Adventure Time Icon 3" Build - No Big Deal

Goal of the build: A vehicle able to easily navigate the roughest of backwoods trails, while being a comfortable drive on and off road, without completely destroying my MPGs, and keep all its upgrades below $10,000.

As she sits today:

2013 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport Double Cab 4x4 manual.







Suspension:
-Icon Stage 4 Billet suspension kit
-AllPro U-Bolt flip kit (Sitting in garage. Still need to install)

Wheels and Tires:
-Raceline 981 Raptor Black 16"x8" - 4.5" Back spacing
-Toyo Open Country A/T II 285/75R16 (Worked for me with little trimming. Here's how it went for others)

Performance:
-aFe Stage 2 Pro Dry intake

Aesthetics:
-HomerTaco "Ghost Raptor" mesh grill
-Simply HIDs 6000k Slim Ballasts
-Debadged
-Smoked out the taillights thanks to THExBUSxDRIVER

Armor:
-Pelfreybilt Skid Plate

Misc:
-NFab Spare Tire Carrier

Future Projects:
-Nitro 4.10 Differential Master Install kit.
-Pelfreybilt Aluminum Bumper with 3 full hoops
-AllPro Apex Rock Sliders with fillers
-Exhaust (haven't decided what type)
-14"x3" 700lb Coil Over
-LED interior lighting kit
-AllPro Rear leaf pack
-Wrap for the truck. (Way down the road, when the itch to buy a new truck is too great. But I know having no payments is worth it, so I'll just make it look new.)

My build began after I saved up some money after my deployment. Christmas was good:




All stock ready to have the lift, wheels, and tires installed:



Having the lift put on took all day and then it was going to take another three hours to have the wheels and tires installed and aligned. Unfortunately for me I was going out the the field the next day and didn't have the time. This is what the Icon Stage 4 looks like with everything else stock:




Turns out Firestone offers LIFETIME alignment for your vehicle for only $180. Yeah, you can four wheel every weekend and make an appointment every Monday to have your truck aligned no charge. We have a Firestone on base so I drove over there and had the wheels and tires put on.




Close up of the ICON Stage 4 Billet:



So, 285/75R16 will fit on a 2013 if you only drive on the road and don't allow the suspension to articulate while turning. In other words, it will rub every time you hit a bump. As you can see it is clear toward the front of the wheel well, whereas the rear of the fender rubs substantially:






But a quick Dremel job can fix the issue in no time:


Side Note: After a few times off road with this set up I have not had any rubbing from the tire on the cab mount. It appears that although it is a tight fit the travel of the wheel does not move the tire closer or further from the cab mount.


Next up is the new HIDs my wife got me for my birthday. Simply HIDs slim ballast 6000Ks. I decided to waterproof them with the ole hot glue gun. I actually like the two tone look of the headlights vs. fog lights:






Then I spoiled myself with the aFe Stage 2 Pro Dry intake:

Stock:


aFe Stage 2 Pro Dry:



Then, as I am sure everyone who spends way too many hours on this site have, I stumbled upon HomerTaco and his business venture. Ghost Raptor Mesh:

Surgery has commenced:


Ghost Mesh Grill:


Pelfreybilt Skid Plate


NFab Spare Tire Carrier:

I finally got around to ordering a matching spare and really wanted a bed mount. This lil gem can be purchased for less than $300. Now, you get what you pay for. It's alignment in the bed is just a little off, I'm talking mm but it is enough that an 88 lb wheel and tire could effect the rail system. I had to use shims under the points that are supposed to rest on the bed. I feel like the could have widened the two bars the wheel rests on in order to make it a little more structurally sound. However, all in all for something this inexpensive it will work perfect for me. Now I just need to manufacture some quick releases to make pulling it in and out a little easier and then I'm set.


My next venture will be to fix this. From an engineering standpoint(heck even just a common sense standpoint) why would you make the lowest point on any 4x4 the exhaust?




Continue to tune in as I find ways to convince my wife that it is a good idea to spend more money on my truck. Also I'm all ears for any suggestions.

 

Looks good excited to see more pics!

 

Thanks. Hopefully soon I can add some action shots.

 

Rock Sliders or Fix the poor exhaust design?

The next thing on my list is to regear the diffs to 4.10. But I'd like to either fix the ridiculous exhaust system or buy rock sliders at the same time or immediately following. The wife is starting to crack down on my spending so it only looks like I can do one or the other in the next few months.

On one hand I should see a little power increase, maybe some MPG increases(minimal), and some improved ground clearance with new pipes. On the other I wouldn't mind having the sliders as a step into the truck, and they will help keep the rocks from flying up and tearing more paint off.(Obviously they will act as protective armor too)

What do you think?

 

Great build!

 

I off-road a bit and haven't had to much trouble with the exhaust pipe yet. I do agree it is an awful design for a 4x4 pickup truck. But I think you should do sliders first because I hear more horror stories about people that wish they had bought sliders. That's just my two cents. Either mod would be worth it.

 

Sweet truck!

 

Go with sliders it's a cheaper insurance!

 

Truck is nice! I'd go with sliders. Take the wife to dinner the day they come in, problem solved. How do you like the open countrys? Cooper st maxx or at2s ....hard choice

 

Cheap insurance, I like it. Also Shmoozing the wife to get extra mods, sounds like you have used this tactic before. The Open Countries are great. I've been using them on some rugged tails on Pendleton and had no issues whatsoever. More over the highway driving is awesome. Almost no road noise and you can't beat the warranty that comes with them.

 

Now, to save up some more money on the next deployment to really overhaul her.

 

Nice build, looking forward to more. I have the same Raceline rims /tire size setup except with Maxxis Bighorns.

The LED swap for interior and license plate lights is super easy with a nice bump in visibility. The stock lighting is complete crap.

 

She's(Tacoma)lookin real nice OP!

 

Be safe on the deploy! Looking forward to see what's next.