDERED SOME BFG KO2 285/75/16 FOR NOW UNTIL I UPGRADE MY STEERING RACK FOR 35s LATER ON.

 

I KNOW THE TRUCK LOOKS LIKE EVERY OTHER BUILD ON TW BUT IT WILL BE UNIQUE EVENTUALLY. BUT ILL LEAVE THESE HERE FOR NOW...

 

TOOK A SHORT TRIP OUT TO THE BOARDER AND TESTED OUT THE SUSPENSION AND I AM IN LOVE! I WISH I HAD MORE TRAVEL IN THE REAR BUT THAT WILL BE FIXED. I DO LIKE THE ALL TERRAINS BETTER THAN THE MUD TERRAINS I USED IN MY LAST BUILD. IT FELT GOOD TO GO BACK TO BFG, JUST A SUPER RELIABLE TIRE AND GREAT IN ALL CONDITIONS, EXCEPT MUD FOR THE ALL TERRAINS. BUT WE DO NOT HAVE MUCH MUD DOWN HERE SO NOT A BIG DEAL TO ME.

 

YET AGAIN ANOTHER STUPID MISTAKE FROM RUSHING THINGS AND FORGETTING TO COMPLETE MY LIST OF TO-DO'S. I DIDN'T FIX THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE BRAKE LINE TO THE SPINDLE BECAUSE IT DIDN'T FIT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. SO IT VIBRATED TOO MUCH AND A WEEK LATER IT CRACKED. BUT IT GAVE ME A CHANCE TO INSTALL MY REAR ALL-PRO BRAIDED BRAKE LINES. LESSONS LEARNED, TAKE MY TIME AND DO MY RESEARCH.

 

WENT AND TOOK SOME PICTURES OF THE FALL COLORS AND THEY TURNED OUT PRETTY GOOD!