Spruce Mica 4 banger mild build

Here is what I am starting with:

2012 Access Cab SR5
Spruce Mica (beautiful paint!)
2.7L 4 cylinder
4x4
4 speed auto (would prefer manual but wife gets carsick in standards)

Here is how it looked brand new:


Haven't been on the site in a long time. The reason is that I have been out of the states for about 10 months for a job and have been away from my baby. We will be reunited in less than a month and I am excited to start building things up. This thread will be updated as I make additions which will be slow due to lack of funds. This thread is as much for myself to keep track of where I am and want to go. This truck won't end up too extreme but I would like to do more wheeling in the future and I also want a great camping truck. However, this is still my DD so that must be a consideration in everything I do.

CURRENT MODS
*None of this is in order*

-Wheels and Tires-
Added TRD OR wheels when purchasing
Swapped 245/75r16 Dunlop for 265/75r16 Cooper AT3s

-Cosmetic-
I began by blacking out everything I could:
Added hunter bull bar (later removed and sold)
Painted grill black (after f'ing it up with plastidip)
Painted grayish front fascia black
Plastidipped badges
Plastidipped rear bumper
Plastidipped wheels (had to touch them up constantly so I removed it)
Painted wheel center caps black
BHLM
Lightly tinted tail lights
Removed mudflaps
Indiana Hoosiers license plate cover

-Performance-
Yellow wire mod
Removed secondary air filter
Added trailer hitch

Here is an early pic with the bull bar on:


Here is a pic with derped wheels doing work:


Old poser wheeling pic (on Dunflops):


Here are some current pics of how it sits:


(Love the Coopers in the snow!!!)




The tail lights are darker than they look here.

-FUTURE MODS-
*In desired order of acquisition
Diff breather mod (will happen ASAP)
Chop exhaust above rear axle
Front skid plate
Sliders
Shorten exhaust (is this worth it?)
HID lights
Trailer wiring
Tonneau cover
Lift-Bilstein 5100 front, AAL rear
Tire carrier-not sure whether bed mounted or rear
*is it possible to do rear without aftermarket bumper?
Additional skid plates: LCA, mid, gas tank

What do you think of where I'm at and my planned upgrades for some mild wheeling and camping? Anything major I am missing? All positive and constructive negative comments appreciated.

Thanks guys! Keep tuning in.

 

Looks good OP! I love that color, wish I would've find one when I was in the market.

Where abouts in Indiana are you?

 

I'm in the Bloomington area.

Actually, my work has me in the Uganda (Africa) area currently but I will be moving back to Bloomington in a few weeks.

 

Here's a few more pics:

My wife helping swap tires (a pebble punctured the dunflops-sigh)


*On a positive note, this caused me to upgrade tires

Camping trip a while back (both dogs are now gone unfortunately)



Some light wheeling with only around 900 miles on the truck if I remember right. It may have been less. I am not patient.



Testing the stock flex



At a cabin in the Ozarks. The black wheels did look nice. Maybe I should do that again but do it right (no plastidip). I do like my current alloy wheel/black center cap set up though. Opinions?


That's it. Just thought I would add a few more pics of my truck.

 

Ordered d-ring shackle for my hitch receiver and parts to do the diff breather mod.

Bare bones necessities now in order. Will order skid plates and sliders soon. Moving back to the states soonso not purchasing anything big yet. Gonna wait until we find a place to live-stupid priorities

I have a birthday coming up-should I ask my wife/parents to get me a skid plate or sliders? Which is more likely to be needed?

 

Sweet! I've been there a few times, actually bought my camper shell in Bloomington and then hiked all over Hoosier National Forest. Very nice area!

You asked about how your rims look, I personally like them all black. But I would try a charcoal or gun metal on them as well. That's just me though. I just bought Charcoal Plastidip for my rims. And ask for sliders first!!

 

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