Crashnburn80's 1st Gen TRD Double Cab Build

Taking the Tacoma across the mountains to the other side of the state next week to visit the folks. 1 degree F this morning with 8” snow over there. I knew the toe on the truck was way out of alignment, like you could tell just looking at the truck’s front end, and it made steering sloppy. Not something I really wanted if the drive ends up being one where 4wd is required a majority of the time. And not something I want wearing on the newer tires either.

So I took it into Toyota for the alignment, the Firestone grade shops never seem to do an adequate job.


The caster is fubared due to the lift and OEM UCAs, that is expected. Toe as anticipated was way out of spec and corrected. I wish I had asked about the SAI spec though and why they couldn’t get it within range on one side. Having a lifted vehicle, you can’t always get all the specs green, but it seems like that should have. Picking up the truck was a bit rushed and chaotic though, the building next door had caught fire and streets were shut down and emergency vehicles everywhere as it was snowing causing a traffic nightmare. We Ubered there for pickup with my kid and it just wasn’t the environment to study all the things as carefully as I normally would have.

After getting the truck back the steering feels far less numb and more responsive. Prior if shaking the wheel back and forth between 10-2 the truck didn’t really do anything. Now it responds. The truck also tracks better.

While at the dealer they did follow up and check the AC system for the UV dye added in summer and didn’t find any leaks.

 

Unquestionably the best lighting upgrade. Installing my Ultimate Headlight Upgrade on my 1st Gen. I had Headlight Services make me a custom length harness based on my measurements sized to the 1st Gen. We reduced 30" off the harness length in optimizing the design specifically for the 1st Gen, and in high performance harnesses the shorter the harnesses the better the performance while also providing a cleaner install. I also picked up 4 of the Superbrights from Headlight Services as well. As these bulbs are not readily available in local stores, you should ideally have a spare set on hand.

Exceptional build quality. Looks like my headlight thread made the cover on the install instructions. Compared to my earlier review in post #1262, relays for the ground switched units have switched from Bosch to Picker relays due to supply chain issues.


The headlight wiring guage comparison on a 1st Gen is a massive difference.


Removing the battery, there are plenty of unused holes in the fender to hard mount the relays. Simple bolt with washers and nut on the other side then reinstalling the relay afterward.


There is enough room to remove/replace the relays on the fender without removing the battery.


Ran the wiring up and over the radiator with zip ties on either side to keep it in-place.


I was conservative on the passenger side wire length and ended up keeping it longer than necessary. It is 6" shorter than spec, but could still be a bit shorter. Otherwise the wiring length reductions were great to eliminate unnecessary wire and further reduce voltage drop.

This lighting upgrade is paired with the Northstar AGM + HKB voltage booster upgrade plus new OEM housings for maximum performance gains. Winter can bring it.

Edit: here is a link to my custom length specs in post #302.

 

wait... why does your harness have a 3rd relay? maybe im just dumb. the one i got in my 95 is just 2 relays.

 

Ground switched vs power switched.

 

huh. weird. mine is a ground switched harness. at least that was what was ordered. lol its been working fine

 

Hmm. All my ground switched harnesses have been 3 relay units. I'll look into it and report back.

 

interesting. i knew the site showed 3 when i ordered it.. got the 2 and its worked fine so i never questioned it. i figured the 3rd relay had something to do with the DRL being a thing on some trucks

 

I haven’t even opened my box from HS but I find that interesting re three relays.

 

Customized length - very nice.

Where are Picker relays made?

Completely agree with your Northstar and HKB advice - I remain very happy with mine.

 

Since our usual highway had closed due to extreme icing, we had to divert the long way around and cross multiple passes to make Chelan. With recent heavy snow conditions on the east side of the state, I left the Tesla and opted for the Tacoma as the more ideal winter vehicle.

The Picker relays are made in China. I may look to source other relays and swap them out on principle, though Headlight Services says they haven’t had any issues with them.

 

i believe omron still sells usa made relays in that form factor

 

Good tip, thanks! Looks like they also manufacture out of Canada. I’ll compare relays and availability once the truck is back in a garage.

 

i've taken a liking to their micro relays. simply because a trip to the junkyard yields a large amount of their high current versions from multiple GM vehicles. i just have a huge dislike for relays from china.. not because they're all bad.. just because my luck with them has been shite

 

Do you carry snow chains or can you make do with the BFG's and 4WD?

 

I do not carry chains. The KO2s do well till 25-30k miles when their slick/wet performance rapidly degrades. At that point I sell them while they have plenty of life left with good resale value and pick up a new set so I’m always riding on fresh grippy rubber. We’ll see how that works with the Tacoma not being a daily anymore.

Pic from the DOT on the highway 2 closure causing us to take the long way around. Zamboni worthy ice 6” thick over the highway from freezing rain.

 

Note the relays HS chooses are dual 87. I’ve looked for various skirted dual 87 options but haven’t found any. It is super nice to have single wire crimps for driver and passenger wires. It’s not really possible to do two 12 gauge crimps on a single female spade, you end up having to go to 14 gauge.

The omron micro relays with smaller pins sort of amplify this problem, single short 12 gauge to a distribution to double 12 makes for the relay as the choke point.

bottom line, if you were to snap in a standard relay, one side will be on when it should be off. Which is not what you want.

I do wish I could find a dual 87 skirted relay for the metripack relay connectors I use. I’ve looked.

if you find something, make sure to tag me.

 

350 miles round trip and back home. If you live somewhere that it snows a lot, contracting private plow trucks is really nice vs shoveling/blowing a driveway.



Took the formerly closed highway 2 back across the passes on the return, significant ice clumps stuck on the winding highway were a bit much for the trucks suspension at speed, causing significant bucking and hoping of the rear end causing it to drift out a bit which was mildly alarming. The truck needs better suspension than the spacer/shackle lift it has currently, definitely in the cards but a ways out.

 

Where do you get your information regarding tire performance over time?

 

Common knowledge? It’s well known that as tires age, they become less supple and hence less “grippy.” I’d bet that from personal experience he’s found 25-30k to be the sweet spot for his driving habits.

 

I’ve run 5 sets of them.