mcannazz build thread - 2018 Tacoma DCSB TRD OR AT Silver Sky Metallic

After leasing a 2017 and loving it, I took advantage of some early turn in incentives to buy a 2018 DCSB TRD OR AT in Silver Sky Metallic off the lot today.

I did some minor bolt ons and mods over time on the lease truck and learned quickly how fast the TW community helps me spend money! So I'm going to start this thread to keep track of everything I do to the new rig. I suspect it won't be anything earth shattering to most of you on here but more for my own OCD satisfaction. Feel free to follow along.

The blank slate 07/30/18:



Current as of 09/22/18:

 

I will say, even before I made the purchase, I did some research and realized how some simple small changes between '17 & '18 and MT & AT are going to cost me unplanned dollars. So I guess I'm trading about 20K miles for having to swap out some stuff I was originally planning on being able to use between the two.

Watch for some future posts as I put these up for sale but here are a few things I already caught:

Weathertech Laser Measured floor liners - Front mats are specific to MT or AT. The MT mats fit imperfectly in the new AT truck but I'll be ordering a new front set and offloading the MT mats.

DBCustomzFab dual pod grille - My favorite accessory on my 2017. I hated that "chrome" grill on the '17s even before I bought it. So I promptly swapped it out for a Dbcustomz dual pod, running Baja Designs Squadron Sports. It was by far the most commented on accessory on my '17. With the '18 I got the tech package which includes the front radar, which will not work with the Dbcustomz due to metal blocking the sensor. Dbcustomz has already addressed this issue with a redesign (https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2018-tacoma-aftermarket-grilles-finally-here.536876/) but that means I have to re-order...

Center switches - Toyota moved the rear window switch from the left of the driver pod to the center stack. Between this and the added two buttons for park assist and BSM the center stack is much more crowded. I had 2 buttons and a blank on the 17 MT, on the 18 AT it is full with 6. I planned to add heated seats and ordered the LSP7 from mesojdm but will need to sell that and reorder the LSP6W. (https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/custom-switch-panels.533747/) This will still leave me one short to install the 2 buttons for heated seats so I'm going to have to relocate one additional button or lose the usb/accessory in slot. I'm thinking I'll likely move the ECT Power button up to the overhead panel since there are two open slots up there.

 

Looks good. Here is where they keep all the build threads for the 3rd gen https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/3rd-gen-builds-2016.196/

 

Doh. Any idea how to move it? I've been mostly a lurker until now.

 

@jberry813 or one of his associates can move it for you. Good luck with the build!

 

Thanks!

 

jberry813 thanks for the attempt.

I was hoping to move it from the general 3rd gen threads to the 3rd gen build threads located here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/3rd-gen-builds-2016.196/ to correct my error.

While I love Canada, I'm located in Colorado.

 

Thanks for the help hiPSI & jberry813!

 

And with my first noob fiasco out of the way...

 

De-badged all the way around last night. Way easier than I expected.
Tint goes on tomorrow!

 

Forgot to post after the tint, and selling the tonneau.

Here it is with the tint, and I installed the Prinsu, and dbcustomz dual pod grill tonight.

Next up my soft topper and Ray10s...

 

Overdue update 1 of 3:


Minor interior updates without pics:

WeatherTech Laser Fit Front & Rear in black
https://www.weathertech.com/toyota/...cab/double-cab/tacoma-transmission/automatic/

Mesojdm Gashole
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-gasshole™-fuel-cap-holder.534459/

OCD Center Console organizer

$16 Vehicle OCD - Center Console Organizer for Toyota Tacoma (2016-2023) - Made in USA - SLX113

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016ZB4VZC/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

OCD Center Console Shelf

$17 Vehicle OCD - Center Console Organizer Tray for Toyota Tacoma (2005-2015) and (2016-2023) - Made in USA - SLX133

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074MLGBXJ/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

OCD Glove Compartment shelf

$21 Vehicle OCD - Glove Box Organizer for Toyota Tacoma (2016-2023) - Made in USA - SLX144

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BH49SHC/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Yes, I know,

 

Overdue update 2 of 3:

Installed the switches for my grill lights AND my heated seats and those switches.

While Update 1 of 3 was minor, update 2 of 3 was a BIG PROJECT. Mostly because I'm OCD and want everything perfect...

I'd had the left cubby switch panel installed on my previous truck so I knew what I was getting into there.

On the heated seats I wanted it to look as OEM as possible so I went with @mesojdm 's LSP6W center console switch replacement. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/custom-switch-panels.533747/

While I was at it I swapped out the cigarette lighter for a dual USB port.

$41 Blue Sea Systems 1045 Fast Charge 4.8A Dual USB Charger Socket Mount, 12V/24V

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BV1MTAA/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Lastly I wanted to make the wiring as clean as I could because I anticipate future accessories and want to hold onto this truck for some time. So the better the wiring install the happier I'd be. I ended up putting a relay in on the grill light switch which I hadn't done on the previous truck. The heated seats came with relays wired in so I wanted to run relays all around.

SO, It turned out awesome. The center console switches look totally stock and you can't even tell I had both seats out with the upholstery half off and for all intents and purposes pulled the full dash to take a dremel to my console to replace the switch plate...

The AFTER pics:


BUT, I did spend the better part of 2 days in my driveway and garage working on this. None of it was difficult just time consuming and I went slow because I didn't want to mess ANYTHING up on a brand new Tacoma with under 1000 miles on it.

Feast your eyes on the DURING pics:




Luckily I'd done several stereos back in the day. SO all this wasn't too intimidating, just slow. But when I took these photos I was like, "Damn, look what I'm doing to my brand spanky truck".... And after the finished product I'd totally do it again.

 

Overdue update 3 of 3:

So time to catch us up to current.

After I did the heated seats proj above I took a break to wait for a few things to ship. But over the last couple weeks I completed 3 of the 4 final things on my list of to dos for the truck.

1) Installed my Softopper
https://www.softopper.com/softopper
(Local to me in Colorado and make a great product)

2) @Baja Designs Squadron Sport Fog replacement
https://www.bajadesigns.com/products/Toyota-Tacoma-Tundra-4Runner-Squadron-Sport-Amber-WC.asp
(Wow what a difference!)

3) MY @SCSPerformance Ray10s
https://www.stealthcustomseries.com/products/ray10
Gunmetal, 16x8, stock rubber and suspension
(Thanks Vin!)

3b) With above perimeter bolts powder coated by PCBolts.com
https://pcbolts.com/
(Thanks Stan!)

Here's how the truck looks today, I couldn't be happier.
Last thing to do is mount the Tepui above the cab, or maybe preorder a GFC.....

 

^^^ Truck is looking great ^^^

Baja Designs
www.bajadesigns.com