@Socalexpeditions Vagabond Drifter Build Thread and Trip Reports

My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socalexpeditions/

My Youtube: https://youtu.be/ZlYeqqXZ_aQ


How the truck sits now:





Please welcome the new build!

I began my search prior to selling my truck but was having a hard time finding anything decent. Dealers wanted too much for a 2020 (out of my budget), and most private party sellers in So-Cal already modified their trucks, took them back to stock, and tried to sell for over KBB.

On 1/24/20, I expanded my search range to nationwide searching specifically for an access cab and offroad model. I found gray, white, and black quite easily...But none of them were “the truck.” Then suddenly, I popped up on the ad listing with a Cavalry Blue 2019 with the exact specs I wanted and only one state away! Needless to say, my flight was booked for the next day

I met the owner (amazing guy!) at the Flagstaff airport. So here she is...meet Tiffany, my 2019 Tacoma Access Cab TRD Offroad 4x4




Trip Reports:
Joshua Tree: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/socaltacotrucks-“i-know-what-i’m-doing-now”-2019-cavalry-blue-access-cab-build.649655/page-4#post-22729447

Mojave Trail:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-and-trip-reports.649655/page-6#post-22904346

Lake Pleasant: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...and-trip-reports.649655/page-11#post-23242817

 

Mods on the truck right now!

SUSPENSION
Front:

• King 2.5 RR EXT Coilovers with 650lb Springs
• SPC UCA's on Position D
• Wheelers Superbumps
• Spindle Gussets

Rear:

• Bilstein B110 Shocks
• Dakar Heavy Duty Leaf Pack
• Wheelers Superbumps
• Wheelers U-bolt Flip Kit

WHEELS/TIRES/GEARS
-Kenda Klever RT's in a 35x10.50x17
-FN Five Stars in a 17x8.5 Matte Bronze
-5.29 Nitro Gears Front and Rear @ 20,520 miles

INTERIOR
-Taco Garage DDM or DMM..whichever it is

EXTERIOR
-Complete Bed Sealing done with Silicone, Liquid Butyl, and Butyl (Still leaking...)

ARMOR/SUPPORT
-Sliders from @Shmellmopwho
-All Pro Apex Aluminum IFS Skid
-All Pro Steel Trans Skid
-Cali Raised Bed Stiffeners
-RigD Hitch Tire Carrier

ELECTRIAL ON TRUCK
-Nothing

VAGABOND DRIFTER MODS
-160W Solar Panel
-Solar Charger
-Deep Cycle Battery
-Blue Sea Fuse Panel
-80/20 Buildout: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...and-trip-reports.649655/page-14#post-23379924

PLANNED MODS
-King 2.5 Extended Travel Front // DONE
-JBA UCA's // DONE AND CHOSE SPC
-Reinforce cam tab (bead of weld)
-Spindle Gussets // DONE
-Remove Sway Bar // DONE
-King 2.5x12 Rear
-Archive Garage Shock Relocation
-Superbumps front and rear // DONE
-Deaver Stage III // DONE AND CHOSE DAKARS
-5.29 Gears // DONE
-Kenda Klever RT in 35x10.50x17 // DONE
-Some different wheels with more offset // DONE AND CHOSE FN FIVE STARS
-Sliders with kickout // DONE
-IFS Skid (and more skids in a few years) // DONE AND BOUGHT TRANS SKID
-Total Chaos Bed Stiffeners // DONE AND CHOSE CALI RAISED
-Dual Battery System // SCRATCHED IDEA
-TRD Pro Grille // DONE
-Retrofit with TRS Parts
-Vagabond Drifter Mod // DONE

 

After picking up the truck, I began my 200 mile journey to a friends house in PHX. The immediate things I noticed with the new truck:

-The brakes are insanely touchy. I’m still getting used to how firm and sensitive they are.

-The transmission gear hunts. On the way home, I could not get it to stay in 6th for it’s life. It was a constant battle between the two overdrive gears. I knew about this going into the purchase. 5.29 gears will be my way of getting rid of this problem.

