AStinkyBumb's Build Thread, Now with trailer build bonus content

Installed my lift over the course of about a week. Gained about 4" all around before everything settles and it gets aligned. Being in a rust belt state everything was rusted and seized together so I had to cut out a lot of the stock parts. Had to completely replace the lower control arms on both sides, alignment cam bolts on both sides, passenger coil is seized to the lower control arm. Since everything was seized together I wasn't able to press the ball joints out to replace them as they were leaking grease on both sides.

New parts:
Toytech sway bar spacer kit
Energy suspension sway bar bushings
Moog sway bar end-links
Moog lower control arms with bushings and ball joints
Bilstein 5100 with OME 887
JBA high caster upper control arms
ECGS bushing
1/4" aluminum top plate spacer
OME carrier bearing drop kit
Icon RXT leaf springs set in option 2
Bilstein B110
Wheelers +4: brake lines
Weathertech floor mats

Measurements
Stock - Lifted
DF 19 3/4" - 23 1/4"
DR 21 1/4" - 25"
PF 20" - 24"
PR 21 1/2" - 25 1/4"

 

Coastal Offroad skid kit was delivered last week so while I wait for my truck to get aligned and the brakes bled I am going to start welding that kit up which should bring the front down on the lift as well just a tad.

 

Front suspension

 

Rear brake lines and view of the leafs and struts

 

Picked it up from alignment this morning. Started tacking together my Coastal Offroad skid set. I'm going to test fit it before burning it in with finish welds.

 

Ordered some wheels and tires, then got an appointment in 2 days to get TPMS sensors moved over from the stock set, and then mounted and balanced.
Tires are Kenda Klever 33/10.5r17 (on the truck is Firestone Destination AT 265/75r16
Wheels are Vors VE37 17x8.5 in bronze.

 

Stockers removed, spacers removed, wheels and tires installed, full size spare in the spare spot under the bed courtesy of a BFH. Vors VE37 17x8.5 Kenda Klever 33x10.5r17

 

Started my trailer build. Trailer will be 4x8 for the platform area, 3 foot of tongue with an extendable tongue for more length on the highway. Since I already drive a trail limo I am not too worried about length. I dont ever plan to do any crazy trails in this setup so having a longer trailer isnt a worry. We mainly like to drop camp in one place for a few days and explore. Planning a rack lift for my roof top tent as well so I can utilize the annex and awning when we want. Have a 20 gal water tank, space for my fridge to have a slide out, tongue box for the electrical. Planning drawer build for next year most likely to store lots of the regular camping supplies full time. Going to use the stock wheels and tires I had on my truck as well.

 

Base frame finish welded, smoothed off the top welds. Added the corner uprights, squared everything out. Then added the top outside pieces. Finish welded everything north of the frame. Next step will be drilling holes in the rest of the uprights for electrical wire running then spacing them and welding them in place. Then smoothing the welds so I can flush mount skins and floors.
Axle length measured and ordered, dexter 3500# straight axle with electric brakes 6x5.5 bolt pattern to match the tacoma.

 

While I am waiting on my trailer axle I received my Explore Overland sliders so I shifted gears a bit and got them cleaned up, painted, and installed yesterday. Sadly I found out 3 of my 5 new wheels were bent by the tire installer. Took them to a second shop to get them rebalanced and they tossed them on the machine and spun them and they were pretty bent. I should be getting 3 replacements delivered today so I can get back on 33's.

 

Replacement wheels were bent from the factory as well, not great so I dropped the wheel shop. I sent them back and ordered a set of 5 method MR312's in 17x8.5 bronze with black lip through discount tire. Those wheels are about 4-6 weeks out according to method so wheels will look small for a while.
Also been told my axle is also 4 weeks out as Reese is behind as well. So the trailer has kinda stalled because I dont want it to be too heavy to manipulate to get the axle under and welded in place.

 

Finally got my new wheels and tires and nothing vibrates unlike the previous set. Method MR312 17x8.5 wrapped with Kenda Klever 33/10.5r17.

 

Also making progress on my trailer build. Finally got the axle so I could place it and start planning the other pieces. Finished the side and top supports and drilled and welded the extendable tongue just tonight. Smoothed all the outside welds so that my sheet metal fits snug with no bumps. Picked up a sheet of 14 ga for the floor, 16 ga for the sides and top, and a bunch of 1x1 to start making the doors. I drilled holes in all the supports so I can pop in rubber grommets and run wires super easy to all the accessories and lights. Had to use my 1.5" spacers from my stock wheels on the trailer axle so that the center cap on the stock wheels would fit over the dust cap. I go tomorrow to pick up some 1.5x1.5 to start building the sliders/step/fenders that will wrap around the sides. Should be nice since then I can rest the side sheet metal on them when I go to place it and mark for cutting out the doors.

