Stealth Custom Series 2013 Holiday Contest

That is siggy stuff right there.


Nice story lisa. Love the whitewalls on the green beast.

 

I personally don't feel like I deserve a set of these beautiful wheels, but I wanted to share my "story" as well - if only to reaffirm my love of this truck, show support for Vin and SCS and perpetuate the passion that so many TW members have come to appreciate.

I picked the Tacoma because of it's versatility, dependability, and reputation. It has really been an spectacular vehicle and has enabled me to see some great places, help out others, and create a kinship between me and other like-minded individuals.

If there's one thing people can assume about me from my internet persona, it is the fact that I am "frugal" when it comes to spending money on mods. I have been lucky enough to be able to get many of my aftermarket parts (tires, ARB bumper, DT Y-Pipe, Skids, Winch Mount, Sliders) at incredible prices - all from the help of other members, friends, and family.

I have done almost every mod on my truck by hand, or with the help of other TW members. I like my mods to be discreet and "clean" (esp. when it comes to electrical/wiring projects). This had required me to innovate on certain things and really be discriminating with how I go about it.

The one thing I truly appreciate about TacomaWorld is the vast wealth of knowledge, information, and input provided by it's members. I try to 'Pay It Forward' by passing along my experiences with others and assisting them with mods. That is one reason I actually enjoy making such detailed Write-Ups/How-Tos for others to learn from. It gives me a chance to give back, and hopefully inspire others to do the same thing.

Here is a list of the different Write-Ups, Reviews, and How-Tos I have authored to help others on TW. Many of these were inspired, collaborated on, or influenced by other TW members as well:

MODS / HOW-TOs
OEM Heated Mirror Mod
4LO TRAC & ABS Kill Switch
DIY Hi-Lift and Tools Mounts
Hidden CB Install
Engine Bay LED Lights
Horn Relocate
LED Light Bar Install
Custom TRD Skull Shirts
Home-Built Winch Mount & Sliders

PRODUCT REVIEWS
BORA Wheel Spacers
Leer 100XL Review
Custom Y-Pipe Gaskets
aFe Exhaust Review
RUD Grip 4x4 Snow Chains

I like to think of myself as a good samaritan, and I try to help others in need if I am able. It doesn't matter if it's answering a question, helping with an install, helping someone change a tire, helping troubleshoot problems, donating money to those in need (when I can), volunteering for SAR, or just being chivalrous. It makes me feel good and accomplished when I help others, and I think that is commonly overlooked in today's society. I want more people to be nice and help their fellow man (or woman). Plain and simple.

I think what Vin is doing here is a great idea, and really goes to show what it takes to be a successful business owner and contributing member/vendor on TW. He built his company from the ground up with compassion and perseverance and it has grown into a great business that offers a great-looking product that really compliment our already badass-looking rigs.

On that note, I have always been a fan of his designs. I am very discriminating when it comes to aftermarket wheels, and I would love to run ANY of his designs on my truck. The only downside is that they would inevitably get pretty scratched-up or chunked-up if I were to run them on the trails. Due to this reason, I have come to accept the fact that I should not invest any money into aftermarket wheels. I 'derped my Sport wheels black, and called it good. They look great, and I don't have to worry about damaging them on the trails, and honestly every single one of my wheels has big chunks taken out of the lip and deep gouges/scratches on the face. I wheel my truck pretty hard.

If I were given the chance to run SCS wheels, they would be a "Street Only" setup, and I would have to source another set of tires to mount on them. It would be nice to have a set of Off-Road and a set of Steet wheels/tires though.

Great job Vin! Thank You!

- Ben (Benson X)



EDIT: I found the post when I first saw your wheels
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/wh...-stealth-6-wheels-17x8-5-a-6.html#post6025141

 

Subbing to remember to enter. I'll probably get one in by the weekend once I'm finished with all my homework and projects.

 

Thank you for the kind words everyone! I wish I could enter my own contest, lol. My love for the Tacoma stems from my dad and my addiction to modding cars and trucks is b/c of him.

I see a lot of similar stories posted so far which I think is great. Thank you for sharing!!! Keep them coming along.

 

That makes two of us.

 

Vic, others on here have shared their own stories without entering the contest. On behalf of all of us on here, I would like to invite you to share your own story here so we can understand your love of the Tacoma.

