Gonks' TRD OR Build Thread - MT w/ 35s with 5.29s

Creating a build log to document my progress, and motivate myself more to keep up with my goals for my truck!

How the truck sits as of January 2023:


Photo at Cougar Buttes, in SoCal


Ultimately, my goal for this truck is to be a badass weekend warrior / casual rock crawler, while still functioning relatively well as my daily driver .

As of the end of 2022, its no longer my DD, lets go nuts!

Now, for the mod list!:

Wheels

• TRD Pro Wheels / 32's

• SCS F5's - 16x8 0 offset
• Patagonia MT02's - 315 75 r16

Suspension

• Front leveling kit

Front

• Fox 2.5 DSC Elite Coilovers
• Total Chaos Uniball UCA's
• Warfab Tie Rod Sleeves
• Total Chaos Spindle Gussets
• Sway bar trashcan mod

Rear

• Fox 2.0 DSC w/ RR
• Icon RXT leaves, currently set at stage 2
• Archive U-Bolt Flips w/ their bumps

Armor

• Cali Raised 25° Sliders with a kickout
• CBI Full Skids - Aluminum (do not recommend these at all, see later posts)
• C4 diff skid
• Brute Force Fab rear bumper w/ swingout

Drive Train

• Yukon 5.29 gears
• Eaton E-Locker in front

Misc

• TRD Faux Pro Grille (Taco Garage, pretty nice quality)
• AVS Window Vents
• Diode Dynamics SS3 Fogs - Amber
• Soft Topper (for trips with weather)
  
• Blackout Badges / Emblems
• Static Climbing Cupholder
• TRD Pro Shifter
• FJ Cruiser Shift knob.
  
• Front anytime camera

Goals:
The truck currently kicks ass. I have a small list of 2023 mods I'd like to do:

• Coastal offroad base bumper, with a stinger I build
• Coast offroad ultra clearance skids
• Chevy 63 swap

 

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Picked up a used '20 TRD OR 4X4 in December 2021. Scored a great deal on a manual transmission truck, that came with upgraded trd pro seats, rims, tires, was already leveled, had the technology package, sunroof, and a camper shell.

I have been wanting to dive back into offroading since it was a large part of my childhood. With covid's insane used car market, I was getting insane offers to trade in my '20 Civic Si, so all it took was finding the right deal on the purchase price of the truck to make it happen. I owned both for a few days before selling the Si, was fun to pose them both like this:

The first small thing I did was remove the camper shell. I understand their utility, but losing the bed, and their look are a no-go for me (it's actually for sale right now, see listings or dm if interested!). I plan to go for a soft shell after a few small offroading trips, in preparation for a Utah road trip mid to late 2022:


Bonus image from long ago that inspires my adventures: early 2000's big bear offroading trip. Uncle's 98 (?) Red Taco, I was so young at this point I only have very fuzzy memory of these days but all I remember was they were a blast!

 

You should look up "Nguyen_works" on IG He make custom rear bumper. Mostly for 4Runner but he can probably come up with something!

 

Ill check him out, thank you for the recommendation!

 

Boy, where to start. I have done so much yet so little to my truck since I purchased it last December. I will keep the first post on this updated with a current picture, and the current mod list. My entire list has changed since I first bought the truck: But here is a dump of Dec - April Mods I have done:

Starting out, within a week, I had to ditch the junk shifter that came with my truck off the lot (used) and replaced it with the TRD MT pro knob. Gotta admit, it was uncomfortable for the first day, but I loved the look and since have gotten used to it:




Then came on the Grille, emblems, and LEDs / fogs within about 2 months:




Before my first wheeling trip, I was able to score a nice deal on a black Soft Topper from a user on these forums, and man this thing is cool. It came with some magnets in the flap to keep it sealed better on the freeway, and a brake light (with a functional running tail light!) I had to solder up.



After a wheeling trip to Last Chance Canyon (boy I wish I had these before), about two months apart, I installed some Cali Raised sliders and skids:






I also painted my tow hook red, because it makes you go faster:



Lastly, today, for april fools day, I finally installed my AVS window visors I got last weekend at Cali Raised Offroad's special spring event:

 

Now in terms of wheeling trips between Dec 2021 - April 2022:

First trip: of course within a month of my brother and I buying our trucks (he got a 1st gen) So Cal was hit with about a month of rain, actually closing most of the trails. The best we got was a muddy staging area, but us ( and apparently everyone in OC that weekend) made the most of it. Wish we got more pictures on the trail:




Jan / Feb 2022
Next up was a pre-run (totally over kill, but wanted to see how much re-opened) and a family run of Saddleback (known to locals) or Maple Spring Truck Trail


Easy trail, nice views, but enjoyable. Brought family up with us that used to always hit this trail in the 90s. Sadly, most of the side trials, and offshoots that were more fun are closed these days.

