Building a LEDGEND

This is my first Taco build but, with all the great info I've found on TW I expect it will be epic!
I started out with a stock '05 TRD Sport.

Very quickly I upgraded the tires to BFG KOs 275/70r17 which fit almost perfectly with SpiderTrax 1.25" spacers. I get a little rub on plastic from time to time but, nothing to worry about.

Just to make sure I took it to a NORA4X4 event at Hunter Mountain...

...and made their Instagram feed!

BTW: Who needs lockers when a little break work will do the trick?

Had so much fun that I've started building a test track at my house!



Sliders arrived...

So did the Icon Stage 3 kit!

So, I dropped off the Taco today to have the Icons installed and am waiting for the Shrockworks bumper to arrive. I also found out that there is a fantastic fabricator here in town so, I may have him build my rear bumper if I like how the install of the front bumper and Rock Sliders comes out.

I'll add more details and pics of some of my mods as time goes on. I have a ski pole grip as a shift knob and some neat gopro mounting solutions to share.

 

Congratulations on your first Tacoma! Looks like you are off to a great start too

 

Looking good

 

This will be a good thread!

 

congrats on your new truck and welcome! can't wait to see what all you do to it. btw nice color

 

Ok so, the Icons are in and the truck looks and drives great... (Wait for it)


Now, I'm no expert (which is why I had them installed rather than tackle it myself) but, I'm fairly sure that something's amiss here.


here...


and here.


I could be wrong but, shouldn't:

1. the reservoir be mounted on the same side at its hose fittings
   
2. the reservoir hose not run between the frame and leaf-springs
3. the leaf-springs not have a protruding bolt waiting to harpoon the frame/hose? ...and I'm pretty sure it had rubber bump stops when I dropped it off.

I'm also fairly sure I read somewhere that the upper shock mount needs to be trimmed to make room for the hose fittings.

If anyone has advice and or pics of the Icon RR 2.0s properly installed I would be eternally grateful.
I'm not afraid to roll up my sleeves but, I have ZERO experience and depend on this rig as my DD.

Incidentally, the suspension performed great on my way to work today (some rough rural roads and some fast highway) and I cant wait to put it through its paces off-road but, I think I might wait until I get these quirks ironed out!

~D

 

I decided that rather than spend more money so a shop could potentially screw it up again, I'd spend the money on tools instead and do it myself.
I think I did a decent job for someone who has no idea what he's doing!
If anyone sees something I missed or a better way to set it up please, let me know.

Rerouted the reservoir hose from between the frame and leaf springs by flipping the mounting bracket.


Ground out the upper shock mount to make room for the hose fittings to move while flexing. Painted the area with farm equipment Rust-Oleum.


Moved the passenger side reservoir to the correct location by drilling a whole, painting with Rust-Oleum, then re-using the mounting hardware.


Once again ground out the upper shock mount and painted with Rust-Oleum.


While I was working I noticed that the centering bolt on the drivers side leaf pack was completely striped so, I decided to wait on cutting them down until I can get replacements. I'd also like to add the overload leaf back into the leaf pack. Does anyone know how to do this? It looks like the front retaining clip on the overload would interfere with the one on the Icon AAL spring pack. Any advice would be very welcome!

Thanks!
~D

 

Adding the AAL isn't terrible if you have the tools. Give me a sec here think I can find the link.

Edit: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/aal-install-second-gen.54186/

 

You currently have no bump stops in the rear, they were supposed to cut the bolts so the OEM bump would fit over it. I would have asked for my money back as they did a shit job.

 

Thanks for the link, that's an awesome guide!

I wish I could ask for my money back but, I live in a small town and I've known the guy forever (went to school with his son etc.). He's always done right by me and squeezed me in for emergency repairs or last minute (extremely lenient) inspections. He's an old man now and clearly no longer the craftsman he once was. Lesson learned! I'll have to see if he has my bump stops in his shop.
I also noticed that he stripped one of the centering pins so, I'll need to order new ones before I can add the overload leafs back in.
I still have to find someone for my Shrochworks bumper install. I had planned to do it myself but, research revealed that I'll need to weld new mounts to the frame. I've never welded and don't have the tools so, I'm at the mercy of what I can find via networking. Unfortunately, pickings are slim in my area. From what I can see, people are happy with Rough Country lifts and cosmetic bolt-ons for their mall-crawlers or they're hard core and do all their own fabrication work. I do have a fantastic body shop up in Williston, VT that I use for my Honda S2000 but, its 4hrs away and with snow season coming I cant afford to leave the truck for an extended stay. On the other hand, if Shrockworks is as slow as what I've read, it may be spring before I see the bumper anyway in which case, no problem. Well have to see.