 

I am the worse at writing and I want this to be about you guys. I prefer to stay in the background and keep quite. Plus, you guys might be able to read "my story" in Jan./Feb. issue of 4WD Toyota Owner magazine. I'm not sure how much the editor is going to put in or cut out, but there should be some insight about why I choose to design these wheels for the Toyota guys.

Not the actual issue.

 

I don't know if I deserve these but they sure look cool and there's no way I'm gonna get the money up any time soon. And I do hope they go to someone who will enjoy them. Heres my story.

Since I could drive i have always owned a tacoma my forst was a regular cab 1999 I got by pure luck with over 200k miles. My second truck was a 2005 regular cab with 198k miles which I drove to 200+ and still drive on occassion. My third truck is 2013 DCLB and something I save for since I got my first truck. My last 5 years have been nom stop college and work. I wake up at 5 and go to school till 10 monday-friday. I work hard and try to do what's right. I haven't really been able to do much to my new truck yet just a hitch cover and rim locks but there will be more since I plan on keeping it forever. Currently in school now but I will post picks later, wish me luck on my finals!

 

Annnd here we go...
Throughout high school, I had always wanted a Prelude or Integra, as I had always been interested in the "tuner" scene after being brainwashed by the first Fast and Furious movie. Well, that didn't happen, and I drove a hand-me-down regular cab '99 Tacoma with 180k+ miles. At first, I was less than thrilled by the bone stock mini-truck, but after finding tacomaworld and some other online forums, I quickly saw the potential. After adding a few beginner mods, brush guard, spacer lift, tires, and kc lights...I started to love it. As seen in the pictures, it helped me get through the beginning of college, up until it failed a frame rust test...


The Tacoma love was deep at this point and had always loved doublecabs, so I located an '04 Tacoma, swapped over some parts, and sadly, had to say goodbye to my first Tacoma. I was unbelievably sad, but was excited to start a new build, even with a college-student budget and no time. Since then, I have put a lot of time and effort into building it up to its current form and wouldn't trade it for anything. From the original truck, I transplanted the 15" wheels and tires to the new truck, with hopes of upgrading soon, which unfortunately has not happened to this day.


As shown in the rear-window picture above, I added a black SCS decal that I received sometime along the way throughout my time here on TW, in hopes of motivating me to save up to get a set of the wheels, but alas, I am still on the 14-year-old 15" stock wheels from my '99 with an added spray of rustoleum flat black...

Thanks to Vin @ SCS for holding this awesome contest, as it was fun to look through the progress and read everyone's stories/memories as well!

 

Toyota and Me

It all started in the fall of 1995 when my brother bought his first showroom new vehicle, a shiny red 95.5 Tacoma SX. Older brothers always get to do all of the cool stuff first and with a 4 year lead on me, mine was no exception.



Well my brother loved that truck; washed and waxed it at every opportunity, kept up on or ahead of the maintenance, and did very little modification. I went off and joined the Army. Fast forward 4 years: I return home, join the National Guard, sell my 1967 Ghia, and start college. It just so happened my brother had his eyes on a shiny new Tundra, and he cut me a hellova sweet deal on that Tacoma. It had begun.

Old pit near my childhood home-


Stream crossing-


As time went on and life happened my truck and I both grew and changed together. We found a local 4x4 shop (which I still go to today), dated, traveled, and had fun. Sometimes we didn't have fun, sometimes life hurt...

I was on my way home from drill and I got rear-ended by one of the coolest old guys around, a very active Purple Heart recipient (WWII) who was involved with the creation of The Purple Heart Trail.

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20051108-NEWS-311089959?cid=sitesearch

We were both unhurt. Unfortunately his brand new Scion was totaled and my beloved Taco looked like this-



And this is when the mod bug really bit me. The body shop and I got creative with the budget. The insurance check was cut and we got to work. They repaired the bed with a new rear quarter panel, new tailgate, we opted to nix the oem bumper, stock trim and decals, and repainted the whole truck. Good bye oxidized Toyota pink, hello shiny new red! The paint had barely dried when I handed the keys to my father and I was off to OIF I. Desert Ninja-



It wasn't long after I returned that I added adjustable C/O's in the front, Dakars out back, 33" tires, headers, custom exhaust, CAI, LCE heavy flywheel, and a stage two clutch. I was infected by Tacoma madness! I religiously changed fluids, replaced broken or failing parts, and drove that truck like I had stolen it. Fun was had, the years flew by, and armed with the latest LCE catalog I began to plan an engine build. I purchased a 2.7 from a rolled over 96 Taco, mounted it up on the engine stand, and began to try and figure out which way to go. At the same time I met my future wife. We eventually moved in together, and I even let her drive my Tacoma! Yes, women who drive lifted trucks are hot, and it's cute as hell to watch them try and climb up in too.

