The Dog's Spruce It Up Build (and BS)

Just a build thread for me to keep track of how things are slowly progressing. Enjoy.





The evening I drove it home around June 29th / 2015.

Current pic for comparison:



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So leading up to getting this truck I had taken a few other Taco's out for test drives. A test drove couple of 2007-2008's, a 2010 and then also looked at a new 2015 but they didn't have the color I wanted (Pyrite Mica). While sitting down with the salesman I was unimpressed with their lack of negotiation on the price (basically $500 off MSRP almost a year after the 2015's had been introduced - ie. 2016's were right around the corner), numbers constantly changing every time he went back to talk to the sales manager (interest rates & terms) and finally after waiting for him for nearly an hour after going to chat with his manager, I finally just walked out because I was so pissed off by this point. The Taco's I test drove were a mix of manuals and automatics but all OR packages. I really like the manual having had a mix of manual and automatic vehicles for the last 20 years but driving down to Seattle and getting stuck in stop and go traffic on I-5 fairly frequently I decided I didn't want the annoyance of constantly shifting.

I was also originally looking at an access cab but now that I have the double cab, I absolutely wouldn't have it any other way.

In the end I was driving by the local Honda dealership when I saw this 2013 Spruce Mica DCSB sitting on the lot. I can't say that I've seen too many Spruce's around and it's pretty cool how it looks like an olive drab green on overcast days but then glows on sunny days. I sat down with the sales agent and had probably the most enjoyable car buying experience I've ever had. The dealer was willing to negotiate on the price and I walked out of there within 2.5 hours with the truck.

Mileage on the truck was around 23,000 miles when I drove it home.


Summary of Mods to Date:

Model: 2013 DCSB TRD OR Spruce Mica (The Spruce It Up Build)

Exterior:
Leer Black Sand Pearl 100XL----> SOLD
RokBlokz Front/Rear Short, Regular Width Mud Flaps
BAMF IFS Skid
BAMF Mid Skid
BAMF Transfer Case Skid
BAMF LCA Skids
BAMF Bolt-On Sliders w/ Kickout
BAMF Low Profile Bed Rack
BAMF Behind-The-Grill-Light Bar Mount
All-Pro Offroad Dual Swingout Rear Bumper
3 x 1.75 gallon Rotopax
Trasharoo
Tacoma Bed Mat
Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac 265 75R16 C-load
SaBellCo Tailgate Theft Deterrent
Stealth Custom Series F5 Gunmetal 16x8 4.5/0
Gear Tech Customs One-Piece Fender Aprons

Suspension:
Toyota 2015 TRD Pro Bilstein 6112 / ADS 2.5" Resi shocks w/ adjuster (Deleted - 5160 Shock Set)
Icon RXT Leaf Pack @ 3rd setting (all leaves installed)
Total Chaos Uniball UCA.
Archive Garage Hammer Hangers, Cross-Bar & Shackles - To be installed

Interior:
WeatherTech Custom Fit Floor Liners
CalTrend Neosupreme Seat Covers
Neosupreme Console Cover
Ultragauge MX 1.3
Switch-Pros 8100

Misc.:
Mean Mother Shovel
Crazy Beaver Shovel
Deadman Offroad Anchor
Maxtrax Traction Boards
48" Hi-Lift Extreme
DIY Bed Rail Mounts for Recovery Gear
Adanfon Hi-Lift Adapter & Expanded Base
ARB Twin Air Compressor - mounted in cubby behind rear seat
Staun Tire Deflators
Powertank Digital Pressure Gauge

To do: Plate bumpers & suspension

Note to self: http://www.customtacos.com/tech.old/files/05FSM/repair.html

Misc. Part #'s:

Oil Filter: 90915-YZZD1
Air Filter: 17801-0C040
Cabin Filter: 87139-YZZ09

Inboard CV Dust Shield: 41336-01010

Maintenance Light Reset:

The system must be reset after the engine oil replacement. Reset the system by the following procedure:

1. Turn the ignition key to the "OFF" position with the odometer reading shown (For details, see "Odometer and two trip meters" on page 143 in this Section.) (Note 2: 2011 + models require using the TRIP A reading)
2. Turn the ignition key to the "ON" position while holding down the trip meter knob.

Hold the knob for at least 5 seconds. The odometer indicates "000000" and the light goes off.

