18' OR Build

Focus: Light weight, functional, comfortable.

Previous: '14 DCSB OR - 34's, armored, heavy AF
Current: '18 DCSB OR, manual, tech package

First Impressions:
The '18 is slightly more refined with creature comforts than my old '14. First gear is pretty tall and coming off from a stop (especially at Denver's elevation) can be a little tricky.

With the 32's i'm still averaging about 18-19 combined with highway around 20-22. I'm really liking the engine/ transmission combo but i'll have to wait to see what its like when i add the armor, canopy and tent.

Currently running the 275/70s without a lift. minor scrubbing of the front mudflap on turns. No noticeable loss of power, better highway performance. I have had a hell of a time getting these Ko2's to balance properly. it took 3 times and still isnt perfect.

Build List:
Suspension:
OME HD Kit
Light Racing UCA
Dakar HD pack

Tires/ Wheels:
275/70 17r E rated KO2
TRD Offroad SEMA (black)

Camping:
James Baroud Discovery
Alucab Canopy
ARB 2.0 Awning
ARB Twin Compressor
Slee Underhood Compressor mount
ARB 50qt Fridge w slide

Electrical:
Bluesea 12 pole Circuit Panel w/ 100amp breaker mounted on pelfery switchplate
20 amp 12v rear bed circuit
10 amp 12v front dash circuit
Caliraised cubby switch plate

Communications:
Yaesu TFM100r

Navigation:
iPad Mini w/ Gaia
Expedition essentials TPAM

Armor:
CBI T3, full hoops
Warn M8000
Rigid Lighting
Factor 55 flat link
Factor 55 fairlead
CBI Kick Out Sliders
OEM Mud flaps

Misc:
TRD Offroad Grille (ebay)

Currently a work in progress, all products purchased from Bomber Products.

 

Installed the TPAM... not really that impressed with it.

It mounts to the removable faceplate around the radio with two aluminum supports and some screws. Overall it’s nice, but the aluminum mounts did not line up, the ram mount threaded holes did not accept the screws included with the ram mount (the tpam is threaded for #10 fine thread screws. Also the fit and finish left a lot to be desired.

 

Mounted the slee air compressor bracket. Flawless design and even has a spot for the switch. Only down side is the elbows provided in the kit are for the arb manifold and there is not a bracket to relocate the quick connector. Mounted the quick connector directly to the compressor and the hood still closes without contact.

Only problems is doing dual batteries in the future will require a dual driver side configuration.

 

Did you end up keeping the TPAM or did you find something you liked better? I got one and haven’t installed it yet because I’m not sure how I feel about it not lining up flush.

 

It holds my ipad, it will work for the time being

 

really like your truck and your old one

 

Hey JRazzle:

Just reaching out. We would like to know how and why the fit and finish are not up to par: out of the hundreds of TPAMS that are now in Tacoma’s all over the US, when one or two come up with an issue we love to know!!!

All of the TPAM s are made identical and are thoroughly inspected for quality defects.

Was it powder coating, was it welds, was it missing hardware. Customer feedback is very important to us and if we don’t know, we can’t help.

If you are referring to the crooked appearance of the mount to the radio bezel: that is intentional and not a production flaw.

The design for the mount follows the straight plane of the dash pad behind the radio bezel, the radio bezel itself curves in when it comes closer to the driver.

Doing this allows for proper mounting of accessories and allows for room for the usb outlet.


Regarding the aluminum mounts not aligning up: we allow for any miss drills or installer mistakes by slotting the two holes that go through into the mounts. By doing this we have greatly reduced the margin for error.

As always we stand behind our product and any quality issues.

We are also avail at any time for technical assistance at 206-504-9949

Thank you.

Jeff

 

Jeff, think my post pretty well captures it. I was not able to align the aluminum supports with the mount. Simply not enough room to work in between the dash and the windshield the fact that I had to use a awl or punch to center a 1/8” hole through two tpam holes, the dash and finally the mount was a bit unreasonable. The mount otherwise is fine (although I’d recommend getting some better product photos on your site to show the fit better), but without the supports, I could have accomplished the same thing by just drilling into the faceplate. Not trying to bash your product just sharing my experience and impressions.

 

Hey no worries Brother.

Thanks for the feedback

 

Alucab canopy went on today. Super impressed and it fits SO much better than the ones on the second gens.

 

Looks great. They are damn nice canopies.