Fast forward again: I find myself working on her rusted out 2001 Subaru. I've got the tranny separated from the engine, and nothing is going right; the aluminum block won't let go of any of the bolts and the project is headed south fast. There was only one solution-



Don't worry, I bought her a brand new 2010 to replace it. Shortly thereafter I was off again to OIF IX, or X, or whatever the hell they were calling it. Deployments being what they are, I came home for my two weeks of leave and brown-chicken-brown-cow. We were expecting! We were both very excited, and I couldn't wait for the next set of ultrasound pictures or rapidly expanding belly shots. That deployment couldn't end fast enough, I was going to be a father!!! I got home for the last trimester, and we rushed to get everything in order. Part of that meant selling my Tacoma for a vehicle that could function for a family... a 2011 Tacoma SR5 DCLB obviously! I eventually sold the extra motor to a young college woman who had driven her Tacoma up to Portland, ME from Arizona whose engine imploded. She must have had excellent karma for her mechanic to locate my engine. The new Taco-



3000 miles later, full OME, 32" tires on 18" wheels, AP sliders-



Poser shot with the new APex bumper and skid-



Little man loves playing in the truck. He even put it in 4-Lo when I wasn't looking. Scared the hell out of me when I was backing out the next morning to go to work and the front end was engaged. He knows daddy will give him the keys when he turns 16.



And now two years after I bought the truck I am knee deep in an expedition build. Slowly but surely we scrape up some cash and pick up new parts. As a family we love camping, and after showing my wife an RTT and rack setup she is excited as I am about it. We're planning a cross country camping trip in 2016 when I get back from my next deployment.

I would be remiss without acknowledging some of the guys who've helped out, many of whom have written up some of the best product, how-to, and technical threads right here on TW. Many thanks are due to the guys in the NE BS thread who took me out this summer, taught me some things, and have good pics of me caving in my rear quarter panel on a tree. Can't wait to get out with you guys again!

And with that said we bring it full circle to the SCS Holiday Contest. This truck is my daily driver. Having smashed the daylights out of my Pro-Comps (on every rock we came across it seems) I have decided they are going to be the dedicated set of wheels for offroading, matched up with an aggressive M/T. Now I'm in the market for some stylish wheels I can mount a dependable tire on for daily use

 

Some really cool stories here. Thank you Vin for putting this on. This is why I love this site!

Anyway, my story. For the longest time I've been more into the tuner scene than any other, but I've always had a love for Toyota trucks (Partly due to Back to the Future and Top Gear's "tests"). I started really getting into working on my own vehicles with my 96' Celica GT Vert. Fun little car, but not the most practical in a state where it rains half of the year. So onto my next car, a 2002 Acura RSX. I did a lot of work to that car to make it look and handle just how I liked:


But my inkling for something more practical and that I could take most anywhere kicked in. I really missed being in the Toyota scene, so of course the Tacoma and Tundra where first on my list. Although I did go back and forth looking at the competition (F-150, Colorado, Frontier) I kept finding big deal breakers for me, be it aesthetics, price or reliability issues that swayed me away from those trucks. I couldn't find anything about the Tacoma that I didn't like or knew I couldn't deal with on a daily basis.

So after getting my new job earlier this year I decided to go to the dealership and check out exactly what I was looking at in a Tacoma (AC, 4X4, 4-cyl, auto, and a color I really like). Started out a test drive just to see how I'd like the 4-cyl/auto combo and wound up liking it so much I got it. First day, brought her over to a friend's:


Drove her for a little under a month and then someone t-boned me on my way home . My heart was broken, but thanfully since the other car was a small Jetta and it was at such a slow speed, all the damage was cosmetic on my truck (the Jetta wasn't so lucky) plus no one was hurt at all (I think if I had been in the Acura, it could have turned out way worse than it did). But it was a hard two weeks without her since for my birthday the following week I was going to take my very first small road trip with her.

