Blanche & Her Augmentations - a SLOW build thread

I am just now beginning to form this thread. Please be patient...

My 2018 Superwhite SR5 4X4 DCSB

As she is 01-25-20













Interior:
DeAutoLED interior lights

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

Vehicle OCD Glove Box organizer

$95 REXING V1 - 4K Ultra HD Car Dash Cam 2.4" LCD Screen, Wi-Fi, 170° Wide Angle Dashboard Camera Recorder with G-Sensor, WDR, Loop Recording, Supercapacitor, Mobile App, 256GB Supported

Rexing V1 Dash Cam with Rexing to GoPro adapter
from TheTacoGarage

Comms:
Kenwood TM-D710G dual band HAM radio with Larsen NMO2/70B Antenna
President Bill FCC CB with President Iowa antenna
Switched from the Kenwood to Yaesu FTM-400XDR

Exterior:
Custom Matte Black hood decal from a local shop in Huntsville, TX
Flag door decals and Black Reflective "TACOMA" decals for tailgate from TVDvinyl
Taco Sauce decal from ToyoDecal on Etsy.
Plasti-Dipd Badges
TACOMA TSS ready grill from Empyre Offroad
Shrockworks Sliders Installed Here.
Prinsu roof rack
Fab Fours steel rear bumper.

ARB 4x4 Accessories 814201 Retractable Awning (ARB4402A) 2000x2500 mm

ARB 6.5ft Awning

Lights:
CaliRaisedLED Fog Light LED Pod Replacment with 3X2 18W Amber Pods
CaliRaisedLED Low Profile Ditch Light Brackets with 27W Side Projecting Pods
BRIGHT 15 chip Reverse LEDs from deAutoLED
Heretic 40" Combo single row light bar

Recovery:
HitchLink 2.0 from Factor 55
BPF 2005-2019 HEAVY DUTY TACOMA RECOVERY TOW HOOK from Bullet Proof Fabricating
MaxTrax MKII Black

Bed - In or On:
Decked Bed Drawers
Softtopper
Home-Brew Hi-Lift mount

Suspension/Wheels:
From @HeadStrong Off-Road
BF Goodrich MUD TERRAIN T/A KM3 255/85/16

$315 Method Race Wheels 701 Matte Black 16x8" 6x5.5", 0mm offset 4.5" Backspace, MR70168060500

Method MR701 16" wheels

Intake/Exhaust:
Full re-route and flomaster muffler.
S&B Cold Air Intake
Dobinsons Snorkel

 

Reserved for "Interior"

 

"Comms"

I don't have pics of the install, just the final results.

Both radios have power ran directly to the battery. This is especially important with the CB radio. Running it to a cigarette lighter adds a huge amount of engine/transmission noise to your signal. Running to battery is the best choice to alleviate most of that noise. To eliminate almost all of it requires running braided ground straps all over the vehicle to the frame/ground. Each door to the cab, cab to frame on both sides, bed to frame both sides, fenders to firewall/cab, tail pipe to frame, etc...thus bonding the entire vehicle.

I have the Kenwood TM-D710G dual band HAM radio unit under the passenger seat, with the mic coming up from it. The line to the head unit goes through the center console to where the head unit is mounted on a Lido seat mount. The antenna cable and external speaker wire run up the B column to the center of the roof/headliner respectively. Yes, I drilled a hole in the roof for a NMO mount antenna.

The President Bill FCC CB power runs down the driver side A column, and the antenna cable down the passenger side B column, out through the grommet under the passenger seat, along the frame to the rear. I have a President Iowa antenna mounted above the passenger taillight using a CaliRaised LED Bed Accessory Mount.

The Kenwood head unit and Samsung tablet running APRSDroid via a Mobilinkd TNC2. Mic on right side of center console.


The Larsen dual band antenna. Silicone and rubber seals keep the water out.


The President Bill FCC CB and external speaker for Kenwood mounted on the headliner.


The full setup. The mic for the CB is connected to the dome light housing using a gearkeeper (retracting line). Reach up and pull it to you to talk, then let it snap back up out of the way.


You need to mount the antenna where it will not get a lot of reflection. That's your transmitted signal bouncing right back at it. Above the taillight works great for me. The aluminum from the Softtopper doesn't bother it.




As with any radio setup, the antenna system is extremely important! It must be properly tuned. With my CB antenna mounted where it is I get a rather good SWR across the entire CB band. Anything below 1.5:1 is workable. The lower the better, of course.


I keep the antenna analyzer in my truck. If you catch me at an event, I can help you check/tune your antenna system.

I also carry 2 handheld FCC Type Certified GMRS radios from BTECH. Legal with GMRS License.
https://baofengtech.com/gmrs-v1

Switched from the Kenwood to the Yaesu FTM-400XDR, and have a Windows tablet running a Wires-X PDN Node via cell data.


A little cluttered in the pic, but getting things ironed out.

Carry On!