Now the big question is whether I should attempt to install the All-Pro HD Sliders (Branded Pure). I was originally going to find a shop to install them but after my last experience, (and having had to take a crash course in installing parts) I'm tempted to give it a go. Unfortunately, the provided instructions are vague at best and a can-do attitude can get a novice into trouble fast. Anyone have any thoughts on the skill level necessary to perform the install?

~D

 

I would attempt it myself https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/all-pro-slider-install.464236/
And get those bump stops back. Those are easy to reinstall too.

 

Don't bother getting your factory bump stops back, just buy aftermarket ones that are properly sized to prevent you from bottoming out your new expensive shocks.

 

Done!
3 - 5 day shipping!
http://timbren.com/active-off-road-bumpstops/

Off to Lowes after work today to pick up some replacement centering pins.

Here's a question. If I'm adding the Timbren active off road bump-stops, is there any value to reinstalling the overload springs other that the extra inch or so lift? I do tow a fair bit because I help a friend run a motorcycle rental company so, I often have 2 - 3 heavy bikes on a 12'/8' steel trailer on rough roads. I'm also considering an AT Habitat Truck Topper down the road and I'd like to plan for the future. At very least I'll have lots of trail/recovery/camping gear in the bed with a RTT until I save up the scratch for the AT. I know the overload springs protect the leaf pack but what I don't know is whether the Timbren bump-stops will serve a similar purpose.

On a final note. I haven't slept much since buying my project truck and joining TW. Is this normal? Will I eventually return to a normal sleep pattern or am I doomed to live like a chipmunk who made a nest in a kilo of Columbia's best?!?!

~D

 

OK, time for an update!
I ordered a Garage-in-a-box which arrived just after the cold snap showed up so, Ive had to get creative. Turning half of my living-room into a paint booth was not a popular decision however, it served me well. I discovered that storing the unpainted rock-sliders on my front porch did nothing to prevent surface rust so, I explored various techniques for removing it.

Apparently, vinegar does a great job of breaking down rust and works really well to free up old tools (successfully tested). It does not however, work well to remove surface rust from larger items that cannot be soaked. I even tried mummifying the sliders in paper towels to allow them to soak.

This only results in a rust colored film that is just as stubborn as the original rust and my hands smelling like a salad for a week!

What did work well was a wire brush on a drill and another on an angle grinder!
Next, I primed the now clean metal with 2 coats of Rust-Oleum Rusty Metal Primer.

I finished them off with 3 coats of Rust-Oleum Farm & Implement - Low Gloss Black which looks far better than expected!

Close-up...

So, the Sliders are now ready for installation once I have a work-space.

I've since installed the Timbren active off road bump-stops which were ridiculously easy.

And the upper control arm ball-joint dust covers which (to my surprise) do NOT come with the Icon Stage 3 suspension. Incidentally, you also have to purchase the spanner wrench for adjusting the front coil-overs separately as well.


Finally, the Shrockworks front bumper and skid-plate have arrived followed shortly by a Warn M8000-S winch and Wireless Control System that are awaiting installation at a local fabricator.

If I like the work he does I'm considering designing bed racks and a rear bumper this spring.

Finally, I installed a few custom touches in the cab including a removable steering knob and a ski pole grip shift knob.

So far this winter I've pulled 6 cars/trucks out of ditches and had some light exploring adventures in the snow. Once the winch is installed I'll attempt some video worthy terrain and post the results. As it stands, the rig has yet to disappoint and consistently impresses me with its performance!

Stay Tuned!!!

 

Shrockworks bumper installed!

Of note, the Baja Designs lights have reverse polarity from the stock fog lights. We couldn't understand why they kept popping fuses until we ran power to them strait from the battery and they worked in the reverse configuration.
When you follow the Shrockworks directions for using the stock wiring, remember to connect Green to White and White with Black Stripe to Black!

Of course, if you're connecting them with the included wiring to a house battery or to bypass the relay that limits use to when low beams are on then, this wouldn't apply.

More to come!

 

Of interest to anyone considering a Shrockworks front bumper. No need to trim your wheel well liner...


You can stuff it forward into the bumper where it will continue to serve its purpose as a barrier to keep the crud out!


Incidentally, the Baja Designs Squadron Sport Wide Cornering Lights that I ordered with the bumper are FANTASTIC! I recently upgraded my headlight bulbs to the Sylvania 9005 Silverstar Ultra which was a significant improvement over my stock bulbs however, when I have the fogs on now, my headlights might as well be candles! Even high-beams pale in comparison!
Of course, now that I've had a taste of how good lighting can be, I just want MORE!!!
Time to research so, off the the TW forums I go.