Canadian 2010 TRD Off Road "Sensible" Build

Hey TW,

First time taco owner. Have been seduced by toyota's reliability and capability reputation. Always thought they were the coolest and they're ubiquitous in the mountain biking world I grew up in. After driving my step father's taco a couple of times recently in our horrid winter conditions and even worse summer road conditions I thought: "if it's good enough for middle-eastern war zones maybe it has a shot here". Had my eyes on different Land Cruisers and until this salvaged taco showed up. Salvage titles are ironically a plus in the Quebec Market as it ensures that there is less rust than our local trucks. Got it the day before our Covid 19 shutdown too, a more fitting vehicle for the apocalypse.

Regardless, I'm looking to build a vehicle for reliable, comfortable driving on dirt roads that looks mean and that I can keep forever.

Priorities (in order):

1. Driving comfort on rough roads defined as:
   • No extraneous rattles and fear of breaking parts
   • Absorption of expansion joints in road, drainage holes in dirt, potholes
2. Somewhat aggressive looks
   • Bigger wheel tires than stock
   • Slight lift or level
3. Near-factory feel
   • Considering I'm looking to keep this vehicle long term as a daily, the mods need to stray from the "project vehicle" look. Rather, I'm looking to shell out slightly more or do less aggressive mods to avoid complications or work-arounds.
   • Removing visible rust and maintaining/replacing worn interior and exterior aesthetic parts
4. Preventative maintenance
   • The taco has 90K miles on it, so I'm looking for tips, tricks and schedules for keeping everything running as well as possible. I'd rather shell out on keeping it a stock TRD in perfect working order than a (admittedly much cooler) beastly trophy truck with a bunch of compromises and the constant wondering about noises and smells.
5. Creature comforts
   • Perfectly organized storage
   • soundproofing cabin
   • Securing Bikes, Surfboards

I'll be researching the TW archives but,
Perhaps you'd like to share your knowledge with me on my first three orders of business?

First order of business:
I want to put in a double din receiver/mediacenter/stereo (What's the decided term?)
What's the best center cover/trim piece to do so? I've heard plastic mounting brackets are an issue? Any actual units you've loved (perhaps with Apple Carplay?)

Second:
I want a slight lift to both front and rear (in the 1" area, 1"5 front) and larger tires/wheels.
Best option for improving the ride characteristics?

Third:
I need a locking tailgate but it seems Pop n Lock are unreliable in cold weather due to plastic assemblies. What's the most reliable option?

Maybe one day:

• Aluminum bumpers
• LED headlights
• Snorkel?
• Grille

Well, this is where this story begins and I'll be sure to show my appreciation for your shared expertise by responding and updating this thread.


Thanks

 

The seat risers for the back bolts of the front seat was an amazing driving upgrade for me. As for mods....I say hunt around. Almost everything I've purchased has been from the classifieds here, facebook marketplace or craigslist.

If you want a lift buy a 3rd Gen suspension and add a 1 inch lift spacer to the front and a 1.5 block in the rear. You'll be happy with that and can get it all for like $200-$300 American Freedom Dollars.

Design your truck on what's important to you. For me it was building something I could live out of and evacuate my family. We've evacuated using my truck for 3 hurricanes. Having the ARB awning, a homemade power shower kit, and lighting all around makes life fun and easy.

 

Hi RL

Welcome to TW my fellow Canadian
90000 km on a 2010 is great. I just turned 83000 km
My truck as only minor mods and I have no plans on anything major.
Lots of info here from very knowledgeable owners so if anything comes up with your truck TW is an excellent source because of it's members.
Check out your frame and you will have to register for the Toyota frame extended warranty program. I'm cleaning my frame/other undercarriage parts and applying KBS Coatings Rust Paint. After that I'll take it in for the program.
I have no option on lifts. Again lots of info here.
As for maintenance:
I would change all fluids, lube your driveshaft that way you can start fresh on your schedule going forward
Clean your throttle body that helps with fuel mileage and motor running smooth
I've ran a K&N filter from the start and helps fuel mileage and overall performance (there are mixed opinions on this). But look into high flow air filters and cold air intakes if this is a direction you want to take.
Change your spark plugs. Again mixed opinions on this using OEM or after market. I've ran OEM from the start. Some trucks don't like after market plugs from what I understand but check it out.
Brakes, drive train, suspension, front wheel bearings are common so listen for noise
Over all good go through of things for peace of mind
If your doing soundproofing you may want to consider purchasing better speakers while you have things apart.
I've added a Sony high output (45 watts per channel, didn't want to add amp) double din stereo/better speakers and I used the Scosche kit because others here said they like it better and I had no problems
I've had a pop N lock from day one and no trouble

