TrooperDC4x4's 2017 Build

Back in '95 I bought my first Toyota, a '95.5 Gen 1 Tacoma RC 4 cylinder 4x4. When I first saw the Tacoma I knew it was the truck for me. It was a nice starter truck but I outgrew it pretty fast, so I traded it in for a new Tacoma extra cab V6 4x4 in '98. That truck lasted me until '07 When my wife and I had our first child and needed something with more room. So as payment for helping build my house I gave that truck to my dad. He is still driving it today with 240K miles on it.



That was when the new full size Tundra appeared on the seen and once again I new the truck I wanted. The test drive sold me, the 5.7L was a beast. So I bought a new '07 SR5 DC 4x4 with the new 5.7L engine.
That was a great truck for 11 years, until last November, someone made a left hand turn in front of me going the opposite direction on a highway with a 50 MPH speed limit. The truck was totaled, 104K miles and still ran great.





That lead me here and to my 2017 BBP TRD Off Road 4x4 DC. Hopefully this Toyota will last as long as my previous two and this forum doesn't cost me to much in mods.
As Purchased with 12,400 miles on the Odometer.

 

As seen in the pics above I had a full lumber rack on my previous truck. Being in construction, home projects and hauling a canoe around make one a necessity. However, I didn't want one as big this time around so I came up with a different plan. I bought this rack that has a top bar that can be removed when not needed so it just appears as a headache rack. It has a similar setup that goes across the back of the bed.



The problem was the 45* braces. with them my toolbox took up half the bed. So I cut them off and welded on some smaller ones that gave more room.



For attachment I welded on a couple tabs that allowed me bolt the rack to the factory bed struts.




Finished rack, now I don't have to have a heavy rack that is a pain to remove when I don't want it on the truck.

 

I am not a big fan of the chrome nerf bar steps that came on the truck but my boys like them to get in and out. I figured I'll live with them for now so I took them off, sanded them then used spray can bedliner to paint. They look a little better now.

Also used Plasti-Dip to paint the emblems, chrome reduction has begun.

 

This was the truck as I bought it.
Chrome SR5 grill and surround.



I thought about which direction to head with the chrome removal. One option was just to Plasti-Dip the grille and keep the chrome surround as I have seen several others that way and it doesn't look bad but I really like the pro grill. So I ended up going the pro grill route. Initially my plan was to install the pro grille in the chrome surround with plans to color match down the road. However once I received the grill and held it up to the truck I just decided to leave it black and keep the chrome hood bulge and bumper end caps for a while. This is an Ebay knockoff but the fit is good. I went with the gloss black version as it matches the black in the TRD wheels.

 

Finally got my lift on. Had an unexpected full day Yesterday so I dove in. It was a full days work doing it by myself but I got it done.
My lift is the Fat Bob's Garage Bilstein 5100 coil over kit for the front and shackles from Amazon with 5100's for the rear.
https://4x4.fatbobsgarage.com/toyot...lovers-w-bilstein-5100s-2007-2018-p33926.aspx

$100 RTZ- Compatible with Toyota Tundra Pickup 07-20 Rear Adjustable (1-2") Lift Shackles 2wd

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I7JZ8W...olid=2VMDE4NZ8FFRZ&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
The shackles are adjustable from 1"/1.5"/2" and are individual pieces similar to the OEM. I welded a brace across them for some support and used the factory bolts for installation.


Started on the front, I use this video as for my direction:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH7FQUjmu20
It's been posted by some others, good video.
Disassembly was straight forward, a bit off a struggle to get the 5100's in place by myself but I managed.





Rear Shackles

 

Still have a little adjusting to do on the front then alignment. Took it for a test drive and all seemed good. Good ride quality and less bed bounce.
Pics, front set at 2.5", rear at 1.5"

 

Well After some adjustments the front is sitting just over 2-5/8". Hopefully it will settle in and align ok without aftermarket UCA's.

