To the path less traveled-long bed build thread

My 2007 that I traded in.


After owning a 2007 double cab long bed for almost 8 years; I felt it was time to upgrade to a 3rd gen. My goal was to build a rig that will be reliable and get me to the roads less traveled. I grew up hunting around the Mt. Hood National Forest and now that I am older, I find enjoyment in taking my family back to some of those spots I used to roam.
I don’t plan for any wild modifications, just the basics that will help me feel more confident getting off the beaten path. And so it begins....
This picture is the night she came home.

Pre Lift:

How she sits today:

Black Rhino wheels, wrapped in Toyo Open Country AT3 LT265/70/18
Diode Dynamic SS3 pro fogs
Metaltech DOM sliders
Cali Raised 30” light bar
Ironman Stage 2 Foamcell pro lift
TRD Pro front skid plate
VIAIR 440p inflator
Midland 105 GMS radio
ARE CX Canopy

 

Reason for choosing some of my modifications:
Sliders-Metal Tech is a local company known for making high quality off road components. Going with them was almost a no brainer.
Ironman Suspension: wanted something not everyone had(yet). These are marketed as durable and re-buildable, which fit my criteria.
Diode Dynamic Fogs-they were bright, affordable, made in the USA and SAE compliant. Tried the BD SAEs and switched within a month of purchasing.
Tonneau Cover-well, when you have kids, you have stuff. That stuff needs a dry and secure place to be stored.

 

Future Plans:
Coming soon-Powerstop Brake kit Z36.

Maybe someday:
A winch, which means a new bumper.
A roof rack for the truck or the topper
Repaint the chrome grill to better match the blacked out truck.

 

Canopy installed today. Really changes the look of the truck.

 

I'd love to check out your sliders some time; I like that low profile look

Do your wife/kids use them as steps at all?

If so, are they functional as steps?

 

Yeah, they work good enough for steps. The kids use them all the time, my wife is probably more dependent on how the truck is sitting. But there is enough perch on the slider to easily use.

 

Well, like they say “your never done modding”. I ordered a set of bed stiffeners now that I have a canopy. Just need to pick up some Torx bit sockets and get them installed.

 

I'm disappointed in the volume of stickers they supplied... Jk hahaha

I have sockets if you're near PDX you can use, lmk

 

Seriously! I have to keep my kids out of them, I’ll have TC all over the house if I don’t. Lol.
I might hit you up to borrower the torx. Just have to figure out when I’m going to give myself time to install. Thanks!

 

yeah, just hmu whenever; I usually check TW multiple times throughout the day - I have a bunch of tools; drills, bits etc - but also I'd be interested in seeing the install vicariously through you haha - I have a 2nd gen, but wife and I have been talking about options for camping (RTT/trailer/cap) and have sort of decided the canopy seems the "best bang for the buck" right now with how crazy hot the market is

 

Hey, so ended up snagging my dads torque bits and doing the install. It’s actually very simple. If you do get bed stiffeners and have questions let me know.

 

Rock on dude! Looks clean, did you have to do any crazy drilling or cutting? I've not made my first cut so I'm anxious as shit about that haha

My mom used to work at a local car battery shop and spent a small fortune on tools... Now she's a store manager at a parts store it's my turn to spend a small fortune hahaha thankfully I've somehow managed to convince my wife that tools are a necessary evil... And by evil I mean expense! Haha

 

With the Total Chaos bed stiffeners, you have to drill 3 holes on each side. But you use the holes in the bed stiffeners as a guide after attaching it in place. This was my first”cut” but wasn’t bad at all.

tools are a necessary evil. Never can have too many. I used to just use an Allen wrench instead of the torx, but now I’ve got my dads as long as needed/wanted.

 

Allen wrench works good too, just not as easy to torque; curious, what was your 'first cut'

 

The drilling. Not technically a cut, but the first permanent change I’ve made. (I think)

 

duh... can't read, I thought you said this WASN'T your first cut

did you notice them pulling your bed "square" as you were tightening them? or is it more of a precautionary install?

 

This was definitely a precautionary install. I’m 80% convinced they’re just a marketing hype and easy sale. But in the 20% chance I’m wrong, it was cheap insurance.

 

haha I feel ya, I don't even have anything on top of my bed rails and I was thinking of getting them simply for tie down points, antenna mounting, stopping my fatass from flexing the sides out when I climb on top of my tires and use the bedsides to pull myself up

 

https://athfab.com/product/bedside-reinforcements-tie-downs-for-05-17-toyota-tacoma/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/bedside-reinforcements-tie-downs-third-gen-in-stock.487107/

Not the best pic, but I love my @At The Helm fab bed stiffeners. The oblong holes, and the large hole at the bottom corner are great to have. I've tied down a LOT of things to them. My last trip out I used kayak straps through those oblong holes to easily keep things tight to my tailgate. can't do that with just a small round hole! Pricing is great, too!