 

Hi-Lift Mount:

It seems nobody makes a Hi-Lift mount that works with the Decked bed drawers and a Softopper combination. Home-brewed a mount for $30. The square tube was $20 of it.

Parts:
Square tube - 2 x 4" pieces used to support the weight, and keep bolts perpendicular to the rail.
2 x Galvenized bolts 3/8 by 4"
8 x Galvenized nuts
5 x Galvenized washers



Square tube used to keep the bolts horizontal, and support the weight of the Hi-Lift.





Works well. So far no bouncing around. Sturdy as I need it to be, and holds it out of the way. Above the Decked, and out far enough for the Softtopper bars.



Carry On!

 

"Lights"

Fitting my budget, I went with CaliRaised LED lights. Glad I did! After using the Fog Lights around town in the morning, and the Ditch Lights on the trail during my first ever wheeling at Hidden Falls (at night BTW), they are more than capable for my needs.

A few pics:

Daytime shot


The Ditch Lights


Amber Fog Light


Rather than have the switch lit 24/7 by wiring it to the battery, I used an add-a-fuse in the "Sunroof" slot under the dash. I don't have a Sunroof. This way it's only lit, and operates while the truck is running. Just my preference. Those are my TTC cards for handing out in the cubby.


A Nighttime shot


A POV shot of how bright it is behind my truck with the deAutoLED reverse lights.


A series of bad night shots:

Headlights Only


Fog lights only


Headlights and Fog lights


Ditch lights only


Headlights, Fog lights, and Ditch lights


Carry On!

 

"Recovery"

I have the absolute bare minimum necessary for wheeling with a group. I am in no way set up to wheel alone. Very basic recovery points front and rear. Somewhere that someone else can attach to pull be out of a jam.

On the front I have the Bullet Proof Fabricating HEAVY DUTY TACOMA RECOVERY TOW HOOK.


First you have to remove the Tie-Down point on the front passenger side by removing 2 bolts holding it on, along with a 3rd bolt next to it.


Then hold the Tow Hook in place and re-insert/tighten all 3 OEM bolts. It's that simple.






This was used to get me out of a muddy incline on my first wheeling trip at Hidden Falls. It proved to work as advertised.


On the rear I went with the Factor55 HitchLink 2.0 and Shackle. Even easier to install than the front tow hook.


Yeah, my chain hitch point is bent a little from Hidden Falls. Need a proper rear bumper.




Carry On!

 

"Bed - In or On"

The first thing I did with the bed was the Decked Bed Drawer system. I don't have pics of the install because the place I ordered it from put it in for me while I was at work. But I do have a couple pics just after install, and after a bit of use.







Notice the Softtopper above? Yep! That took me a whole 30min to install, only because of...well...


With only a socket set the Softtopper goes on easy! Once you read the labels, and pull out your knife to open the package.








Carry On!

 

"Suspension"

The first thing I did was put on the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2s size 265/75/16 the largest size tire you can fit on stock suspension and wheels. Some people love them, some people hate them...I love them. They are GREAT for Texas rocks, red dirt, mud, and clay.

Front to the left


The tread pattern works very well in Texas terrain.


The side walls are aggressive enough, and tough enough that when aired down, they work wonders.


On stock suspension and wheels they clear the cab mount (to the left) without issue, on or off road driving.



Now, with the Decked Bed Drawers listed at 200lbs. and about 100lbs of gear in them my stock suspension is suffering. I'm not sure how well these pics will show it, but...not good. They are flat! If I sit on the tailgate, I get the "Bro-Lean".




I have ordered an OME lift kit to remedy this, and provide lift.


So far the HD leaf springs have arrived! These things are BEAUTIFUL!


Within a few days the rest should arrive! Then wait for my scheduled appointment with @Texoma .

It finally happened! Thanks to @Texoma

Started with the CMC so the steel had time to cool down before painting.







Then to the front suspension...

Out with the old...



And in with the new!




Then to the rear!

Old...


New!


After the test drive the flex had to be tested...









Carry On!

 

Intake/Exhaust:

Finally got a complete re-route with 2 in 1 out Flowmaster muffler...all above the bottom of the frame. Now I can add skid plates without that odd bump over the exhaust. And, of course, get better performance with a cold air intake.

S&B Cold Air Intake added below exhaust.

Before:





During:



After:



S&B Cold Air Intake:





10-13-19 Added the Dobinsons Snorkel! I had the drill bit pressed against the fender, grit my teeth, put the drill down and chugged a beer! Then got to it!











Carry On!

 

Sliders:

Shrockworks Sliders installed! It was a serious PITA! 3rd Gen frames do not like to be drilled!











Carry On!

 

Yet another reserved

 

Subd

 

Nice! Great setup. I like it!

 

Love it an subbed

 

Fantastic!

 

Subscribing to this like a mo!!!

 

I remember following that broken bumper through hidden falls... can't wait to see what you do with it!

 

Thanks for choosing us! Truck Looks great.

 

Thanks for adding us to your build. Looks great! Those reverse LEDs will get attention every time you use them.