Mike's truck adventures! Build Thread

Good looking truck, nice find!

 

I forgot to ask earlier, are you a long shoreman? The user name Lashingbar maybe want to ask.

 

thanks! I think I did pretty good! Can't wait for my first trip out.

yeah I am in LA/LB. Haven't lashed in awhile but as a casual we did it all the time! That's a solid workout.

 

I'm thinking basic lift 5100s and AAAL??? and some new wheels. Thoughts? I plan to put on a shell eventually

 

I am jealous of the hood scoop!

 

don't be! It just for looks LOL

 

So just updated my original thread, which I'll use to keep track of all my changes, updates, fixes, mods. I've done a bit to the truck since I've gotten her. Here's a few things...

First and foremost... the softopper. I really wanted a cover but didn't like the idea of a permanent shell that would take two to remove and find a place to store. Softopper was the perfect solution for me and so far I love it. Looks unique, really cool, and the versatility is amazing. On a lunch break i can roll up the sides and leave the top up... plenty of airflow and a good nap even on a warm day. When I need full access to the bed i can fold it down completely forward against the front of the bed within a minute. A few pics...




I purchased some rubber ties on Amazon real cheap to hold up my fishing rods when driving with a loaded bed and I dont want them floating around back there. It works perfectly and the ties easily come out...







Installed a tailgate theft deterrent device that @scleaf is selling in the BST forum here:



Cool little contraption!

BFG K02 Tires 265/70/17. This made my truck look and feel completely different. Got them barely used for a good price in the BST forums!



Weathertechs of course! Another barely used deal from these forums



CalTrends Seat Covers... just in the front so far. Around $170 on Amazon. Great fit, very snug and they feel great.



Next up are 5100s and a single deaver AAL. Most likely buying from @HeadStrong Off-Road very soon. And if I can get away with it... the TRD Pro Sema wheels. Just need to decide on the color. I went with a used truck so I can do some badass mods and still have great reliability with low miles. I'm at almost 71,000 (bought it with 69k) and loving it so far. Chime in on your suggestions, questions, and comments and what color wheels you'd go with (black or the brushed silver).

Thanks for lookin!

 

Off to a good start. This place is awesome for info and deals.

 

thanks. yep i'm pretty happy so far. this place is addicting.

 

Between TW and Amazon I managed to get all the parts for my lift for less than any of the vendors could do. Just takes time and patience.

 

converting this to my build thread. Will organize the first post later. Just a few things...

gotmy 885s up front, although a bit high for a prerunner. Probably gonna swap to 884s. Suspension feels great with 5100s. My softopper is working out great for my needs. It's on my truck 99% of the time. Great product. Just got some gunmetal level 8 mk6 wheels. Love the color with the silver and black scheme. A few more things to talk about soon. Plenty more on running decent socal trails with a prerunner coming up. I'm loving this truck.

 

Finally got around to preaching about my softopper. Love this thing. Cross-posted from here: http://dirtnsmores.com/why-i-love-my-softopper/

Why I love my Softopper — a 3 year review



It’s easy to show someone why the Softopper is so awesome but not so easy to explain. When I got my truck and decided to outfit it for camping (and overlanding) I realized fairly quickly I needed some sort of truck shell to cover our gear.

After doing a bit a research I decided to give the Softopper brand camper shell a try because of the versatility. Below is a list of my Pros & Cons followed by more detail about this soft-sided truck shell…

Soft topper shell for truck: Pros and Cons
Pros:

• Keeps gear covered and out of the rain, eyes off your stuff
• Retracts down in less than a minute to haul taller items
• Can be removed in a few minutes to easily store in garage
• Great for sleeping under, stays cool in summer
• Sides can be rolled up for traveling with dogs while keeping them shaded
• Lighter and cheaper than hard shell
• Looks badass

Cons:

• Not secure
• Limited color options
• Not 100% waterproof
• Not well insulated for cold weather camping
• Can’t mount roof rack on top
• Hard to attach buttons when it’s cold outside

As you can see my list is very lopsided. Hope that helps if you’re debating a hard shell topper vs. soft topper for your truck. Read on to learn more about the durability and how I use the softopper.

Softopper Durability
As you can see my list is very lopsided. Being an owner of the softopper for 3 years I can honestly say this company makes a great product. The topper is “up” 99% of the time in the southern California sun — so you know the durability is up to par.

It’s been rained on, snowed on, and through strong gusts of wind driving home from Joshua Tree. I was a little worried about it there, but it held up great! And if something goes wrong parts can be replaced by the manufacturer.

Softopper usage scenarios
From camping to grocery runs to hockey games. We use the softopper for everything.

Our daily driver
We use my Toyota Tacoma as our family’s daily driver so it keeps our stroller and kid gear covered and the cab is free of clutter. Most people that drive a pickup around down have a tonneau cover to protect their items. While are more secure, you are limited to items no taller than the height of the bedside.

Keeping that pickup truck “toss it in the bed” feel
One of the great things about having a pickup truck is being able to toss something into the bed and go. No fuss about where it lands or how dirty it is. During the summer dry months I often keep the rear window rolled up to allow easy access to the bed. We toss my son’s hockey sticks and bags over the tailgate with ease. Same goes for my work boots and gloves after a dirty shift at the steel dock. Makes it feel like a pickup truck!

Softopper for hauling big items and camping

I’ll talk about two things here: Loading up the truck for with big items and sleeping under the softopper during camping (or overlanding) trips.

Loading the truck for a trip to the wilderness or Home Depot



One of the big knocks of a hard shell topper is getting on your knees and crawling all the way to the back to load up your gear. Trying to shuffle things around is even more funwhen you’re hunched over and hot. Softopper eliminates this issue. Folding it forward gives you full access to the bed with no height restrictions. Toss stuff over the sides and then jump in and organize as if you don’t have a shell on at all. When everything looks good fold the softopper to covered position and you’re good to go.

Sleeping under the softopper instead of a tent


When my son and I go solo camping I don’t even bother with a tent. Just lay down a few backpacking mattresses, sleeping bags, and you’re good to go. We spent a few nights in Anza Borrego last year and it was super comfy. I recently picked up the Exped Duo camping mattress that fits perfectly between the wheel wells in the Tacoma. My wife and I will sleep soundly on trips without the kids!



Sleeping in the back of the truck is similar to how the cool overlanders have a roof top tent for quick setup. This is even easier and faster since there is nothing to deploy.

Softopper and rain

What about rain? Water does seep in from the corners closest to the cab so I put a few dabs of silicone right there to push the water away. And if I know rain is in the forecast it’s easy to throw a tarp over the softopper and hook it down to the truck or spike it into the floor. You have to get creative if bad weather is expected.

Where to buy the Softopper
Softopper takes pride in the fact they it’s made in the USA and is only available to buy directly from them. If you’re in Colorado I believe you can go to their facility in Denver and pick one up. I myself ordered from their website directly and had it shipped. I think I made just below $800 shipped to my door! Not bad for a quality product. Get one at www.softopper.com.