Since then I've been daily driving her, taken her on the twisties, off road, on camping trips, you name it (still waiting on the snow though ). This was after going on some ATV trails when a friend and I went camping in Eastern WA:


I love this truck and I hope to have her for at least 15-20 more years! I'd also like to thank the people on TW for the massive amount of information and meeting some really cool people through meets and wheeling trips. I've learned a lot here and continue to learn more all the time.

 

Again Vin, thanks for doing this. Honestly an amazing Christmas spirit with this.

 

This is awesome Vin! Sub'd for further awesomness.


TTT!

 

Last day to enter is the 20th guys so get them in while you can. Your effort in making a heart felt entry will go a long way. Whether it's sad or happy, make us connect with your story and experience.

We're redoing our website and the winner will be featured on there along with their story.

 

I actually have no idea how to go about writing a Sad or Happy story. I'll give it a shot, why not.

My love for Toyota's stemmed early in my military career, I was in OIF whatever, 2004. But being in Fallujah / Ramadi they were more or less feared because of their 4x4 capabilities and how they could In/Exfil through the palm groves and reeds, their ability to literally sneak up on you, fire upon you or explode. Weird right? My love for the Tacoma brand came from the insurgency using them as vehicles to inflict damage on coalition. Yeah, its bogus, I know. I'll catch flack for it I'm sure, but not soon after my second love came into view. While sitting upon one of the countless ranges doing some break-contact drills and so forth (USMC at the time, its wasn't what it is today) the good men of Blackwater pulled up in their awesome rides.

They've outfitted Silverados / Suburbans / Hiluxs with all sorts of goodies. Back in the day, there was literally no rule or say as to what a private company could protect themselves with. I dunno their budget or that specific company but this Hilux had GE-M134 rigged up on the back of it. On ever door was a mount for an outboard facing machine gun, and the bed filled with assorted unmentionables. (I can't post the picture do to the subject of the photo) One of their operators were telling us, boot, Marines that the Toyota was the only vehicle that they could bog down with goodies and keep up with the rest of the convoy.

I was interested to say the least, everyone else could give a fuck-all less. It worked out for the better of me. One of the Team Leaders that were with BW ended up giving me contact information come my time that I EAS'd in 2008. At the time I was driving a Honda Civic, riced out of course, and at 6'5'' it literally looked as if I was driving a roller-skate. I tried college for two weeks until I gave the man I met in 2004 a call. Just my luck, Blackwater was indeed hiring yet it was along side a company called SOC-SMG. The pay was right, $900.00/day w/ 60/35 rotation of paid leave.

Long story short, with five plus years of contracting that I've been doing in Iraq / Afghanistan / South Africa; I've driven nothing but Toyota's, be it Land Cruisers or Hilux's many of which have saved my life due to the IED's that I've hit and the vehicle keeps on knocking hard. I had long since sold the Honda to pay off that lingering college debt that I had completely forgot about, and as of March of this year I bought myself a 2013 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport DCLB. I've long since paid it off, and continue to come here when I'm not out being a glorified taxi driver with a gun. The posts and gear reviews are what keeps me coming back for more. When I'm home, I romp the hell out of my War Taco and it keeps on giving. No matter how much I weight it down with wood or beer, it doesn't hold back.

I don't think I'll ever get rid of it, even though I've talked about selling it. I enjoy the outdoors too much to get rid of such a useful tool. I've recently purchased myself a set of SCS's, had them delivered last week and wrapped in Hankook ATM's. The more I think about it, I just feel like telling this story that Toyota makes a great product.

 

Great contest and thank you so much for doing this! I'll share as well. Warning, it may get picture heavy lol.


So my story began back when I was still in elementary school. We had moved to Colorado and at the time had a Chrysler mini van. Everyone kept telling us Colorado didn't get that much snow, so you'd be fine with the van. Well...a few months later the blizzard of 1997 occurred and we were trapped at a friends house so that convinced us a van wasn't going to cut it. My dad went searching for a new truck. He heard about these weird new ones called Tacoma's and read reviews on them and that they seemed to be pretty reliable. Shortly after that we picked up the truck that started it all, a 1996 red TRD extended cab. I don't have many good pics of it with me, though I'm sure I have some in a box somewhere. But here is one of it.