Again welcome to Tacoma World

 

Hey TW,

I've now gotten acquainted with the truck and love it more everyday.

The Scosche dash kit and my double din receiver arrived. One of the things i wanted was to not have usb cables stiking out near the touchscreen, hence, the USB is internally routed. Anywhere I can get the definitive guide to wiring a usb into the blanks between the 12V outlets/cigarette lighters? seems like it isn't actually that easy to pass a cable down there. I see a lot of tutorials on how to get power to usb outlets but not audio+power coming from the entertainment unit.


Another thing is that there is very little rust on the vehicle except for one spot: the bolts and brackets holding down the front seats. How would the infinite TW knowledge base address this? Simply unbolt and lift the seat enough to sand/paint without affecting carpet?

 

RL

If you can remove the bolt do so. Lift up gently slip a piece of cardboard under. If not tape around using two or three layers to prevent breaking through when preparing. Check tape before painting, by brush don't use tape as slop guard this helps paint not to creep under tape, rattle can cover lots before spraying.

A tip from your Taco brother who's a painter by trade since 1978.

 

Great Stuff NAG. Will do this week by brush I think. Might also take a gander at whatever is below (might also be oxydated).

 

Hey Fellow Canadian
This forum is crack cocaine. Be careful. How much of your money will it take? All of it.
Honestly this place should be your go to for answers/solutions and ideas for the direction you want to take your truck. Understand that your truck - bone stock - with a good set of tires will get you pretty much anywhere you would want to take your daily driver. It literally needs nothing to be far more capable than what you require. Everything you add is just gravy.
Now my opinion on what to do with the truck:
New suspension will make it feel brand new(maybe better) and is money well spent. I took out a 3" spacer lift and replaced it with 887 coils, bilstein 5100s, and upper control arms - the truck feels great to me on and off road. This setup was a budget buy it didnt break the bank and it feels far better than what I had.
Get a set of 10 ply wrangler duratrac tires. Canadian Tire has them on sale every two weeks. They have the snowflake rating and they are overall great tires on our trucks. I have 265/70/17 it's a good size appearance/function.
Get on the frame warranty - mine (2009) expires in July.
Again the best thing to do is research on this forum before buying/fixing something. It has saved me to many times to count.
Have fun!

 

Hey ORT!

Thanks for the warm welcome.

I'm going to be looking at the 5100s soon and wanted to know if you felt the expansion joints and smaller road bumps less. Currently it seems like the smaller the hole the more i feel it, and yet the huge potholes and speedbumps are barely noticeable.

Also, what do you do about rustproofing? Seems like we're amongst the few who see the ravages of rust first-hand daily.

Thanks

 

For rust you have choices. Rust bullet, fluid film or Por15

 

I had a 3" spacer lift in the truck that the previous owner had installed by the dealership. It was not a good ride. I felt the bumps and it was stiff and it wandered all over the road. The combination of ome 887 coils with 5100s and Freedom Offroad ucas designed for a lift makes it drive like stock but gives me the lift. This combination is discussed to death on this forum - all I can say is that for me it works well and I could afford it. I wouldn't just lift with the 5100s it would be a harsher ride with poorer handling.
Rust wise I dont go too crazy. Just oil undercoat. This truck has 310000km, my last had 425000. They rust but they also last longer than anything else on the road. With the frame warranty program you have that much more chance of getting your money's worth out of your truck.

 

Hey TW,

I did the Pop and Lock

$100 Pop & Lock PL5400 Black Manual Tailgate Lock with Bolt Codeable Technology for Toyota Tacoma

PL5400 as my fist ever mod to my new to me taco. As some of you may know, the driver's side rod needs to be flipped, resulting in in it touching the tailgate's interior (see image). I was wondering if the rod's rubbing on the tailgates interior structure brace could be fixed. Maybe some kind of low friction material would help?

