Overland_TRD's MGM Build and Travel Journal : Pic heavy

Hello fellow TW Members!!!
So I am finally starting my build thread, after owning the truck for almost a year I have amassed a number of pictures and you people seem to like them. So...here it goes.

ps Check me out on Instagram @Southwest_Explorations



Yes the thread is pic heavy, but you like that since you can't read you crayon eating bastard.

How the rig looks today





2013 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road

Modifications

Exterior:
BFG AT/TA KO2 size 285/75/16
Method Race Wheels size 16x8 4"backspacing
Rocky Road Outfitters Rock Sliders
ARE Camper shell
3' Firestick CB Antenna
Truck Bed Platform
30" hidden LED Light Bar
LED Rock Lights
ARE Z Series Camper shell

Interior:
MTB Grip Shifter
Uniden 510XL CB Radio
Blue Ridge Overland Visor Storage
Overland Bound Member badge #1785
An ever-growing patch collection

Perfomance/Suspension:
Toytec 3" Coil over lift
BOSS Shocks
Deaver AAL
K&N Drop in Filter
Exhaust Chop
Dif Breather Mod

Gear:
15 ton tow strap
Smittybilt D-Ring Hitch
Coleman Dual fuel camp stove
Coleman Classic Stainless steel Ice chest
Stanley 145 piece tool set
0 Degree Marmot Sleeping Bag
Giant TCR Advanced Composite 2014
Giant XTC Advanced Composite 29er 2014
Pivot Mach 6 Trail 650b 2017
Smith and Wesson SD9VE 9mm
Browning BPS Hunter 12 Gauge
Gun Vault Nano Vault Serries
2.5' Shovel
5lb wood splitting axe
5 gallon Jerry Can (gas)
5 gallon Jerry Can (H2O)
5 gallon Igloo jug
One Up Bicycle rack


Favorite Trails:

• Poison Spider Trail - Moab, UT
• Imogene Pass - Ouray, CO
• Mineral Creek Trail - Ouray, CO
• Top Of the World - Moab, UT
• Fin's N things - Moab, UT
• Ophir Pass - Ophir/Silverton, CO
• Engineer Pass - Ouray/Lake City, CO
• Stony Pass - Silverton/Creede, CO
• Cinnamon pass - Ouray, CO
• American Basin - Lake City, CO
• Gemini Bridges - Moab, UT
• Yankee Boy Basin - Ouray, CO
• Yankee Hill - Black Hawk, CO
• Idaho Springs Trail - Idaho Springs, CO
• Choke Cherry Wash - Farmington, NM
• Columbus Basin - Mayday, CO
• Kennebec Pass - Mayday, CO
• Missionary Ridge - Durango, CO

Upcoming Trails:

• Hells Revenge - Moab, UT
• Black Bear Pass - Telluride, CO
• Monticello Canyon - Truth Or Consequences, NM

Upcoming Modifications:

• C4 Fab Low profile winch bumper
• Brute Force high clearance rear bumper
• Bushwacker Fender Flares
• SPC Light Racing UCA
• Prinsu Design Roof Rack
• Smittybuilt/Viair portable air setup
• Bilstein 5160 rear shocks
• $213 Icon 51100 ICON Vehicle Dynamics 1.5" Lift Rear Expansion Pack
  Icon 51100 Multi AAL

 

One of the first days I owned it. Driving from Southern California to Southern Colorado. Had already fell in love with the vehicle just 72 hours after getting it.
Let me tell you, that New Mexico dust sticks to everything; so the first I did upon arriving back in CO was take the truck for a little swim.

 

Within the first week I decided I wanted a platform for my bikes and an area of semi-weather resistant storage for the harsh CO winters. Don't let the orange trees and sunshine fool you, this is a Colorado truck.

Building the platform took was fairly easy, it took 10 feet of 2x8, 2 sheets of 1/2" plywood, and 25 square feet of outdoor carpet.
Start by cutting out the 2x8's to fit across the bed.
Cut out the two top pieces, using a jig saw to cut out the detailed end parts.
Then cut and pull some carpet and staple it down on the bottom side.

 

First couple of weeks was making my truck, "my" truck. Added some of my own little personalities and made some upgraded functionality issues I had.

