Kyle's SR Access Cab Build

Introduction and Progress
Vehicle
2019 Tacoma SR V6 4x4 in Super White purchased August 20, 2019 in Salem, OR

I bought the SR because I wanted a canvas to work with. My only requirements were that the truck is a long bed, 4x4, and a V6 to tow. Purchasing the SR meant doing away with a couple convenience features that need to be added later.

Current as of 02/14/2021
~14,500 miles on odometer



Starting point 08/20/2019
~4 miles on odometer



Build Components
Suspension

• Bilstein 5100 Shocks -- front + rear
• OME 888 Strut Coils -- set on notch 0
• 1/4" Strut Top Spacer / Anti-Taco-Lean Device
• JBA Offroad Upper Control Arms
• HeadStrong 3-Leaf Progressive Add-A-Leaf -- overload leaf left in

Drivetrain

• Nitro 4.88 Axle Gears
  
• ARB RD132 Air Locker (Rear)
• Rear Diff Breather Relocate

Wheels/Tires

• $299 Method 701 Matte Black 16x8" 6x5.5", 0mm offset 4.5" Backspace, MR70168060500
  Method 701 16x8 0/4.5 Satin Black Wheels
• 285/75/r16 Falken Wildpeak AT3W
• Cab Mount Chop + Pinch Seam Flattening

Lighting/Electrical

• LED Reverse and license plate lights
• MESO Ultimate Map Lights
  
• MESO Ultimate Dome Lights
• Custom Bed Lighting
• Keyless Entry
  
• Diode Dynamics SS3 Sport Amber Fog Lights
• Custom Bussmann RTMR
• MESO Switch Panel (Left of Steering Wheel)
  
• 3D Printed Overhead Console Switch Panel
• Cali Raised Low-Pro Ditch Light Brackets
• Cali Raised CB Antenna Extension
• 3' Firestik CB Radio Antenna
• Diode Dynamics SSC2 Driving Pattern Ditch Lights (Amber Backlight)
• LED Bumper Lights
• 40” Single-Row Lightbar (Roof Rack Mounted)
• MESO Extended Fuse Cover
• DIY Underhood Lighting
• Thinkware F70 Dash Camera w/ Hardwire Kit (Park Mode!)
  
• Custom Retrofit Headlights:
  • Morimoto M LED 2.0 Projectors
  • Custom Amber DRL Boards
    • V LED Load Resistors for Turn Signal Function
  • MESO Side Markers (Amber LEDs)
  • Acrylic Turn Signal Cover
  • Matte Black Krylon Paint
  • Custom Wire Harness (TRD -> SR/SR5 Conversion)
• Custom T-Harnesses to Illuminate Switches:
  • Left of Steering Wheel (Cargo Light)
  • Below Head Unit (ECT PWR Switch)
  • Overhead Console (R44 Connector)
• Custom Aftermarket Switches (OE Blue)
• License Plate Light Disable In Reverse
• MESO Ultimate 3rd Brake Light
  • 2 amber KC Cyclones
  • 2 red KC Cyclones

Habitat

• Smittybilt Overlander Roof Top Tent
• Diamondback SE Bed Cover
• KB Voodoo Hi Rise Crossbars (Steel)

Truck Bed

• BAMF Bed Accessory Mounts
  
• Full-size Shovel + Axe
• At The Helm Bed Channel Stiffeners
• OEM Bed Mat
• Mountain Hatch Tailgate Insert (Red)
• Expedition Essentials Bed Cubby Mount
• ARB Single Air Compressor

Exterior

• Victory 4x4 Access Cab Rack w/ Cutout
  
• Victory 4x4 Strike Rock Sliders
• Gray Grille Emblem Decal
• Black TACOMA Tailgate Lettering
• Black TACOMA Door Emblems
• At the Helm High Clearance Rear Bumper
• Ko'o Gas Cap Cradle
• Redline Tuning Gas Hood Struts
• MESO Puddle Pods
• Fumoto 133S Oil Valve Body
• Toyota Aluminum Oil Filter Housing
• RCI Offroad Front Steel Skidplate

Interior

• The Taco Garage DSM
• RAM X-Grip Mount
• Clazzio Seat Covers (Black/Black/Black)
• Victory 4x4 Center Console MOLLE Panels
• Uniden Pro 505XL Bearcat CB Radio
• MESO Steering Wheel Logo Cover
• Custom TRD Pro Shift Knob

Taken Off/Sold

• SOS Concepts Bed Bars - were uneven
• Faux Predator Tube Steps - flimsy
• SPC Upper Control Arms - defective bushing and poor customer service
• TRD Pro Fog Lights - just not bright enough
• Stock SR5 Black Wheels - not the correct back-spacing for 285's
• Spidertrax 1.25" Wheel Spacers - kind of a hazard
• Tacoma Beast headlights - flat-out terrible.
• Interior LEDs - replaced with MESO
• Custom Fuse/Relay Block - Replaced with a Bussmann
• Cheap 3" LED Ditch Lights

Purchased (Awaiting Install)

• Archive Garage 12" Shock Relocation Towers (2.0 series)
• Archive Garage Hammer Hangers
• Archive Garage U-Bolt Flip Kit
  • Archive Garage Yellow Speed Bumps
• Fox 12” 2.0 Remote Reservoir Rear Shocks (from Accutune)
• Dobinson's Medium-Duty Leaf Pack
  • Dobinson's Bushing Kit
  • Dobinson's Greasable Pin Kit x2

Planned (Misc.)
Front Bumper (unsure which one)
Aluminum Skid Plates
Rear Bed Track (ripped from a 2nd gen)
Recovery Boards (mounted to bed track)
Sound Dampening

Planned Suspension Overhaul (Longer-Term)
Total Chaos Spindle Gussets
Total Chaos Alignment Tab Reinforcements
Accutune Fox 2.5 Remote Reservoir Front Shocks