 

Installed Tacoma TRD shift knob from 40% off sale and TRD shift boot. Thinking about doing the leather steering wheel wrap with red stitching.

 

Also got my skid plate installed. Pretty easy install. huge improvement over factory sheet metal cover.

 

Looking good man. Is there a specific reason you went with the double cab and not the crewmax, or was it just because of avaliability?

 

To be honest with you I am not a fan of the CM because of the short bed,I need the extra bed space the DC provides. Don't take that the wrong way, lots of nice CM trucks here, just doesn't work for me. This is my second DC, bought a new one in '07 that was totaled in November as seen above. Replaced with my current '17 in December. I also really like the proportions of the DC.

 

Yeah, that makes sense. I guess I just never really see people go for the DC, so I was wondering your specific reason.

 

Finally got some new shoes.
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT 275/70-18.
Huge difference from the factory 275/65's. Ride is nice, pretty quiet on the highway.
Just picked up some Spidertrax spacers also, try to put them on this weekend.

 

Recently picked up some new wheels for the Tundra. I was going to go with the FN FX Pro wheels as I really like them, they look good on @Voyagermike 's truck. After looking at cost I ended up finding something less expensive that I like and haven't seen on any other Tundra's. Pretty happy with the look. From Granite Alloy, hub centric 18x9, +25 offset.
Next up is to get rid off the nerf bars and replace with something nicer.

 

Solid choice. Wheels look nice man!

 

It's been a while since I posted anything so here's an update.
Installed leaf spring poly bushings for a smoother ride, they definitely help, should have done it when I installed the lift.
Also replaced the factory step bars with some from Tyger auto that I saw @jeremyd has. Very nice steps for the price.

 

Here's a $30 mudflap mod if anyone is interested. My factory mudflaps have not been cutting it since I got my +25 offset wheels and Cooper AT3's. I was thinking about buying the Rockblokz mudflaps but they are a bit pricey and I like to fabricate things if I can.
I ordered these truck mud flaps from Amazon. They are 3/16" polymer material(not Rubber) similar to factory material but thicker. Very easy to work with. Cut nicely with a jig saw and a little sanding of the cut edge finish them off. They turned out pretty good. Easy mod if you want to spend a couple hours in the garage.

$23 Buyers Products, Two Pack, Black Polymer Mudflaps 24x30", RC30PPB

https://www.amazon.com/Buyers-Polym...d=1580610205&sprefix=truck+mud,aps,248&sr=8-1

Come in a pair of 24x30 flaps, plenty to make all 4 corners.




Made patterns from cardboard using the factory flaps. I made them about the same size as factory but an 1-1/2" wider to cover the +25 offset of the wheels/tires. There is plenty off material to make them taller if you want. You can see all the mud flung up past the factory flaps.





Rear




Front. I made a 1-1/2" spacer for the inner most bolt. Had to get a longer screw for this location.






Front, much better coverage now.







Rear, should stop the mud hitting the bumper.



This is an easy mod for $30 and a little time on a weekend. I did not cut around the body mount on the front and still have plenty of clearance at 2.5" lift and 275/70-18 tires. I should clear a 285/70 if I go that route next time around for tires.

 

Hmmm...You from California? Is the plastic pliable at all? -20 To -40 in Montana at times. Great MOD.. Just not sure how they will hold up?

 

Good lookin ride man! You just got me thinking about a headache rack now...

 

Nicely done been thinking of something like this. Is the material flexible enough to bend? Maybe with heat?

 

It is pliable. I had no issues in the cold here in Nor Cal but I don't know about Montana cold. The material is made for truck mud flaps though so I imagine it would hold up fine. It was only like $30 so it's worth a try.

It is pliable, I'm sure with a heat gun you could bend it.

 

Thanks,
I have made some changes to the rack that have not been updated on here. I purchased a Peragon bed cover so the rack no longer fit, it had to be widened so I changed the design. I can still add the top bar and rear rack for hauling things like lumber and ladders.
Here's a pic. I'll post an update soon with my rack attachment and bed cover.