2WD Workhorse Build

Hello TacomaWorld!

Long time reader, first time poster. I can't express how much I appreciate this forum and the wealth of information it provides. Since I purchased my Tacoma in 2013 this site has offered much inspiration and clarification on topics related to my truck.

Down to business. A "build" takes time.

October 2013, I purchased and became the third owner of the former pest control service truck with 200,000 miles on the odo. It came with an aluminum cap, Pioneer head unit, and a set of snow tires.



2014

Over the course of the year I replaced the blown out stock shocks and struts, sloppy U-Joints and dropped in a K&N air filter, but mostly left well enough alone. Mainly just hauled bicycles to and from races...





and slept in the back




Eventually, I got fed up with the blown out seat cover I sprung for a sweet unit made by Coverking from Cabela's.

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I have a bench seat, but you get the idea. With a regular cab the extra storage on the back of the seat is an improvement.

Late in 2014, I received a letter from Toyota offering free undercoating. This turned into a new frame (thank you Toyota).

Realizing the frame would be replaced prompted me to address some nagging issues.

By February 2015, the frame, leaf springs, brake lines, lower A-arms, front wheel bearings, brake pads, rotors, calipers, drums, shoes, steering rack, clutch and muffler (

$75 Dynomax Super Turbo 17748 Exhaust Muffler for Ford Ranger

Dynomax 17748 Super Turbo Muffler) were brand new.

By April I had upgraded the towing capacity by installing Air Lift airbags

$295 Air Lift 59564 Ride Control Rear Air Spring Kit

AIR LIFT 59564 Ride Control Rear Air Spring Kit and

$77 Hopkins 46365 Short Proof Power Converter

Hopkins 46365 Short Proof Power Converter.

These improvements allowed me to freight all my worldly possessions 2400 miles across the country without incident.




Mid summer 2015 the truck was solid. Sure, more cab space and four-wheel-drive would be an improvement, but it's hard to argue with 28mpg.

However, winter was coming, I had no snow tires, and, after selling the aluminum cap in favor of a tool box, I was having trouble carrying all of my tools under lock and key. Also, in preparation for the cold season, I was collecting firewood.





I'd be lying if I said the 215/55-15 minivan sneakers weren't a little squirmy under load and they definitely struggled to find traction on certain "roads."

Now, the old girl looks a little different.









MB Wheels TKO 15x7
Goodyear Duratracs 235/75-15
Leer utility cap
assorted lights and switches:

DDM Tuning HID Kit, 35W, H4 High / Low, 6000K

Mictuning TOYOTA Push Switch Laser Backlit LED LIGHT BAR (Blue LED Light) , ON-OFF Toggle Switch 3A 12V

Greatek 22" 120W Led Light Bar Flood Spot Combo Driving Light Fog Light Off Road Light for Jeep Truck ATV UTV SUV Boat Tractor Trailer

Auxbeam™ 22" 126W Led Light Bar Cree 12600lm 42Pcs 3W Driving Work Off-road light Dual row Spot Flood Combo Beam 12V 24V for Van Camper Wagon AT

$19 Nilight - NI23C-18W 2PCS 18W Flood LED Work Light Driving Lights Led Light Bar Off Road Led Lights Flush Mount for Jeep Truck Tacoma Bumper ATV UTV,2 Years Warranty

Nilight® 2pcs 18w Flood Led Work Lights Jeep Light Bar Off Road Light 4x4 4wd Jeep Truck F150 Tacoma Bumper

$25 Auxbeam LED Light Bar 4" 18W LED Pods 1800lm Flood Beam Driving light Off Road Lights for SUV ATV UTV Trucks Pickup Jeep Lamp (Pack of 2)

Auxbeam™ 2Pcs 4" 18W CREE LED Work Light Bar Flood beam 60 degree waterproof for Off-road Truck Car ATV SUV Jeep Boat 4WD ATV Auxiliary Driving

a new battery

$290 OPTIMA Batteries OPT8040-218 D35 YellowTop Dual Purpose Battery

Optima Batteries 8040-218 D35 YellowTop Dual Purpose Battery

Stainless steel brake hoses

and, after 240,000 miles a new alternator.

Synopsis:

Fuel milage is in the toilet, but it's still better than a 4x4. Acceleration is atrocious. It needs a 4.10 rear end in the worst way and I'd definitely throw a locker in as well.

But, it goes where it wouldn't before. I can carry all of my tools and I usually have enough light to see what i'm doing.

Unless I win megabucks and can afford a 4x4 extended cab, I'll run this truck until it grenades. Then I'll drop in a junkyard motor and keep going.

