LFaub's 4x4 conversion/camper build

Hey, guys! Been meaning to make a build thread for some time now, so here goes.



My parents bought me a used 2003 TRD Prerunner V6 back in 2012 as my first vehicle. Pic is from having it for about a week.

When I got the truck, it had:
-Bilstien 5100's all around
-AEM Brute Force Cold Air Intake
-Black Painted TRD 16" Rims


First off was a camper shell. It had some bolts in the top where a roof basket used to be, which were odd, but it looked kinda cool, plus it was a bit cheaper used anyways.



Then came the wheel spacers because the stock makes the truck look like a bulldog trying to ride a skateboard,



Chopped the exhaust so it doesn't get caught on stuff,



And added a HAM Radio antenna behind the shell, which just hooks up to a handheld radio up front.

I also did the Foglight Conversion mod, putting dual filament amber bulbs up in the corners.



And that's about where I was with the exception of a few little things here or there.....




Here's where I’m at today (January 2023)






Current Mods:
(In order from oldest to newest)
- AEM Intake
- Bilstien 5100 shocks
- Vision 600 Camper Shell
- 1.25" rear Wheel Spacers
- 1.50" front Wheel Spacers
- Chopped Exhaust
- Alinco race radio with mounted antenna
- Fog light Conversion (since replaced with the front bumper)
- CBI Ditch-Light brackets and lights
- Tundra Brake Upgrade
- Extended length steel braided brake lines
- Rola Vortex Roof Basket with front LED bar and rear chase lights
- Trail Gear Rock Defense front bumper with LED floodlights
- Cooper ATP 265/75R16 tires
- Bilstein 5162 remote reservoir rear shocks
- Wheeler’s 2” add-a-leaf kit
- 4x4 conversion
- Energy Suspension steering rack bushings
- OME 881 front coil springs
- Whiteline lower control arm bushings
- Viair 300P portable air compressor
- 2nd gen Pelfreybilt sliders
- 1997 4Runner Limited front seats with Covercraft seat covers
- Coastal Offroad rear bumper
- 4x Innovations spare tire swingout

Future Mods:
(In no particular order)
- Smittybilt winch
- 4x Innovations skid plates
- high lift jack mount of some sort
- Gas and water cans
- Bed Box with slide-out shelves
- maybe a solid axle swap if I run out of things to do

 

So I've got my new brakes ordered up, should have them on Tuesday or Wednesday

 

Brakes are in: new calipers, pads, and rotors

Now I just have to get my other car smogged so I can work on my truck in the first place

 

Have to do some hauling this weekend so I took off the camper and now it looks like a truck again!

 

Another 1st gen prerunner

 

Quick update: my Subaru still isn't passing smog so those brakes are gonna be sitting for a while still.

In the meantime, I ordered some new aluminum quarter window latches to replace the old broken plastic ones (Xtra cab life, it's a struggle) from @redruM69 here on TacomaWorld. Just to keep the thread going until I can get the truck in the air, if anything.

 

Latches came in, and he included a tootsie roll so more incentive if you're thinking of doing it, I guess haha!

 

Probably the least useful mod but it feels soooo gooooood

 

Do they still close as tightly as they did, I know that was a problem for some other users. They wouldn't shut quite as tight and you could pry them open.

 

They didn't close all the way at first, but if you bend the metal tab a bit, they'll close the rest of the way

I'm not too concerned about it, considering the stock latches were totally broken off, and you could probably open the window with your hands from the outside

 

Gotcha, sounds like a good replacement then. Mine seem to work as intended still after 21 years.

 

I'm pretty satisfied with how it all turned out. Looking to finally get some use out of these quarter windows!

 

I use them mostly just as a way to hear my exhaust and to let air come through when it fogs up in the winter, works well to get air cycling without getting cold.

 

Took her to Otay Mountain Trail to kick off spring break. Was a lot of fun not having to worry about the camper cracking or anything.

Yeah those brakes reaaaaallly need an upgrade

 

Nice, did you get the tundra brakes?

 

I never had to replace those back window latch because people hardly sit back there. probably gets open like 10 times (+-) a year lol.

 

Would look great with a Set of ditch mount pods https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/cmw-ditch-light-bracket-group-buy.421130/page-5#post-12059653

 

I have all the parts, just trying to get my other car to pass smog so I can put the truck up on jacks for a couple days

If I wasn't out of town all spring break I'd be able to knock it out, but unfortunately that's not the case