First Toyota Truck, camper project

I just recently was blessed with a stroke of luck during my search for a truck to begin working on as a little side project.

I started off looking at a 2003 Tacoma that was absolutely rotten with rust, but thanks to some input from here I quickly realized it needed much more than I could provide to be fixed. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/iso-buying-advice-2003-4x4-trd-rust.572966/

Just a few days later I stumbled upon this 1991 Toyota pickup with a flatbed and the legendary 22re motor with a 5 speed transmission. And I got a great deal on a fantastic truck.

I’m definitely looking forward to joining the community and if anyone knows some others with the Hilux pickup style builds, please send me some stuff to check out, I’m in need of more inspiration currently as I start my project.

Currently my plans are to add toolboxes and a tube rack to mount a rooftop tent to, also I want to mount some mountain bike holders to the bed and possibly more lighting around the truck. Along with some various minor interior changes.

 

Welcome! Sweet little truck!

 

Thanks! It’s a solid truck, I couldn’t believe I found it. I’m very pleased to say the least.

 

Welcome to TW!!

 

Welcome Aboard.

You found a nice gem

 

Welcome to TW!!

 

Welcome to TW! I love the truck!

 

Can't wait to see what you do with this.

 

What Else they got back there in the barn.

 

Very nice! Those trucks are a blast.

 

This was the most impressive thing.

 

I meant to post these the other day, I’ve been cleaning up on the truck a little and trying to plan out what I want to start working on first. I have a few minor issues inside the truck that I’ll probably take care of first while I draft up some ideas for how to manage my bicycle rooftop tent and toolboxes on the back.

For some reason my temperature gauge is malfunctioning, my gas gauge doesn’t work, and my 12V plug also doesn’t work. The previous owner thinks he missed a ground somewhere while swapping out the radio, so I’m basically clueless as to what could be really causing it.. if anyone has any ideas for how to fix this lemme know. This is my first project and sort of a warm up before I start working on my FJ cruiser. I plan on covering the dash with a different material, so I suppose I’ll have to remove it sometime soon anyways. Hopefully I can trace out the potential missing ground and have a quick fix.

Other than that, there are some small things around the truck like the interior dome light, driver side mirror trim piece where it’s been relocated onto the door, the bed has wooden 4x4 blocks spacing it away from the frame, and im not really a massive fan of the glasspack exhaust. Theres a small exhaust leak somewhere along the manifold so if i end up doing any work to it im sure i will swap out the exhaust aswell. For now ill just continue to annoy my neighbors in the morning, and basically any other time im driving down the road.

Anyone with any ideas on how i should set up the flatbed with tool storage, a rack, bike holder, or anything else that would be useful or neat to have feel free to post it here, im always looking for inspiration.

Here are some photos and such for anyone who cares to look also heres a video of the issue with my gauges (please ignore the pup squeaking her ball...) https://youtu.be/ZsUcXX8g974