Light and Nimble - '12 Pyrite RC 4x4

Figured I would start this thread and announce my arrival to the world of Tacomas. ~2 weeks ago I flew to NC from PA to purchase this truck sight unseen w/ 9.4k miles on the clock and drove it 9 1/2 hours home.

I come from the background of owning and modifying Subarus. I currently own a 2008 STi with an incredibly long mod list that underwent a 22 month long build. As it is more race car than street car now I started shopping for a Tacoma and finally found one that suited me. It will be my new work horse for my family business and my growing photography business.

I'm looking to try and keep this thing as light and nimble as possible. Which is my reasoning for the 32" tires, light 18lb wheels, and regular cab config. It's a 4x4 auto btw

First, what I've done so far:
*Full debadge, removed pinstriping, removed side steps, removed Tonneau cover, removed mud flaps.
*Installed 265/75/16 Toyo RT's, 16x8 +0 FN Wheels Countersteer Type X mag blue , black lugs, black 949 racing valve stems
*Installed Toyota Sport sticker to bed sides (I believe I will remove and get larger of the same variant) along with Toyota sticker to tail gate both in matte black.
*Purchase Bilstein 5100's but I am waiting to install depending on what other supporting mods I may get so I can do one alignment and be done.

More Updates 8/10/15:
*Installed Bilstein 5100 @ 1.75" frontal lift.
*Installed Weatherguard 137-5-1 Tool Box
*Installing 31.5" LED Light Bar in lower bumper soon. (Yellow/White/Flashes/remote control)
*Pretty sure I've decided on the following mods but unsure as to when I'll be picking them up:

• Pelfreybilt Rear Bumper
• Full Pelfreybilt Alum Skids: IFS, Mid, Gas Tank, Rear Trans
• US Off Road 2012+ Winch Mount Bumper
• ComeUp SEAL Gen2 9.5rsi Winch
• Full size FN Wheel/Toyo RT Spare
• CBI or Oregon Racks and/or KB Voodoo storage for bed. I'm still trying to figure this out.

Potential Plans:
*Thorley or LCE headers. I'm going to be calling LCE and chatting but their dyno chart seems almost unbelievable so I want to hear it from the horses mouth first before I order but I'd love more power. I have access to a dyno locally and plan on using it.
*Supporting suspension mods may include an AAL, improved bump stops, possibly different front springs and a UCA. Not sure if I want to do all that or just put the Bilsteins on and call it a day post alignment/leveling.
*A roof rack for a regular cab.... seems to be hard to find. Might be fabbing something custom unless suggestions are available.
*I'd like to integrate a curved LED light bar onto the roof rack.
*A removable ladder rack--looking at an angled Weatherguard unit currently.
*Slider bar / step + skid plates eventually... I have to research this more.


I know that's a lot to take in but... input? Thanks in advance. Huge thanks btw to Dustin @ FN Wheels for all his advice on wheel size/fitment. I'm very pleased with how my truck is sitting.... here's a few pictures. Full gallery: http://clients.zacharyemerick.biz/Cars/Feature/Zacks-2012-Tacoma-Workhorse

 

This is one of my favorite trucks on here! coming from a Honda background and having a growing fondness for clean and simple, this one makes me happy.Is that the stock 4x4 suspension right now?

 

Why thanks! It is bone stock suspension right now but I do have Bilstein 5100's sitting in my garage. Here's my STi build page for reference: http://clients.zacharyemerick.biz/Cars/Feature/Zacks-2008-STi-V-Mount/

Also I forgot to mention but I'm definitely going with the retro-styled TRD Pro grille!

 

That's a no nonsense STI! A friend of mine recently did an 07 STI swap into an older 2.5rs, and if I were to buy another car (and forego racing motorcycles) It'd have to be an STI. Can't wait to see the work you do your Tacoma

 

Nice truck. I purchased mine to replace a 2011 STI limited, still have the 6 speed but miss the turbo...

Fuel costs have stayed about the same :/

 

Thanks. Yeah with my larger tires I believe I've just chopped off about 3mpg. I'll be getting another tank of gas sometime this week and will check the difference. If I don't work too much tomorrow I think I'm putting the Bilsteins on as I can then go get it aligned and inspected in PA which I haven't yet.

