SliMbo's Build: find and continue on

So like a number of folks I've been thinking about doing this for awhile but just haven't done it till now. Seeing as how this truck had a previous owner who definitely took it to the trails I thought this would help track what I've done and what I've found from the previous owner(as I dive deeper into this adventure I'm sure I'll find more).
I picked up this truck as seen just below in December 2015. I had been looking around for a bit seeing what was on the market for what I could afford and still get out to camp with and have a 4WD winter vehicle(I try to not use my lowered VW as a snow plow too much). And then I came across this Taco.

So of course not long after having it the mod bug got me again.
Firstly, I debadged the tailgate.
Resprayed the chipped up grill and leading edge of hood(hidden by the bug deflector)

Next I did my version of the Raptor lights(tied them into my parking lights, now running amber parking bulbs)

Then got some new TRD decals from RuggedT

Got a backseat organizer since I think the previous owner might have had the molle plate mounted at some point.
>>> I actually ended up going a molle panel and ditched the organizer. lol

Just recently I prepped and resprayed the front bumper to help move forward with my LED light bar install which just got new tabs welded on. I also put in my blacked-out headlights.

The latest upgrade/mod was the Off-Grid Engineering battery setup with power plugs in the bed.

I've also installed a CB a little while back but don't have any pics(just mounted the antenna out of the tailgate and the unit in the passenger footwell). It's just another thing the previous owner had ripped out.
A few things they managed to leave in the truck are the gauge pods on the column(trans temp & voltmeter that had a switch for dual battery), a spacer lift to the driver seat(maybe the previous owner was a little person ), an ABS kill switch(haven't really tested it with a brake stomp, yet), and this little map light thingy that's mounted just above the HVAC controls. Oh and a bunch of half-assed wiring. They certainly were not concerned with being neat when they wired.

Upcoming install teaser...


Thanks for taking a look and I'll be back from time to time with mod install pics or other info I find as I go adventure down this wonderful world of Taco

 

Some update pics of the lights that I installed

and some comparison shots
just headlights

headlights and foglights

headlights and LED bar
(bright spot in the distance is a speed limit sign[center screen])


I have an amber lens for the LED bar but twice CaliRaised sent me the wrong bar. First the wrong color and length, the second time the color correct but still the wrong length. Oh well, I feel the little magnets they give you to hold the lens on won't hold up anyways on trail rides. I guess we'll find out soon enough this summer.

Update: ditched the crappy CaliRaised lense that would just fall off on any dirt road and picked up a couple of cheap lenses that wrap around the whole face of the light bar

 

Well, it's been just over three years since I posted to my build thread I guess I should probably update this a bit. Following are some random pics that kind of show some of the progression.

 

I ran the Frontrunner roof rack with an awning for probably only a couple seasons before removing it and the bed cap in preparation for bigger plans.

I had also changed out the fog lights for some SAE Rigid ambers.

Once the roof rack and bed cap came off I sold the trailer I had been using and got the BP51 resi with the HD leaf pack installed.

 

The next thing to come was the BruteForce HC dual swingout rear, along with updating to LED taillights. I also added a water pump kit to the driver side bed cubby and mounted some quick disconnects to the bumper. Shortly after those were squared away I got the SCS F5s mounted up.

 

In preparation for the future plans I took off these one-off hangers that the previous owner had put on with a Jeep shackle and bolted up the beefy BAMF hangers with HD shackles.

 

Now that I felt the truck was at much more suitable position to take on the next major piece of the build puzzle, I put in my order for a Vagabond Drifter... and the wait began. It was an agonizing wait but sooooo worth it.

 

Now that we're caught up.... the next upgrade coming in a few weeks will be Stoptech slotted rotors, upgraded pads and ss brake lines to help bring this extra weight to a stop.

 

Nice Rig! Where did you source your Rear Tailights?

 

Thanks. Here's a link to the manufacturer on Ebay...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/133502822159

 

I finally got the brake upgrade done... well partially. I had intended on also adding SS lines to the rear also but decided to wait on those till I swap to a more adequate leaf pack(at a later time).


Had a little trouble with getting the connections apart so the improvisation started. So you know what that means... cutting

All back together

 

I wanted a Drifter.. but with covid, they have a 15+ month lead time. So I decided to wait for a while. Ill be ok with my RTT

 

Tell me about it. I was supposed to take delivery in April, then the 'rona hit, everything got shut down and I had to wait another couple months before I could drive out to get it(even though it was just sitting there finished).

 

now that youve had your Drifter for a while, how do you like the color match?

We almost have the same truck, but I have some more white than you. Ive placed an order for a GFC, but Im thinking of getting grey or black panels to minimize the white

 

It wasn't considered color-matched when I bought it but it's pretty darn close. Would probably be closer if I were to actually wax/buff the paint up a bit.

Cool, congrats. Honestly I don't think you can go wrong with either color. Is the top of the GFC a dark color or bare metal? That might break up the white enough.

 

The roof is an opaque that lets light in. The extrusion part is anodized black

 

oh ok. The extrusion is the part I was thinking of.

 

Since Ive put my deposit in, they redesigned the GFC. So now I am choosing a black color and orange fabric

 

Right on. I think the orange will look pretty good.

 

Recent update...Alcan custom springs finally installed with new bump stops and a u-bolt flip.