772Taco's Build and Adventure Thread

How the truck currently sits (10/27/20)




Suspension:
Bilstein 5100's Font & Rear
OME 887 Coils
Icon AAL

Wheels & Tires:
VTX Viper SL 16x8 -12
Falken Wildpeak AT3W 265/75/16

Lighting:
Low Beam - Alla Lighting LED's
High Beam - Alla Lighting LED's
Fog Lights - Baja Designs Squadron Sport Amber WC
Bumper Bar - 30" Rough Country Single Row
Ditch Lights - Alpena Spotfire Pods
Rear Lights - Alpena Trailfire Pods

Exterior & Armor:
Bed Rack - AllenFab
Rifle Cases - Apache 9800
AllenFab Sliders W/Kickout
5’ Softopper

Recovery Gear:
Onboard Air - Instant Air Supply 10lb CO2 Tank
X-Bull Recovery Boards

Comms:

$165 Midland MXT275 MicroMobile® GMRS Radio – 15 watts Two-Way Radio with Integrated Control Microphone – Overland Caravanning Tractors – Detachable External Magnetic Mount Antenna - 8 Repeater Channels

Midland MXT275 GMRS Radio




Let me start off by saying I’m starting this thread to have a place for pictures of the trucks progression and the places that I will take it.

This is my second Tacoma coming out of a 2018 Tacoma TRD OR 2wd and trading into a 2020 Tacoma TRD OR 4x4 M/T


Here is the first pic of the 20’ at the dealership


The dealership swapped out the 265/75/16 Falken Wildpeak AT3W’s from my old truck as they only had 1k on them.


First thing I did when I got home was swap out the factory headlights / Fog Lights / Highbeams to LED’s. I forget what LED lights I went with as I took them out of my 18’ as well.


The next step was swapping over the @allenfab Bed Rack and adding everything that was mounted to it back on.


The rack has been through a few different setups but this is how it currently sits.




The next step to the build was adding lighting. I wanted to add Ditch lights and bed rack lights. The bed rack lighting was mainly for using as a chase light on the forrest roads but work well backing in the boat at night without the amber covers on.


The LED pods are off Amazon, they were $40 for a pair. The Ditch light brackets were also an amazon special for $25.99

 

nice truck! Welcome to TW!

 

good luck with the build. Makes me wish I would have gotten an MT

 

Looking good, welcome!

 

The first trip I took the truck on was to Citrus WMA and Ocala.




I came back home with some gnarly pinstripes and a little less paint on the rear bumper from dragging it on Trail 14...

It was at that moment I knew I needed to lift it.

The next trip was back up to Citrus and the Tate’s Hell for a birthday getaway.

I picked up an Instant Air Supply 10lb CO2 Tank from @Trident904 to replace the

$91 Viair 88p Portable Compressor Kit (12V, 120 Psi, Forup to 33" Tires)

Viair 88p and use it as a backup if needed or for one of my buddies that doesn't have a compressor yet.


When I returned from that trip I came home to find my lift came in.


I went with the Bilstein 5100 Front and Rear and an Icon AAL, after talking with Brain he convinced me to get a set of OME Coils. I went with the OME 887’s.

 

So for the lift instead of paying a shop to install it and throwing way more money than needed at it, I brought the truck over to @Trident904 and we got it done in roughly 4hrs.

This was including a trip to the local parts store to get correct hardware for one of the rear shocks that was sent with bad and missing washers and top nut.


With the fronts done we moved onto the rear.
I wanted to keep the overload in with how much towing I do, you’ll need to do a little more grinding to keep the overload in.



These were the rear shocks, the top shock in the photo had the right hardware, the bottom shock was missing a washer and had to small of a nut.

 

With the lift Installed it brought me from roughly 21” from center of the hub to fender in all 4 corners to 23”.

With the weight of the rack it had it sitting level already.



Before:

After:

Before:


After:

 

I wasn’t a big fan of the auto trans but I kept the bitching about it to myself. Too many posts about it lol. After putting 3.5k on this truck I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s the only way to buy this truck to actually use it for what I want.

My biggest concern was launching the skiff, Towing the boat is a breeze with the manual. Better mpg than the auto towing i’ve found.
A little feathering of the E-Brake and you’re all good.

 

@772Taco I guarantee its a vast improvement for towing, especially a boat that size.

You planning on getting a Rtt? or just using the rack for equip

 

Sweet post. First build thread I actually read through as well lol keep them coming!

 

The original plan was for an RTT, I kind of like the base camp idea so I’m running a 6 person tent right now for the dog and I. Eventually I want to build a trailer to use on the trails.

 

Hahaha, Thanks dude!

 

Finally mounted the Instant Air Supply Co2 Tank. I wanted to mount it Vertical but with the height of the rack it was a no go.

 

Sleeping in a small roof tent in Florida is like a dam sauna

 

Yeah, growing up my parents had a pop up camper and even with an upgraded ac unit it was rough during the days. At night it'd freeze you out. Before that they bought a portable AC unit on wheels for Hurricane season but used it as an a/c unit in a 12 person tent at campgrounds.

I'm trying to get away from all that glamping and normally use a hammock when the dog is not in tow.

 

I grew up near Citrus WMA. It has some nice areas. Great looking rig.

 

Remember, don’t try to use the CO2 tank with it horizontal like that.

 

I'm going to try to slide the rack back tomorrow and mount it vertical, if anything I'm going to order the T-slot rail for the front of the bed and mount it there. That rail might also serve as a spot to mount some rotopax or jerry cans.

 

It's a nice spot out there. The 3hr drive is worth it for a 2 or 3 day trip. It also helps having a friend with an apartment 30min away.

 

Welcome! Nice bed rack haha