Plim's Taco build

This is what my truck currently looks like:



My wife purchased this truck for me three days ago. It's a 2019 TRD Pro black (duh), with the automatic gearbox. Installed options on this truck are:

• All weather floor lines and door sill protectors.
• mudguards
• Spare Tire Lock
• Black tailgate insert
• TRD performance air filter
• Glass Breakage Sensor

So far I have managed to get a total of about 130 miles on the odometer, and I like it! It drives very different compared to my other cars, and that is actually nice. I seem to drive much slower and more relaxed (my other weekend car: 2013 Mustang GT, and our commuter car is a 2018 Mercedes C350e, which is a plug-in hybrid and allows me to drive in the HOV lane solo. Although my wife and I since a few months carpool as we now work in the same industrial development less than 5 minutes apart). Technically I also have a Mini Cooper, but my son drives it all the time. I will be selling my 69' Ford F100.

The mods list (ordered, just waiting on the shipments):

• SaBellCo 2016+ Toyota Tacoma Tailgate Lock - Anti-Theft Lock V2.0 (in black) (8/17/19, done)
• DiamondBackHD, also in black. (9/7/19 done)
• Anytime Backup Camera, full kit. +Front and Rear Camera Switch. (8/17/19, done)

I need to figure out where to mount the Front and Rear Camera Switch. There are no blank switch positions in the truck. I think the only option is to use the cubby on the left of the steering wheel.

On the wishlist:

• rock sliders (9/21/19, done)
• AppleCarplay mod to the existing head-unit. (6/3/2020. Replaced the Head Unit with Pioneer DMH-WT7600NEX)
• A very dark window tint on the back windows. (8/18/19, done)
• bedmat (OEM??) (8/17/19, done)
• BlackVue Dashcam (8/17/19, done)
• Front Runner load bar system (9/7/19, done)
• Smittybilt Overlander rooftop tent (9/7/19, done)
• Ram Mount rail on dashboard (9/5/19, done)

 

The SaBellCo 2016+ Toyota Tacoma Tailgate Lock - Anti-Theft Lock V2.0 (in black) arrived and I immediately installed it. This was by far the easiest mod. It prevents the tailgate from being stolen! Before the lock, I tried removing the tailgate and it was super easy. Less than a minute and a thief would leave you without one !

 

I went to the dealership and got a bed mat. I looked at other, aftermarket options and decided that OEM is the best way to go for this.

 

Installed AnytimeBackupCamera, including the new front facing camera. I'm so happy with the result! Parking is so much easier, and I am now also looking forward to our Utah trip, as I'll be able to better navigate the trails.


I was able to mount the camera flush with the grill. Exactly centered, and even though it is mounted in front of the radar, the radar also still works perfectly.

I powered the camera differently than what is described in the installation guide. I think it is not a good idea to power the camera continuously. It should only be powered when it is actually needed. So I just took power from the relay and the switch that came with the kit. I just had to run some extra wires. Now the camera is only receiving 12V when the switch is in the up position (front camera). When the switch is in any other position the camera is not powered at all.

 

Inside the truck I had to find a place to put the switch. As my truck had no blanks (all switches locations have a switch), I purchased a switch plate to go into the cubby next to the steering wheel. Unfortunately the piece didn't fit OEM switches, nor the switch I received from AnytimeBackupCamera. So I sent it back to Amazon, and in the mean time I McGyverd one out of plexiglass. I hate plexiglass! Difficult material to work with, and the end result is a crooked switch. It works for now, but I'll have to get this fixed properly.

 

Today was a busy day: I also installed a BlackVue dashcam.
I hardwired it using the fusebox in the driver side footwell. I had one open position, which is 12V continuous power. And I piggybacked of one of the "power socket" fuses, which is switched power. I used a Power Magic Pro, to power the camera also in parked mode. The device keeps the camera powered until a preset timer expires (ion my case 6 hours), or when the battery voltage drops below a certain threshold (in my case 12.5V). This makes sure that the truck's battery has enough power to crank and start.

 

Ordered the Smittybilt Overlander roof top tent on Amazon. Last Thursday it was on sale for $715 incl. shipping. It has already shipped, and should arrive next week Saturday..... It's just that my DiamondBackHD is nowhere close to shipping, and the load bars I have been wanting to buy are not in stock either...

Should I just go for the KBVoodoo MaxModular rack instead?

 

This is a nice write up for your work. Looks like you are doing what I am researching right now. By chance do you have any links for the BlackVue dash camera?

 

Have a look at the following link: https://www.thedashcamstore.com/blackvue/

I have been using BlackVue camera's in my cars for the past few years, and I'm very happy with them. In my commuter car (I live in a very congested area), I have the 2 channel camera (front and rear facing).
For the Tacoma, I just bought a front facing one, as the rear will be blocked a lot of the time.

also have a look at: https://www.blackvue.com/power-magic-pro/
you can add these to your order at The DashCam Store.
Hope this helps

 

Thanks for the info.

 

Got the truck tinted today. Rear windows are 5%, front sides are 40%. I got a ceramic tint, to better keep the heat out.

 

Installed the Total Chaos bed stiffeners today. I felt a little uncomfortable with drilling holes in my 2 week old truck. So I installed them without the additional side hardware. I will see how thing progress in a few weeks from now, when we’ve gone camping in Utah. If there is any gap, I’ll add drill the holes and mount all hardware then.

 

I received my Diamondback HD yesterday, so today I spent the afternoon, installing it, as well as my Front Runner load bar system, and my Smittybilt roof top tent.

 

wow, this is coming together fast. Looks good.

 

Last week I had my sliders installed. These are Cali Raised 0 degree sliders with kickoff and filler plates.

 

Today I figured out how to mount my 48" Hi Lift Jack to the load bars on the Diamond Back cover.

 

This is my setup for mounting my iPhone, iPad and Garmin Inreach Explorer using RamMounts.

 

I glued some hook and loop to the back of a seat belt cutter. And it now just sticks very well to the carpet, without it being permanent. I have another one on the driver side. I also rigged an additional storage net, to keep some small stuff handy (a flash light, some charging cables, multi tool, etc.).

 

Truck is coming together beautifully! Keep posting!

 

My wife and I are now ready to go on our road trip. We're driving from the San Francisco Bay area, down to Bakersfield and into the Mojave Desert, up to Zion. After that we're heading towards Bryce, Capitol Reef and Canyonlands. We're going to be driving the WhiteRim Road and we'll be camping in Canyonlands. Really looking forward to this. Hopefully the truck is going to be awesome!