'99 Flatbed Hunting Rig Build

I got a bad squeak on my dakars you might want the shackles too

 

So I have the OME Dakars, Nitro chargers and the extra leaf in there. I carry a bit of weight and I really like how the Dakars perform on and off road. I put Firestone Airbags with a Daystar cradle and that takes a lot of abuse off the springs when it's loaded up. Might work well for your setup. You do some good work and that setup looks great! Looks like the dogs are enjoying it too

 

Thanks, I appreciate it. It’s been a fun project.
I might seriously consider the airbags. If I could have them without having onboard air I think i’d be a lot more willing. I hate the idea of switching out to these lift shackles when the ride height without the dog box is perfect already. half the year it won’t have the box on it.

 

I use

$380 Firestone Sport-Rite Air Helper Spring Kit Rear 95-04 Toyota Tacoma 2WD PreRunner & 4WD (W217602304), Silver

this kit on my truck. The kit includes schrader valves (like a tire valve) to inflate, and deflate the airbags independently, and that's how I installed them.
But it is nice to have the on board air to add air if I end up carrying more weight headed out of the woods then I was going in.

 

This is my favorite flat bed build ever. Well done!!!

 

Right on, thank you friend. It’s been a hoot to drive

 

Going through the truck before the start of the hunt season, so of course I’ve added some thangs.
I got this 4x innovations plate bumper sprayed and installed over the weekend. I haven’t found too many threads on this bumper on here, but I like it a lot. Very cleanly welded and bent, and they have a specially designed version for the 99-01 trucks, which I guess are different up front.

They say you can use the stock bolts, but I found that I had to get longer bolts for the bottom (which also hold your skid plate). Also could not access the center frame bolt positions as the access holes are small and not in line with the bold holes. I ended up buying some grade-8 1/2inch bolts to put through the top of the frame for future winching purposes— I don’t think using the stock hardware and bolt positions would be sufficient.

Only other thing i’d say is I wish the holes for extra lights and such weren’t there. just seems like a lot of extra space for a stick or rock to smack the radiator.

 

And here it is on a test run. All in I think it’s close to 100 pounds, and I can definitely feel the weight up front. I was going to install the 4x innovations sliders and a 9500 lbs winch at the same time, but I worry about the weight. a winch is going to be another 80 pounds up front.

 

The next addition is going to be the Big 7 cable upgrade, from jeepcables.com.
I’m also waiting on the last few pieces to show up for the tundra brake upgrade. I’m not looking forward to tackling that one, but I think it will be worth it in the end.

 

I picked up the full hoop 4xinnovations bumper a year or two ago. Think it's one of the best looking bumpers for the 1st gen. I also had problems with the center bolts, so glad to hear it wasn't just me.....

 

I can see why they don’t line up, in order to get the access hole in line with the bold you’d have to change the whole profile of the bumper…. But yeah, after an hour or so of just trying to get the bolts threaded, I can say that they probably should’ve just left that bolting option off the table.
Bottom line, you will need longer bolts and you will need to enlarge at least one hole on the frame for a grade 8 bolt to really secure the thing.
Otherwise it is a really nice piece.

 

Man I love this flat bed…. I want to copy it!

 

Thanks, give it a shot! It was a fun build.
Halfway into the hunt season and she has held up well.
I did the Tundra brake upgrade recently, and I have a new set of rear drum shoes to put in.
I definitely need to upgrade the front springs. I reverted back to stock from the Dakar 882’s a long while back, but with the new bumper I’m definitely running into some squatting up front.

If I had to do anything over again k would go with smaller tires. I like what I have on here, but there is a lot of rubbing I’m constantly dealing with. Overall just too big of a tire if you’re actually taking the thing off road.

 

Well here's another hunt season update. I've got the 4x innovations sliders on, added a winch (HF special, but I also have a warn I could put on if I want to deal with taking everything apart again), added the 4x trans mount, got half of the Big 7 cable upgrade done. Did the deck plate mod to the airbox. Added some lift shackles in the rear, and most importantly, installed a set of Kings coil overs up front.
I got the kings used and sent them back to kings for refurb just to be safe, and I had them set the height back to the factory height. It ended up a little higher than I wanted, but the CV's don't look too bad, hopefully it won't blow the boots.
The ride is unbelievably better than it was before. I took the truck out on some of the roads I travelled a lot last season and it was wild how much smoother the kings handled the terrain. Should have sprung for the kings from the start and saved all the headache.
I think I'm finally to the maintenance stage of the project. As long as I don't break anything on the truck I'll be happy to keep her going more or less as is.