Jan 2022 Cont.: We went up to a family member's house and hit Last chance canyon. In two stock tacomas, it was very doable, but sketchy!



Graduation Hill (Honestly the easiest part of the trail imo. Going to try the hard line when I go back):


Mar 2022: Rowher Flats
In March my brother and I hit Rowher flats, from east to west. It was a challenging trail, but nothing too hard, even in stock (but sliders / skidded) Tacomas. That being said, good God is the waterfall on the way out sketchy as hell to go down, I can't imagine running it in reverse (double black diamond trail west to east):






I did manage to get hung up and turtled on the rocks at the top, when messing around for fun. Boy these CBI skids cover nice, but hang down low. That being said, it was 100% on me for choosing a poor line. More seat time required! This was actually our first recovery, and, while being easy, I have to admit I was proud at the fact that we stayed calm and was able to pull me out of the spot within 5 minutes (even with a small crowd watching us, lol). Not pictured is a rock about ~1/2 size to the one under my driver tire, which managed to get wedged up in my skids:


Thankfully, a light pull got me out. Didn't have to whip out the bubba rope quite yet!

 

And if you bothered to flip through this and read up until this point, thank you! I really get a kick out of some of these build logs / trail reports, and decided to start contributing to mine. Can't wait to go out wheeling again. Next trip up is Last Chance again, to help my uncle break (in) his newly built YJ.

 

Can anyone tell me how to remove the letters AVS from my visors with out ruining them? was it goo gone ?

 

I have not done that yet. Goo gone maybe, simple green, or lastly some nail polish remover. But that may ruin the plastic? I still have my letters on.

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P7AfVsvYQXE That is my plan.

 

Thank you very much for the video and the advice I appreciate you all have yourself a nice weekend today is my Friday

 

Yeah you too!

 

May 2022
No mods lately, I have a garage full of suspensions components but am still waiting on rear shocks.

Took a great trip up to Yosemite and then hit Bald Mountain in the Sierras. Was a great time. This truck is capable as heck, but wouldn’t mind more ground clearance.


It was super foggy at the peak


My brothers first gen kicked ass that day too.

 

June 2022
Hit Gold Mountain, a Jeep BoH run in SoCal. Essentially a stock Tacoma, with sliders. I twas fun, challenging, but doable with some good lines and spotting.

July 2022
My first night run, we went to Calico with a good group of guys.


August 2022
I went crazy in August last year, when the last of my lift components came in. This month the following went in:

• Fox 2.5 DSC front, 2.0 rears
• Icon RXTs I left at stage 1
• Archive U-bolt flips
• SCS F5's with Patagonia MT02s - 315 75 R16
• Total Chaos UCA's
• Warfab's tie rod sleeves

 

September 2022
Shakeout run for the new lift, we went up to Bald Mountain again in near Shaver Lake in central CA. We attended the CAL 4WD's annual High Sierra Poker Run. Everything worked well, but I still have more clearance work to do in the front. It was incredible to see how much easier lines were versus when I went as a stock Tacoma.


October 2022
This month, TC spindle gussets went on thanks to my brother in law helping me weld them up.

November 2022
Hit Cougar buttes for the first time. What an incredible spot. If you are in the SoCal area I suggest you try this at some point. Its a nice playground to test out your rig and driving abilities. This was also the first run with our new addition to the family, a corgi named Luna. This was her first trip out, and she loves rock crawling.

 

December 2022
Busy month. I got regeared by Premier West Gears down here in SoCal. Finally threw the sway bar off, and what a joke, it rides fine without it. Added an Eaton E-Locker in the front. Finally addressed my HAMMERED CBI skids, went down to Corral Canyon in San Diego with my brother in law and a bunch of XJ's, went back to central California to install my Brute Force Fab rear bumper, and did a little snow wheeling.

Front skid mount had to get hammered back down, and I gusseted it

Rear mount on front skid totally sheared through.

We went through and welded a new bushing on, keep in mind this is AL, and getting that powder coating off for a clean weld was a real PITA, did the best we could.


Corral Canyon kicked ass! Took my first bit of body damage, but luckily it is in a spot that is getting cut off anyways.


Stock bumper off, masking off cut lines!

Test cut done!


Finished product. Man, it looks great!

Small snow run! She's a real adventure dog.

 

January 2023
Starting off the new year strong with a Cougar Buttes run on Jan 1st. Did some harder lines than last time, got to experience how kick ass my new bumper was, and had a great time. Cannot wait to see where we go with this truck this year.