tacoma build questions

I am in the process of getting the build and budget together for a 1st gen.

I am going to do the basics all at once. Then I can add on as I go.

8-10 yrs ago when I was slow building my first tacoma , I just used OME. I didnt know of anything else.

The truck will be my DD and expo rig. My adventures are all over the west, it will see mud, snow , sand, desert and mountains. I like to keep my rigs, alittle more classic, 1.5-2" of lift is fine for me and keeping some rake. I am not looking for a rock crawler. It will see a ton of HWY miles on its way to trails.

Here is where I am:

Arb front bumper
8000 lbs synthetic line winch

Front Suspension:
OME
Should I go 882 or 883 coil?

Icon
Seems the standard coil over would be sufficient. Then just the standard Aluminum rear.

Control Arms
Spc never used them, what is the generally opinion for 1st gen's?

Leaf Pack
When I am out I will use a roof top tent and then its just the basic gear in the back.

MY DD, its stays pretty light (0-100lbs) and I will most likely just be running a soft topper.
I am a landscape designer, but its rare that I am actually loading up the bed. Maybe a few times a year I end up with a bunch of dirt, rock, tree's back there.

should I just use the Dakar rear leaf or go with All pro, Deaver (wheelers sells an 8 pack from them).

Wheels & Tires:
I love of the look of steelies. Might just go that route, but I do wonder about the weight with an E rated tire.

I am usually a cooper guy.
My last truck came with the new Dick Cepek and I really liked them. I was looking into the tires and the new trail country exp. 265/75/16 are actually 31.9 tall (bascially a 32) and 10.1 wide. (pizza cutter territory) Seems like a great tire for the truck + they have a great price on them.

Thanks for the help.

 

I'm going with the assumption that since you've had a Tacoma for awhile and you understand what it's capable of right out the box.

With that being said, I'll add a little comment on the suspension part -

Icon's are digressive shocks, like Bilsteins

Fox and Kings are progressive shocks.

With that being said, in general, Fox and King will feel a bit smoother while on road. Throwing that out there since you mentioned your Tacoma also being a DD.

I keep my truck pretty light as well, have OME Dakar's in the rear, and actually run cookie cutters (235/85/16). I don't have an RTT but will be getting one within a week or 2 so I can snap some shots of how the whole thing sits. As for my Fox, they were a huge improvement over shock in the way the truck drives over bad roads, and the Dakar's really like to flex.

 

Thanks for the info.

I have had two 1st gen's in the past. I am currently negotiating on one right now. I want to have the build factored in to my total price.

You are right about what these trucks are capable of stock, especially with a winch and the factory locker. I like having the winch and bumper, even if I only use the winch a handful of times a year.

I have some pretty fun trips planned for this fall, and i have feeling a that winch and the lift are going to come in handy.


I should look into fox and king. For some reason I always just think they are too expensive and more for running at high speeds through the desert. I will give them a look.
Thanks for the thumbs up on the Dakar's.
I just am not into the cali-sag look. I would hate to have 300-500lbs with the tent heading out and my truck have that look. I actually think the factory rake looks good, so I try and get close to it with the lift.

 

Go with 883, you’ll need all the pounds. I have a plate front bumper, winch, IFS and Trans skid plates.

I use the SPC UCA and haven’t had a problem with them. I’m also using the Dakar leaf pack and with my soft topper, full size spare, camping/recovery gear it, and it gets the job done. My bed actually sits level with the front once I have it all loaded up.

Wheelers has a complete OME suspension kit and I highly recommend them.

 

I have always used OME on my older Toyotas and they have not done me wrong. Thanks for the advice on the 883 and the SPC UCA.

