gaterose 'Milhouse' build thread

Just wanted to start a build thread, hoping to keep it moderate but my last two builds have shown that I have a hard time with that.

** I have a hard time keeping this thread up to date, for more mods, photos, & updates check out my Instagram @elgaterose **

I picked up a '17 Blazing Blue Pearl DC TRD OR 4x4 yesterday after spending quite a bit of time looking for one at a decent price.

7 miles on the odo


Here's the Silverado I traded for the Taco:
http://www.gmfullsize.com/threads/gaterose-13-z71-ecsb-build.295136/


Some of you may have come across my '03 4R here on TacomaWorld or elsewhere. I passed it on to my wife then recently traded it on a '14 Limited 4R


Current Setup
Suspension
Fox Extended Travel with DSC adjusters and King 700# Coils
OME Dakar Medium Duty Leaf Springs, top/long overload removed
Fox 2.0 Remote Resi Extended Length Rear Shocks (985-24-118)
Icon Tubular UCAs with Delta Joints
Bay Area Metal Fab HD Shackle Hangers
Low Range Off Road U bolt flip
Wheelers SuperBumps Front & Rear
Energy poly bushings
Sway bar delete

Tires & Wheels
275/70R17 Toyo Open Country R/T Trail
17x8.5 (0) Raceline Clutch Gunmetal with TRD center caps

Armor
Bay Area Metal Fab 10º Kick Out Sliders with top plates
Southern Style Off Road Hybrid Winch Bumper with Stage 2 corners
Mobtown Offroad Aluminum Skid Trilogy
RCI Aluminum LCA Skids

Recovery
Warn 9.5xp
- 90' Spydura
- Viking Safety Thimble

Audio
Kenwood DMX906S
JL RD900/5 Amplifier
Audison APS 10 D in Custom Box
Morel Maximo Ultra 603 3-way Component Set (front door, dash, sail panels)
Maximo 6 6.5" Coaxial (Rear doors)
Kicker fused distribution block & 4 ga OFC

Lighting
RX350 Projector Retrofit/Black Headlight Mod
Morimoto 5500K D2S Bulbs
Hylux A35 35W Ballasts
Rigid 20" Combination Driving/Spot
Baja Designs Amber Wide Cornering Fog Lights
Baja Designs S2 Flush Mount Back Up Lights
Baja Designs S2 Wide Cornering Rear Lights
ExtremeLEDLightbars X6S 44"
KC Cyclone Rock Lights (8)
KC Cyclone Bed & Cargo Lights (3)
Diode Dynamics Switchback DRL/Signal in tinted OEM mirror signal
MESO Stage 1 Tail Lights

Electrical
Switch-Pros SP9100
Esky Front View Camera with anytime front/rear
Bluesea Systems Fuse Blocks 4 Circuit under driver's seat
Dual USB Outlet - 1x Anytime Power 1x Data
Blue Sea 12V outlet (anytime)
Pop & Lock Tailgate Lock

Communications - KG8ROS
Icom ID-880H
WeBoost Reach OTR
Comet SSB1 144/440 MHz (daily)
Diamond NR-770 144/440MHz (long range)
Diamond HRKS Glass Mount

Gear/Exterior
Martin Off Road Roof Rack
A.R.E. V Series Shell with DIY Rack
ARB 2000 Awning & Room
Costway 12V Fridge/Freezer
Trasharoo
Wavian 20L jerrycan
Scepter 20L water can
Total Chaos Bed Stiffeners
Redline Tuning hood struts
TRD Pho grille

Engine/Drivetrain
OV Tune 2.0
aFe Dry filter
HPS Post MAF Air Intake Hose
TRD Intake Accelerator
12Volt.Solutions Remote Start

Coming Soon
???

Recent photos
4/20/23


1/15/20



8/30/19

 

Noice, trick her out!

 

Day 3... couldn't leave it alone, got a great deal on a Weather Guard low profile and picked up 265/75R16 Duratracs. Thought long and hard about moving up to 285s but I spend too much time on the road and C rated 285 choices are VERY limited for 16" wheels. Goodyear's warehouse accidentally sent E rated, and after driving on them for a day I'm glad I went with Cs



I also joined in on the SSO group buy but won't have the winch carrier for a couple of months. May add Spidertrax as well since I have a set sitting in my garage.

 

Got my Morimoto HIDs and Rigid SAE fogs installed tonight.





Will probably do a retrofit later on, but for now this works. Cutoff isn't too bad, not as wide as HID projectors but I'm gonna wait on the Black Friday deals before I spend more.





Fogs off


Fogs on


Fogs seem a little more impressive in person, not perfect but I think they're more useful than the Morimoto fogs I had on the Silverado.

 

rip oncoming traffic

Welcome to the BBP club!

 

Hi

 

Lol thanks! For what it's worth, I was parked on an incline. The cutoff is actually below the line of sight for oncoming traffic. Rigid cubes are the SAE models with a good cutoff that's lower than the factory headlights start point.

 

Only here here to spend to help spend your money

 

Did some more stuff recently, removed the OEM painted on (WHY?!) pinstripe and debadged. Will probably paint the emblems black and reapply, just not a huge fan of the debadged look.


Also put on a TRD Faux grille, the cheap one with the oversized Os. I'm happy with so I don't really care what others think.


Lastly I did the "premium audio upgrade for less than $250" speaker swap with Kicker CS series and Subaru OEM Kicker Tweeters. it's not a full system but much clearer than the factory speakers that are too light to even call paperweights.





Just waiting on the SSO slimline to get here so I can install that, my 9.5xp, and the 5100s, OME, and spidertrax. Also the Expeditioneers/Man-A-Fre skid from my 4th gen 4R. Keeping my fingers crossed that it bolts up.

 

Updates -

Installed Spidertrax 1.25" spacers
BHLM with RX350 projectors
SSO Slimline with Rigid 20" bar
Redline Tuning hood struts (no photos)

 

Whats this $250 speaker upgrade you speak of....

 

It’s the speakers I said, kicker cs and Subaru kicker tweeters
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/premium-audio-upgrade-for-less-than-250.510424/

 

Updated photos
BAMF sliders
Icon Stage 1 Extended Travel (factory preload)
Camburg BJ UCAs

 

Looking good brother. Especially for a moderate build...

 

Thanks! Ehh, it's moderate for a Taco build. No 33s, wheels, full bumper, or bed rack/rtt. The only other plans in the future, for now, are to level the rear and an audio system that's sitting in the garage.

 

Fair enough. I'll stay tuned for the rest of the goodies

 

Those DuraTracs look really good! And I like the bumper. I can't wait to move back to Colorado so I can save some serious money on shipping everything I want to mod... Alaska is killer.

 

Thanks! I can't imagine, I hate paying shipping to here and I'm fairly central

 

Couldn't leave well enough alone.. The duratracs were riding awful (not sure why, this is my 4th set and the only ones I've had trouble with) so I took advantage of the DTD sale on eBay. Then took a trip to the Texas Hill Country yesterday and snapped some photos.

255/80R17 Ridge Grapplers on 17x8.5, 0 offset, Raceline Clutch

 

How do you like the Icon Stage 1???? I am thinking hard about pulling the trigger on that kit.