 

Sweet truck OP!

 

Bilsteins installed. I went with the 1.75" raise That was quite an adventure by myself. Would've been a lot easier with a 2nd person but what ya gonna do. I also broke a pry bar in the process haha

 

Stealing this pic from somewhere on the internet but I have one of these boxes on the way. Weatherguard 137-5-1. Storage was needed and this will fit the bill perfectly! Next up will be KB VooDoo bin and basket, rails, and metal bed guards.

 

And here's the box + adventures:

Some recent shots. My buddies hopped in the truck to watch the STPR Rally America race in Wellsboro so they wouldn't have to go up the dirt trails. Bottom picture is post dirt/mud trail adventures.

 

How's the ride compared to stock? I have the same truck and about to switch to 265/75/16 and some 5100's but have been curious if the ride improves like others have claimed with the Access and double cabs..... Ours are lighter. Thanks and LOVE your truck!

 

Awesome man. Nice photos too. I just picked up a '13 WRX for my wife, and I've got a '13 4x4 Access Cab. Love what you've done to yours.

 

Honestly the ride didn't change *too* much. Granted these are E rated tires so it is harsher than the previous stock tires. The suspension however did improve the ride. Was it super noticeable and now buttery smooth? No. I don't feel like I'm riding on a cloud but it's certainly improved a bit.

Thank you! I have more plans for it but they'll have to wait until fall/winter.

 

Also here's a shot of the truck getting some use trimming trees at my buddy's and then getting rid of em at my place.

 

So I updated the first post but here are my coming plans. I can't say when but I've decided on these products:

• Pelfreybilt Rear Bumper
• Full Pelfreybilt Alum Skids: IFS, Mid, Gas Tank, Rear Trans
• US Off Road 2012+ Winch Mount Bumper
• ComeUp SEAL Gen2 9.5rsi Winch
• Full size FN Wheel/Toyo RT Spare
• CBI or Oregon Racks and/or KB Voodoo storage for bed. I'm still trying to figure this out.

And I'm definitely turboing it down the road haha

 

Oh yeah got the light bar on and it looks great. It really spreads and it isn't even a curved bar--very cool! I mounted it to the lower radiator bolts. Disconnected them, made brackets from an alum bar and drilled a few holes in the bar for bolts. Job done! I'm going to do some minor adjustments but it is nice and sturdy. I'll be removing it and painting the brackets + tidying up the wiring but for now, it works!

It's remote controlled. I believe there are 10 modes.

Link to video: http://bit.ly/1UGnXb8

 

Love your Taco... very nice.

We have the bumpers in stock and ready to ship: https://www.usoffroad.us/store/bumpers/tacoma-2012-15-winch-mount-bumper/

When you are ready we also carry ComeUp.

https://www.usoffroad.us/store/winc...68-winches/comeup-seal-gen2-9.5rsi-12v-winch/

Can't wait to see the finished truck.

 

No updates on the truck other than it is getting good use. I finished the prep work on my car for my track day. Here's a pic at the track and video.

VID: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBLhiFi6EHE

 

Ordered my full size spare but that's it for now. I'm leaning towards the rear bumper and a Voodoo KRS for winter towing operations as my next buy. Might go with All Pro rear bumper not sure still--the truck has been running great and I've just been so busy with work everything is on the back burner.

EDIT2: Further update... I am getting driveshaft wine on off throttle as reported by other owners when I'm at 50-75 in 4WD and let off the throttle only it sounds like a grinding but there is no vibrations noticed. I believe it is because of the increased front shaft angle because of add a leaf in the rear. I'm looking to get the All Pro Carrier Bearing Drop Kit to fix that--which I believe is the fix. Right now I am raked a bit--the rear is 1.5" raised from stock w/ the AAL I did and I'm at the 2nd highest lift in the front on the Bilstein 5100's.

EDIT3: Haha just noticed All Pro has a 15% off deal so I ordered a rear bumper. SCORE!

EDIT: And here's an instagram shot I took a few weeks back:

 

Going to have a massive update post shortly with my various edited pictures but here is the vids from my first off roading event @ Rausch Creek in PA:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wt0P-4wH4w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqqAUcBaw0c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vFWhoascso