cseaman's 2015 DCSB TRD Sport 4x4 road tripper build

This is not going to be an insane thread, but I have gotten to the point in early ownership where I have definitely already put a fair chunk of change into this truck and want to keep it for the long haul...so here is my thread to track my progress.

I traded in a 2015 VW GTI that I loved, but I needed something that I could hands down ALWAYS rely on to get myself and all of my belongings around the country. Always loved Tacomas; initially wanted to wait for a 2016, but this one hit all the requirements and I got it for a pretty awesome deal, and trade in was right.

I am currently active-duty Army stationed at Fort Benning, with a PCS to be determined in February. I have owned a long list of German cars but am at a point in life where durability and reliability were more important than the perks of my previous fun cars. I don't have a whole lot more that I realistically want to do, but this forum is extremely dangerous. I'd eventually like a shell, a better suspension setup, and a set of retrofits. Knowing the rate at which I mod, I can't imagine that it'll be long before this thread gets updated more.

2015 Sky Silver Metallic TRD Sport / 4x4 / 5AT / JBL / NAV

- exterior -
- Avid Offroad sliders w/ powdercoat + kickout
- AntennaX short antenna
- 50% windshield tint, 35% on side fronts
- chopped OEM tip, hidden turn-down tip at axle
- fully debadged, mudflaps removed

- suspension/wheels -
- Bilstein 5100s w/ Eibach springs and 1/4" driver's sag spacer
- OEM 4-leaf rear suspension
- SCS F5; bronze; 4.5 BS; 16x8
- 265/75/16 BFG KO2

- miscellaneous -
- Bullaculla tow harness relocate plate
- Husky front & rear exact-fit rubber mats
- OEM bed mat
- Bosch Icon wipers
- Leer 100R camper shell
- 2x Thule 821XT fork mounts
- Smittybilt receiver hitch w/ d-ring

Purchased @ Larry H. Miller Toyota in Phoenix with 16 miles on 29AUG2015

..took it out on an easy off road loop in NW Phoenix the next day. Already de-badged and de-mudflapped the thing, before I even got it home, haha.



Took it to Prescott, AZ for some camping the first weekend I had it. Nothing new in the first week besides exhaust tip hack at the axle, front windshield tinted @ 50%, and a

$240 Thule 822XT Bed-Rider Fork Mount Carrier

Thule 822XT bike carrier for the bed.



When I bought it, I knew I'd eventually do a small lift and wheels/tires, but I had a 4500 mile road trip to do first, so I figured I'd jump into that after the giant road trip. I took it from Phoenix to Denver, Denver to KC/Springfield, MO, MO to Austin, TX, and then back to Phoenix. The truck did great and I averaged 20-21 mpg at normal 70-80 highway speeds. I was happy.



Literally, the day after I got back from the big road trip, I found a local selling his truck and going back to stock. I was able to get a good deal on the lift and an initial wheel/tire setup in exchange for my stock stuff.

Enter...
MB352 wheels w/ 265/75/16 KO2s
Bilstein 5100s w/ Eibach springs and the driver's lean spacer
...ended up staying with the rear stock 4 leaf, no lift out back.



Took the nasty fake plastic bolts out of the wheels.





Off some trail in north Tucson.



Final road trip before going back to active-duty for some cycling in Boulder...experienced the lifted and tires gas mileage for the first time, haha.



Then, the truck got stored. I managed to put 7800 miles on it in the first six weeks. While at Benning, I made some purchases to get the truck looking how I wanted. I really never cared for the MB wheels, and I LOVED the SCS F5...so I ordered a set of those, Avid Offroad sliders, bullaculla tow harness relocate, and some Husky floor liners.

I finally got to leave Benning for holiday leave and got back to Arizona to pick up my truck and get everything new, on it.







Took it up Mount Lemmon to screw around a little; also got my tough-box gear storage situated for the bed.





THENNN I had to start my trip back east. Tucson --> Springfield, MO, en-route to getting the truck to Fort Benning. I got stuck in the state of emergency causing storms of New Mexico with my girlfriend. It was INSANE weather; 80 mph blizzard gusts that were strong enough to rip gas pumps out of the concrete in east NM. Thank the lord the NM DOT and National Guard were on point.

Oh, don't mind me...just a 4WD with solid ATs stuck in insane snow. DOT getting us out after a night in Clovis, NM.



Got it back to my hometown, Springfield, MO. Finally got to clean it.

 

Picked up a UWS toolbox; bolted some Thule fork mounts on it today. Also rolled over 14k miles on the way to my new/current home in Fort Lee/Petersburg, VA.

 

Sold the UWS toolbox. Bolted the Thule fork mounts to a 2x6. Put a camper on.