Stealth Custom Series 2013 Holiday Contest

'Tis is the season of giving and SCS is in a giving kind of mood. To show our appreciation to the forum and to the members that have supported us thus far, we have come up with a fun and exciting contest that everyone should enjoy. We hope to have everyone engaged so spread the word and let's get this contest going!

There are many folks on here that have showed us a lot of love and would love to rep our wheels if money wasn't an issue. We want to be able to give a free set of our wheels to the most deserving Owner and Tacoma out there. It doesn't matter if your truck is completely stock or fully modded out. We want to hear your story, your journey with your truck, and your passion for this hobby. Share with all of us your connection to your Tacoma.

Get your writing "A" game up and bust out the camera. Share your story, pictures, and see where it takes you. All entries are welcome and you have until December 20th to join in on all the fun. We will pick out 10 finalist and post these 10 in a new thread for all members to vote on. The winner will be whoever has the most votes on December 31st.

Remember, its' not about who has the best looking truck. It's about who's most deserving of a nice gift from SCS based on their connection to their truck and their fondness for this hobby.

Win a set of 4 with lugs and just pay shipping!!!

Post your entries in this thread.

Disclaimer
We expect everyone to behave like mature adults and keep this thread fun! SCS fully expects the winner to use the wheels on their personal truck. We don't want anyone trying to win a set just to turn around and make a quick buck. That would defeat the purpose of this "most deserving" gift idea. All members will keep check on each other to keep things honest. If the gift is abused, we will have to cease this offering so don't spoil it for everyone else. We hope to offer this every winter season from now on forth so even if you don't win this year, there's always next season.

 

Awesome setup SCS, its great to see a company so invested in the Tacoma and TW. Now I just wish my wheels would get here sooner.

 

Aloha vin!
might as well give it a shot.


My parents bought "Tiana" 12 years ago, as the second owners of a 1 year old 00' tacoma...I was 8 at the time.



My fam's been in the kona coffee business for 110 years, so I started working on the farm when I was old enough to carry a bucket. My parents bought the truck for use as a coffee hauler

literally, some of my first memories were spent riding in the back of the truck driving up and down our farm. Sometimes my dad, my bro and I would even drive to the top of our property, pitch a tent in the bed, and make a campfire- to go camping in our "backyard"

fast forward 8 years, and 99% of my driving experience was behind the wheel of this truck. Most of the reason why I suck ass at driving stick is because "tiana" is an auto- I learned to drive, and grew up, in this truck.

Eventually, as a Junior in high school, I bought the truck from my parents and started modding it. At first, I couldn't afford any mods above a headlight and taillight swap..And the all-important stickers.

A few months after I bought the truck, I took it out for my first ever camping trip without my father, and my first wheeling trip...That's when I got hooked.




This is when I joined here, and started learning more and more about tacos.

Over the last 4 years, I've become enamored with this thing, and it's become a part of my identity. Kona's a small place, my truck is recognized and attributed to me now. If my dad ever takes it out, I'll get texts asking me where I am

After spending way, way too much time on here, I've been working on improving the performance of the truck to where I can tackle any trail on the island. I've thrown a full mid travel suspension on it, and am currently working on armor- but as a poor college student....I get excited about using brand-name toilet paper, let alone being able to afford nice things for the truck.


Everyone knows what a typical "Hawaii" tacoma looks like.... And because of this culture it's hard to get any legitimate offroad shops out here-Instead of custom fab shops that make awesome chromoly long travel kits, we have spacer shops that specialize in drop bracket lifts.

because of ^^^ that, I've had to teach myself how to wrench on the truck; the only problem is that I posses the mechanical skills of a mentally retarded quadriplegic monk seal. But in doing so, I got to learn how to work on the truck I grew up with, which is awesome.

To shamelessly conclude, I'm going to say I've always loved SCS wheels, was one of the first to buy your "TACOMA" lanyards in 2011, and currently have a warped wheel that bugs the ever living shit out of me at speed !!!!

also...I havent seen any SCS wheels on-island. I'd love to change that!

Tiana would love some new heels, I've asked her. She wants SCS wheels. She's going through truckopause. If I don't give her what she wants, I think she's going to kill me in my sleep.... Help me obi vin kenobi. You're my only hope.

