Found a Unicorn

Just purchased an 03 Tundra Limited TRD with 21,000 documented miles. All original, never even had a hitch installed on it. Not a fan of the stepside, but I couldn’t pass on the miles and the deal. Going to set it up to overland in Arizona so I thought I would document it. First thing I am going to do is level it and upgrade shocks. I have had great luck with the Bilstein 5100s and 6112s. Going to do 33s for the tires. Looking for input on other options for leveling it. I have tried Icons in the past and don’t feel like they are worth the extra money. Let me know your thoughts and I will update pictures as I do skid plates, front bumper, lights, roof rack and stereo/gps.

 

Welcome from MA!
Congratulations man! Thats a hell of a find
What an awesome platform to build on get ready

 

Hopefully it's 4WD and you didn't pay more than $15k or 2WD and you didn't pay more than $13k. If you did pay more, I hope the timing belt, radiator, and lower ball joints have already been done with new OEM parts.

But more than that, hopefully the frame is intact. Also, know that low mileage isn't a good thing on these trucks. There are some things to verify and considerations to make, not limited to old gas and clogged stuff, varnished heads if short-trip driven, rodent damage from sitting, etc.

Start here if you haven't already caught the thread, it'll help you get caught up: https://www.tundras.com/threads/so-you-wanna-buy-just-bought-a-1st-gen-tundra-eh.115928/

Congrats on your new truck, and welcome to the forum!

Oh and @Divx1974 when you get ready to do suspension, give Colton / @memario1214 a shout. He's one of our better suspension vendors on Tundras.com and can no doubt help you get solid pricing and pick the right stuff. We're also here to help you hone in if you want more community input.

 

Beautiful truck!

Did you have it inspected at Tesla?

 

I did not over pay. It is 4wd. The timing belt is original, that will get changed first. It was stored in a garage, no pack rats. Headlights are Chrystal clear.

 

Weird. I’ve never seen a limited with chrome mirrors and color matched wheel flares. Usually the backside of the side view mirrors are the same color as the vehicle. Great looking vehicle. Should ride like new at those miles.

 

A leather 60/40 split front seat! Wow, nice!

 

Oh. Haha

 

I mis spoke. It’s a TRD it is not a limited.

 

Still, usually for an SR5 TRD off-road, the wheel flares are unpainted. Someone obviously painted them. Doesn’t look too bad though.

 

Unpainted? What color were they? Mine came color matched

 

Did they make a leather bench seat? I thought those were expensive seat covers like Clazzio.

 

Don't know. Just gawkin' at 'em.

 

I have never seen painted wheel flares on a first gen Tundra when new except for a limited. If it was an option nobody got it around here in the northeast.

Color was dark grey like the top of my chrome bumper.

 

Now I’m inclined to go look at a 2003 brochure to check.

Edit: I may be wrong. A lot of the 2003-2004s I see around here are the no flare models, but I guess for the ones with flares they did come color matched for SR5s.

 

Plug your vin into the owner site and see how it was equipped from the factory or dealer.

 

This one came from the gulf coast.

 

SE Toyota truck often had features not found elsewhere.

 

My 2003 AC has been in AZ all of it's life, and it's a no flare. FWIW.

 

I could not love a human baby as much as I would love a non ragged-out oak leather bench seat. OP, if for some reason you don’t want that thing, let’s make a trade. My seats would drop right into yours since our trucks are from the same 2000-2003 group; my truck has 48k and being a 2001 the seats are very nice (passenger seat is essentially brand new). I also have the OEM center console and a pretty well-matched Sequoia console.

 

I will also take those 17” wheels off your hands if you’re going full overland.

 

Welcome and. Congrats on time capsule! Leather looks mint. More pics would be good to see. Check the above, tires, and I would change all fluids and get your 4x4 hi and low moving after lubing everthing up. Other then that and above they are great street trucks. As far as lift depends what your doing with truck. I would get my dollar out of the 4600's first! Like mentioned, check your vin for recalls. Maybe lube spare tire assembly too? Welcome

 

Pop a flat bed on there and get rid those step-sides.

 

@JakeJake has a beautiful flatbed project he’s working on

 

Very VERY nice find with that mileage and straight body panels. The OEM paint is oxidizing as it does you can see the contrast between the drivers front door and the drivers rear door and bed side. I would take a buffer and some good polish and go over the truck to shine the original paint back up to match that drivers front door. The headlights are super nice, its hard to find one this age that doesnt have yellow headlights unless they have been replaced.

Its an SR5

nah, the way it sits is totally normal, those rounded flares came color matched

Its like an every day thing here. I see them all the time, non limited with those rounded flares color matched. You either got the "base" model or the "low" model SR5 or the fancy model SR5. I have seen SR5 without flares, and i have seen SR5 like above with color matched flares. Color me purple, i dont know why, thats just how they were made.

OP, again, nice truck i like it a lot.

 

Wow, what a spectacular find out in the wild! That's a real gem!

Going with the Bilstein 5100s is a great choice for improved ride quality and off-road performance. Can't wait to see it all setup for your overlanding adventures!

 

A bit OT but I have to pass by this every day. I'm not a big stepside fan either, but this one is a limited and for some reason that particular gray makes the stepside not stick out like a sore thumb, at least to me. Esp if it had all terrain tires


I hear her start it in the mornings and it has issues that just beg for some TLC.

This forum has made me want to help everyone get theirs back in top form

 

Welcome to the sub 50k mile club.

 

Same here haha. “Sir //guy with 1500 pounds of scrap metal in rear// you should really think about a rear suspension upgrade, the AAL is really highly acclaimed”
“Qué?”
Rofl