 

Trailer update as I have been spending most of my free time working on it. I got the slider/steps/wheel protectors set and welded on. Cut the notches in the sheet to lay the floor down, added a few gussets and got to use my new plasma cutter. 14 gauge steel sheet for the floor 16 gauge sheet for the sides and top. I went 16 gauge only because I will be adding a sliding rack on the sides for the roof top tent and I wanted something a little thicker to mount to without having to cut big slots to get down to the 2x2 underneath. I also got the tongue jack in place and the rear jacks tacked up. They are all drop leg jacks so I can use them to level the trailer, keep the back from tipping once I put in the drawer system and swing out, as well as I can use them to lift the trailer in the event I need to change a tire on the fly without needing a bottle jack or high lift. I also made an on the fly decision to hang the water tank under the trailer tight against the frame and construct an 1/8" steel skid plate to hold it in place while also giving it a little protection from road/trail debris. So i fab'ed up some hanger mounts that should put the skid portion of it just about to the level of the axle and hopefully act as a ramp in the event I need to drag the trailer over something that might catch the axle. This will free up some space inside the trailer so I can place my batteries closer to the axle as tongue weight is becoming a worry of mine the further I go along.

 

That trailer is impressive, nice work!

Couple questions for ya.

-Who did your alignment around here. Looks like they got you pretty good #s.

-Thoughts on the JBA UCAs? Some people swear by them but then I see the thread in the suspension forum here and seems like there are issues left and right.

-Attempt that CMC yet?

 

I took my truck to the Firestone Complete Auto Care on Campus Parkway right next to 69 in Noblesville. They were real cool about the alignment after the lift. They did need the booklet that came with my JBA UCAs to "prove" the high caster of the UCAs needed to be higher than stock otherwise they would have aligned it to stock specifications. Wasnt an issue I just opened the little booklet that came with the UCAs that had the alignment specs to that page and left it on the passenger seat. They told me the tech who did my alignment DD's a 5th gen 4runner so I felt like I was in good hands.

I absolutely love the JBA UCAs. Install was super straight forward, no production issues or imperfections. JBA sends you email reminders when its time to grease everything (which I need to do) Quality is top notch. I did some research into them and knew I didn't want anything with a uniball because I have heard they are harder to maintain and being a daily in indiana i knew these would take a salt beating in winter. So that kinda left me with SPC and JBA in my price range with the capabilities I wanted. I ultimately went with JBA because all my research found that SPC had more adjustment capability but some people had reported general techs at alignment shops werent prepared to adjust them the way they should be. So I went JBA. I love them would suggest them to anyone, I think I am sticking with them for any vehicle I ever want to lift if they offer UCAs for that vehicle.

I have not, still too scared haha. I have been building my trailer so thats enough metal work for me for the time being. I have had the cmc plates sitting on my shelf to attempt I just haven't gotten around to it. I'm hitting up redbird with some coworkers next week so that will be my first big "rub test" without taking out my springs and stuffing the wheel to see what I hit.

I went to replace my body mounts on the cab and snapped one bolt and stripped another and the nuts are welded into the cab mount so I plan when I eventually do the CMC I m going to cut out those welded nuts and replace everything with new grade 8 hardware while I have side access to get a grinder wheel in there.

 

Made some progress on the trailer, front upright supports to help the tongue out a bit, chain loops, capped the rest of the kickouts, Got the front notched and tacked in place, then cut out the door and notched the sheet for the driver side then tacked it all in place.

 

Thanks for the info man, truck and trailer are lookin good!

 

Took the truck officially wheeling for its first time. Didn't get stuck but I did knock the passenger side mirror cover off hitting a tree which wasn't too bad. Hit up Redbird state rec area with two work buddies. Brand new jeep wrangler on street tires and a 4runner with all terrains no other mods to either of their trucks. Had a blast, got to recover the 4runner and learn how bad ass these trucks are. All of the mods got a little work in. hit the skids and sliders once each, tires gripped like crazy in the mud and hills.




Recovering the 4runner who high centered on the edge of the mud hole and couldn't get enough traction to fully turn around.