MCObray's 2002 Tacoma DC Documentation

Current:
2002 Toyota Tacoma TRD by Mason Obray, on Flickr
My search Craigslist radius from Redding, CA to Bellingham, WA finally paid off. My wife and I set out early in the AM hours to pick up this 2002 Toyota Tacoma DC TRD in Gig Harbor, WA. I am beyond stoked on this vehicle and look forward to many memory-making miles. Now the recap on what has come before...
Cherokee, now in Portland:

'99 Jeep XJ by Bucky Images, on Flickr
4Runner, now in Medford:

'00 Toyota 4Runner Highlander. by Bucky Images, on Flickr
Legacy Outback, now in Las Vegas:

Subaru in Snow. by Bucky Images, on Flickr
4Runner, now in Eugene:
Sunday drive. by Bucky Images, on Flickr
Cummins, now in Corvallis:
New tires. by Bucky Images, on Flickr
Powerstroke, now in Oregon City:

My Tacoma:
2002 Toyota Tacoma DC TRD by Mason Obray, on Flickr

I wanted to get this over to appropriate section of TacomaWorld. If you have any questions, insights, constructive criticism, etc. F-I-R-E A-W-A-Y!

 

ScanGaugeII installed on the drivers column:
ScanGaugeII - 2002 Toyota Tacoma DC by Mason Obray, on Flickr
265/70/16 Michelin LTX A/T2s installed, to replace the 10 year old Michelin's that the previous owner had. Awesome tire!
2002 Toyota Tacoma DC by Mason Obray, on Flickr
Side profile shot:
2002 Toyota Tacoma DC by Mason Obray, on Flickr

Headed into the foothills of the Cascade to lace some lead through some fire arms, as well as do a little exploring with a good friend of mine. The Tacoma performed flawlessly, and I even got to cycle the suspension making our way down to Abiqua Falls through some off-camber sections of the gravel road. The Michelin's LTX A/T2s did not miss a beat, and the best part was getting back onto the highway and having a smooth / quiet ride back home for 40 miles... Love these tires!
Abiqua Falls by Mason Obray, on Flickr
Crooked Finger Rd. by Mason Obray, on Flickr

The wife and I got out in about today in the Oregon Coast Range. It's so great living in a centralized location where you have mountains on both sides of you (Cascade / Coast Range) and are only a +/- 1 hour drive away. We did some exploring and stopped for lunch at Kilchis Falls.
2002 Toyota Tacoma TRD by Mason Obray, on Flickr
2002 Toyota Tacoma TRD by Mason Obray, on Flickr

 

Coming over Cedar Creek in the Oregon Coast Range.
2002 Toyota Tacoma TRD. by Mason Obray, on Flickr

Over the weekend, my wife and I payed a visit to Central Oregon with two main objectives; Smith Rock and Bend Ale Trail. We had a great time enjoying the geography, as well as throwing a few pints back in the town of Craft Beer. I have not done much to the Tacoma, aside from replacing a o2 sensor. I am on the hunt for a new set of wheels via Craigslist, or SCS if I feel like splurging... Life is good!
Warm Springs, OR. | Deschutes River by Mason Obray, on Flickr
Smith Rock by Mason Obray, on Flickr
Smith Rock by Mason Obray, on Flickr
Smith Rock by Mason Obray, on Flickr

Front windows got tinted and wheels swapped to 4Runner 5-Stars.
Willamette River. Independence, OR. by Mason Obray, on Flickr

Wife and I decided to kill a Sunday morning in the Cascade Foothills. A fun lil section of gravel road plus great views made for a great start to the day. On other note, I was experience unusual steering wheel shakes at HWY speeds, so I took the truck in and got the tires/wheels rebalance at my local Discount Tire. Truck is handling much smoother at HWY speeds, which I am pleased. I will note that about 10 miles of getting back on the road after the rebalance, a wheel weight from the drivers front flew off and went into the median... Luckily no one was to my left or else that would've left a nice scratch / dent!
Video of the Tacoma heading towards the Trailhead: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whZxLeU5NKM
Abiqua Falls, OR. by Mason Obray, on Flickr
Abiqua Falls, OR. by Mason Obray, on Flickr
Abiqua Falls, OR. by Mason Obray, on Flickr

 

I just placed an order with Marshall Fabrication in Vancouver, WA. for a pair of bed rails (powder coated black) + hi-lift mount, in anticipation of it supporting a Mt. Shasta RTT from @Cascadia Tents . Evan has been great to communicate with at Marshall Fabrication and I am certainly looking forward to the finished product.

In the meantime, my Leer XQ canopy (see picture below) is up for sale if anybody is interested: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2001-2004-toyota-tacoma-double-cab-leer-xq-canopy.432933/

2002 Toyota Tacoma DC by Mason Obray, on Flickr

 

I like your taste in 4Runner wheels...

