Tacofort's 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD PRO Build with AT Habitat

Just MPG loss. 18-19 before, about 14-15 now. The Tacoma still has plenty of power, but you definitely know it's there. I sometimes call it a sail, but wouldn't change a thing.

 

Absolutely there's drag. It's even worse on 33s and manual transmission, 4th, 5th, 6th don't really do anything in the mountains.

On flat highway, I usually get ~13, but with premium, I get high 16s. Justifies the cost if the price diff is ~52c or less.

 

Still like the pelfrey front bumper? It's on my short list at this point. It's the only full hoop option for 3Gs I feel looks halfway decent being so snug to the body.

 

It's expensive, takes some time to deliver, but it looks great on the rig. Easy to install. I used an engine hoist and straps to support for the install. It's been good to me. Hit a Chevy Escape with it at low speeds and only a few scuffs to the powder coat. I'd buy it again.

What winch are you mounting? The Warn 10K required a long extension kit to mount the contactors.

Also, the baja designs are the best. Super bright. I only buy stuff from Pelfreybilt when there is a sale. (follow their instagram, free shipping or whatever percent off matters at their prices)

 

To put it a different way, I'm still waiting on Pelfreybilt to release the dual swing high clearance rear bumper and won't order anything else. My sliders, front bumper and all my skids except the TRD PRO skid are Pelfreybilt. I have ZERO complaints.

 

Is yours steel or aluminum? I'm considering aluminum for the weight but am curious about the protection I'll get out of that.

I've got a x20 12k. I dunno if I'll have to move the control box or not.

I'll probably get a set of Amber squadrons for it. I like the look of the baja designs pods.

 

I have the steel. Not that heavy. Also, much cheaper. I have the clear squadrons and amber covers ($10 on Amazon, but it allows me both options.

 

Which 10k did you use? I have a zeon and it fit in there w/o an extension.

 

Warn Zeon 10-s 89611, required an extension for mine.

 

UPS is gonna be working hard today as they drop off 200 lbs of stuff mostly from Wheeler'sOffRoad. Excited to wrench everything on this weekend.
Also, this is in a need for a severe update on the progress of all my projects lately. I'll try to gather it up in the next week or two.

 

Not all things go according to plan. I spent some time, did some research, watch videos, all the usual preparation to try to make sure we were prepared for the rear leaf spring install, but as always, something throws a curve ball.

So drive to my parents and have my stepdad give me a hand in the frigid weather conditions to perform the install. We begin by assembling the leaf packs with the additional leafs and new center pins and press fit the bushings in place. No problem. Test fit the Superbump bump stops and trim the center pin slightly for clearance. Then all the indoor work is spent. Granted keep in mind we took a break to warm up inside every so often as it was butt cold outside.

We go to jack up the truck. First attempt with the jack is on the side below the frame and can't get the truck high enough with my Stepdad's jack to lift the tires off the ground. Second attempt was from the rear below the center of the rear diff. Lifted the truck. Used 3T Torin

$40 BIG RED T43002A Torin Steel Jack Stands: Double Locking, 3 Ton (6000 lb) Capacity, Red, 1 Pair

jack stands on the side of the frames, no dice. We tried using some 4 by 6"s to prop up the jack stands, but they were digging in and didn't look safe. The wheels were still on the ground. Tried the hi lift, but it was starting to kick out. (Will look at attaching the Hi Lift to a bigger base for future stuff. ) So we decide a run to Menards is in order.

At Menards, we purchase a taller

$97 BIG RED T83006 Torin Hydraulic Trolley Service/Floor Jack with Extra Saddle (Fits: SUVs and Extended Height Trucks): 3 Ton (6000 lb) Capacity, Red

jack and

$62 BIG RED T46202 Torin Steel Jack Stands: 6 Ton (12000 lb) Capacity, Red, 1 Pair

jack stands. New procedure is use the taller jack on the low setting, jack below the rear diff high enough to get rear axle on jack stands, lower jack, insert post extension for jack, jack up higher, install 6 Ton jack stands on either frame rail. Use jack below center of rear diff to adjust axle up and down as needed, with the small jack stands below the axle to prevent an unwanted drop whenever lowering the rear axle. Install went smoothly after that save the wind and cold.

