RL's SLOW & Mild '06 Build

Hi all, I just bought an '06 Taco A/C this last week

Every one knows you can't keep it stock so I figured I'd get a build thread going since I have spent WAY too much time lurking on here.
I have a few plans of things I'll do already.

I've only been on this site for about a week and love it, the community is awesome and is a lot more helpful than the others I've been on from my past vehicles, so thanks to everyone for input and advice for my rig!

MY GOAL
Convenience

I want my truck to be able to get to my camping spots, haul my ATV, and tow my future boat around. I spend a lot of time playing; camping/outdoors, fishing, riding so my goal for the truck is to be able to handle some mild offroad obstacles but still behave down the freeway.

How she sits off of the stealership lot

 

MODS LIST


Asthetics
BHLM
De-Badged

Interior
Weather Tech floor mats
Jumpers LED Dome kit
Cluster Swap (White & Blue)
DIY Blacked Headliner
ELECTRONICS/COMMUNICATION
Cobra 29 LX W/ NOAA
EXTERIOR

LIGHTING
Jumpers LED parking lights

WHEELS/TIRES
235/85R16 Goodyear MT/R Kevlar

SUSPENSION
Bilstein at 1.75" Ring (Stock Coils)
ARMOR

RECOVERY
Tow Strap

 

Haven't been able to get a pic snapped yet, but I have my first road/camping/fishing trip w/ it planned for the end of the week!


I want to tackle the interior first.

After the trip, I'll probably start w/ getting a new cd/head unit installed as well as a cb. I'm going to shoot to try to get the single din cd and cb mounted in the dash area on top of one another, we'll see how that goes...

I plan on getting the Cobra 29 LX LCD and a single din Kenwood

I also want to see about getting the newer lower dash/center console pc added that sits below cd/radio player.

 

Well, I got impatient. Plus what's a roadtrip without music?

Goodbye factory head unit



Went w/ a Kenwood-399

 

Took the thing for it's first trip, did
*LOTS of driving
*Fishing
*Camping
*Drove some logging roads

Here's some pics...


Columbia River


First Lake


Blue Mountains, & a Tacoma




Found a Teepee, stopped for a snack


Stopped at this Mud hole and was disgusted w/ the amount of trash so cleaned some of it up, ended up filling the bag up. Still some left but I'll have more bags next time.

 

Sub'd, and +1 for cleaning up some garbage!

 

Well, I have about 2 more pay periods until my buffer is back in my acct from buying this
So no "fun" mods yet...
So I decided to do the "BHLM" today,
I hate chrome and did the same thing to my WRX so somewhat knew what I was doing...

Nasty Chrome


It's nice having a buddy that does body work, so I got to play in the paint booth





A VW resto while I did the headlights...





I made it a point to do the inner covers orange to match the other orange pc underneath the running lights.
I don't know about your guys' but mine were a stale/sunfaded yellow that was hideous...

 

Nicely done!

 

Thanks!

 

Bitch'n

 

Figured I'd give this an update, not much has changed but I did get my credit card paid off for the most part.
So the mods should start just in time for winter!

I got my Jumpers order in and got my dome and parking lights installed, while I was at it I went ahead and yanked the headliner to paint it black.

I am waiting for another shipment that should be here by next week and should have some more updates!

 

Figured I'd update this a bit...
Tossed in a Cobra 29 LX, easy to throw up there and take out when I'm not using it.


Awhile back I snagged some 235/85R16 MT/R's for a decent price


Drove around on them for awhile.







Including Funny Rocks w/ my buddies




Still have a few parts I have to install...

 

The truck is finally coming along!

For now I wanted to get rid of the rake and ended up tossing on some Bilstein 5100 fronts on stock coils on the 3rd notch. I ended up netting 2" and is now sitting almost level. The front is sitting 1/4" higher than rear. Just got an alignment and ditched the sway bar in the process. This will do for now, and hopefully won't get me hung up as easily in the snow.

Also met up w/ a guy off craigslist who is on the expeditionportal forum for a sweet upgrade for the rig...
More photos once everything is buttoned up.

 

Finally tackled this, was my first time soldering. It was scary. Everything still works. I am having an issue w/ the RPM needle, sitting low, wil go back and fix it

If you haven't seen them...




Got my switches in, still am working on wiring, lights and fusebox!