 

how you liking the auxbeam lights? aby issues with the cubes? are they bright enough for the rear of the truck while backing? any pictures during the night of them lite up?

 

So far, the Auxbeam lights have worked flawlessly. They have made it through the winter without developing any condensation behind the lens. I've even gone so far as to hit them with the pressure washer while cleaning the truck to no ill effect.

In terms of light output, they are very bright. The backup lights I have mounted in the bumper are the same output as the pods I have mounted on the cap, and if It weren't for the cap obscuring my view, they would be a bit excessive. I don't have any photos yet, but I'll see what I can come up with.

Let me put it this way, using just the four lights I have mounted on the cap, I was able to light an entire job site so I could continue working after dark. The job site was a hole in the ground for a 5200 sq ft foundation.

 

Of all the upgrades I have done, I'm least satisfied with the DDM Tuning drop in HIDs. This is my own fault. 6000k has more blue than natural light and causes a massive loss in depth perception and glare especially during bad weather. Sooner, rather than later, i'm going to do a projector retrofit with some 4300K bulbs.

 

See I prefer the slight hint of blue as it helps me see depth and such in the snow, the white kind of blinds me and yellow is great...I had hid's in my old Ford ranger and they were 6500k if I recall from hidnation.com and loved them, but I won't do them on my yota as they never warmed up enough in winter time to clear ice build up fast enough... Thank you so much also for responding makes me feel alot better about my impending purchase of these... Please snap a night photo if you can no headlights on just them if possible tyvm

 

Nice work OP. My first truck was a 2wd regular cab s10 and I had more fun with that thing than I have with any 4x4 since. I have a soft spot for little 2wds that haul ass and work hard. A good set of chains and that thing will go anywhere you need it to.

 

Thanks man! You better believe I've got a beefy set of chains for the old girl.

Its pretty impressive what a good set of tires will do for off-road performance. Places I used to bury the truck before are no problem now. I just need a supercharger to compensate for the added weight...

 

Nice work truck and I like the bikes. Keep up the good work

 

Thanks man! Will do.

 

I've been chasing a bit of a brake problem ever since the frame was replaced. After replacing the calipers, pads, drums, shoes, wheel cylinders, and brake lines I still had a soft brake pedal. It drove me nuts. Several attempts to bleed the system on my own did not solve the problem. I brought it to the dealership to have them do a power bleed, twice. Eventually I resigned myself to lackluster pedal feel.


Fast forward 6 months and decided to spring for a set of SS hoses to replace the ten-year-old rubber lines. Big improvement, but still not as firm as I hoped.

Around the same time I noticed that the passenger front brake was sticking. After several attempts to free the stubborn piston I gave up and ordered a new caliper, rotor and pads.

You can see how burnt the rotor was by comparison.


I decided to take the opportunity for a little upgrade. Slotted rotors and carbon ceramic pads.


The rotors were on close out from Rockauto, so we'll see how they work.

Suffice to say the brakes work now, and work well. Only took a year.

 

@thumper72 here are some night shots...


Backup


Really no comparison to stock.

Here are the cap lights.



At some point I'm going to take the ol' girl into the desert and check out the range of these lights for real.

Here are photos of the switches and wiring.





All the accessory lights have their own relay and are pulling power directly from the battery. The switches are tied into the dash illumination circuit to light up when I turn the factory lights on.

 

OP-
Love the truck! Any updates to report? What mpgs are you looking at with the larger tires? How does the truck handle in snow/ice with 2wd only?

 

Now that summer is here the cap is off and I swapped the Dura-Tracs for something more conducive to commuting. Over the winter the truck worked great. A little weight in the back and a set of tire chains offered peace of mind. Only had to chain up once to get out of a remote ice covered parking spot. With the weight of the cap and the larger tires my MPGs dropped to around 21. However, I don't think I'll be putting the 235s back on. I live in hilly area and often carry a considerable amount of cargo for work. The effect the larger tires have on acceleration is considerable. I came very close to re-gearing the 3rd member, but my truck has over 253,000 miles, I'd love more room in the cab, and A/C in the summer. If the truck is empty the lag is manageable.

Since my last post I replaced the bulbs in the climate control panel, the dome light and stock reverse lights with LEDs. I also addressed a leaking valve cover gasket, which, after 11 years was rather "crunchy."

 

The top was my before , bottom is after. Putting fender flares and 3inch lift next!

 

Sweet. Regear to 4.10 and install a Detroit TrueTrac.
I'm adding one next week