Nehemiah's Budget College Student Build

Got this truck nearly 2 years ago for $2500.00 with 250k miles on it from my girlfriends Dad. He's a surgeon and was meticulous with maintenance. It's a 1999, 5 speed manual, 4x4 TRD Pro with the rear E locker. Since then I've just installed a cheap spacer lift in the front (Hoping to upgrade as soon as the budget allows) and Bilstein 5100 with an AAL in the back. Also just got new 15x8 wheels from FB marketplace and 32x11.5R15 Falken Wildpeaks. I have a aluminum camper shell on it that I got off of FB Marketplace for 50.00. I made a full length rack and ladder out of an old bunk bed my dad was throwing away. I'm in the middle of paying for school so everything that's done on the truck is as DIY'ed and budget as possible!

Currently:



When I bought it:

 

In September of last year I rear ended someone and since I had my trailer with all my lawn care equipment there was quite a bit of weight pushing it forward. Ended up totaling the two cars in front of me and sending them both to the hospital. Thankfully everyone was ok in the end. The problem was I only had liability insurance at the time and not full coverage. I had the truck towed to a shop and they quoted me 5,000 to fix it. No chance this student in the middle of midterms and trying to pay for school could fork out that money so I had it towed to my house and started trying to fix everything myself.

Didn't get it running in any shape until late November. Here's the kicker, I finally got the hood painted a few weeks ago nd then the other day while I'm sitting at a stop light the woman in front of me guns it in reverse accidentally and broke my grill and pushed up my hood :/ Oh boy here we go again haha. Thankfully the damage isn't too bad and I can still drive it while waiting for insurance to do their thing
FIRST WRECK IN SEPTEMBER:


Trying to straiten everything out:


FINALLY GOT EVERYTHING STRAIGHTENED OUT:


ADDED SOME KC LIGHTS TO TRY TO HIDE THE FACT I DONT HAVE A BUMPER

 

I haven't replaced the bumper because I want to build a tube bumper. My dad has access to a tube builder and welder at his work I just have;t gotten the courage to go for it.

 

One small mod that's actually one of my favorites is this custom leather steering wheel cover that's sewn onto the wheel. I didn't like how thick and clumsy most steering wheel covers are. Came out really nice.

 

Was finally able to get some work done on the truck yesterday! Started by installing my backup lights using rivets. First time using the rivet gun and it worked great! I just wired it into my switch panel in the cab. Next I set about setting up my Renogy 100 watt solar panel. I ran the wires through the camper shell into the charge controller and then from the charge controller to my 35 amp hour battery. Quickly built a little box for it all but planning to incorporate the whole power setup a little cleaner into my drawer / sleeping platform eventually. Currently just running two USB's and a 12V cigarette port with a small inverter off the solar but planning to hook up LED bed lights and run a bigger inverter eventually.