TacoRated's Inglorious Build and BS Thread

How did I get here? Who are you? Get off my lawn!

So here's the back story. I used to own a beautiful black 2005 Tundra Access Cab TRD OR. I started dating my wife and we fell in love and decided to get married. I think I had her hooked when on the 2nd date she found out I drove a pickup. Fast forward a few years and the kids start to make their appearances...1, 2, then 3 is on the way.

So I did what any young dad would do (right?). I traded in my low mileage, pristine, Tundra for a AWD Sienna just as kid #3 (GIRL #3 that is...) was about ready to arrive. My wife got the Sienna and I drove her Hyundai...

Fast forward 2 more years and while driving the family to church every Sunday I passed a dealership with a used 2015 TRD OR Tacoma. And I started...well...desiring for a pickup again. Ok. Really desiring.

So my wife, out of pity I think for being in a house of 4 girls, said we could get a truck. I just had to bring it up every Sunday morning, twice (once going and once coming back). But hey, in my mind I got a blank check to buy a truck. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Truck Info
Year: 2016
Cab: Double Cab
Bed: Short Bed
Specials: TRD OR A/T, Towing, JBL Premium Tech, etc.
Hecho en Mexico

Current Mods

• High-speed, noise cancelling duct tape on the LCAs.
• Redline Tuning Hood Struts
• OEM TRD Pro Grille (took the braces off)
• Hefty Fabworks bolt on rock sliders
• Deaver add-a-leaf from Craig's List
• Icon VS 2.5 RR CDCV Coilovers
• Icon VS 2.5 RR CDCV Shocks
• Icon Delta Joint Tubular UCAs
• Cali Raised LED bed channel stiffeners
• Wheeler's Front Bumps
• N2 Remote start
• Cab mount chop (Total Chaos plates) and various trimming
  
• Wheels/tires: Toyota 4 Runner Trail Edition Wheels with 285/70/17 Duratracs

Parts in House

• U-bolt Flip
• Timbren rear Bumps
• ECGS 8" Clamshell Bushing
• AC drain mod Parts
• Rear diff breather relocation parts
• Cali Raised ditch light brackets with amber spots

Parts on Order

• This area appears to be blank. Did you forget something?

Future / Specifics Undecided / It's like crack... (order of priority)

• Air
• Skids
• CB Radio

Trips

• Rainbow Falls OHV 5/4/2019

As it sits today...





Older Pictures...

 

Here's a better picture of it in my brother in law's shop.

 

First modification was to install Redline Tuning hood struts. Why it didn't come with this is beyond me. My 2005 Tundra came with them...

 

May 2016 included a trifold cover and a bike rack... Exciting.




In August the local guys over at Hefty Fabworks installed their rock sliders:

 

Here are some crappy pictures of a OEM Pro grille being installed. It probably wasn't worth the money, but oh well. Less chrome is a good thing.

 

Operation Suspension Overhaul commenced with picking up an add a leaf from CL.

 

The UPS man giveth! Here's the first shipment for Operation Suspension Overhaul. Thanks @Wheeler's Off-Road Inc for helping me out. Can't wait to get this stuff installed!



These are Icon Rear 2.5" VS RR CDCVs. The fronts are on back order.

 

Operation Suspension Overhaul continues with this arrival from Wheeler’s and Icon.

 

​

 

And here’s the delta joint UCAs. I know the jury is still out on how well these work. My hope is that I can get near uniball behavior with less squeaking and maintenance headaches because of our Colorado winters. We’ll see what happens.

 

My life is now complete!

 

looking good so far!

​

 

Took the Taco over to a friend's house to have to install done. Didn't run into any major issues, only difficult part was the removal of the passenger side UCA through bolt. The resulting ride is really nice. It almost has a stock feel to it w/ just a little bit of rocking back and forth when you load some tension in a forceful stop. More install and before/after pictures to come. I want to give a shout out to @Wheeler's Off-Road Inc for helping me out with the parts. Their customer service is top notch. They answered all my questions and were very patient with me. Thanks a lot guys, I really appreciate it.

 

Post install flexing.

 

So I gave up on the Rago bed stiffeners. Not sure if I was sent ones for a earlier generation or not, but they clearly would not fit. I ordered some replacements from Cali Raised LED and installed them today.

Here's the one from Cali Raised.

Here's a comparison shot between the Rago and Cali Raised versions. Cali is on the left and Rago is on the right.


This is the gap between the Rago and my bed side. Additionally the hole for the d ring bolt wasn't big enough which caused the bolt not to be able to fit all the way into the bed.

 

Looks great!

 

More cool stuff waiting to be installed from @Wheeler's Off-Road Inc !

 

It’s fall in Colorado! This is near the west side of Pike’s Peak a few weekends ago.

 

The ubolt flip plates are primed and painted. The bump stops have been mounted as well. Just waiting for a clean garage and decent weather.