McFly’s Build: Budget is a funny word

Guess I’ll document what I’m doing to my Tacoma as well.


day I bought it



With ripcord camper



now as it sits since I sold the camper stuff off.


Modifications


Currently I have done the following

• Mudflaps removed
• Factory antenna entirely replaced
• eBay smoked tail lights
• Uni Filter Mod
• Extra D rings in bed
• Rear dif breather relocation
  
• Shark fin delete/mod
• Tailgate anti theft bracket
• Falken Wildpeak AT3 235/85/16s
• Raptor Lined fender flares
• US Off-Road Stealth winch bumper - installed
• SmittyBilt X20 10k winch
• RedLine Tuning Hood Struts
• Factor 55 Flatlink in OD Green
• Grill surround painted white
• RamBall mounts
• WeatherTech knock off floor mats
• 24F X2 Northstar Battery
• Ironman 4x4 Foam Cell Pro Stage 2
• Ripcord Camper
• ECGS Bushing

Upcoming modifications

• Apple CarPlay head unit
• Better storage behind rear seats
• Mobile Ham setup?

Mod Wish List

• TRD Pro H4 headlight upgrade
• 35s? why not all the cool kids do it
• High clearance rear bumper with swingout for #overland cred
• FJ Cruiser Transfer Case
• ADD Delete
• Rear ARB Locker

Wheels and Tires

• Stock 16" alloy wheels
• 235/85/16 Falken Wildpeak AT3W

Recovery Gear I carry

• Smittybilt X20 9500lb synthetic line winch
• Factor 55 Flatlink
• Badlands tree strap
• Van Beest 3/4" shackles
• CURT hitch shackle mount
• ARB recovery strap
• Fiskars 46" axe
• Shovel
• Rexbit folding saw
• First Aid Kit

My goal is a capable off roader and potentially build a ripcord RTT thing. I figure if it cost 2k for at least a topper I might as well build my own and go RTT. We want to go exploring the National forests and parks.

I’m currently stuck on wheels/tires and lift. I don’t need 35s but I could do 33s. I’m eyeing an OME suspension kit with heavy duty Dakar’s to support the ripcord tent build.

I just missed out on a set of FJC steelies. Wheels will have to be a fun research topic. I don’t want tacoBro wheels and tires

anyways. More to come


Maintenance Log Entry 1

• New Tires @ 101,230 miles. Falken Wildpeak AT3W 235/85/16
• Oil and filter change @ 105,575
• New 24F X2 Northstar AGM Deep Cycle battery @ 106,295
• Tires rotated @ 108, 209 miles

Maintenance Log Entry 2

• Oil changed at 109,988(I have a lot of driving coming up so I got it early)
• Drive shaft lubed

Maintenance Log 3

• MAF cleaned at 112,124
• Throttle Body cleaned at 112,124

Maintenance Log 4

• Oil and filter changed at 115,680
• Air filter replaced
• Driveshaft greased
• Fumoto valve installed

Maintenance Log 5

• Hawk LTS brake pads installed at 117,122
• Centric rotors also installed

Maintenance Log 6

• Ironman 4x4 Foam Cell Pro Stage 2 lift kit installed at 119,087 miles
• Alignment also performed

Maintenance Log 7

• ECGS Bushing installed at 119,787 miles

Maintenance Log 8

• Oil and filter changed at 126,344
• Driveshaft greased

Maintenance Log 9

• High side hose pipe for the AC replaced
• System verified leak free and recharged / oil added
  
• 128,234 miles

Maintenance Log 10 / 11

• Oil and filter changed at 131,337
• Diff oil changes at 132,034
• Transfer case oil changed at 132,03

I’m going to stop tracking maintenance work here. Kinda pointless. (11/09/24) I did just change the oils and grease the driveshaft


Cost Tracking Sheet for Ripcord Camper Build

• https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QfyGUmGWUFqqp0Gy6qMhhWxF3jhILzZq6dKNMEbN4AA/edit?usp=sharing

 

Ordered a set of 16” steel wheels. Now to determine what wheels I want to go with 255/85/16’s or 235/85’s. I’m going pizza cutter route with a set of wild peaks.

