NoSoup4You's First Build Ever

This thread last revived: 3/25/2015



My first truck build .. let me know what you think!

After trading in my Subaru STi for a barely-used 2008 Tacoma 4x4 I didn't let it stay stock for long.
I started looking for a modest suspension lift and ended up with mid-travel all around. A lot of fun, but one ride in RJ's blue bomber and I was hooked on dirty-hooker-travel.
After one year with mid-travel I took the plunge into LT and never looked back.

Almost 2 years with an amazing front LT setup paired with the BAMF rear kit with 12" shocks, and it's finally time to put this truck back in the shop....
The BAMF kit is soon to be replaced with a DMZ SUA, rear triple bypasses with bumps, frame boxing, front bypasses, extra gussets... the works.

Pics to come of the rear build....

Front Long Travel
King 2.5 x 8" Coilovers with remote-resi and comp adjusters
Camburg LT kit with heimed UCAs
Camburg 4x4 axles
Camburg secondary shock hoop with DMZ gussets
DMZ coil bucket cross brace
Total Chaos cam tab and coil bucket gussets
Total Chaos spindle gussets

Front Mid Travel - gone!
Total Chaos UCAs
ICON 2.5" extended travel coilover-resi

Rear Suspension
BAMF 2nd Gen shock relocation kit
King 12" x 2.0 shocks with remote-resi and comp adjusters
All-Pro Expo leafs
All-Pro U-bolt flip kit w/ Timbren bump stops
All-Pro Extended brake lines
Defined Engineering shackle cross brace

Exterior
McNeil 3.5" front fenders (thanks Hiatt)
Toyo Open Country Muds 285/75
KMC XD122 black wheels 16x8
All-Pro IFS skid
Pelfreybilt Prerunner front bumper
Pelfreybilt gas tank skid
Baja Designs Prerunner 6" HIDs
Rigid Dually D2 fogs
BAMF hybrid sliders
BAMF rear diff skid
Brute Force Fab standard rear bumper w/ reverse lights
STL amber LED dust lights

Interior
ICOM IC-V8000 2M radio w/ Larsen roof antenna
Sony MEX-GS600BT head unit - hidden in dash
iPad 4 dash mounted - AppRemote for Sony head unit
Bad Elf GPS Pro - Bluetooth
California Trail Maps lifetime subscriber - using Galileo
Motion-X GPS
Lighted 4x4 Switch mod
Cobra 75 WXST CB-radio w/ Wilson flex 3' antenna
BlueSeas auxiliary fuse panel
CarlingTech accessory switches
DIY washable cabin filter

Performance
Nitro 4.56 gears
Banks Monster exhaust

Waiting Patiently in the Garage
Waterproof rock lights and bed lights
HalGuard extinguisher
2-Ton HF aluminum jack


Next up...
Rear LT
Frame boxing
Front bypasses


Latest Addition: iPad in-dash!






































Thanks to Gregero for this pic







Let the photo roll begin...

Not quite the day I bought it, but close enough





The parts pile begins to build





Clarion DVD and NAV are the first in..



.. after that, the 4x4 switch is my first must have mod!






The Valentine 1 gets hardwired .. this thing has paid for itself many times over




Installed in just a few minutes, and a great fit and sound






A large delivery truck approaches...


...and leaves a nice new roof top tent in my garage (sadly it's still there after 2 weeks .. I need to get this installed)





All-Pro finished my made to order Pack Rack in great time and quality
(powdercoat is finished .. more pics and the install coming soon)







While visiting the shop, I impulse bought the IFS skid

 

can't wait to see pics of the pac rack, looks good man

 

Nice man, looks awesome

 

added one decent pic from the beach yesterday .. and photos of the Clarion / 4x4 switch / V1 install.

I can't wait to see it installed either!

Thanks!

 

sick truck man, sub'd for an awsome build. you put in the cobra 75 yet?

 

nice looking truck.... MORE PIC's!!!

 

Looking forward to seeing that rack installed.

 

Looks great , nice work so far

 

I tried to get it installed today but had some issues with the powder coating .. they forgot to mask where I asked and all the joints are no longer free to lock together.

I spent about an hour with sand paper, and another with a drill and wire brushes .. good to know this stuff is tough!

Luckily the shop said they would handle it for me, so I am dropping all the pieces off tomorrow morning and hope to pick them up at night for a quick install (fingers crossed)

 

Hope they can take care of that for you, keep us posted.

 

Nice ride man!!

 

Nice build!

 

Looks good man! Keep up the good work!

 

Probably won't have the rack til Friday or Monday, dang it.

In other news my N-Fab spare tire carrier might be for sale soon as it won't work with the Pack Rack installed

 

Truck looks good man! I a custom tire carrier in the future.

 

LOL, "A large delivery truck approaches"

 

**Build Update**

The Pack Rack is assembled!



But not quite installed yet

I have to finish the CB install for the upcoming Ocotillo meet (my first meet - should be fun) - I finished the antenna install today and the Cobra 75 tomorrow afternoon.

A few shots of the N-Fab carrier with full size spare (KMC Enduro black ... Toyo Open County MT 33") before removing it to install the CB
This is probably going for sale once the Pack Rack is installed...






Here is the antenna install kit as purchased




A little modification to the mounting plate (meant to be clamped over a bar or side-view) so it will fit in the utility track






The finished mount installed on the drivers side using shorter stainless hardware w/ lock washers. Also have the Firestik Quik-Release installed.




A shot of the finished install (after running cable into the cab) with 3' Wilson Flex antenna.




I will be finishing up the radio install tomorrow for sure, and will most likely mount the Pack Rack before the meet. Lots of pics to come after the trip .. and a decent exterior shot finally!

 

**Build Update**

Finally had a few minutes to catch up on the photos. After an awesome weekend in Ocotillo (thanks again to SpeedFreek and RecklessTaco) I have a whole new wish list


I would have liked to integrate the CB in a switch blank, but I needed it installed as quickly as possible whilst still looking decent.

I took the dremel to my coin tray for the cable pass-through




The finished coin tray with the mic connector ready for the radio
Not too bad




With the Cobra 75 WX ST installed and ready for the trail




A quick shot of the Pack Rack installed
(spare tire temporarily re-located, since the N-Fab doesn't fit - it stayed secure like this all weekend off-roading)




A few shots in Ocotillo Wells - we ran in to some nasty clay by the Salton Sea - this stuff eats paint and metal, but I was lucky enough to get out fairly damage-free. If it wasn't for mud terrains and 4WD I would have been stuck like 7 other trucks that day - you know who you are









This Jeep was having a great time at Shell Reef




Definitely more to come .. plus some shots from Joshua Tree this Saturday

 

Really diggin that pack rack! Ever think about getting a tiregate?

 

Thanks - I will have the roof tent mounted soon, just didn't want to trash it offroad 2 weekends in a row.

Definitely like the tiregate .. pre-runner style .. ooooh myy! (in my best George Takei impression)

...but, I would rather spend $900 on a front bumper and keep using the tie down for now