Just Another MGM Build

Told myself I wouldn't create another build thread after my last truck but here we are... This will be a slower build focusing more on function and adding parts when I need them rather than just throwing parts at it like my last truck.

Most recent pic first
8/31/24
















Date of purchase- 8/20/20 18,595 miles



Build-
2019 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 TRD Off Road W/ Premium Package 3.5 V6

Misc.-
Go Fast Camper #3259
WeatherTech Floor Mats
RCI Hi Lift Bed Mount
15% Front Window Tint
OEM Tailgate Power Lock
OEM Bed Header Rail
OEM Bed Mat
OEM Black Tailgate Letters
AL Offroad Tailgate Panel
Aftermarket Volume Knobs
LED F16 Headlight and Fog Light Bulbs
OTT Tune Mild/Medium
At The Helm Bed Stiffeners
Empyre Off Road TRD PRO Grille w/ TSS
Rear Diff. Breather Extender
Level Bubbles on GFC
15% Tint on GFC Rear Window
AVS II Bug and Rock Deflector
Maxtrax MKII w/ mounts
Z Precision Cup Holders

Suspension-
Old Man Emu Lift (90021 Front Shocks, 2888 Springs, 60091 Rear Shocks)
OME Medium Duty Leaf Springs
Dobinsons Upper Control Arms
Timbrens Bump Stops Front and Rear with U-Bolt Flip Kit
3 Degree Axle Shims
Diff. Drop Kit
Sway Bar Relocation Brackets
ECGS Bearing
SCS Ray 10 Wheels 16x8
265/70/16 Falken Wildpeak AT4s

Armor-
RCI Rock Sliders
RCI Fuel Tank Skid
RCI Engine Skid
RCI Transmission Skid

No Longer On Truck-
Tonneau Cover
LEER 100R Camper Shell
OEM Roof Rack
Front Camera
265/70/16 Goodyear Duratracs
Method NV 305s
OV Tune
AVS Window Vents

Awaiting-
Extended brake lines
OVS Awning with GFC Billet Mounting Brackets

Wishlist-
Exhaust Reroute
Front Bumper
Rear Bumper
Warn Winch
4.88 or 5.29 Gears

 

My first ride was a 1998 F150 4x4 with a 5 speed manual trans. Fun truck but it came from the rust belt and was constantly fixing things on it because all the rust.



Then I got into mudding while I was living in Charleston, SC and bought a Jeep for $1000. Beat the heck out of it and sold it after a year. 1996 Jeep Cherokee w/ auto trans and 4.0 liter.



Wanted a project and a 4Runner so I bought a 1985 4Runner with the 22RE, 5 speed manual, and solid axles. Put a little work into it but it needed a lot more work than I wanted to do.



Remembered I had all of them at the same time.



Sold all of them and bought my first Tacoma. 2003 Tacoma TRD OR 5 speed manual 4x4. Put quite a bit of money into it towards Kings, armor, bumpers, etc. Kept it for a while but found out the frame was tweaked and I ended up having to change steering components every year. Got tired of doing that and sold it. Old build can be found here- https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/finally-getting-around-to-it-build.462229/



Got out of the 2003 and bought my 2019.

 

TRD PRO GRILLE, i purchased my grille from Yotaverse and i received the grille but when i put the tss sensor panel in front, it doesn't seem to fit tight in the location and the spring clips dont hold on tight, would anyone recommend any way of ensuring it stays in place? i think i saw somewhere in the thread that someone said to melt the tabs in place? Advice Please

 

Still got that camper shell laying around?? Haha

 

I had to use a hammer and socket to put over the clip to push it down in place and used a 2x4 on the other side of the sensor panel to have something to hammer it against. After a few strikes with the hammer, the clips went down into place. Just be careful to not hammer too hard or use something on the back side that wouldn't cause the sensor panel to crack.

 

Sorry, I just sold it yesterday. It was gone within 24 hours of posting it!

 

I think they gave me cheep clips the hole is bigger in the clip than the part is has to go on, i pushed hard with a socket and it fall s off, so i will but more clips as well as melt the tab down into place.

 

It might be worth just going to the hardware store and finding some clips that fit. I should also say that mine took a decent amount of pressure and hammer strikes to make them snug. They didn't just slide on. Pushing hard with a socket wasn't enough, the hammer was needed.

 

First pics of the truck when I bought in Denver back in 2020. It was exactly what I was looking for and I snagged it up before the COVID prices increased.

 

The new truck next to the old truck. The old truck was pretty beat up and I sold the wheels and tires on it before I sold the truck.

 

Took the truck off road up near Breckenridge to see how it handled and what needed to be upgraded. Truck did great but put a hole in the stock skid, got a scratch on the drivers side mirror, and messed up the pinch weld underneath the drivers side door. Still had the temporary tags on.

 

Got the windows tinted to match the rears, mounted the hi lift to the bed, and took the truck across the country to Georgia to help my grandpa with some yard work.

 

Picked up some armor from RCI down in Loveland. RCI sliders, engine skid, trans skid, fuel tank skid.







Don't mind the missing bolt from the bracket, it's been fixed since the pic was taken.

 

Took the truck out camping in Arizona and Utah for a few days.

 

Bought a camper shell and built a simple bed setup for camping. Leer 100R. Sometime around then I added a AL Offroad tailgate panel to have a flatter surface for cooking during camp.

 

Lived out of the truck for the summer of 21. Worked on a conservation crew out in northern California and traveled all over the west. Put a hole in my grille, dent in the front bumper, crack in the windshield, and a dent in the front passenger side fender.

 

Once the summer was over I decided to replace the grille and take the dent out of the front bumper.

Everything off-



Fixed-

 

Got new tires, added some tailgate letters, and took the truck up to Steamboat Springs to check out the fall colors.

 

Ordered a Go Fast Camper. In preparation for the GFC I installed some At The Helm bed stiffeners, removed the OEM roof rack, installed a TRD PRO grille with a front facing anytime camera and sold the camper shell. As I write this post, i'm due to pick up the GFC 1 month from now.

 

Quite the adventure. You have some great pictures of it along the way.
Why did you remove the roof rack? Trying to decide how useful one would be to transport kayaks.