2020 TRD Off-Road Build - "Challenger"

Base Vehicle: 2020 Tacoma TRD Off-Road Double Cab : "Challenger"

Completed Mods* as of July 20, 2021

1. General Grabber AT/X All-Terrain Radial Tire - 265/75R16 123S
   General Grabber A/TX LT265/75R16 + spare
2. Leer 100RCC Bed Cap
3. RCI Full Skid Package
4. Old Man Emu Heavy Load Lift Kit w/Dakar Leaf Package
5. ARB Summit Bumper
6. $371 Freedom OffRoad Front Upper Control Arms for 2-4" Lift (05-23 Tacoma)
   Freedom OffRoad Front Upper Control Arms
7. Home-built swivel-mounted spare tire carrier - individual build thread forthcoming
   +
   $12 TRUE MODS Chrome Boat Trailer LED License Plate Light [Steel Bracket Mount] [DOT FMVSS 108] [SAE L] 12V DC Waterproof Universal Submersible Tag Lamp for Car Work Utility Flat Bed Box Semi Truck RV
   license plate relocation bracket

* Not counting numerous cosmetic mods

Pending Mods

• $46 Differential Axle Breather Replacement for ARB 170112 Kit Compatible with Drivetrain Assemblies, Differentials, Transmission and Transfer Case of 4×4 4WD Accessories
  Differential/transfer case breathers - Aug 2021
• Intake Snorkel - Aug 2021
• Insulation to close gap between cabin/bed cap to reduce drag
• New rear license plate bracket - Aug 2021

Planned Mods

• Dual fans mounted at the front of the Leer cap to provide airflow.
  
• GOAT Magnetic Armor
• ARB Summit Side Step (Part No. 4423020)
  
• Second battery + battery management system (National Luna)
• $25 Nilight 5 Gang Rocker Switch Panel with 4.8 Amp Dual USB Charger Voltmeter Night Glow Stickers Waterproof 12V 24V DC for Car Trucks Boats RVs
  5 or 6 Gang Rocker Switch Panel mounted in bed.
• Internal mount for radio (Baofeng UV-5R)
• $40 Tram 1192 50-Watt Pretuned Dual-Band 150 MHz to 154 MHz VHF/450 MHz to 470 MHz UHF Amateur Radio Antenna Kit with Glass Mount and Cable
  Glass-mounted antenna for Baofeng
  
• $300 PEDAL COMMANDER for Toyota Tacoma 2005-2023 Throttle Response Controller to Remove Accelerator Lag – 4 Driving Modes + App Control – Off road Mods, Upgrades & Tacoma Accessories
  Pedal Commander
• ARB Summit Front Rail (Part No. 4423010)
  
• Roof Rack:
  considering Prinsu
  + I have an ARKSEN universal roof rack that will span the roof of the cabin and bed cap, with a slight overhang above the windshield.
  + dual limb risers from bumper bull bar to roof rack (home made)
  + rear-mounted ladder(?) - I was thinking of buying one for a 4Runner and modding it
• Roof Lights:
  1. Forward-facing row of 4: x2 spotlights on the sides, x2 floodlights center
  2. Side-facing: x2 floodlights (x1 per side)
  3. Rear-racing: x1 spot/floodlight combo
  +
  $29 True Mods 6-Gang 12V Rocker Switch Box [40 Amp Max.] [12 AWG Wires][12 Volt DC] SPST On/Off Rocker Toggle Switch Panel Box for Auto Automotive Lights Car Marine Boat Truck Vehicles & More
  individual internal cabin switches except forward floods (x6 switches)
• 12k+ lbs. winch
  considering generic brand(?)
  + under hood individual power switch (
  $39 Blue Sea Systems 9001E e-Series Battery Switch, Selector 4 Position, Red
  Blue Sea Systems)
  + weatherproof cover for the winch to avoid rusting/damage
• RCI Gas Tank Skid (steel)
  
• RCI A-arm Skids (aluminum)
• Desert Does It Front Seat Jackers
• Injen Evolution Cold Air Intake System
• ARB Summit Rear Bumper or Brute Force HC Rear Bumper with half of the bells and whistles
• Desert Does It Under Seat Compressor Mount
• ARB Twin On-Board Air Compressor mounted under the driver's seat

Hypothetical Mods

• fabricate rear-fender mirror rail to ARB Summit Front Rail (Part No. 4423010)
• exhaust snorkel extension
• hitch-mount for e-bike (e.g. Sur Ron) with connection to truck to charge to/from the trails w/manual internal cutoff
• roof rack-mounted landing platform for a drone intended for use as a non-line-of-sight aerial scout, wireless charging(?)

I previously built a 91 Jeep Cherokee XJ into a true overland expedition vehicle. You can read that little epic at NOVA Jeepers.
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Current Photos as of July 20, 2021
(see here how it looked new)

 

1. The first mod were General Grabber A/TX 265/75R16 tires put on the stock aluminum rims. I've explained elsewhere the hassle I went through to get these tires installed with JiffyLube via Amazon, so it will suffice to say that you should go to a dealership or a good mechanic for this sort of work.