I also have a pretty sizeable gap on the bottom and around the camera (see other picture). Our winters are bad enough that I don't want debris and moisture inside the tailgate. What does the infinite cumulated knowledge of TW suggest to fill that gap? Liquid gasket type stuff? Ideally something that isn't an adhesive in case the handle needs to be replaced.

Lastly, I'm wondering if anyone has had good success with plastic restoring in their beds. I don't need it to be perfect but would like to get some of the grey scratches to show less.

Thanks!

 

How would you prep the surface to take off rust and get max adhesion. I'll be using a small can of liquid rustoleum/tremclad rustproof black paint by brush. Steel wire?

 

RL

Small wire brush, sand paper for metal, clean the surface after prep before painting.

You could try wire wheel on drill just be careful the drill doesn't get away from you (slow and steady).

Rustoleum will do good job just apply two or three thin coats for best coverage.

 

Seems like there isn't a rubbing solution for that tailgate rod. Hmm

Pictures of my current conundrums.

In the meantime I did the world's easiest mod: center console lid storage as per the TW forum on the subject

Other random questions:

1. My rear bumper seems to be crooked on one side. Is this possible to correct? Not a biggie but kinda annoying
2. The weatherproofing trim on my windshield isn't even. Is this an issue? Also fine for now but good to get TW's pulse on the matter

 

First time doing anything relatively gnarly in the stock truck. Man is this thing ever capable. I was concerned about the approach and departure angles but no problems!

 

Wanted to update on what has been done:

• Geolandar AT G015 that stay on all year have been quiet on road and grippy off road
• Tire deflator has made a big difference when trying to take the "long way" (i.e. washboard country roads)
• Model Specific floor liners. Essential
• Consistent interior and exterior cleaning has progressively made it feel and look like new. Crazy how (especially in Canada) a well-detailed truck looks newer than those almost a decade newer.
• New Head Unit with Carplay is definitely a game changer. Still can't get the steering wheel control adapter thing to work.
• Header gasket change.
• Actually learnt how to engage 4Lo, A-Trac

Summer projects:

• Clean up frame surface rust, paint and film.
• DIY Rock sliders and rear recovery point welding
• Some way to attach my recovery boards to the bed rails low enough to close the rolling bed cover, that also locks.
• Slight lift that A) Improves comfort on dirt roads and terrible paved roads B) Still looks OK with P265/70R16

Any good threads, ideas for the latter?

Much thanks!

 

Also just some general knowledge questions:

• I live in a very cold climate. Is a transmission cooler a good idea? I hear what wears transmission is the range in temps.
• Whenever I take things apart, i find that a lot of brackets, holders are a bit rusty and that clips/screws are broken or decrepid. I got a set of clips and 10mm screws to reassemble stuff leaving it better than I found it. Any best practices for dealing with super gunky or slightly rusty surfaces. Should i just budget 2x time on reassembly to clean+sand+apply some paint with a brush to everything?
• One of my OEM mudguards ripped off when reversing out of a snowbank. I know they are usually the first thing to break off road, but what is the alternative is I want something a bit shaped (I'm not a fan of the simple flap ones personally). Also, it seems all 4 mudguards have stripped holes (from being ripped off I assume) and haphazard screw locations. Any good ways to clip them in where they'll break off without damaging the truck's fender panel? Super strong plastic slips maybe? That would allow me to keep the OEM panels and just have extra clips if a mudguard rips off.

 

Hey TW,

Been a reader not a poster in the last years.

The time and budget has come together to make good on lift + tires.

Right now I'm looking at a deal on this Dobinson kit as everything is quite tired on my truck suspension wise. Does anyone know if there is a spring rate that will accomodate 285s and still be progressive enough to no feel expansion cracks and small chatter too much?

Alternative is the Dobinson IMS but perhaps that extra grand could best be used in UCAs.

Anyone know the options on those kits that would best accomodate larger than stock wheel diameters for a 2nd gen that only transports mountain bikes and dudes?

Thanks