The Jack of All Trades Slow Build

R490 · May 25, 2018

Hey TW, this isn't the most interesting build out there, but it's mainly to keep track of what I've done to the truck to improve it just enough to suit my needs.

So, I bought my truck in July of 2017 to replace by 2016 Jetta. Before that, I had a '97 A4 and a '00 A6. I'd wanted a truck my entire life, but I got really into German cars when it came time I got my licence. Those all broke constantly, so I was able to get my Tacoma right before heading off to college.

A couple weeks after buying it, we took it down to Florida. That took it's off road virginity. The previous owner of the truck lived in Washington DC and it clearly had never seen dirt or sand.

One of the first things I did to it was LED lights on the interior and licence plate. Huge difference, I'd recommend them both to anyone.

Working on a family friends 80's Toyota truck in Mississippi.

Cornfield donuts are highly recommended. I'm still scraping mud off the underside a month later from that one trip.... Yeahhhhhh.

Built it a bed divider out of wood. I don't use it too much anymore because I use my truck for different things now.

The first time I really messed shit up in it. I kinda sorta stopped doing stuff like that.

Driving through the middle of a cotton field in Georgia to visit my father's childhood house.

I wasn't kidding when I told y'all it's a slow build... I'll get there eventually though.

More recently, I installed a 32 inch lightbar hidden behind the front grille. Cali Raised LED brackets and a OEM style switch. I just got a cheap ass $32 lightbar from Amazon. It's more about decent light output than looks.

Debadged it, used this carb cleaner to remove the residue. It worked pretty well, then some asshole vandalized all of the stickers on my back window. That's what I get for using carb cleaner on paint I guess.

This week, I removed the stupid ugly running boards and dipped the Tacoma badges black on the sides. I was planning on throwing 33's and a lift on it, but that fell through. Personal crap came up and delayed it. I think I got 5% tint on the front and back which isn't great, thank the PO for that. Haven't been pulled over yet, hopefully it won't happen.

I also use the Tacoma as a work truck over the summer. A friend and I operate a small power washing and landscaping company and it's our primary vehicle.

I'm balancing my regular 9-5 and my side business so it's kinda hard to get a lot done to the truck. But I'm still constantly trying to improve it whenever I get the chance.

The goal is to get it lifted three inches and get some 33's on it. Going for this setup here: https://www.customwheeloffset.com/w...a-moto-metal-mo970-rough-country-leveling-kit

Call it a bro truck with those wheels or whatever, I'm not into overlanding at all and the only offroading I do it stupid shit in various fields. I do 15,000+ miles a year and I kinda like to keep things relatively simple.

At some point, I'd like to replace my Carhartt seat covers with leather and get an upgraded sound system. Maybe a color matched front grill or something as well, same deal with fender flares. Until I can afford a diesel I'm gonna have as much fun as I can with the truck.