2. Leer 100RCC courtesy of CapWorld in Laurel. TI have found the cap a little underwhelming, though for no reason that has to do with the CapWorld but instead with the model. The only gripes worth posting are, first, that Leer has not bothered to develop an equivalent of their "windoor slider" for the 5-foot bed - I have never felt more inadequate in the very specific selection of my vehicle in my life as at that moment. The other one is a little more fundamental to the design, namely the "scoop effect" created at the front of the bed cap. I am considering using thermal insulation foam used in covering pipes (like this) cut to fit the angle between the Leer cap and my truck's cabin. It would need to be at least 8 feet, more likely 10, to span the length of the gap and to provide sufficient quantity to cover the gap. Next, rather than use 3M tape to seal the gap, I will instead adhere magnetic strip tape (

$5 Super Sticky Magnetic Tape (10 feet x 1/2") - Stong Magnet Strip with Adhesive Backing for DIY & Crafts - Easy to Cut and Mount on Fridges, Whiteboards & More

for example) to the edge(s) of the foam and let that to provide a kind of seal against cabin - not a true seal, but one sufficient to my needs. I will do a write-up once I find success.

3. RCI Full Skid Package (Engine, Transmission, Transfer Case) in black powdercoat steel installed by me and my father. We followed their YouTube video - and it was literally the single easiest armor mod I have ever installed.


4. OME Heavy Load Lift Kit (OMETAC16HKSB) with the EL112R Dakar Leaf Package ordered courtesy of Bull Run Overland. Installation was done by Aylestock Automotive - an awesome job and I could not be happier with the truck's performance on and off road! The lift worked out the "wandering" effect was having with the new tires (General Grabber A/TX 265/75R16). The lifts the truck 3 inches front, and as much as 3.5 inches in the rear (no cargo). I was told that the ride would be rough on this particular kit since I would not have 600 lbs. of constant weight in the back. Maybe it's the Leer cap (225 lbs., I think...), but yeah, its a little loose in the caboose. Honestly, it just feels like a heavy-duty truck - it's not out of control. Hitting a bump at speed, I don't know, but everything else, it's awesome! With the added weight of gear, the booty dance mostly resolves itself. I have taken this suspension now on as fast as 70-75mph and it drives firm and steady, though it obviously prefers 4H/4L. Really, really pleased with this mod.

5. ARB Summit Front Bumper which my father and I (with a lot of arguing) installed. I have to say, had I known just how much trouble cutting the fiberglass bit under the lights to fit, I might have considered a different brand entirely. Still got to work out some flaws on the cut piece of the driver's side, but with the bumper itself I am very pleased. Aylestock Automotive takes credit for the wiring of the in-bumper fog lights and the turn-signal indicators.

6.

$371 Freedom OffRoad Front Upper Control Arms for 2-4" Lift (05-23 Tacoma)

Freedom Off-Road Front UCAs off Amazon replaced the OE upper control arms, which were angled to the max with the new suspension. Installation once more courtesy of Aylestock Automotive.

7. A fifth Grabber A/TX serves as a second spare is mounted on a full-steel rim (from Amazon) which I painted with a

$23 Custom Spray Paint Toyota (SPRAY PAINT, 040 - SUPER WHITE)

rattle can in super white to match my truck. That make it two spares: one true full size on the back and the OEM "full-size" under the bed. The Grabber spare is mounted on a folding spare-tire carrier mount fabricated by my father two years ago, using plans we found online for my Cherokee. We used a Black Widow Folding Hitch Adapter as the base, with a CURT Hitch-Mounted Spare Tire Mount with the horizontal portion cut and a hole drilled on both side to provide a point for the locking pin. With the larger size of the 265/75R16 over the Cherokee's 31x10.5 A/TX spare, it was necessary to "elevate" or extend the length of the tire mount to clear the Black Widow's frame. I therefore purchased a

$27 Towever 84433 Towever Trailer Hitch Extension, Hitch Extender for 2 Hitch receivers, 12"es Length, 3500 lbs. GTW

12'' hitch extender, a

$11 CZC AUTO Trailer Hitch Receiver Lock, Padlock Style and Swivel Head，Dia 5/8" Bent Pin for Class III IV 2 2-1/2" Receiver, Fits Bike Rack Tray Ball Mount for Towing Trailer Truck Car Boat RV

hitch lock to unite them, and a

$9 HiTow Trailer Hitch Tightener Anti-Rattle Stabilizer for 2" & 1.25" Hitch, Rubber-Coated No Rattle Noise, Corrosion Resistant

hitch tightener to stop the rattle-tattle-tattle. A few holes drilled into the hitch extender and the tire easily cleared the Black Widow. The hitch-mount allows for two different position for the tire, a "higher" position for on-road driving (and parking) and a "lower" position for off-roading. On the Cherokee, my father and I fabricated a gas tank carrier, but that ended up smacking into the back of the XJ and so I am more hesitant now to add anything like that.

Higher Position:

Lower Position:

With gas can: