PcBuilder's 2018 Tacoma Build

Can’t wait! The rear suspension has definitely seen better days as it hardly rides higher than stock anymore with the add-a-leafs and the rear shocks have been overheated and overextended quite a few times. It’ll be nice to have rear suspension that can keep up, if not outperform, the front instead of bouncing around everywhere.

Hopefully I’ll hear back from ADS on Monday, but if not I’ll call them sometime next week as I’m sure the shocks will take the longest to get. Below are the specs I asked for.

- 2.5x14" short body shock
- Remote reservoir w/compression adjusters
- Straight fitting out of top cap for reservoir hose
- 90 degree fitting at reservoir end of hose
- 16" Hose length
- Short/welded rod-ends

 

Ah, you're doing the shock relo as well! I just went with ex-travel in stock location. Can't wait to see the process. That should be very nice in the rough stuff.

 

Yeah, at first I was just going to get the rear bypasses ADS makes for the stock location to keep it simple and be able to install everything myself. Now that I’ve found a fabricator who knows Tacomas (@STravis), is relatively local, and has ran a similar rear setup on his old Tacoma I decided to go the relocation route.

Hopefully this will be a buy once, cry once situation and the rear will be pretty dialed in once this is finished.

 

90% sure the relo is somewhere in my future, so is the JD Fab front end. I don't believe buy once, cry once is ever really possible. Lol

 

You’re probably right. I’m pretty confident that once I get the rear suspension, bumpers, and gear organization figured out I’ll want to do long travel up front

The JD Fab stuff is very interesting and I’ve been watching his thread a lot lately. I’d love to run his LCA relocation setup, but the only thing holding me back in the skid plate design. I’m sure I could figure out how to make my existing skids work out eventually, but I’ll wait until somebody else does it and posts pictures. For now I just need to get my Marlin Crawler LCA reinforcement kit and all of the other reinforcement stuff I have sitting in the garage welded on and see how it goes from there. I’m definitely watching his 2.25” LT kit for future reference.

 

Mornin- got an email from archive garage about my shackle hangars and cross tube saying they have the high clearance cross tube now and would I prefer that? - It'll push my order back another 30 days, that's not a problem, but I'm wondering what you think of the setup? They show it on their website.

 

This is what's overwhelming for someone just starting off, I just want to be able to eventually fit 35's (or do I? haha!). I'm starting with simple things that need to be done first, but it's always a domino effect- For example I have Deaver u402's stage 2 I want to put on, so I placed the order for shackle hangars since I knew the leafs were coming off. But my buddy who owns the garage that's helping me likes the stability of a crossbar- so now I'm trying to figure out where the spare will go. (I guess we can always wait a bit to install the crossbar?) He's also the one who turned me on to the JD fab stuff- but man that seems like stepping off the deep end and I wonder what dominoes that will trigger. Plus, I haven't even regeared yet so that seems like an important next step before going up in tire size- In the meantime I'm getting more experience driving off road here Northern AZ and wondering if I need more armor underneath? Haven't smashed anything yet but...
Threads like this are super helpful so I can look over your shoulder in a way. Appreciate any insights you have as to order of importance in things without going overboard.

 

I just got the email as well and went with the high clearance cross tube. From what I've seen it rarely gets hit, but one less thing to get hung up on is always a plus.

As far as I know only the cross tube will be delayed an extra 30 days. The rest of your order should follow it's original timeline.

I know the feeling. I try to do stuff in an order that will have the most beneficial effect. For me, basic armor like rock sliders and skid plates were a priority because they provide the most protection in my opinion. Off road bumpers provide better clearance as well as hold things like a winch or tire, but they don't feel like an immediate requirement for my type of off roading. Just more of a convenience. While I'm out off roading, camping, or just exploring I try to consider what mod would do the best in making the experience better and go from there. If I'm constantly worried I'm going to hurt the truck then my focus needs to be on how to alleviate that. If my focus is on how frustrating it is to keep everything organized, which is where I currently am and will be focusing my money on after the rear suspension is finished, then I am going to focus on making that better.

I don't think there is a right/wrong way to do things as long as it's what works best for your style. All I can say is don't cheap out. Take your time and try to do it right the first time.

 

I hope this doesn't sound asshole-ish, but if you really want to have a stopping point with your build, get off TW and never look back. I'm on my 2nd taco (which I've only had for a year) and I'm already revamping my plans. There may in fact be too many options out there.

 

Agreed. Some days I feel like I should have just stayed stock to save money and just use it. But, then I go out and enjoy how much better, more capable, and enjoyable it is to take off roading. Everybody needs a hobby, and unfortunately this one can get really expensive.... Haha

 

The best thing I've ever read on these forums was when @Blackdawg said to just go wheel it stock. You really will be surprised what these trucks can do, and it'll give you a realistic idea of what you want/need without the (sometimes bad) influence on here.

 

Yep. Just drive the shit out of it. The more miles you have under your belt, the better your vision of your build will be. And it'll end up saving you lots of money in the long run and time.


The truck is always more capable then the driver is usually.

 

He's 100% correct. That's why mine sat stock looking for nearly 2 years. It got me everywhere I wanted to go until some forest service roads finally got to the stock tires

Agreed. Especially on the capability of a stock 4x4. I kind of enjoyed taking my stock tires and height through so much. Made things more interesting haha

 

Speaking of stock . . .

How's the shock relo going? This is exactly the kind of (bad) influence I was talking about, and I'm frickin hooked!

 

yeah it is easier once you've done it once and are just more confident in your own abilities as a driver. Makes it more fun.

If you had to change anything though as a newer driver, sliders and 32'' tires would be good. That'll still get you in plenty of trouble if you want it too. And if you tweak a bumper..who cares. You can replace that easily haha

And shit, I still basically don't wheel with lockers..hahaha It can be fun.

My trucks were still the "best" when they were on 33s, some suspension work, sliders...and thats it. Okay..maybe a front bumper but if I hadn't hit a deer I'd still have the stock front one on Igor for sure. I still get up to 23mpg this way too and it doesn't feel like a total dog but still easy to drive and fun and comfortable to DD if needed.

Balance.
















Don't get me wrong. Frankenstein was and still is my all time favorite POS dirt eating monstrosity to just beat on and drive hard. So fun. But..only in the dirt on the trails. Driving it on the highway...ugh.


Thats why having 2(or 3 ) is the way go

 

It's gonna be a while. I doubt I'll even have all of the parts until at least the third week of February at the earliest. Surprisingly ADS only gave me a 3-5 week lead time. Then I'll still need to coordinate with @STravis for a good date to get the work done. So I'm guessing it'll be complete in March best case scenario.

The leaf springs are sitting in the garage, so as soon as I get my hands on the shackle hangers and u-bolt flip I'll go ahead an knock that out myself one weekend.

 

I blame Frank for every penny I've spent in the last decade.

I'm surprised how quick ADS's turn around is. I've been tripping over the hammer hangers in my garage for 8 months now. Life is hard sometimes.

 

Not sorry

damn...it has almost been a decade..wow. I need to get him back on the road.

 

Especially when King/Fox are giving 10+ week lead times for "custom" builds. Guess it helps that ADS is a much smaller company.

 

Yeah you do. Hopefully one day I'll get to see that behemoth in person.