Class V Taco

I bought this truck in 2014 with 14k miles. It currently has 235k miles!
First the name of the build is class V Taco. This comes from my love of whitewater kayaking. I am born and raised in the foothills of Northern California and have been kayaking here since 2003. I chose to go with a long bed as it fits my kayak well in the bed of the truck but I also like the long bed for putting more stuff in there and camping.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@classVTaco

2013 TRD Sport DCLB V6

Suspension

Front stuff
Dobinson MRA extended travel with springs rated for an additional 200 lbs of extra weight.
SPC upper control arms with new style ball joins as 9/4/24
Current- Wheelers Super Bumps
OLD- Timbren off-road Bump Stops
Sway bar removed
Total Chaos cam tabs
Cab Mount relocation- Supreme Fab Works
Spindle gussets- Supreme Fab Works
Fender trim: front- sheet metal 2.5 in/ flares 2in.
C4 Fabrication Fender linears
CVJ Axles with high angle boots

Rear stuff
Dobinson 3-way adjustable MRA Long Travel shocks
Deaver leafs stage II
U bolt flip withTimbren active off-road Bump Stops
BAMF HD shackels and shacke hangers
Fender trim: rear- sheet metal 3in/ flares 2.5in

Tires/Wheels

Current- Yokohama Geolander G003 Mt 35/12.5/17- quantity 5
Current- SCS Blaze 10. gloss gunmetal- 17X9 -38mm offset 3.50" bs- quantity 5
Short stubby valve stems and no tpms sensors
Removed because I kept breaking them off-Apex performance 3.0 rapid Precision valves- quantity 5

OLD-BFG KO2's 285/75/17
OLD- ATX racing wheels 17x8 zero offset

Drivetrain/gears

Front- 4.88 Nitro- installed by Stellar Built
ECGS bushing
OLD- (replaced 09/24 because theygot holes)High clearance CV boots by Dobinson

Rear- 4.88 Motive- installed by Jaws Gear and Axle
Rear Eaton e-locker

Armor- All armor is BAMF!

Bay Area Metal Fab- front plate bumper with center hoop, high clearance rear bumper with rub rails, ifs front skid plate, mid skid, transfer case skid, diff skid, LCA skids, and 20 degree bolt on sliders.

Recovery stuff

OVS Scar 10s winch
3"x30' rhino USA strap
All Top 12 V Air Compressor
All Top- 20' kinetic rope, snatch block, winch damper. 2 soft shackles
4 steel shackels, 25 ft chain
Homemade recovery boards
48" high lift Jack / jack stand base
Shovel, Axe, Echo chainsaw 16 inch bar

Misc

Total Chaos bed stiffeners
Extended rear brake lines
Cowl intake mod kit by @dpele
Diode Dynamics 30 in light bar
Diode Dynamics ss3 pro yellow fog lights
Exhaust reroute
Cut off exhaust past Axle
Carrier bearing spacer
CMC, beat pinch weld
diff breather mod ran to taillight
Uni filter Mod
Go Fast Camper build #361
Carhartt seat covers
Two- 10 in JBL Subwoofers in custom box behind back seat powered by Kenwood 500w amp.
Dometic hardwiring kit installed in bed of truck
WeatherTech floor mats
Rear tail lights with black housing
Painted front Toyota emblem in Grill
Mountain hatch tailgate table
@KB Voodoo bed rails and tailgate cap
Retoubed rear drive line with thicker steel to handle abuse from rocks.

As of 7/11/2024 with 241,640 mi


Before with 34's

 

Today I installed new Yokohama 35's and SCS blaze 10 wheels. I have five of each and installed new TPMS sensors with Apex performance rapid release valves

I have slight rub on cab mount with wheels turned at certain angles so need to do more cutting or relocation.

 

Today I installed new inner and outer tie rods on both sides. Napa auto parts.

 

At full stuff I was rubbing cab mount and firewall. Yesterday I cut the cab mount back as much as possible until I do a relocation which is soon. I also beat the hell out of the firewall and now I'm not rubbing at full stuff wheel turned.
I used JB Weld steel stick to fill in some of the cracks, and then covered in 3M seam sealer.

 

Cut off exhaust behind axle and removed stock hitch. I have BAMF high clearance rear bumper on order.

 

Bed rails and tailgate cap by @KB Voodoo.
Old ones were damaged from abuse and having the GFC. These things are really nice.

 

Today I got some great work done at Supreme Fab Works in Sacramento CA.

New custom spindle gussets that are a unique design created in-house by Supreme Fab that completely protect the spindle more than brands you can buy like total chaos. They allow you to run dust shield without modification and there is still the ability to run sway bar although I do not have that. The spindle gusset for seriously the strongest I have ever seen on the market.

New cam can tab gussets by total chaos because my existing cams were bent. They also completed new alignment getting everything into proper spec.

Cab Mount relocation with custom Cab Mount that Supreme Fab designed themselves. These things are extremely strong and from my research offer the most clearance you can get out of a cab mount relocation. My 35s no longer rub on the cab mount.

 

Here are before and after pics of wheel turned and flexed. Even though I chopped the hell out of the cab mount it was still running. After the relocation a couple more hits with the sledgehammer it appears that there is no longer any rub in this area.

 

Today I picked up my BAMF midskid and transfer case skid. I'm going to have it powder coated later but will just protect with paint for now.

 

Installed BAMF midskid and Transfer Case skid today. Also installed U bolt flip kit and new Timbren bumps.

 

Installed BAMF diff skid last week. Then use the hell out of it on Barrett Lake Trail

 

Trip to Barretts Lake Trail!

 

I installed lower control arm skids from BAMF. At first I thought these were not really necessary and I guess they are not but my last trip on the trail where I was hitting a lot of rocks I did scratch them pretty bad and put a dent in one so I think these will prevent future abuse.

 

Trip to the Rubicon trail! Loom Lake to Tahoe. This place is amazing and so challenging.. Destroyed my rear bumper and broke taillight but bumper is being replaced soon.
I definitely had the least " capable" rig on that trail compared to all of this rigs that were built super tough and big People were definitely surprised to see a Tacoma on the trail.
I have been scouring the internet for reports of DCLB tacos with ifs on the Rubicon and can't find many. There are a lot more short bed tacos going but even then seeing 2nd and 3rd gen tacos with ifs out there is rare.

 

Retoubed rear drive line with thicker steel to handle abuse from rocks.

 

Let's plan a trip for next year DCLB gang.
I'm on 35's 5.29s locked front and rear and all the armor, bumpers, skids, sliders, etc...
Just need a good spotter and I'm down!

 

Sounds great!

 

Retubed rear driveline to thicker .134 wall.
I did this just before trip to Rubicon and it held up well.

 

What's the wall thickness of the OEM rear shaft?

 

I believe stock OEM is .065. I took it to Driveline Services of Sacramento. They recommended .134. Said much thicker would cause vibrations at higher speeds.