 

Thanks, love 'em and only cost me $120.

My Leer XQ canopy sold today, in prep for a bed rack from @ETaco23 and RTT from @Cascadia Tents. I am stoked to say the least and hope to have both in the next two weeks!

2002 Toyota Tacoma DC TRD by Mason Obray, on Flickr

 

I would start the 1st post with the Tacoma and then go down the list. As a reader, you want to see the narrative instead of scrolling down to see what you bought. But that's just the minor OCD in me.

 

Bed rack from @ETaco23 is fantastic. The fabrication work is top notch and solid! I ended up meeting him halfway to pick these up and installation was pretty straight forward... measure twice, drill once. I will note that if you have the factory plastic bedliner, you will be 1/2" longer bolts than the ones supplied to accommodate the extra thickness.

I made the 3 hours drive over to Bend, OR. where I then picked up my @Cascadia Tents Mt. Shasta RTT. Bobby and the rest of his crew are top notch! CVT's new shop is awesome with a beautiful showroom that showcases a variety of different tents and trailers.

If anyone is in the market for bed bars / bed rack and a Roof Top Tent, don't hesitate to get in contact with Evan at Marshall Fabrication (http://www.marshallfabrication.com) and Bobby at Cascadia Vehicle Tents (https://cascadiatents.com). Great products, great people to work with.

 

Put the truck to use this past weekend as we headed for a cruise and short 2 mile hike in the Cascade Mountains. Rocky Point offered terrific views all the way north to Mt. Rainer, and all the way south to 3 Sisters... i'd highly recommend this drive and hike!
2002 Toyota Tacoma TRD DC by Mason Obray, on Flickr
Rocky Point, OR. by Mason Obray, on Flickr
Rocky Point, OR. by Mason Obray, on Flickr
Rocky Point, OR. by Mason Obray, on Flickr
Rocky Point, OR. by Mason Obray, on Flickr

 

beautiful truck

how is the road highway noise with the tires?

 

Thank you, I am enjoying it much. I plan on hitting on some maintenance items in the coming months to insure longevity!

These tires are the quietest that I have owned, which include BFG T/A KOs, Toyo Open Country AT2s, and Goodyear Duratracs. With that said, these are also P rated tires so not necessarily apples-to-apples with LT rated tires. Overall, I have been more than satisfied with my Michelins.

 

Have had Michelin Primacy on my non 4wd, and they are so quiet. Thus was hoping to get some nice tires on the Truck, that wasn't very loud

 

Whew, still trying to get out once a week here in the bright summer months. I've been mostly be using my Tacoma to get to the trail head and the rest of my adventures have been on 2 feet. With that said, I'll be hitting on some maintenance in the coming weeks with regards to fluids, valve cover gasket, etc. My best friend and I are in the midst of mapping out a route down south near Crater Lake for the weekend in August so stayed tuned there...

In the meantime here is Munra Point in the Columbia Gorge with my lil' bro earlier this week. A great, challenging height that offers fantastic 360 degree views!
Munra Point by Mason Obray, on Flickr
Munra Point, OR. by Mason Obray, on Flickr
Munra Point, OR. by Mason Obray, on Flickr
Elowah Falls by Mason Obray, on Flickr

 

Craigslist find... 50% off!
ARB E-Z Deflator by Mason Obray, on Flickr

 

July sure has been one busy month, as every weekend there has been something going on. In the last week I got the Tacoma down to the local Toyota dealer for a few maintenance items I wanted to hit on; valve cover gaskets, transmission fluid service, and power steering service. I also went ahead and scheduled the Lower Ball Joints to be replaced next week, which will give me some piece of mind moving forward. The truck has been running great and am now looking forward to next weekend, CRATER LAKE!
Lower Willamette River by Mason Obray, on Flickr

 

Are lower ball joints something that need to be replaced on these? What is the charge? Debating if I need it or how do I know if I need it

 

I know on 1st Gen Tacoma it is recommended, or at least hearsay, to replace every 80,000 miles or so. I am replacing them due to a few things; no documentation of being replaced, I want to add 2" lift in the near future, and an ARB Bull Bar / Warn Winch.

I bought the components from @CBT_Brian for a great price (3% TW discount). I am having the local Toyota dealership do the installation as I am simply booked for the next few weekends. All-in-all, it'll run me in the range of $550 to have both lower ball joints replaced. There are some great write-ups available for the LBJs that you can reference, all while saving you the money of not having someone else do the labor. Hope that helps!

 

Thank you!

 

Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance... maintenance . Thanks again @CBT_Brian for getting me squared away. I ordered these Monday and they arrived today, Friday. New LBJs will be going in next prior to taking off for the weekend in the Tacoma.
OEM Ball Joints + Hardware by Mason Obray, on Flickr

 

Not a problem! Glad I could help!!!!