 

Awesome idea vin, props to SCS for putting this together. Subbed to help pick a winner! Good luck everyone.

 

bump!

 

Looks like you have a good chance of winning cody

 

everyone's obviously intimidated by my "Help me obi vin kenobi- you're my only hope" statement

can't. top. that. shit.

 

To understand the passion and love I have for my Tacoma we have to go back to life before I was blessed with being an owner of one. I was fortunate enough to be given a truck by my parents when I turned 16. It was a single cab 1998 Dodge Dakota. It was dubbed the “Blue Bullet”



I performed all of my own maintenance and tinkering on that truck. With many bruised knuckles and trips back and forth to AutoZone, this led me to join my first automotive forum; I even created a “car domain” page. This planted the seed for forum browsing and car ogling issue I have now. I have always believed to take “pride in your ride”

8 years and 110,000 miles later (it had 76,000 miles when I got it), the transmission was on its way out. It was time to make the upgrade. I had graduated college and obtained my dream job working as a firefighter in Central Texas. Through my fire academy the Blue Bullet was starting to go belly up, and I could not afford to be late or have the slightest chance of not making it on time. Fortunately I knew I wanted a Toyota Tacoma for several years before actually owning or searching for one. My sister had a first gen through college, before moving on to her FJ. This is beside the point but my brother drives a Prius, so we’re keeping it in the Toyota family.

I had been browsing Tacoma World for months before actually buying one. This site helped me find out which colors I liked, which body styles and trim packages were for me. I was searching for the Truck of my dreams. Up until that point life had been falling into place; graduating college, meeting the love of my life, and getting the dream job. All that was missing was the truck I was going to start my family with. I had narrowed it down to a Radiant Red and MGM Tacoma; although SWB has a spot in my heart due to the blue bullet. I put it up to my friends on Facebook as to which color I should choose, as I would have been equally as happy with either color.
Here is the actual picture I posted.



MGM it was, it was decided, next was to find one in Central Texas. I searched for weeks, I browsed classifieds, made cars.com and auto trader my top pages visited. Searched craigslist’s adds for hours, filtering through ads in Austin, San Antonio and Houston. Then one Saturday night, I found a 2011 MGM Tacoma Prerunner TRD Sport for $24,999 with 18,500 miles in San Antonio. But the dealer was closed and it was Saturday, what are the chances this dealer was open on a Sunday? Well holy cow, they were! So I get there, take it for a spin, then put it up on the lift and check under it. Plug in my Bluetooth obd reader and open up the torque app to check for stored codes, everything was perfect! I had found the truck that I will drive until it cannot be driven anymore. After driving it home and giving it hugs and kisses goodnight, I came inside and joined Tacoma world as an owner of a new to me, Toyota Tacoma.
Photo from web ad:



Then the “mod bug bit” I quickly flipped through “show me your mgm taco, what did you do to your Tacoma today” and had guidance from the Tacomas I looked up to, the Tacomas that came before me. I always search here and google for days the ideas or thoughts on what to do next or how to fix something. It is sad to see people who view their cars as mere appliances, every person that is a member of a forum, and who have ever turned a wrench knows that these trucks are an extension of who we are. I am happy to support vendors and members that custom make mods for our trucks. (I feel that I’ve been waiting an eternity for my homertaco grill! But it’s worth it! Take your time Sir!) I’m glad to see the passion the members of Tacoma world have for their trucks as it ignites and enforces my own passion. It tells me there are still those that know that yes this truck is something that gets me from point a to b but it’s also so much more.

one of Sockmonkey's last

flyzeye!


Immryo

From going to an underpowered cramped truck to a sweet double cab with a bigger engine, I have an excellent appreciation for what I have now. I remember my roots, the times I had to drive with my bags in the bed of the truck getting soaked from the rain. The 6 years I didn’t have AC in 100+ degree weather, or when the AC would only blow cold while driving. I remember the worry that the ball joints would bust and wheels would go one way and the body another.



My journey with my Tacoma has just begun; December 9th 2013 will be my 1 year anniversary with the MGM Taco dubbed "gray ghost". But my passion for this truck and this hobby still grows every day!



furbaby after a rainy day at the park


My girlfriend would get annoyed sometimes with how often I would go and wash my truck, especially when I would be gone for hours with the clay bar and wax. She even said you need to rub me down as often as you do that truck! Luckily she has grown to accept the relationship between a person and car. She always gives me “the look” when I ask, “Hey, did I lock my truck?” and scurry back halfway from walking into the store to make sure. The walk that would take “forever” she says since I park so far away to avoid rogue shopping carts!



