Theloden's Overland Build

So I've owned the Taco for almost a year now after my 98 Honda Passport gave up the ghost. Because of my job, I need a vehicle that can make it through all weather, which can be a bit tricky here in West Michigan. My Passport was never the best vehicle and it wasn't all that comfortable, but it made it through the snow when my little Volvo C30 Polestar couldn't.

I had always wanted a Toyota truck, ever since seeing one in the Back to the Future movies and when it came time to replace the Passport I started looking for a Tacoma. I didn't really go into buying one with the idea I would come away with a new one, but seeing that used ones really hold their value, it made more sense to me to trade my Volvo in along with the Passport and just get a new Taco.

The DCLB wasn't my first choice, nor was the SR5 model. I really wanted a TRD Off-Road DCSB in Spruce Mica, but give my choices on the lot I didn't really have much selection. I ended up with a DCLB SR5 in silver whatever Toyota calls it. It was the most sparse vehicle I had ever bought new too since I really like gizmos on my cars. But after a year of owning it I'm really happy with my decision.

After picking it up and having the dealer put on the TRD exhaust, I started right away trying to figure out what I could do to make it the TRD Off-Road model like I wanted it to be.

Here's the day I picked it up:


A few days later I put 265/75/16 BFGoodrich KO2's on the truck so that it could manage to claw it's way through the snow:



The winter, for the most part was rather uneventful since I was just trying to get through the snow and cold, I did manage to add a few odds and ends though like a EGR stone shield and a TRD shift knob and grill badge I bought off of eBay.



Once the snow melted and I got a hefty tax refund, I ended up getting a set of bronze TRD simulated beadlock wheels since I really liked the way they looked and they were slightly wider so they fit the tires a little better.



After that I picked up a set of Morimoto XB LED foglights since I wanted a bit more light.



When my plates came due, I ended up getting a custom plate for the truck. Unfortunately not really thinking through TRD Taco, it makes most people think it says Turd Taco...which sounds untasty.



One day while board in the garage I took some spray paint and ended up doing my best to color match the engine cover for the truck too. It's not exact, but it's close enough.



I then ended up getting a set of the VLED switchback LED's for the turn signals/running lights and adding a pair of Briteass LEDs. The LED headlight really helped with the back road driving and seem to be better than HID's in terms of glare.





Despite throwing out more light with the LEDs, it was still a bit of a concern living out in the country. I really didn't want to nail a deer or one of the people who like to run while wearing all black at night, so I went with a NFab light bar with a set of PIAA 520 yellow fogs and KC Apollo driving lights.

I also managed to fab up a custom fuse box using a Blue Sea base and some scrap aluminium. I went with some Air on Board switches too to give it more of an OEM look.







I started running out of things to do, but I threw a set of EGR window visors on the truck and some RokBlokz mudflaps since the OEM ones are awful. I also picked up a new rearview mirror and mounted a shovel in the bed. I still have to get my MaxTrax mounted up too, but I haven't figured out how to lock them up yet.









So there it is, nothing super special and nothing that really stands out, but so far it hasn't failed my yet get through the roads around me when it matters the most.

 

nice job

how about a night pic with your PIAA 520s on ?

 

Thanks!

Here's some night pics of the lights. They throw out some decent yellow light which seems to help in poor weather conditions.

 

A small update. I finally got my Softopper on and mounted my CB antenna using the BAMF bracket. I still need to get my Cobra 75 hooked up in the cab, but at least the antenna connections are there.








Also, finally got my Secret Santa gift put on the truck now that it's not forever cold. Thanks again @Pugga and props to @Ghost. of Far North by Design for some quality decals!

 

Looks great

 

Nice looking rig, it looks like you can get through our Mi. winters well.

 

Subbed! You gotta update this Joe!

 

I completely forgot I had this build thread!

Lots have changed since the last update back in the spring.

First I added some KC Flex lights on some CBI ditch light brackets, I liked them because they were super small but still really bright.



After that I added a Prinsu Designs roof rack with a Morimoto 40" LED light bar. I think Prinsu makes the best racks for our trucks and they fit extremely well and makes it so it's not too difficult to get into parking garages. The Morimoto light bar was a sound investment too, still relatively inexpensive but still managed to rival some of the more well known brands in terms of light out put.