I spoke with a guy at the closest off-road place to me today and he was really trying to sell me on the Icons. The price is roughly almost 1400 more for the Icons. I am not sure it is worth it.
Also now that I am living in Ca mostly full time and dont have access to my buddies shop, I have to pay for the install work.
I live basically on the Ventura/SB border. If anybody knows of a good shop or has a home setup to do the work , let me know. The shop I spoke with today is called alpha offroad.
Thanks

 

Not saying those Icons don’t have their place but it seems most people just get them for show or bragging rights. I rather spend the extra $1400 for other things. Maybe look for someone local that does mod days at their house?

I would compare prices with Wheelersoffroad to see if you could get them for cheaper.

 

In the past I have always ordered from Wheelers or cruiser outfitters. Those guys are the best.
That’s why I threw that out there about if somebody knows of a shop or a home shop, I would prefer to do it that way.
I agree that icon makes a excellent product, but at the same time I am not sure that I exactly need that.

 

Just some food for thought on winches.

I would take a 2nd look at your winch. If you're going to be building this thing up for off-roading and "overlanding" type stuff with sliders, heavy bumpers, skids, racks, tents and other junk, I would suggest getting a 10k winch. They aren't that much more expensive, and the extra capacity will mean the winch isn't working as hard to pull you out.

No one has ever complained that their winch is too powerful, but certainly people have gotten winches not powerful enough...

When I was in the market for a winch, I went back and forth on Smittybilt, Warn, 8k, 10k, etc... I eventually settled on a 10k Warn with a steel line. The weight savings for the rope, as a % of the truck is tiny, and steel lines are still safe if properly used (anything is unsafe if misused). I also won't likely be using it a ton, so I want to be able to forget about it and use it when needed, perhaps several years down the road (or trail). Synth lines break down over time and need to be replaced, even if never used...

 

Simple answer: Quality. So yes, they are better and gives you more balls for bragging rights.

OP, do what you want with your money and truck. Many people put armors or have OAF truck with RTT, rack, and snorkel and never see a dirt road in their life. Most guys built for show, not trail. LMFAO

 

I guess if you need help in that department to compensate

 

Let me ask you this, do you really need everything you install in your truck or is it for bragging rights and show?

 

Lemme ask you this, why are you getting offensive trying to backup your claims on ICON when no one was talking bad about them in the first place?

 

Nope. You mention bragging right and for show for spending the extra $$. I'm just saying people can do what they want.

 

And I agree Enjoy your truck and whatever you decide to do to it.

 

did someone say FOX W/DSC, I had ome for about 3 years, nothing wrong with them. You would have the ability to rebuild and revalve the shocks to your spec

 

I agree that alot of people build trucks and just use them for show especially in CA. Its like overland equipment is the new gold rims ha ha

I am not that guy, that'swhy I was wondering about the Icons, I like the rebuildable aspect. On my FJ60, and 2 other tacoma's, I have had OME. It has carried me deep into baja, and all over the west. I dont rock crawl. I dont want to drive 60 through sand dunes with this build. I am not knocking that sort of stuff,If that was what I wanted to do, I would be looking at different truck's as the platform.

I put this post up just to hear and see what others are using and how its going for them.

Also alot of the shops in CA seem to push Icon, and more the desert race look. I am just not into that.

 

You must be talking about my neighbor, lol. He drives a first gen Tacoma with rtt/bedrack, roof rack, snorkel, hi lift mounted on the rear bumper with swingout and drop down table, jerry cans, shinny wheels with bigger tires, armor. You name, it probably have it. Yes, light bar too. And when I ask him how often he overland/offroad or use his rtt, he said "so fast once this year" All that dead weight for a DD but stated everywhere he go, people comment "how nice it look" His truck is so shinny, not even a scratch on it, makes mine look like a POS. Haha

 

I work with that guy too.

 

D@mn. What a small world, lol

 

Plate bumper is going to weigh a little more that my tube bumper with OME 881/nitrochargers. But I also have a warn m8000, front and mid skids. Its about as good as a balance I can expect.

It's a mid tier setup, nothing fancy. I think 882's would be way to stiff.

Also, I can't justify putting kings, icons or any true, adjustable coilover on a my prerunner.