Rockhopjohn's "Who buys a Baja and Builds it" Build

2013 DCSB Superwhite Baja
Tow Package, Entune w/Nav

Current Interior Mods:

Wet Okole Front Seat Covers (Black w/TRD logo)
Escort Passport 9500ix hardwired and mounted to rear view mirror bracket
Weathertech Floor liners front and rear
ImMrYo rear view mirror relocation bracket
35% tint on Front windows to match stock on rear

Current Exterior Mods:

SOS Concepts Full Hoop Aluminum Plate Bumper
SOS Concepts IFS Front Skid Plate
BAMF behind the grill light bar mount with 20" chinese double row LED light bar
20" Single row chinese lightbar in bumper
Amazon amber LED fogs
Leer 180 Topper with windoors and Yakima rack system
Redline Stainless hood struts
Toyota Tube Steps
Toyota Bug Deflector
Toyota Bed Mat

Current Suspension Mods:

Wheeler's Off-Road Progressive 8-leaf rear leaf pack.
Wheeler's Superbump front/rear bump stops
OME BP-51 Shocks Front/Rear

As it sits in summer mode (285/75R16 Duratracs, mud flaps removed,pre-Wheelers Leaf springs and OME BP-51s):



As it sits in winter mode (265/75R16 Bridgestone W965 on FJ Trail Team wheels, mud flaps back on):



Day I brought it home in September of 2013:



Story of my truck:

I bought my 2013 Baja on a whim when I decided it was time to ditch my 2004 Duramax. I work in the oil field and wanted something that would carry all my crap for work and let me bomb down oil field roads without getting tossed in the ditch if I hit a large bump. I was also hoping for a bit lower fuel costs and something that was a much better all-arounder.

I needed a topper right of the bat to protect all the gear I haul for work that goes in the back of the truck. This resulted in a mad dash to find a topper, and after a few days of searching I found a used Leer 180. The 180 was not my first choice (was looking for cab high) but in the end I am glad that's what I ended up with, the extra height has come in handy.

I had the initial flurry of mods after buying the truck, behind the grill light bar, redline hood struts, tube steps, wet okole front seat covers, weathertech floor liners, etc. After that things slowed down for a while.

After my funds recovered, I decided to order an aluminum plate bumper from Relentless. I placed this order in October of 2013 but after almost a year an no results, I finally got a refund of my deposit and bought into a group buy for a SOS Concepts front aluminum plate bumper. SOS delivered an outstanding product in a timely manner, and I am happier with the bumper every day I have it.

As for suspension, it initially had a lot of sag in the rear with the topper, and loaded with all my gear. To resolve this I installed Firestone Ride-Rite airbags. They did a good job of leveling the truck, but led to very hard impact in the rear when hitting big bumps. I finally decided this was unacceptable after 75k miles and ditched the ride-rites and replaced the rear leaf pack with the Wheeler's 8-leaf progressive leaf pack. So far I couldn't be happier.

The most recent mod is to replace the stock Baja suspension with OME BP-51 coilovers. I am running the BP-51s with 1/2" (12mm) of preload, and that combined with the wheelers 8 leaf rear springs has given leveled the truck out with about 2" lift over a stock Offroad. I am also contemplating ditching the 285s, which feel heavy and sluggish and going with 265 Duratracs, which seems to be a much better performing tire. The 285s look awesome, but they also prevent me from running my mud flaps, which I don't like either.

 

A few other glory pics from over the years.

After finishing up with initial mods (topper, tube steps):



Sag before Firestone Ride-Rides (on stock 4-leaf pack):



After installing Ride-Rites:



Wet Okole Seat Covers:



Behind the grill light bar installed on BAMF mount:



Redline Hood Struts installed:



After a muddy day of bombing down oil field roads in ND:



After getting SOS Concepts Plate Bumper installed:



Sunrise in Death Valley near Stovepipe Wells:



Wheeling in Berdoo Canyon in Joshua Tree:



Outside Moab:



Sevier Dry Lake Bed in UT:



Getting those new Duratracs dirty:





Trip to AZ with Teardrop Camper:

 

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