Beach Rig Build

I had a Tacoma for 10 years, built it up to run down the beach; light, lifted, fat tires, and a bed rack to carry kayaks. I was young(er) then and didn’t need much, I had a one track mind of getting down PINS (Padre Island National Seashore) and chasing birds over trout or kayaking offshore for bigger fish. I tent camped in the dunes with cheap tents. I ate sausages in tortillas, and reserved the space in the cooler for beer. Recovery gear, yep...a strap, a fix-a-flat, and a shovel.

I had started building a beach trailer because the little Tacoma was at capacity when more than myself was heading down island.

And then... I grew up (a little), and worked a lot, had a kid, and priorities changed. The trailer project stalled as piles of steel tube, drawings on graph paper, and a brand new welder.


The boy is five now, and he loves the beach. He has a little brother now, and I’m sure that lil rascal will also love the beach.

So. I did what any good father would do, and a re-initiated Project PINS trailer. ...And bought a Tundra. ...And started a build, this time with more considerations to comfort, safety, and self recovery.


Ive been slowly chipping away, it’s been a few years in progress, and this is where Im at.

2016 Tundra TRD Pro / Coachbuilder Shims & Shackles / WKO Sliders / Yakima Overhaul Rack / Prinsu Cab Rack / OEM LED Headlight conversion / OEM fog baffles with Rigid Midnight Series fogs / Sound proofed headliner

Beach set up: CVT Mt Rainier / Batwing Awning / Rotopax water & fuel / Tred Pro / Hi-Lift / Straps and Recovery Gear / First Aid and Trauma Kits

To Dos: I have a C4 Fab Hybrid bumper, lighting, an ARB single compressor, Icon RXT Leafs and rear shocks sitting in the garage waiting for garage time.

Up Nexts: I had ordered TE37s only to be told 6months later that the mold had broken on the last batch and it would never be made again. So...now I’m awaiting the new FNW BFDs and will use the money saved on tires and beer. Beyond wheels, I want to finish sound proofing the cabin, and eventually ARB lockers. Still learning about radios n coms but will probably add that to the mix inside.


^ From last fall, the trailer is now a rolling frame, it’s first trip with intended cargo. It had been down the beach twice before for test runs, once empty and the next time with 1000lbs loaded. The trailer still has a long way to go, building out the walls/body/storage/coolers/doors/slides, plumbing the water tank/pump/heater, plumbing gas, wiring Battery/lights/solar, and finally rigging to carry kayaks and fishing gear.


I won’t promise to update regularly because I know me and I’ll be in and out per usual, but I’ll post some progress as I go.


Hookem

 

Nice!! Looks really cool man.

 

Great looking setup, thanks for sharing.

 

The old Taco circa 2016

 

The stock Pro that replaced it

well...stock, as in I had CB shims and +3 shackles waiting to fit larger tires, Nitto Terra Grapplers that first week. And a Grillcraft grill. And WKO sliders which were a tough install in the summer with a handheld drill to punch holes in the frame.

 

Yup that’ll do!!!

 

Welcome from Houston, you have nice taste in wheels

 

A trailer that was originally built behind the Tacoma but stalled behind life projects

 

Got back on the trailer project

 

2018 comes around, so upgraded the lights

 

Much better

 

Couldn’t stand having led tops and halogen fogs, so once the bezels were released, switched to rigids. Went with Midnight series

 

Somewhere down the line, decided the fender flares that the dealer mistakenly included in my package, had to come off

 

Wow great start! Love the trailer! Been planning something small for our trips to the beach too with our sequoia

 

Enter kid#2, another break from the builds. But slowly took some time to ready the trailer

 

Finally got back to the truck, added a rack, rtt, and recovery gear in time for the trailers first suspension load test. Weighed it Down with 1000# of rice and headed down PINS.

 

Not sure how to upload video...

 

let’s try this. Vid of the trailer first run

 

Trailer suspension did well, better than the Pros suspension with a full load of camping gear, four dudes, and the trailer weight.

Finally, after five years from the start of this trailer project, got it down the beach with the intended cargo, kayaks and fishing gear.

 

Got back to work on the truck. Had plans for a prinsu cabrack, and wanted to go the route of bolts n nuts instead of the plusnuts that are included, this meant dropping the headliner. Around the same time, I went to the doc to find out that I’ve lost hearing in both ears...slowly over time without reason, I’m down to 40%. This whole time I’ve lived with it not even knowing. So, I decided to sound proof the ceiling while I had the top down. I figured with the additional noise of the rack, I’d do myself a favor with some sound deadening,dampening

 

And then the rack went on

(Semi) pro-tip: drink a beer first, use the bottom of the beer can to place below the drilling point to catch the shavings...there will be many. I put a magnet in the can. Imagine these shavings exploding into your face when the airbags go off, while you enjoy another beer knowing they won’t

...and if you don’t have a third hand, then a beer box on the head rest does well to prop the headliner up while you get it back in line

 

Took the boy camping

 

Rigged some storage and awnings on the racks

 

And that about sums up the last four years of “build”

I have this bumper ready for install, along with more lighting and other electrical accessories. Just waiting on a good chunk of time to knock it out.

and then...upgrading the rear suspension to better handle the weight

 

Haha, thanks, I’m born/raised in Houston, it must be that HTown street style

 

something small would be perfect for the beach. I however intend to carry three 16ft sailing outrigger kayaks, and fishing/camping gear for extended trips, so I had to go long