PennSilverTaco's "Perfect 5-Lug Regular Cab" Build, Aspergers, and General BS MegaThread!

I've never really liked caps; They reduce visibility (installed a backup camera in September 2016 so this is not really an issue anymore), they effect the ability to carry large and tall items, and some of them make a pickup truck look like an SUV. However, I've been flirting with the idea for a little while. Obviously, if I got a cap, it would have to match my truck's factory color (Silver Streak Mica). I don't think I will get a cap, but I am just putting the idea out there...

What I really want is one of those soft canopies that can transform from tonneau cover to cap, and back again...

The problem is that I bought a used toolbox from a friend. This is a generic diamond plate toolbox from Tractor Supply Co. It probably cost $150-$200 new. My friend bought it for his S-10, and had it installed for a few months. He then found a used Century cap in the same color blue as his S-10 and bought that. The toolbox no longer fit with the cap in place. I scored the toolbox for forty bucks, and paid my friend another $20 to install it, because I'm just a nice guy (and he just bought a house so he needs the money).

Would it be possible to install a shorter tonneau cover and keep the toolbox?

 

Sounds like a Softtopper is what you are after.

 

Yeah, but would I have to take out the toolbox...?

 

I've seen 1982-1993 S-10s that have been converted to 4-wheel disc brakes. A certain Fox Body Mustang enthusiast (@shakerhood) converted his '92 Mustang GT to rear disc and told me that the difference is night and day. I've been told that converting to rear disc brakes in a 4-banger Tacoma probably won't result in a noticeable boost in braking performance. I just had my rear brakes replaced at a little over 84K miles (they were at less than 50% and I got a good deal on new ones), so my truck will probably have close to 200K miles by the time it needs new rear brakes again (Yes, I plan on keeping it that long)!

Now for the questions...

1. Is it worth it?
2. What rear brakes would I use?
3. How much would it cost?

 

I had 2 cars, same model, different trim levels. One had rear drums, the other rear disc. I thought the difference was very noticeable.

On a truck? Might be worth it if you have heavy payload or tow often. If it were me, I'd look at the 4Runner's setup to see how similar it is to the Taco.

 

I've had my 5-lug RC since new and began the process of slowly modifying it in March 2013, when I had a friend install a Pioneer head unit and Pioneer speakers. In October 2013, my original Dunlops were starting to dryrot so my dad bought a new set of 16" wheels and BFG tires (I switched back the stock wheels in March 2019).

I finally had intermittent wipers installed in December 2016.

That first stereo upgrade no longer exists. It started when I switched to a double-DIN head unit in September 2016 so I could have a backup camera. Over the course of the next year and half, I replaced the head unit two more times (May 2017 and March 2018, respectively), added a subwoofer and amp (April 2018), and replaced the now-blown Pioneer speakers with JBLs (May 2018).

Proposed future upgrades:

1. Cruise control
2. Power windows
3. Power locks
4. Alarm system
5. Remote start
6. Trailer hitch

Anyone think any of these are worth it?

 

In the case of my car it was a huge difference and made the way I can drive the car totally different. There was alot more than just the rear brakes, off the top of my head there were different axles, handbrake cables, brake lines, master cylinder, shuttle valve, manual adjustable proportion valve, and probable a few odds and ends. It depends what you do with the truck but its probably not worth the expense or hassle.

 

It ain't cheap.
https://sosperformance.com/t/rear-disc-conversion-tacoma

 

My truck has almost 100K miles on it, and I've never towed with it. As for a hauling payloads, I've never really hauled insanely heavy ones.

The worst thing that's ever happened is I had two heavy planters in the bed of my truck, and I did not realize this would reduce my braking performance. I was working at a bar at the time, and we were transporting the planters from the bar to the bar owner's estate (I had one of the other barbacks in the front seat to help me unload when we got there).

I made a right turn into the driveway of the mansion, missing the driveway and almost taking out one of the stone lamppost things...

Luckily I was alert and didn't crash!

 

If I ever hit the lottery, I will buy the nearly-$2,400 kit!

 

Maybe there are compatible parts available, like from a Tundra, FJ, or 4R.

 

One thing I'm afraid of is that I won't get nearly 85K miles out of rear discs like I did the stock drums...

 

I don’t know the answers to your questions but how are you only driving 9k miles/year?

I’m pushing like 25k/year. I wish I didn’t have to put so many miles on my truck.

 

You got that many because they weren't adjusted often enough thus not providing the amount of braking needed. A lot of people see major differences or perceived differences in braking from disc to drum because they don't keep the drums adjusted properly

The company I linked makes the brackets to use parts from other vehicles. Still not cheap for just the bracket kit.

 

The drums are self adjusting, when you go in reverse and step on the pedal they adjust themselves.

 

Do you have a pic of the toolbox? Does it hang over the sides of the bed?

 

Dude that never works in the real world that was an engineers failed dream.

 

I drive way more than 9K a year now...

My dad got the truck before I got my license, and only had a learner's permit for the first year. As such, I only put about 7,500 on it in the first year (Carfax shows a little over 7,500 at the time of first state inspection in October 2010; Truck is a 2010 purchased new in September 2009). By October 2009, I had only 31K or so on the clock. From 2009 to 2014, I didn't have a job and only drove to college and car shows. I hit 50K in July 2015. Beginning in 2016 or so, by which time I'd been working at the bar for over a year, I started to really rack up the miles. By the summer of 2017, I had over 75K. At the time of the 2018 Carlisle Truck Nationals, I had a little over 86K. Less than a year later, I'm at almost 98,500; That's more than 12K in less than a year!

By comparison, my dad drives a lot for work and generally puts over 20K a year on his vehicles. His 2013 Honda Pilot had about 99K when he traded it for a CPO 2018 GMC Yukon SLT in December of 2018. The Yukon had about 8,200 miles on it when he bought it, and less than seven months later has over 16K on the clock.

My mom has a 2013 Nissan Murano that she and my dad bought used in September 2014, with only 11K miles. Almost five years later, the Murano only has about 35K on it! My mom drove down to Virginia a lot when her mom was still alive, but after Grandma passed, she didn't need to drive down there anymore.

 

I'll take 'Incorrect Assumptions' for 200, Alex..... On my old T-100, I got well over 100,000 miles out of the rear drums and I used the parking brake religiously. I do on my current Taco as well and haven't checked the rear shoes lately but at over 75,000 miles, I'd bet you my next paycheck that they are still better than 50%. There's a lot of surface area on a drum brake system. There's a reason big trucks still use them.
I wouldn't waste the time if you're not using the truck for auto cross or something like that.

 

I should of kept my mouth shut was trying to actually help the OP but guess the keyboard jockeys are out in full force. OP you best listen to these guys they are right! I'm going to bow out of this one no matter my experience etc. I will be wrong.