Service Log

• 3,000 Miles: New springs (OME), shocks (5100), and leafs (Headstrong)
• 3,100 Miles: New tires (Falken Wildpeak AT3W 285/75/16)
• 3,300 Miles: 4-wheel alignment
• 5,000 Miles: Engine oil change @ dealer
• 7,400 Miles: 4-wheel alignment
• 8,400 Miles: 4.88 Nitro Gears + ARB Air Locker
• 9,100 Miles: Axle gear oil change + T-Case oil change (w/ new gaskets)
• 9,700 Miles: JBA Upper Control Arms installed + greased
• 9,730 Miles: Engine oil change + tire rotation @ dealer
• 9,810 Miles: 4-Wheel alignment
• 10,700 Miles: New seals in front differential assembly
• 14,865 Miles: 15K service; tires rotated
• 14,885 Miles: Engine oil change; Fumoto + Aluminum oil filter housing installed | New cabin air filter (OEM)
• 14,895 Miles: New engine air filter (OEM)
• 16,621 Miles: Replaced all 3 seals inside ARB Air Locker
• 16,621 Miles: Rear differential oil drain + fill

IG: @FishTacoNW

 

I have run this truck through its paces this past month. So far, I have decided to keep the truck fully stock as I went through the tail-end of a summer steelhead season and a full archery elk season here in Oregon. I wanted to get a feel for all the quirks of the vehicle -- what I like and what I don't like as I abuse it the way I have abused my vehicles in the past. So far I can say that I am extremely impressed with this truck and am surprised the stock tires held up against the dirt and gravel roads it has run the past 5 weeks.

Here she is at 2,600 miles (I usually don't drive that much in a month -- it's just this time of year) on 9/24/2019:



This weekend I will be doing a CMC and installing Bilstein 5100s w/ OME 888's, SPC UCAs, and a 3-leaf AAL with my dad. Any tips would be appreciated. We have the grinder and welder ready as well as all the tools to get the suspension swapped over.

Next week I will be putting the 33's on.

 

Driver side strut and control arm is done. Wasn’t too bad except for that stupid UCA bolt. That thing was a nightmare to get out. We used the method without spring compressors to get the new coil and 5100 mated together. Worked way easier than using compressors.

 

Long day yesterday. Ended up getting the two fronts and one rear done. The leaf springs weren’t as hard as advertised. We got sidelined by rain otherwise I think we would have finished. I got the stock wheels wrapped in the 33’s.

Today: finish passenger rear. Torque rear shock nuts when vehicle is on the ground. Torque the rear leaf spring bolt when truck is on the ground. Grease new ball joints. Check all rub points and then CMC + trim all necessary plastic.

 

That’s all she wrote. Got the wheels and tires mounted and balanced. Doctored up the rest of the suspension and took it for a few joy rides. Haven’t noticed any rubbing yet. We’ll hold off on the CMC until the suspension settles and we notice rubbing. For now there’s been 0 need for trimming. We’ll see after I get the alignment, but theoretically that should only push it further from the cab mount.

 

SOS Concepts bed bars installed. Took a full day to get a decent rattle can job on them, but I think they'll hold my tent nicely.

 

Custom alignment done today. I had them keep toe and camber within factory spec and then set caster to a minimum of +3°. Looks like they barely had to touch the UCA’s to achieve those numbers, but overall pretty happy with it.

 

Put some black door emblems on so now it actually looks like a Tacoma. Not sure why Toyota decided that door emblems were a place to cut costs on the SR, but whatever. Also got my tent on but had to use shims since my bed bars are very uneven. New bars should be on the way.

 

Update:

Ordered new headlight projectors so that I can have LED DRLs and blacked-out reflectors. Installed some knock-off predator tube steps temporarily until I absolutely need sliders (won't be for a while -- I don't wheel much in the winter). I really need to install my keyless entry...

 

Lookin' good so far!

 

Here’s the cheap predator tubes from eBay — they work fine for now and look great.

 

Good lookin ride! Can’t wait to see where you go with it!

 

Quick shot after cleaning my boat and truck a couple nights ago. So far I haven't noticed much of a power loss towing the boat with the 285's on. Granted my drifter only weighs about 1,200 lbs. When I use the ECT PWR button I'm getting around 15 mpg on the freeway while towing vs. 16 mpg and being slightly underpowered without the button engaged. Without the boat and driving standard freeway miles I am averaging around 19.5 mpg.

 

Sweet set up !

 

Great Truck! Got to love the new Oregon plates. I have the same set.

 

Smokey Bear was a no-brainer when I bought the truck haha.

Update: Picking up a diamondback se cover later this week. It was a deal I couldn’t pass up. Figuring out a different way to mount my tent now. Really like the KB Voodoo bars.

 

Planned for this weekend:

1. Pre-wire everything for fog lights. This includes soldering together a wire harness that has H11 plugs. Have a switch and a relay ready.
2. Install bed lighting with an always-on (key-independent) switch. Contemplating whether to add a voltmeter in the bed as well.
3. Install new headlights. This includes pulling out the shitty stock bulbs and upgrading to LED or HID (I have both).
4. Install Diamondback SE Cover.
5. Install keyless entry (finally).

Next week:
1. Install KB Voodoo bed bars.
2. Plug fog lights in.
3. Start planning a fuse/relay block. Probably won't build right away but I'll need a clean way to wire accessories eventually.

 

Looks Good. You bought yours in Capital Toyota Salem? Thats where I got mine

 

Yeah I did! They were great. I wanted this specific truck with the blackout package so they searched high and low and found it. They had it trucked-in from Seattle. I guess they did some sort of inventory swap with the dealer up there to get it.

 

Nice looking build..