TrippyElephant's Build Thread

Out with the old, in with the new. Previously I owned a 2005 4WD 4Runner that served me very well throughout most of my twenties, but in the last year I have had a variety of problems. I had to get a head gasket, radiator, and catalytic converter fixed, which cost me nearly as much as the initial purchase. Then another head gasket issue on the other side of the engine block forced me to get out of the sunk cost fallacy and look for a new car, right as the odometer hit 200k on the 4Runner. I have always wanted a Tacoma, so I began the search. Wound up with a 2023 TRD Sport with only 18k miles. Going to be giving the 4Runner to my younger brothers so they can keep it alive and work on it, while I start a new build.

4Runner Build:





Here's the Tacoma Stock:

 

Planned changes to start with first and foremost: Dashcam installation. Picked up a Garmin Mini 2 and will be installing that with the Dengar power adapter.

Aside from that, planned changes in the near future:
- Repairing existing rust/rust proofing what I can.
- Small cosmetic changes to the interior and exterior, changing the chrome to red anodized on the inside, and replacing the Tacoma lettering on the tailgate with red. - DONE
- Replacing interior lighting with LEDs - DONE
- Replacing headlights with LED lights left over from 4Runner build.
- Replacing the side mirror blinker lights with smoked out sequential lights. - DONE
- Getting a better set of taillights.
- Some internal MOLLE panels.
- Bike mount/tailgate cover.

Farther down the line/big (expensive) upgrades:
- New headlights.
- Bed rack and possibly roofrack.
- Get my TRD 17" rims back and new tires.
- Bed stiffeners and better tie downs.

Much more to come!

 

Couple of cosmetic upgrades, interior light swap that I'm not entirely satisfied with (cheap Amazon kit):




Dash Cam install:



Interior chrome delete, red accents, and wireless carplay adapter:



Removed old tailgate letters and added new 3D ones:



Lastly, Air Dam delete and added some nipple rings:





Picked up a TRD Pro Grille aftermarket from KOK Auto Parts, and a Bed MOLLE system from Victory 4x4. Biggest purchase was the Grand Teton Roof Rack and Rack Height Bed rack from Sherpa, which I'm super excited to get and install. More to come over the next few weeks.

 

New TRD Pro Grille from KOK Auto Parts installed with Raptor lights:

 

Received my Sherpa Grand Teton and Rak Height Bed Rack much earlier than expected last week, installed it quickly so still have some tweaks to do.
Also picked up:
- At the Helm Fab Bed Stiffeners
- VLED Footwell (front+back) light kit
- Pelican BX135 case (now that I can't use my Tonneau cover) w/ bed rail mount
- Rock lights from Amazon
- Meso Customs dual color Map/Dome lights
- Expedition Essentials dashboard mount
- Switches for current/future lighting projects
- Victory 4x4 side bed MOLLE panels
- All Pro offroad front bed MOLLE panel
- Sherpa awning brackets for my ARB awning.

Pics and installs to come.

 

Sherpa roof and bed racks installed. Installation was very easy:

 

Alpha Rex Tails, OPT7 taillight bar, and my old ARB awning installed, we're getting there!

 

All Pro Front Bed MOLLE panel installed:



Victory side bed MOLLE panels came in and I installed them, pics to come. Some much needed TLC overall to the bed. Pelican box mount and box are in, which has saved me from the fall rains already. At The Helm Bed stiffeners are primed and painted and just waiting for install. Need to borrow a buddy's drill to finish it off.

 

Sure seems like having your awning attached to both your bed rack and your cab rack is going to be a problem when you get some bed flex off-road

 

Yea, that's a good point, I'll have to keep it in mind. I imagine for just road driving it'll do but once I touch off road the flex might damage it?

 

VLED Footwell Front + Back kit and MESO Customs dual map + dome lighting:

 

I just love those first thing in the morning. No more baking eyeballs.

 

Haha agree. It's perfect for night time as well.

 

RAGO Fabrications center console MOLLE installed and looking good!

 

Gettin’ more trippy but the minute

 

Black Friday deals are starting to trickle in. List of additions I'll be putting on over the next few days/weeks:
- Cali Raised hidden lightbar
- Cali Raised Fogs
- Cali Raised ditch lights
- Cheap crappy rock lights for fun
- Wolfbox rearview mirror/dash cam setup
- Expedition essentials dash mount system
- TEQ Custom retrofit headlights
- Striker engineering hood struts
- Auxbeam
- 3rd brake light
- Sherpa rack accessories
- Spotter mirrors

Getting there.

 

Christmas time update:

As the Black Friday purchases have finished trickling in, it's install time. The Auxbeam has been one of my favorite additions, to help me at least try to keep the engine bay from becoming too convoluted. I bought a cheap piece of metal on Amazon to act as a shelf to sit it on, but before I installed that, I did a (very) quick primer/paint job on it:

Got it set nicely in there and tightened with included hardware, so this thing isn't going anywhere:







New spotter side mirrors:

Cali Raised hidden light bar kit and fog lights in too:



Lastly, got some cheap rock lights on Amazon and popped those on, which was more of a project than I anticipated:



Still have a couple more updates to post later on. Installing my ditch lights, some accessories, solar panel I picked up for cheap, and general maintenance and tightening things up over the next few weeks. Still waiting on my Expedition Essentials dash mount which will tidy up the interior, which is currently a mess. As always, more to come!