The Casper Chronicles

This is how it looks today... still have a long list of improvements but we're off to a good start.

There's always something to do... and if you read these forums for very long you'll find something your truck can't live without.. many somethings... lol

 

Here's what it looked like the day I bought it... got it in Sept of 2015, a used 2015 model with 12K on the odometer...
Base SR5, w/tow package

 

My test drive consisted of driving to the house to see if it would fit in the garage. My HOA charges $100 mo to park if it don't fit. It fit. I don't think a long bed would...

 

This is why I bought Casper... It was a rough ride...


She was a cherry 2004 TRD Prerunner that I picked up in Tampa w/24K on the odometer... The guy that owned it built show vehicles and it was immaculate. was... until the dodge ram...

 

My journey with Toyota trucks began in 1984 when I bought this one off the showroom floor of Desert Toyota in Tucson...


Her name was Sandy... she made many trips to Puerto Penasco...

Moved to DFW and it was stolen 6 months before it was paid off...

 

Nice truck.

HOAs are Satan.

 

Thanks! Yes, HOAs can suck... bad... my next home won't have one.

 

My first mod was to take it to my trusted auto shop to get the tires fixed. White letters in, black walls out. $85 well worth the cost for my OCD

Alignment, wiper blades... some maintenance stuff.

 

Second mod in Oct 2015 was to take it to car-toys and get an alarm installed. $730.00

The alarm still works great.. remote start is awesome... had to change the batteries in the remotes a couple of times in the past 8 years.. the blinking blue light in the windshield is a deterrent... and that gives me some comfort. Let's face it... if they really want it they will get it. It's insured and at the end of the day it's just a thing. I'd surely miss it.. but it wouldn't be the end of my world

One thing about the installation... I was not happy.. and I had to take it back to get them to correct some issues.. almost lost the hood on the freeway on my way to Dallas. one of the sensor wires they installed was restricting the free movement of the hood release cable and the hood wouldn't lock properly... yeah... no bueno. Generally not happy with how the alarm was connected into the wiring harness. It looks like crap.. My OCD freaks out when I look at it. so I don't. It has lasted 8 years...

 

A few days later the wife and I were talking about driving to ABQ to visit our daughter... and said "you should get a camper shell for casper" or something like that. So I did..
Found one in Haltom City the dealer had and wanted to get rid of... Tacoma short bed in super white. So we made a deal. $1800
The super white paint on the topper has clear coat so it doesn't exactly match the truck, which doesn't have a clear coat. You can see it in the pic. My OCD has learned to ignore it.... mostly. Lately I've been thinking about wrapping it in a carbon fiber or matte black. It has a grey indoor/outdoor carpet like lining on the inside and 3 sliding windows.

At the same time I also got a pop & lock, lockable tailgate handle that accommodates the rear camera.. $100

 

Soon thereafter I ordered a Bedrug and some Tuffy lockable storage boxes. It was a bitch getting the storage box screws to tighten down... a little persuasion from the rubber mallet helped. This bedrug is awesome! Knee saver! Indestructable - I've spilled battery acid on it... the only real damage to it are from the sparks of a cutoff wheel melted an edge near the top of the tailgate where I was cutting some metal. cleans easy.

 

Added black lug nuts and black Gorilla lock nuts.. $90

 

Had to fix the stereo next... the stock stereo sucks to put it mildly... I just want to be able to drive down the freeway at 75 mph with all the windows down and still be able to rock out with my favorite tunes. After some research I decided to go the OEM Audio route. I liked the tuned for double cab soundstage and the plug and play nature of the install.. had to tweak the shelf with a dremel behind the back seat for the sub, but other than that it was truly plug and play. The OEM speaker magnets were... almost non-existent.

The sound is amazing... at least to these older, loud rock and roll concert damaged ears... I can drive down the freeway at 75 mph with all the windows down and still be able to rock out. I do have plans to add sound deadening to the cab but haven't pulled the trigger yet. Maybe this summer...

 

Dashmat - took my time on the installation... I think it turned out nice.
Katskinz - got a killer deal on ebay... less than $500 then $350 to install - would highly recommend

 

So.... I've I've decided to turn Casper into a tow vehicle. Based on Casper's specs I should be able to reliably tow a smaller travel trailer in the 4000#-5000# GRWR range.. GCWR </=10000#. Lot's of decent campers, 4 season one's, in that capacity range. But to do this reliably there's some things I'd like to improve on the truck before I actually pull the trigger on a camper. Things like a radiator upgrade, much larger transmission cooler, stable suspension, and brakes...

I just did the Lexus/4R rotor, caliper, backing plate and braided stainless hose upgrade. I ended up painting the calipers black for that enhanced Casper look.. lol. I really wasn't expecting any major improvement in stopping power.. The calipers are the same but with longer mounting tabs, so no increase in fluid volume... larger/thicker rotors dissipate more heat and that's really the improvement. Now I'm acquiring the parts for the Tundra booster/MC upgrade.. from what I've read there is a ton of improvement w/the dual diaphragm booster... especially for braking while towing.

 

June 2019 I got new TRD Headlights and the ultimate headlight upgrade.. what a difference! I can now see the headlight in front of me! before I always felt like I was outdriving my headlights... now it's not the case at all. Worth every penny!

 

Gasshole

 

Tailgate anti theft locking ring
Rear view mirror riser... I can't remember where I got it but it was a massive improvement in windshield visibility. Highly recommended!

 

I wanted to add some Matt Gecko bed LEDs as well as a hood LED so I needed a way to easily add electrical circuits, both switched and unswitched... so I ordered a Painless weatherproof 7 circuit fuse block... 7 fuses, behind a circuit breaker and relay... I had to figure out a way to mount it so I put it on top of the engine fuse cover and cut up some old altoids can to provide support underneath the cover so the screws won't pull through.. ghetto I know.. but it get's better. I got a distribution block for the 7 circuits and mounted it to some wood I had laying around and bolted it to the inside fender. simple and works great!

 

LEDs installed...