I also rebuilt my fuse panel with a Pelfreybilt fuse panel and a Blue Sea Fuse Block, much cleaner then the bracket I fab up out of a some scrap metal.




Also I added a Mobtown Offroad Tailgate reinforcement plate since I was carrying my buddy's quad throughout the summer and didn't want to damage the composite that was on there from the factory. It made the tailgate weigh a bit more, but it took the weight of the quad without flinching.




While working from home for a couple of days and sitting on endless conference calls, I worked on wrapping my grab handles in paracord. I'm still trying to learn how to do the cooler designs, but this was cool enough and occupied some time while I listen to whomever drone on about something that could have been said in a e-mail.


I added a Cobra 75 WX ST since I wanted to be able to talk to my buddies when I was out on the forest roads and didn't have cell reception. I really like the weather radio feature too.


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Sometime in September I ended up getting a job offer in Utah, so this meant a cross country jaunt in the Taco. It drove beautifully, carried all my crap without any issue, and was a great vehicle to see the US in. Here are some highlights:

Rocky Mountain National Park


Continental Divide


Somewhere outside Steamboat Springs


Into Utah


Also after I got to Salt Lake City, I spent a few days just exploring the area while I was waiting for my apartment to be ready, again, some more highlights

Bonneville Salt Flats


Ken Block's Raptor in Park City


Guardsmen Pass


Somewhere with a view


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After arriving in Utah, I decided that I really need to change the focus of my truck and get it more geared towards overlanding since I want to go explore all the west has to offer with my wife and my dog. First up was locating a topper. The Softtopper was good, but not as weather tight as I wanted it to be. Thankfully @FlashCulprit had one for sale and was about a mile from where I worked.



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So that's where I'm at today. Monday I'll be heading up to Idaho Falls to pick up some goodies from CBI Offroad. I ended up with a Moab 2.0 Aluminium Bumper w/ Full Hoops and some rock sliders with a kick out. I think it will really transform the look of my truck and make it a little nicer off road. I'm also still trying to figure out which lift I want to get, but right now I'm leaning towards the kit put together by Fat Bob's Garage in Layton, UT that was developed for @Predator Strikeforce. Seems like a good kit for the money and I'll be adding some Light Racing UCA's to make sure I can keep the truck aligned.

 

Wow, all of the additions look awesome!

Pics of the Moab 2.0 bumper when you get it today!

 

Right now it's in my garage since it's too cold and snowy to put it on (not having a garage is killing me), but it sucessfully made it back from Idaho!


I also got my new plates a couple days ago.


And I ordered this today, the @Predator Strikeforce suspension kit from Fat Bob's. It'll be going on next Friday.

 

Looking KILLER!

 

I got my lift kit put on yesterday and I'm pretty happy with it. As mention it's the "Predator Strikeforce" kit from Fat Bob's Garage here in the SLC area. I think the amount of lift is about perfect too since it's still functional, I can still get into most parking garages, and it should allow me to put 33's on or at least that's what the guys at Fat Bob's told me.

 

Nice rig. What's the second 100A breaker for on the panel?

 

Thanks!

The 100A breaker is connected to my aux fuse box, the other breaker is a 30 amp one that I'm eventually going to run to the rear of the truck for a second fuse box so I can hook up interior lights and stuff inside my topper.

 

Sick build! I've always wondered what the bronze wheels looked like on a silver taco, glad someone else has done it! Looking good buddy

 

Did some more work to the rig yesterday, this time putting in my HID retrofits and CBI Offroad Moab 2.0 bumper. The instructions that came with the bumper were horrendously bad, but a quick call to CBI sorted it all out and their customer service is fantastic. I texted a few pictures over to them and got a call right back explaining to me what I needed to do.

The beginning


End result:








I still need to do some more trimming, adjusting, painting, and cleaning up the wires for the HIDs, but it's coming along.

 

It's looking great!!

 

How do you like the predator strikeforce kit? Thinking about pulling the trigger on these.

 

I like it, rides really nice and was the perfect size lift. Hopefully I'll be getting my 33's soon.

 

Any progress on this beaut? I recently purchased a silver dclb along with a cap last weekend that I'll be building some kind of sleeping system in the back with. Love your build so far