jason's mildly mediocre daily

I don't really even know where I'm going with this, but figured I should start writing stuff down before I forget too much of what I've done.

The plan for this is primarily a daily driver, but I want it to be capable of some mild mannered class VI roads in the neighborhood. There's a local offroading group that has a "required equipment list" so you'll see me adding some of that, otherwise it's going to stay pretty stockish from a looks standpoint (I think).

My wife explained to me that I was getting a new truck for my birthday. I assumed that it would be a matter of going to the dealership and giving them money. It wasn't. First visit to the dealership was June 12, 2021. Truck received August 25, 2021.

DCLB 4x4 TRD OR in Army Green.

 

First additions are really garbage, but I liked them, so whatever.
Insert letters for the tailgate https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K3MRQL4?ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details
And blackout covers for the badges (the covers have already been taken down but they are just what you think they are, black plastic with 3M double sided tape on the inside).

 

The next couple of changes were unintentional, but still pretty fun.
Having owned the new truck less than 2 weeks, I decided to do a little offroading.
There were at least 2 places where I didn't have quite enough departure angle, which resulted in a couple scuffs to my bumper.

Wifey was less than impressed.
Passenger Side:


Driver Side:


If it bothers me I can replace them with factory ones for a little over $100 each, or there are also aftermarket covers. For now, it's fine.

 

Received and installed recovery points from Bullet Proof Fab
Passenger:

Driver:

 

More boring stuff.

For Labor Day Stevinson Toyota in Lakewood CO was having a free shipping sale.
I ordered a bed mat for 75.60 including the free shipping.

It looks like a bed mat. No pictures.

 

The stock PRNDL on my truck looks like it came out of the Starship Enterprise's bridge controls and doesn't really match the rest of the truck.

I made a cover for it. Not sure if I really like it. The vinyl in the picture looks much lighter than the vinyl actually looks. Not sure why.

 

A few other accessories.
Shackles for the front:

A Curt receiver shackle for the hitch from

$40 CURT 45832 D-Ring Shackle Mount Trailer Hitch, Fits 2" Receiver, 13000 lbs, CARBIDE BLACK POWDER COAT

https://www.amazon.com/CURT-45832-Shackle-Trailer-Receiver/dp/B079QMWBSL/ :

A 20' Tow strap from

$47 GearAmerica Heavy Duty Tow Strap - 3" x 20' - 35053 lb Break Strength Tree Saver Winch & Recovery Rope for Offroad - Weather Resistant Triple Reinforced Loop Design

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089YD77R2?ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details:

A proper ARB Recovery strap https://arbusa.com/recovery/recovery-straps-and-accessories/

ABC Fire Extinguisher, on a Desert Does IT MPP:

 

Also installed

$20 iBrightstar Super Bright LED Bulbs Package Kit Accessories Fit for Toyota Tacoma 2005-2021 Interior Map Dome Lights + Vanity Mirror Lights + License Plate Lights + Back Up Reverse Lights, White

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07QLH38LF?ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details
No pictures.

Also installed License Plate Glare Fix from https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-cheap-easy-license-plate-light-glare-fix.739648/
Even before I'd switched to the LEDs the glare from the rear camera at night was noticeably awful. More so than on my 2nd gen.

 

I only managed to take 1 pic of the entire thing.

Billy 5100s all around. Front got OME 885s. Rear got Wheeler 1.5" add a leafs.

Measurements before (ground to bottom of wheel well)
DF:34 5/8
PF: 35
DR: 36 1/4
PR: 36

Measurements after (just pulled out of the garage, I need to remeasure after a shakedown run, and again after alignment)
DF: 35 3/4
PF: 36 1/2
DR: 38
PR: 37 3/4

Ride is certainly a bit "harsher" than the stock TRD OR suspension on small bumps.
More trucky.
The one pictah.

 

Pre Lift


Post Lift (in approximately the same location)

 

M+W Nexus +P tune installed today.
Loving it! Probably my best upgrade so far.

 

Not really sure about this...

 

Added Bed Lights from Caliraised LED https://caliraisedled.com/products/toyota-tacoma-bed-light-kit .
No pictures, they look like bed lights.

 

I love the truck. What wheels are those? That’s an interesting color, it’s like bronze but not….

 

Thanks!
My son has been trying to convince me to be a bit more "adventurous" than I normally would.

The wheels are just some of the SR5 Alloys that came on a number of year models. They are like https://www.detroitwheelandtire.com...replacement-75193-silver-hol-75190-sss-a.html
I picked up a set with some junk tires on Faceyspace for $200. They had a couple scratches / scuffs on them. For my experiment, I didn't care.

Sanded them down to get them so things were pretty flat, hit them with a few coats of self etching primer, then just rattle canned them with https://www.rustoleum.com/product-c...stops-rust/hammered-spray?ls=210849&lc=Copper.

It's a 50/50 paint job at this point.
If it turns out I like them I do something better, but for now, I expect them to get scratched up and I'll just touch them up as needed.

 

Very nice! I thought they looked familiar, I had the same wheels before I got the Black Rhinos (mine were just in the stock SR5 color).

 

More of something to do, than a real upgrade...

 

First bit of armor added today.

 

What’s this lift? Looks great. I’ve got two holds currently and waiting to see which shows up first - one is an Army Green DCSB, the other is Barcelona Red DCLB, and to me the LBs are kinda strangely proportioned until they get a lift and then they look great. Yours is the perfect example. I don’t know much about lifts, though, trying to learn more.

 

The front got Bilstein 5100s with OME 885s (set at 0). I had them pre-assembled at Wheelers (shows out of stock currently).

The rear also got 5100s and a 1.5" Add a Leaf from Wheelers as well . Replaced the center pin and u-bolts as well. U-bolts probably would have been fine without the longer ones, but I'd already ordered them.

I've actually been pretty pleased with the result.