It's On, Motherfuckers Wall Mount Bottle Opener

Bottle Opener

Fj Cruiser Decals 4in Teq Racing Development Trd Vinyl Decal Sticker (Black) W/

TEQ Sticker

$10 Maglite Black Universal Mounting Brackets for D-Cell Flashlight, 2 pk

Mag Light Mount
Bike Grip

100 Charcoal Grey 550 Paracord 7 Strand Tested USA Made Parachute Cord

Paracord

$18 Vehicle OCD - Center Console Organizer for Toyota Tacoma (2005-2015) - Made in USA

Center Console Organizer

$13 AstroAI 27" Snow Brush and Detachable Ice Scraper with Ergonomic Foam Grip for Cars, Trucks, SUVs (Heavy Duty ABS, PVC Brush)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07V37GVY9?ie=UTF8

 

Within the first month my truck was assaulted, a rouge shopping cart on a windy winter day took out the drivers side tail light and dented the rear bumper, but nothing a 5 minute tail light change can't fix.


Tail Light

 

35 days after first getting the truck, it was ready for its first Moab Trip. My friend let me use his Best Top Camper, testing it out to see if i want to get one. Also got a Dakine Tailgate pad and pulled out the platform.

$950 Bestop 7630835 Black Diamond Supertop for Truck - 5.0' Bed for 2005-2020 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab

Best Top Camper

Dakine Pickup Pad - Black, Small

Dakine Tailgate pad

$38 Smittybilt 29312B Receiver Hitch D-Ring with 3/4" Shackle for 2" Receivers , Black

SmittyBilt D-ring Hitch

 

First Moab Trip was a lot of fun, decided I definitely needed a lift, bigger tires, and some more dedicated sleeping arrangement. The dog trying to get into my friends RTT is the reason for a new sleeping situation.
Within the first 30 minutes on the trail I had ripped off the hitch light bracket, never used it so it has sat ziptied to the rear bumper since.

Finding a weekend to make it out for trips is difficult, being a full-time student with a part time job.

 

After Moab I had an issue...I needed to wheel. Being out there and pushing my vehicle to points I didn't think it could make gave me way too much joy. So the weekend after Moab I made an overnight trip to Choke Cherry Wash to satisfy my needs. And once again I was given reason after reason to get a lift and new bumper.



That weekend also made me extremely glad I had a med-kit, the knowledge to use it, and a tow strap. On a not so gnarly section of trail that me and another TW member had just gone through we heard a loud sound, some crunching metal, and a few screams. After driving back down the trail we found this jeep with a Husband, wife, and 2 year old daughter in it. Everyone was a little shooken up, and only the wife had some small scrapes on her arm. After righting the jeep and seeing if it started we found out that the motor mounts were sheared off and the jeep would only run in 4-lo. So we sent him puttering down the trail where he had a trailer for his rig.

 

A few weeks after Choke Cherry it was finally starting to turn from winter to spring in CO. That means mud...lots of mud.
But that won't stop a trip into the mountains for some quality camping. On the way home from Missionary Ridge I found a little section of K-wall and decided I should do a flex test, not too shabby for the Stocko-Taco

I also found the time to make a quick trip to the store for an axe and some quick fist mounts, trying to decide the summer truck bed setup.

$13 END OF ROAD Original Quick Fist Clamp for mounting tools & equipment 1" - 2-1/4" diameter, 2 Count (Pack of 1) - 0010

Quickfist
Jerry Can

Eyourlife Military Tactical Hiking Bag Outdoor Trekking Camping Tactical Pack Men Tactical Combat Travel Bag

Military Bag
Water Jug

 

A couple camping trips later, some more trail damage, and I still hadn't decided which route I was going to take with my suspension set-up.
But through some research I had to go with a Colorado based company, Toytec Lifts.

This in the long run has been a hell of a fuck up on my part.

The install went extremely quick, taking only about 3 hours. The kit included the Toytec brand Coil overs, Deaver AAL, and BOSS shocks. Didn't end up using the sway bar relocation brackets, because I took off the sway-bar. No more flex restrictions.

The truck looked and felt a little goofy with the small tires and new 3" lift, but all good things come with time.

The rear end sat a tad bit high for the first couple weeks after install, but a few small adjustments to the front and a lot of gravel hauled around really helped to level it out.