I know with the 255s I’ll need a lift which I am wanting to do to work with the winch bumper and bed cap/removable RTT.

wheels arrive next week so I’ll look over threads and determine if I want to stay black, which I’m leaning away from. Nothing stupid like neon green or red. Something tastefully retro

 

That was more involved than it should have been. Had to do the removal / loosening of the rear trim. But it’s on and still works

 

Today was a big bucket of failure.

I attempted to put my fender flares back on only for them to not go back on. The non factory rubber trim I got was too thick causing the trim clips to not clip into the stupid mounts on the fenders.

I need to procure the correct fender trim. Camelback Toyota has them so I’ll order that and repair the stupid clip mounts.

I’m going to sand down the flares, again, and just hit them with raptor liner to hide my shame.


For those that read this the fender flare mounting clip order is as follows

for the front fender flares starting at the nose of the truck: orange, blue x3, orange, blue x3, orange (bottom of fender flare)

for the rear fender flare on the pickup box starting at the front (closest to cab): blue, orange, blue x3, orange, blue x2, orange, blue

double check for yourself here

https://parts.villagetoyota.com/a/T...4-AT/_65510_6725576/MOULDING/674470-7552.html

part number for the fender rubber trim is 53853B for the front fenders, it doesn't seem to be side specific and 75649A for the rear fender rubber trim. Should be the same for a long bed.


I should have saved the trim and maybe tried to reglue it on but this is me, trying to freshen things up. Dont bother with any of the aftermarket crap, it wont be correct and will be too thick. Which will cause issues with reinstalling the fender flares.

 

Doing what I should have from the start, raptor lining the flares. I had two spray cans I was going to use for my US Off-road low profile winch bumper but I used them for this. Probably going to do a roll on version for the bumper since it’s so awkward to prop up.

one can of raptor liner just barely did all of the flares. Next time I’ll put a drop cloth on the floor so it’s not so sticky but I’ll scrape it up tomorrow after it’s cured.

so far I like how they turned out. Will install once the oem rubber fender trim arrives.

 

Received my OEM fender trim from Village Toyota today. I was worried it would be cut short but each piece was cut perfectly with about 3” to spare

putting the bumper fender flares is easier if you prey the plastic fender liner away than dealing with removing the entire bumper skin. But to remove them you will want to remove the number


before


after.

very pleased with how they turned out. I will be using more raptor liner on my US off-road winch bumper soon. Probably just on the exterior since the interior will be fine with brush on rustoleum.

 

Took advantage of the Discount Tire flash sale on the wild peaks and got a set. I’ll go back soon for a 5th for my spare.



I suck at photos but hopefully soon I’ll get a new phone with better camera.

 

Got around to installing the US Off-road winch mount. Wanted to have solid recovery points up front even before I get a winch which will probably be next month. I have shackles on hand, a come along, gloves, and a recovery strap on hand. Need to add a few traction boards and an air compressor to my recovery kit so I can go alone smart

install was super easy. I need to get new clips for the bumper but other than that it’s solid

one weekend soon I’ll paint the grill surround white and pull off the skid plate and repaint everything so it looks fresher than it does. Really impressed with the raptor liner

 

Winch arrived. I mounted the box on the side since it I’m not mistaken it won’t fit with it in the middle. Going to mount it tomorrow and get it all ready.

I’m not a fan of the fair lead it came with nor the hook so I’ll find something else. Preferably black so it blends into the bumper. Factor55 stuff is hella expensive so I may not get a fair lead from them. But maybe just the winch not hook thing.



also got in a new roof drip rail trim for the passenger side. Mine was missing. Cleaned up the roof and installed it. I may have used extra

$7 3M VHB 100x200mm~ (4" X8") Double Sided Foam Adhesive Sheet Tape 5952 Automotive Mounting Industrial Grade Very High Bond 5952 (1 Sheets 100x200mm)

3M VHB and some epoxy glue to hold it down

 

Winch is in and works! I added a Bluesea power cutoff switch and bracket made by a member here o the forum.