 

First couple of changes to happen after I got the truck were:

1. WeatherTech Digital Fit Floor liners front and rear

2. CalTrend Neosupreme custom fit seat covers (wanted to get Wet Okoles but couldn't justify the price at the time -- maybe once I've worn out these)

3. N-Fab textured steps w/ 3" main tube (look nicer than the 2" IMHO)



Here is one of the few pics I have of the truck in bright sun...looks totally different than the overcast pics.

 

So in an effort to keep the dog hair at a minimum, I decided I needed to get a cap for the truck. I looked at new SnugTops and Leers and went back and forth about spending $2200+ for a color matched brand new cap and ended up going with a $800 Craigslist Leer in Black Sand Pearl (I think). It doesn't look too bad. I was planning on getting it color matched but as someone else on here mentioned, if I ever decide to take it off, it'll be much easier selling a black cap (goes with everything) instead of a spruce mica cap.

 

Changing out the stock tires was the next item on the list. After a lot of research and not wanting to run E-rated tires to preserve some fuel economy, I settled on Wrangler Duratrac's in 265 75 R16, C-Load.....great tire, smooth ride, only a little hum on the highway and great traction

 

I have since removed the flimsy stamped 1/16" steel stock TRD "skid plate" (read: wet kleenex if it would've actually skidded against anything) and put on a BAMF IFS skid.

The BAMF IFS is 1/4" steel & probably weighs around 70-80lbs. This is an actual "skid" plate unlike the tin foil that I took off the truck.




So after having my N-Fab steps on for 9 months and wanting something a little more useful (ie. more door ding protection & ability to actually Hi-Lift off them) I bit the bullet and bought a set of BAMF sliders which are currently getting powder coated.




Test fit to see if any holes had to be enlarged a bit. The bottom hole for the crossmember bolt had to be enlarged a few mm's more to line up with the bolt hole on the frame (which is re-used) for mounting.

 

Pic of the truck after a bath with the N-Fab steps removed and up for sale -- it looks so naked without anything on the side.....can't wait for the sliders to be finished at the powder coaters. After having looked at getting them Line-X'd, just doing a rattle can job myself or powder coated and for my intended use I opted for powder coating with a marine grade primer under the powder coat which will keep rust from spreading between touchups.

 

Sold the steps this weekend and got my BAMF sliders w/ kickout installed. They look great and are rock solid. Fellow Tacomaworld member @travis.diller suggested using a low transmission jack from harbor freight to help out. I can't believe I haven't purchased this thing long ago....big thanks for the great tip!!! Marine grade primer & textured black powder coat courtesy of Skagit Powder Coating -- they did an awesome job on these!

 

Good start! German Shepherds are the best to have around and protect the truck missing mine everyday!

 

Ordered one of @scleaf 's tail gate security deterrents. Nice little product that is more aesthetically appealing than the hose clamp mod.

 

Two things:

1. Love that Spruce Mica, that or Pyrite Mica are the only colors I would have preferred over the black I bought.

2. That's a great looking dog.

 

Yep, truck looks great, pup too.

 

Took a couple of pics of her today.

 

Sweet truck. I grew up in Mt.Vernon, class of '95.

 

Cool. I'm a transplant myself....great area, love Skagit and the surrounding areas.

 

Welcome to the Spruce Club, the truck looks great!

 

nice truck what wheels are those?

 

Tires are 265 75r16 Duratracs in C flavor. Sometime in June I'll hopefully be replacing the stock off-road alloys with Stealth Custom Series F5's in gunmetal.

 

.....and without further ado, here are the F5's in Matte Gunmetal 16x8 4.5"/0.....











Poke you can expect with 265 75R16 Duratrac's. To be honest I wouldn't mind the look if it was even slightly pokier (maybe a 4" BS) but nonetheless I'm thrilled with these wheels.

Now that I have some clearance with the UCA's, suspension work can begin if I don't buy a rear plate bumper first (lookin' at you All-Pro dual swing out....)

 

Beautiful truck and dog man. Love that spruce mica and you are off to a solid start with the mods. Great pictures as well. If you ever decide to get rid of that leer I can help you out.

 

Thanks!! I'll keep you in mind if I decide to part with the cap at some point. Been throwing around the idea of a bed rack & RTT but then I'll have to deal with TONS of dog hair in the cab .....