Installed everything back in California, so the 800 mile drive was going to see if I missed torquing anything properly. (hint: I'm typing this now so its probably fine and you can stop reading)

 

Water...water, water, water!! I love it, can't get enough of river crossings. With the new lift I had some more confidence driving through some of the deeper stuff. All of these crossings are up in the La Plata Canyon off of the Kennebec Pass Trail.
I have also decided that pinstripes are going to be a part of my life, theres no need to be shy about it, I openly embrace it.
Now my truck looks like its been through a keying session by every crazy ex-girlfriend I've ever had.

 

This beauty, Amazon and all of its gloriousness has delivered again.
I don't care what you say "Its not a rigid" "Its not made in America", it doesn't matter. I'm not pre-running the baja 1000, I'm trying to not hit deer on back country roads. All that matters for me is that it is bright enough, weather proof to some extent, and it looks good where its mounted. And you know what e-your life makes a product that is effective and affordable.

If you want to sell me on Rigid lights don't waste your time or mine, I don't care how much money you spent on lights, I'll spend my money on hookers and booze.


The mount is made by rough country and is really easy to install.

Single Row LED,Eyourlife 150W Super Slim Single Row Cree LED 21" Universal Fitment Low Noise Driving Fog Lights Flood Spot Combo Easy Installation

30" Lightbar
Light Bar Brackets

 

Its summer time, Thank jesus
Time for the 3rd row seats and paddle boards to make a return. The short bed and 10 foot boards definitely make for an interesting combo.

 

A quick check of the bank account and a spur of the moment bug in my ass made me do something. Rubber, lots of rubber, 285/75.16's of BFG AT/TA KO2's. These sexy little devils were going to be wrapped around Method Race wheels mesh 16x8" with 4.5" backspacing, but the issue is 4-Wheel Parts customer service. 3 weeks, thats how long I waited with tires sitting in my living room before hearing from them saying they were on backorder, so I switched what I wanted and went with Methods' NV's.

The thought had been in my head ever since the install of the lift, and a perfect storm of buying had hit. BFG's were on sale at Big o' Tires and had a $50 rebate, and Methods were buy 4 get 15% off with free shipping. This was also combined with a raise at a new job, so of course myself and the truck deserved a little treat for all the hard work.

 

Well now I was waiting for the non-backordered set of wheels, but that wasn't going to stop a nice trip up to the mountains.
Went up La Plata Canyon to Columbus Basin, right at the base of some 13,000+ mountains.
Camping under the stars might not have been the best choice, but live and learn...right? Cloudless nights led to a nice brisk 20* morning, thanks June.
But the views can't be beat in the 5 million star hotel, and the milky, oh my the milky way.
After breaking down camp and climbing a couple of the mountains (and finding a mountain lion) we continued on the trail up to the notch at the end of Kennebec Pass.
The trail is not very technical but the views and the backstory of the canyon really make it all worth it.
The FJ60 is a beast of a truck, owned by my roommate, its got a hell of a story. If your interested in the 60 you can look up its build thread here.

 

The babe in brown (aka. UPS man) made a late night delivery. And what a happy night that was, didn't sleep alone I had 112 lbs of forged aluminum to cuddle up next to.

Now it was time to toss these bad bitches on.

 

Oh man that's it. I was really enjoying reading all that. Nice rig and write up.

Do you have any output shots if your light at at night?

 

Black beauty
The morning after the delivery I woke up nice and early to test the fit of the wheels. It was then the moment of truth to drop my truck off with the tire wizards.


Their witchcraft was effective, the truck will forever be changed. No more white walls out, and nice blackness. Momma always told me if black is a choice then there is no choice.
And this is how mall crawlers are made, you really can't beat the look of a clean truck.
Prepare to have your mind fucked by all of its shiny gloriousness.

 

Well stay tuned, there are plenty more shenanigans to come, and heres a night pic not of the greatest quality but you can blame Steve Jobs for that.

 

So remember that asshole shopping cart that attacked my tail light?
Well the bulbs included with the new assembly were garbage, the blinker went out in about 4 months. And it really couldn't have picked a better time to break (sarcasm intended), a nice police officer in Denver reminded me ever so kindly of the need for a $6.74 pair of bulbs with a gloriously muffed up $27.00 Fix it ticket. But this wasn't going to impact my 4th of July weekend hooliganism.