If you have access to a lift to do this job, please use it. It would have been much easier. Definitely requires 2 people to do the rear springs. They are heavy and awkward to hold at extension.

I'll get some pics later this week once I hose it off in warm weather. Still need to replace with longer struts before offroading, but she has a crazy rake right now. the front will have to be done soon.

Tool tip of the week. I love this

TEKTON 15010 3/8" Drive x 18" Extra Long Ratchet with 72-Tooth Oval Head

ratchet. And this

$35 Bedrug | Folding Track Mat / Knee Protection Mat | TrailerWare | 2' x 4' / Charcoal Grey | TW2X4MAT

mat made a lot of difference

 

oh yeah, I just use the 12 ton jacks from harbor freight. 3 ton jacks aren't tall enough since you're supposed to have 40% of the bar still below the top of the stand. When they're too far out, someone could sneeze and steady themselves on the truck and someone would die underneath. The 2 ton low profile long reach jack is good too since it's maximum height is 23-3/4".

In the cold, I just run those 60k btu forced air propane heaters on 20lbs tanks, they last a work day. They have ones that have the fan powered by AC or Battery (Mr Heater Hero).

But yeah, that didn't look like fun. I would have thrown down a couple of bags of sand under the area i'd work on and also put down some reflectix to work on top of with some bricks to hold it all down. If there was any expectation of wind, I just use some of the large the Amazon boxes I have, retape them, use a couple of garbage bags full of snow to weight them down so they don't blow away.

Man, despite California's silly laws, this is one of the reasons why it's easy to work on our vehicles year round.

 

Kudos and Dad love for seeing it through. Not what I would call elective surgery weather.

 

Added super bumps to the front and installed 2.5 fox shocks with remote reservoirs and dsc adjusters on the rear. Looks glorious.

 

@tacofort do you have the AT 12v wiring/light on your habitat? I'm about to order bed stiffeners and wanted to know if they would interfere with the way the wiring is currently done.

 

I installed the stiffeners prior, so they didn't interfere. I also installed the Habitat myself with a friend and a forklift, so thats a different story, but honestly, all you have to do if it does interfere is rewire it. Super easy. Just remove the tail light on that side, unwire what was previously installed, drill a new hole, install grommet, rewire.

I'll grab some pictures tonight. Though I've added a few other holes for wires to pass through there. In the middle of finishing my wiring for the back.

 

This past weekend's work.
Got new tires installed on the truck BFG AT KO2s 265 75 16


Rear driver

Front driver


Finally got around to finishing some of the added lights to be wired for the truck.

Side area or scene lighting (Still need to add switch to control in cab as well.


Baja Designs dome lights with switches installed on the lid of the Habitat to become patio lights when opened


Some cheap aluminum tracks and adhesive LEDs for in truck bed lighting


Rigid red toggle switches for the controls (The volt meter is getting relocated to the other corner, it interferes with a bolt in this corner position, a 12 volt socket will replace it here. )


I'll try to get some better pics of all the lights someplace darker in the middle of nowhere, not with my cell phone. They all work great.

 

It looks like you'll be interfering with current wiring. Also, the aluminum cap angles on either side had to be trimmed at 45 degrees to prevent interference with the bed stiffener.

 

So, if you cover the entire wall w/ carpet, you can velcro a USB charger on there.

https://www.amazon.com/CHGeek-Cigarette-Splitter-3-Socket-Detector/dp/B0721DYG7X

^^^^^^^^^^^^^
hardwire one of these bad boys.

 

I've been thinking about what to do with the walls and I might cover with sound deadening material or insulation, then carpet, then bolt on a molle platform for pouches. Ordered some

$104 BOSS Audio Systems MCBK420B Bluetooth Speaker System - Class D Compact Amplifier, 3" Weatherproof Speakers, Volume Control, Great for Use with ATVs/Motorcycles, 12 Volt Vehicles

speakers for the back, trying to make camp life easy as can be.