When installing the winch it’s probably best to not do it now I did. Which was install the bumper and then the winch. I scratched up some of the winch and the raptor liner. I’ll touch it up later but could have been avoided.

installing the synthetic line tomorrow. I do need to sew a cover for it so the rope is protected from the UV rays and replace the hook with probably a factor 55 thing. Was considering one of their fairleads but since I’d have to pull the winch to replace it I’m just going to rock the one it came with.
Did have to get longer bolts, 35mm long to be exact if anyone else is doing the same install.


Update



Got the line in and pretensioned. Wish I had a tree at the top of a hill to work with but flat ground and a helper made it work.

totally plan on getting a different winch end. The hook works but it didn’t store flat.

 

Had to redo my painting attempt when the primer didn’t stick at all after I scuffed it up. Hopefully it sticks now! I used a plastic primer and then krylon white paint before doing the last few coats with duplicolor super white.

I shouldn’t need to clear coat it right? If I do I’ll order the duplicolor clear and mask off the grill insert

 

Totally going to need to clear coat it. I’ll pick some up today and mask of the grill insert

looks much better in the somewhat doesn’t match white than with the chrome. I prefer the stock grill insert with the chrome logo. That’s how it should have came from the factory.

pipe dream is to paint the entire exterior of the truck in white raptor liner and the grill surround would be part of it but that’s not for a long while.

 

Jumped on the 20% off hood strut deal and got them installed today. A mod I didn't think I needed until I did it.

 

Installed a Factor 55 Flat Link yesterday. Went with the regular version since I have D rings galore and soft shackles to utilize with it. I prefer the cleaner front end look now that the winch hook isnt hooked to a D ring 24/7.

Hopefully this month I can get out to the trails and test it out. A friend and I want to go back out to Richloam and finish a trail we had to turn around on since we didnt have a chainsaw. We might go about clearing some of the trails we tried to go down due to downed trees and make them passable for others as well as pick up some trash and such as usual. Its rather sad that I find trash out in the middle of the woods.

Another 1500 miles and I will be due for my first oil change since buying the truck and plan on doing the oil, air filter, cabin air filter, MAF and other sensor cleaning, and grease the driveshaft u-joints. I really like this truck, its my new favorite vehicle I have owned next to my Honda Element and then my Chevy Volt. If I honestly had the space and money to burn I would so buy a single cab 4x4 version just for offroading.



Also last week I got to do my first off road recovery. Was watching the facebook group and someone got stuck on a local trail close to my house so I ran out and gave them a yank with my ARB recovery strap and they were out. Dude learned quick that subarus are not meant to go on that particular trail.

 

Which version redline struts did you go with Ive read some reviews that they arent really strong enough for truck/Tacoma hoods and have some wear issues? wondering if you could give me your experience & feedback?

 

I went with the not stainless steel or chrome version they had. I have had them installed for not very long but no issues as of yet. If I do have issues then ill replace them with Stabilus brand lift struts

 

Built a miter saw station for my evolution miter saw. Next weekend I’m making the welding jig for the Ripcord camper.

 

I haven’t used the AC in. Few months and today I went to use it and it blew warm. Awesome, great, wow...

I had a can of 134a in one of those wal mart kits so I can sniff out any leak. Hopefully it’s an easy one. I really don’t want to pull the dash

 

brackets tacked onto the space frame. Will check placement tomorrow and then burn into place for good




Just need to add the side supports. My weld nuts come in tomorrow. I might start cutting 1/4 Luan to test out door fitment so I can get holes made for the door stiffeners and southco latches.

 

Got the side supports on. Ran out of welding wire so I couldn’t get the front supports on. That’s a Saturday thing at this point.