My South of the border 2019 Cement build

I recently bought a 2019 Tacoma "Special Edition" down here in Mexico. Been a PITA to figure out how I'm going to get where I want to be with it but I think i got a pretty good handle on it now.

I got the truck from a guy that put some weird, incomplete and cheap driveway mods to the suspension. It rides like it's mad at the world, I knew going into it that it would need a lot of suspension work and I wanted to make it capable of wheeling like we do down here. I'll be using it about 60% off-road, consisting of overlanding, some dunes, mountain roads, and river beds....plus I live halfway up a mountain and when the one paved road washes out or gets blocked (welcome to Mexico) my only other way out is an unmaintained dirt bypass road (about 3 miles longer). I need to get this truck capable.

So far, I've decided to give up on trying to rehab the suspension and change it all out. Just ordered an Icon stage 4. Still searching out front bumpers, winch and lights...but the suspension needed addressing immediately. Choices are very limited down here, especially for suspensions. I had a choice of Icon, Fox 2.0 or Dobinsons.

The truck already has 33/12.50's on 17 inch rims. I'm going to wait on the suspension to arrive and once I get it installed see what's up with the tires. I really don't want to chop.

I'll add some pics here and there as this project comes together, was hoping to make an overlanding trip with my group in a couple weeks but I don't think I'll be ready.

Thanks for watching, and any comments or advice are always appreciated.

 

Took it into the dealer today. Replaced the fuel pump and the cab brake light under recall. Had a new reverse camera installed (previous owner paid for it) bc he never did it after some Fugger stole the tailgate a couple months ago. ETA on the Icon setup 10 days....fingers crossed! Tomorrow is oil change day.

 

Had the actuator installed to lock/unlock the tailgate with the key fob. And today went down to the shop and picked up the Icon Stage 4. Should have some help coming over this weekend to install it. Still waiting on the bumper to arrive, but I got the winch home, and the Factor 55 flatlink is out for delivery!

 

Got the Icon stage 4 Installed last Saturday. Today went and switched out the 33x12.50's for some 285/70 KO2's. Took it up a trail near the house, heavily rutted and very rocky. No issues with rub at all, and this will be about the hardest Terrain I hit. Still waiting on the bumper to be delivered...

 

Took a trip to get the truck aligned. I put about 10 miles of rocky off road on it before heading out. The steering wheel was off center after the install, and the very few pavement miles I put it on it were not ideal. Had the good luck to find a shop that had a computer alignment. The initial readings were really wonky. Ended up being able to stand next to the rack while the tech worked and we BS'd a little about the truck. He got me to camber: 0/0 Caster: 3.73/3.69 toe: .02/.03. Rode much better on the ride back (15 miles city/highway) BUT....the traction control light is now on...gonna break out the paperclips and try to reset it. (Thanks to TW, ya'll saved me a trip to the dealer)

Took measurements after all this...center hub to fender. DF: 22". PF: 22.5 DR: 24. PR: 24.

I don't have any rubbing with these measurements and haven't done any cutting. Going to add some turns to the coilovers to correct the lean and test it on the road tomorrow. Have a trip planned Friday into the mountains so we'll see what's up.

 

Added some Baja squadron sports and leveled out the headlights while I was adjusting them. Wired up an OEM switch in the center and tapped into the power so the switch comes on with the headlights.

 

Picked up a TRD skid plate from the dealer down here. Was thinking about other options, but I pulled the trigger on the OEM because they offered me a bit of discount due to a snafu with a service appointment.

Still waiting on a bumper. Two shops down here so far have lied about having shit in stock only for me to pay and wait. Waiting on the second guy to refund me. Big PITA. Have a trip planned for late July with a group, hopefully by then I can get what I want.

 

Well, after trying since Late April to get a bumper, and being lied to by 2 shops down here about stock and delivery times, I finally located a winch mount bumper. Started the install last night finished up this morning. Not so bad by myself. Hardest part was getting the cuts just right and lifting the thing with the winch installed to mount it up. Used the floor jack and a bit of luck. Still trying to locate a 20" light bar to mount inside, but the important stuff is in. Oh yeah, found a scorpion inside my glove when I started.

 

Woke up and didn't like the way I left it, so I started cutting. As it sits now.

 

Since the truck is out of the shop and the 4wd is 4 wheeling again, wife and I are going thru with the plans for our TX,NM,CO, UT 4-6 week trip in a couple weeks. She won the bedrack in a raffle, and that freed up some coin to splurge a little on creature comforts. Just got it all installed. Still need to play with locations, and the Gazelle T-4 plus is going up top as well, but I think we are a go for hitting the road! Put on a 6ft Smittybilt awning, also got the screen enclosure, an OVS shower enclosure, 8 gal waterport, and a thetford porta potti. Momma should be comfortable, at least till I break out the Jameson in the middle of nowhere and hide the keys!