Pretty soon after that we wanted to lift it, but since it was so new, there was really only one guy on the east coast who manufactured spacers for it. So we went that route. We then discovered how much fun it was to drive up into the mountains and do some exploring. That started the pattern of: attempt obstacle, fail at getting up, go back home and change truck to make it get up obstacle, try again and make it. And then we discovered Moab and that opened up another can of worms haha. Eventually we decided that we wanted to get something that we could really wheel in and wouldn't care to beat up. So in came the 1985 4Runner.

Here are some photos from back in the day:

I'm playing in the creek in front.


"This Toyota eats Jeeps" during one of the Easter Jeep Safari's in Moab.


We even got a two page spread in Peterson's 4WD magazine that year! Sorry for the horrid photo of it, phone cameras were ghetto back then.



On a sad note, one day my dad hit black ice in the Taco and rolled it into a ditch.



It was totally fine still, just ugly, and it started right back up when rolled back over. We thought about buying it back to turn it into a hard core crawler since it was already smushed, but dad had to go TDY a few days after and there was no way he could drive the 4Runner all the way from Utah to Texas. So we weren't able to do a buy back (although I'm 100% sure somebody probably bought it and fixed it since it was mint otherwise). So the next day we got our other new addition to the family, a 2001 Camry. But I won't bore you with pictures of that.

As much as we loved our 4runner, we came to the decision that it was way too pretty so smash up so we sold it. This is how it looked in the end:



After that we had a mini absence from the rock crawling scene. Ended up getting a brand new Bombardier ATV which was pretty awesome to play with but it just wasn't the same but it held us over for the meantime. Now this is the point where I can't remember the order of things but these all happened lol: we bought a 1988 GMC pickup to haul the ATV, eventually sold that too, bought an Ivan Stewart 2002 Tundra from a professional Bass fisherman (strange I know haha), sold the Camry and then I needed a truck so in came (what I kind of consider my first car)...my 1998 Taco!

Here's the Tundra by the way, not the best picture but it was the easiest one to find.



It was so little!


And of course I couldn't not mod it, but I won't bore you with the details so you can look at my build thread haha but this is how it sits today.



My dad couldn't be left out either and decided it was going to be quicker and cheaper just to pick something up and change it to how we please. We didn't want to start all the way from scratch again. So came along our 1994.



Which we have fun with:


Both my dad and I always have a blast wheeling together.

So that's my journey in a nutshell, hopefully didn't bore any of you to death. I feel like I've grown up with Toyota's and so I'm truly dedicated to the brand and can't wait to see what the future has in store.

 

Meh

 

Good story. Nice family. Great dog!
And now I know what mine will look like with that front bumper. Thx

 

Can't win if you don't try, right? I owned a S-10 ZR2 that I loved, but what a nuisance. I got rid of it 5 years ago to get my first Taco, and without an extended warranty I'd still be paying for the Chevy. I was able to secure a DSM Tacoma for decent money, but it wasn't quite what I wanted. I drove, and loved, it for 3 1/2 years until I stumbled on this. Not exactly my favorite Toyota color, but it was everything I wanted. I started with the easiest mods I could do, read cheap. I began with the whole Rad red/black theme and I'm totally in love. Fluid filmed the bottom to help it last and try my best to do maintenance as scheduled. I plan on running this truck until it dies, with 45,000 miles on the odometer, that could be a while.


Pretty much the way I brought it home, besides the Duratracs from my other Taco





Helping out a fellow tailgater who's battery died





Took the family camper to be scaled, just to insure I was safe towing





Showing off the flag decals purchased from another member





My little white Boxer loves to come with me, fortunately not dressed in a tree skirt





Toyota blood runs through him, helping me change fluids on the old Tacoma





How it sits now, except 2 more lights on the light bar, BHLM and Duratracs back on for winter safety.





I have been looking for a nice set of 17" summer rims to sport, to complete the look when it's all shined up and looking good. They are hard to come by on the east coast. I'm just tired of the painted steel rims, they need to be upgraded! Thank you for letting me compete in such a great contest! Good luck to everyone, and Happy Holidays.


.

 

The 20th at midnight Pacific time is the cutoff time. I will make a final post then and anything after that will be too late.

Get them in while you can!!!