Long Time Addict - New Forum Member

This is the current ride, "Chuck," a mostly stock 2001 TRD with a manual, my second Tacoma. While there are some awesome builds on this site, I can never quite bring myself to meddle with the ability to drive 80mph all the way to Idaho from coastal Washington, wheel it hard to get to a whitewater creek (love the locker), and set the cruise back on 80 to get home.

I luckily acquired this truck with 80,000 on it for $5,000 from my best friend who bought it new the day he was commissioned into the Marine Corps in December of 2000. During its entire previous life, it lived inland on Camp Pendleton and mostly was parked through two kids and three deployments. Five years ago I got a mint truck for $5,000.



For almost 100,000 miles I drove my dream truck. It was not too big, did not draw attention, but got down to business when it was necessary. Surprisingly one carseat can be shoehorned into the back of this truck. Two cannot be. As a result, we have a new 2016 Tacoma TRD Off-Road Double Cab with a short bed, towing package, and a manual (damn straight!) on order.

Thankfully Chuck will be staying in the family, going to a great friend who had to part with his '98 4Runner a while back and has been envious of Chuck ever since. This is, after all, what you do with Toyotas. You keep them in the family!

Looking forward to the 2016, I am planning on a few things to immediately facilitate our outdoor lifestyle. Please let me know if you have experience or other similar ideas.

• Shell - SnugTop Sport Hi-Liner w/twin windoors and Yakimas on tracks
• Cab Racks - Ditch Mounted Rhino Tracks with Yakimas as well
• Tires - Swap on my P265's from the old truck
• Load Assist - SumoSprings
• Trailer Brake Controller - Tekonsha P2 Brake Controller from the old truck

Nothing here likely is going to raise many eyebrows, but later my thoughts are around keeping things as close to stock as practicable, but tweaking it a bit. This is where getting outside ideas gets a bit hard, since it seems everybody wants to go bigger. I just want to increase capability at or near stock configuration.

• 2.5" Coilovers - I would like to back off the really stiff springs just a tad and possibly add a bit more shock preload for pounding the suspension on long stretches of marginally maintained Forest Service roads, but not change the ride height. What are good ideas here? Who can actually offer advice for how to balance spring rate versus preload? I don't know much, but have read the new Tacomas can border on bouncy due to very stiff springs - about 100# stiffer than the previous generation.
• 2.5" Rear Shocks - Given how much towing I am going to be doing, I likely am not going to touch the rear springs, but would like to give them some help when I am getting impatient on the Forest Service roads and pushing the truck pretty hard.
• Front Receiver - A winch is something I would like to have as an option, but you do not always want to go forward when you screw up. Further, we likely need a winch more for when we are trying to find a place to snowshoe in the winter, and not much of the rest of the year. As a result, I would like to have the option of a winch on a tray, but have it all wired up and relatively easy to use. I like the looks of the CBI Off Road high clearance front receiver, but am curious where it comes through the front bumper. Does anybody have experience or photos of this?
• Lighting - I am considering putting in LED's in the high beams to see how I like them and then evaluating going to either HID or LED's for the low beams as well. Does anybody have experience with some of the new LED options and have a take on them?

Thank you in advance for any help and assistance. I am impressed with the enthusiasm and willingness for people to help out a rookie at wrenching like myself.

 

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