I am fortunate to say that she has stuck with me and she is now my fiancée, as of December 4th, 2013. This has however significantly put a dent in my Tacoma spending money, which has now become “wedding money” I can justify the new tires this spring but as of now, new wheels are out of the question. So if Santa sends them my way it will be the icing on the cake for the journey my Tacoma has been on with me so far and will carry me through as I write my happily ever after.



Thank you for the opportunity and Happy Holidays!

-Stay humble, stay hungry.
Danny

 

With only 2 entries so far, one of you guys have a great chance of winning!!!

 

Subbed. Totally gonna do a submission.

 

I concur .

 

me too!

Toyota FOR LIFE!

 

I bought my first truck (and Tacoma) at 15 before I even got my learners permit. I started cutting grass at age 9 and eventually turned it into a business making a ton of money at that age. I saved every penny and bought my 2003 Tacoma that I ended up modding like crazy from the help of everyone on tw. Heres my first build http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-builds/182377-tacoman355-build.html





I ended up picking up another job in a furniture warehouse to support my Tacoma addiction.


I then decided I was gonna start saving for a brand new 2012 Tacoma. At 18, I saved up, went to the dealership and told them exactly what I wanted and they ordered me my 2012 DCLB Sport in Superwhite. I kept working both jobs so I could start modding the new truck. I then decided I wanted to join the Coast Guard and left for bootcamp in November 2012. After I graduated bootcamp I got moved from Virginia to Maine at 18. I grew up real quick being on my own. May 2013 I got married to my beautiful wife, moved into our first apartment and started our lives together. Shes super supportive of my truck addiction and goes to meets with me and buys me parts. The mods have slowed down quite a bit because of priorities and me deploying for about 6 months out of the year but still love to do the simple things like oil changes and just washing and waxing. Thanks SCS for the opportunity! Merry Christmas to you guys!


Heres the new rig

 

So, I have wanted your wheels since they came out. As you know, I have had a lot of problems trying to save up for them.
Lets start from the beginning of this all.

I joined the AF in 2002, less than a year after 9/11. I ended up going through basic and all that fun stuff, arriving at McConnell (KS) on April fools day of 2003. I spent just over 10 years there, with around 11 deployments and many work trips for a total of 1800 days overseas in some remote location. I would love to put up the pictures, but I don't really have any from a lot of those trips.







I met my wife about 8 months before I deployed for the 10th time to Manas, Kyrgyzstan. And, the applicable picture of just one of our snow days.





After that, I asked her to marry me... and then I deployed again. I came home in March of 2012 and we were heading to get married. Well, 2 months after we were married, we found out we were going to have a kid! And, well, there went all my free time and my money. Oh, and there went my truck... I was forced to buy a double cab.



Well, fast forward 9 months and...

Now that we have that... Less than a month after Levi was born, I found out my best friend had cancer... And I was being PCSed to Seattle to work on a new plane for the AF. So, I had to put my best friend down. I ended up leaving all my friends I had known for 10 years behind, and everything I had known in my adult life.





So, now here we are. I would love to attach more pictures of the truck, but I only was allowed to upload 12 pictures from the comp, and honestly, my family is more important to me. So here is a picture of my everything. He comes first now... so all the money I originally had set aside for the truck, and buying the wheels, tires, lift I wanted... etc... goes to him and his future.




Thanks for doing this giveaway. It's an amazing thing from an amazing person.

 

Can 4Runners play?

 

This is awesome Vin!What a great idea, thanks for the opportunity. I will submit something asap.

 

I don't see why not since you seem pretty active on TW. However, we are doing the same contest over at T4R.org if you're a member there. Your odds might be better there.


Btw, does anyone have a suggestion on how we can make this a sticky so that every member sees it and have a chance to enter. Help me out guys. I don't want anyone feeling left out.

 

You can use the "report" () icon in your OP and it will alert the Mods, and you can request for it to be Stickied.

I will also spread the word in our PNW region to let them know

 

Awesome, maybe you guys can do it as well.