VTTaco97 2018 Double Cab Long Bed OffRoad Build Thread

Haha, you should know! Thanks man, these are sooooo much better than the method caps!

 

What gears did you go with for the oversized 285s?

 

4.88

 

Right after I installed the new wheels and tires, I got the TRD Pro grille. I ordered it from Amazon here:

$283 Toyota Genuine Parts - TRD Pro Grill Tacoma (PT228-35170)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NGTBOKM

You can also get it from any Toyota parts department, the part number is PT228-35170.

I also got the garnish for the TSS sensor, ordered it from ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/282982249688

This thread by sliderule01 was very helpful:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2018-trd-pro-grille-w-tss-p-radar-info-diy.530769/

There are also plenty of videos on youtube showing the installation process.

The main thing I would add to the install process is to be very careful when installing the grille into the housing. Set it on a piece of cardboard, a large towel, or a blanket. I did mine on a workbench that had a bit of dirt on it and managed to put a scratch in it when it twisted around and kind of ground the peice of dirt into the face of the grille. Nothing too horrible, but annoying to get a scratch on it before it's even on the truck.

Otherwise, the installation is pretty simple, and it looks great. A lot of people complain about the "cheese grater" look of the stock grille, but the thing I notice the most about the pro grille is how it protrudes forward, whereas the stock one has a bit of a concave look. The pro grille really makes the front end look a lot beefier.

Here is the before/after shot:

 

Here are a few more pics of the pro grille. Note that the garnish didn't come until two days after the grille, that's why some photos have it and some don't.

 

I'll combine the review of my next two mods because they are interelated, the 4.88 gears and the OVTune.

I bought the OVTune (aka, Mat Wilson) first:
https://www.ovtuned.com/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2016-toyota-tacoma-v6-ecu-tuning-alpha-release.495735

The reasons I bought this were to improve throttle response (the factory pedal is too mushy for my taste), get a bit more power, and mainly to fix the shift patterns. The factory transmission computer (TCU) was borderline insane to start with, and adding the 33 inch tires pushed it over the cliff. I live in the mountains of southwest VA, so my experience is undoubtably worse than what you might see in flat country, but probably not much. Even on perfectly flat stretches of road, at 60mph it would constantly do the 4-5 dance, shifting from 5th to 4th whenever the slightest headwind came up. There were lots of other annoyances in the TCU, if you have an automatic, you already know all about them. If not, you can read all about them in the thread linked above.

When I got the tune in November 2018, it was on version 1.04. This was a huge improvement in the shifting, and added noticeable power in certain areas of the rpm range, plus it definitely perked up the throttle response, especially in ECT mode. However, the 33s were just too much for the tune to overcome, not Mat's fault, just the physics of adding larger, heavier tires. At least, that was my opinion, some guys may be perfectly happy with this setup.

To solve the power problem, I got 4.88 gears from Yukon installed:
https://www.yukongear.com/

I had them installed at Virginia Driveline and Differential in Wytheville, VA:
https://virginiadriveline.wordpress.com/

I paid $2500, that includes new master bearing kits and the Yukon "extended service" plan, plus they did a free checkup and gear oil change at the 500 mile break-in. I also got a quote for Nitro gears from East Cost Gear Supply in Raleigh NC, they were slightly less at $2300, but it would have been a 4 hour drive for me (one-way).

At that point, I was still on version 1.04 of the tune. The gears made a huge difference. At 55 it would hold 6th most of the time. Interstate driving at 65 to 75, it only had to downshift to 5th on steep grades. My main issue with that setup was that 1.04 was very aggressive with the shift executions, both up and down. During acceleration, it lunged forward each time it shifted up, and downshifts from 5th to 4th were pretty harsh.

Right after Christmas, Mat released version 1.05 of the tune (for auto transmissions anyway). This version focused on fixing the remaining quirks in the TCU, as well as some engine tuning updates. With the 4.88s and 33s, it feels "right" now, no lack of power at any speed, smooth shifts all the way around. Interstate driving is a breeze, and it cruises around town at 35 mph with no effort at all, getting great mileage. The only complaint I have is the cruise control is still not right, it downshifts when it doesn't really need to, sometimes even to 4th on steep grades at 70mph. How do I know it doesn't need to? I can run the exact same stretch of road without cruise and accelerate up that grade with no downshifting. But overall very pleased with this version 1.05.

I don't have any cool pics of the gears because the shop ordered them directly and I dropped off the truck the day before they arrived. This is the best I have:

 

Some of you have probably noticed the horribly clashing license plate holder. It took me a while, but finally found one that better compliments the color of the truck. I don't have a great close up of it, but here is a shot with it installed.

The story behind this pic is that I gave my co-worker (the Miata owner) a ride one day. He commented on how "big" the truck was, what he meant was that he had to make liberal use of the "oh s&%t" handle to get in. He also remarked that his car probably wouldn't quite fit under the truck, but it would be close. So we lined them up to check the fitment.

 

A couple more shots from back in the fall. Other than the license plate holder, and non-visual mods like the gears and tune update, this is how it currently sits.

 

Following, I've the same truck just a Sport. No LB OR in Canada. Love your truck! That miata is sooo dirty

 

Nice build where are you in Va.? The VT got my attention my youngest just graduated from there.

 

Haha, yeah the dirt is the only thing providing a protective layer over the paint. He's planning to get it repainted this summer.

 

Thanks Chris, yours looks a lot more capable than mine, love the shift knob! I'm in Montgomery county, about 15 minutes from Tech.

 

Pretty area down there. Daughter graduated in December but is still living down there working in one of the labs. She said they had an explosion in one Friday and fire trucks from all over showed up.
She’s living in Blacksburg but moving out when her boyfriend graduates in the Spring. Cool build Bud keep it up