-The truck was much, much easier to drive than my previous rig. I didn’t have any issues with wandering or tracking on the freeway. This means I can drive further with less exhaustion!

-The interior is amazing in comparison to a 2nd gen. Although there is no Tech or Prem package, I feel like I’m in a spaceship. Very impressed.

Back to my drive....About 20 miles into the way to PHX, a huge bus passed me and flung a rock into the windshield, breaking it



Man! A brand new (to me) truck and not even 20 miles in!? Just my luck.

 

Made it to PHX finally. Immediately drove to home depot, and loaded 1400lbs of dirt in the back...I was 1” off the bumpstops

What I’ve noticed is just how awesome the Cavalry Blue is. In sunlight, it’s this beautiful light blue. In shade, it’s a deep blue that’s very dark. I’m a big fan and at the last two gas stops, someone has come up to compliment the color, reassuring my purchase

 

Big fan of the last build, stoked to see where you go with this one! Do you still have a Drifter on order?

 

Thank you brother!

I do still have the drifter on order. However, this purchase drained a lot since I purchased cash. I will have to figure out finances and plan for the future. Odds are, this shell will have to be something that goes to afford the drifter (mostly the add-ons).

 

Don't think I've seen a calvary blue AC, I must say I'm jealous! The color matched midrise is exactly what I'm looking for too

 

Thanks man! Yeah when I saw this one, I knew it was the new truck I was going to buy.

The midrise is rad. I’m so happy it came with the truck.

 

I’m in. Gonna change the Armor “nothing” status real quick

 

Great choice in color. Cavalry looks best with the off road trim. You really did well getting great wheels and an awesome topper with the purchase. Cheers

 

Nice truck man! I've been throwing around the idea of getting a used AC OR. What websites did you use to find yours? The only ACs I've really found near-ish So Cal have been SR5s or sports. Thanks...

 

Whens the Long Travel and 37's going on?

 

Soon! Let me recoup first!

 

No LT on this build, but I will be doing 35's again down the road

 

I swear I searched everywhere. Autotrader, Craigslist, CarGurus, Cars.com...I exhausted every option.

The only two access cabs I know for sale are 2 gray Offroads in SoCal, and one white one in Arizona.

 

The guy set it up really well, I like his taste! Thank you brother!

 

RIGHT MEOW!!!

 

*Updated the future mods thread for those curious how I plan on building it out.*

I learned last time that +2 is an absolutely awesome thing to have, however, it is not necessary to have a fun time. This time around, I am going to keep everything as close to stock as I can. Reason being, OEM axles are a hell of a lot easier and cheaper to have vs. custom extended +2 axles. I want the rig to be built to be fixed (in case of something going wrong, which it will) in an Autozone parking lot.

The bead of weld on the cam tabs is a trick I learned to prevent them from flattening out. I had the Total Chaos tabs on the old truck and even then had problems with the truck constantly going out of alignment after wheeling. If I can keep the stock tabs and just reinforce them, woohoo!

Kings front and rear. Hell yeah. Extended travel kings with the right spring rate and tuned perform pretty damn well. I've always been oversprung, so this time I plan on trying to nail it perfectly. Kings 2.5x14 in the rear are pretty overkill, and getting those last 2" of travel is certainly hard, but I'd rather have more droop (if hangers and leafs aren't limiting factors) than more up travel.

JBA UCA's. I've always had really great experiences with JBA and frankly, I like the CD they mail you with the uppers. I had a set on my last truck and was able to have high caster numbers and never had an issue. My buddy bought the pair off me and is still beating them weekly!

You'll notice a lack of bumper mods...That's mainly due to me being tired of armor weight. I'll get around to it someday, but a rear swing out is something I do not miss at all. However once going to 35's, decisions have to be made where to keep the spare 5th. Front bumper will most likely happen before the rear. Winch will be added when the front bumper goes on, and that's the same time the 35's go on, which is after the regear happens. So, this is way down the road.

Anywho, there will be lots of small cosmetic or interior mods being done first as I am enjoying driving this truck stock

 

i know it's early, but have any impressions of this truck over your second gen.