Uplander - 2025 MGM Build for the North Maine Woods

We spend lots of time in the North Maine Woods bird hunting. My Silver 2008 Double Cab Gen 2 was my first Tundra. Only real updates for it were Cooper AT3's and an Extang bed cover.

After seeing one in South Carolina in 2016, a Quicksand 2017 replaced the 2008. A matching color ARE cap with home built drawers helped carry gear and keep the dogs in the truck. A leveling kit and Coopers rounded out that truck.

Having a little more fun with the 2025 MGM that I located & purchased in February. SR5 with TRD Off Road Premium package, Advanced Off-Road Technology Package, Premium Audio package, and a power tailgate.

Here's how it started...

 

How it's going...

Added:

Decked Drawers - Gen 2
Rough Country HD2 Steps
Bullet Point Rubigrid
Weathertech HP Matts
Ceramic Coated
Chrome Delete (Vinyl wrapped)
Spigen Tempered Glass Screen Protector
JDMCAR Central Control Gear Shift Panel Trim Cover
Custom Built 60/40 Shelf for back seat to hold the dog kennels
Cornfed 1.5" Front Leveling
Cooper Discoverer Stronghold AT in 295/70 r18
Toyota TRD Exhaust Tip
GG Offroad Camera Relocation Kit
GG Offroad Brake Light & Power cable
GG Offroad Suction Cup Camera Mounts
Alu-Cab Contour Canopy
Rok Block







​

 

Build 60/40 split platform to hold 2 new Ruffland Backseat Rider kennels

 

Cornfed 1.5 front leveling kit and Cooper Discoverer Stronghold AT in 295/70/r18

 

Nice mods. How did you build your split platform? I have been looking for something like that. Is it easy to remove or permanent?

 

See page two of this thread. Plans are there. Lots of other good ideas in there. I mounted my stubby 2x4 feet on hinges so they'd fold down when I lifted the boards out.

Very easy to take out! Nothing is attached to anything.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/2023-tundra-backseat-for-dogs.125171/page-2

 

Awesome! Thanks. What is the diamond plate material on yours? Looks good.

 

I used this pad from Home Depot - https://www.homedepot.com/p/Traffic...or-Commercial-Door-Mat-6016909004x6/306932662

I used this to glue it to the board... https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gorilla-12-2-oz-Contact-Adhesive-Ultimate-Spray-109852/322817576

Stapled it around the edges underneath with a heavy duty staple gun.

It was pretty hard to finish off the corners nicely with that material... carpeting/speaker covering would have been easier. Ended up finding some black foam corner protectors on Amazon to hide my mess...

 

This looks nearly identical to where I'd like to end up.

How did the spacers affect your ride quality?

I had some on my F150 prior to getting the fox 2.0 coilovers, and they crashed and clunked over everything. Hit the upper control arm on full droop etc.

I've got 285/75 18's on mine, slightly larger diameter, slightly smaller width.

 

I had a front leveling kit on my 2017 Tundra that sat on top of the shocks that squeaked and drove me crazy. The Cornfed Gen 1.5 spacer sits on the TRD Red Bilstein's bottom spring perch and just provides a perch a little higher up the shock. Simplest thing I've seen... You do need to compress the spring and take it off to put this on. And if you don't have the red Bilstein's this won't fit.

It felt good for the 10 or so miles I drove it. But I don't have enough miles on it to provide ride quality differences... I work from home and only drive the truck on the weekends (unless it's hunting season). Plus I changed the tires at the same time so I'll likely never be able to attribute changes to one or the other.

 

Copy. So it wasn't just the top of strut spacer lift.

I've got the TRD OR package so i do have the red Bilsteins.

Good to know!

Thanks,

 

@Daedalus with this design I really don't think it will make noises that the top of shock blocks do...

Hopefully you'll like it! Plus it's only $50.

I did have the shop I use do an alignment after install...

 

My first 2 Tundras...

2008 Double Cab


2017 CrewMax

 

Nice rig! I've debating between a leveling kit or a 3" lift kit for my 2022 TRD Sport. The Sport has a slightly lowered front for better road performance but not helpful for off-road use. When I paid my deposit in Dec 2021, it was the last one available. All of the TRD trims with factory lifts were sold out. Now I'm leaning towards a leveling kit after seeing yours.

 

You might want a 2" lift with the sport setup. Make sure you have the red axles.

 

Going to give this a shot.

 

I'm still liking them. No creaking like with my old shock toppers.

 

GG Offroad Camera Relocation Kit installed.

Alu-Cab Contour almost on.

 

Nice build Volator, love the dog platform.

For anyone interested, I have a pair of the TRD Offroad shocks with roughly 12K miles on them, AND a new and unused pair of the Cornfed lift collars for them in the 3rd gen FS section.
(Same setup as Volator here.)

I went a slightly different direction with the adjustable 5100 Bilsteins.

 

Alright, a buddy came over and helped me get the cap lowered on. All snugged up. Just need to get the cameras mounted and the power/brake light hooked up. Super happy with the cap... just glad I ordered it before the tariffs kicked in.

 

Here are some pictures of the Alu-Cab wiring I did...

Here's where I went into the cap. I also shoved some auto store foam seal in there and put some Butyl tape over that.



Then I ran up the window frame with some zip ties and stick on zip tie holders... You'll see in the next photo that these don't stick on very well... Across the top I got some M8 bolts/nuts an some metal/rubber wire holders. You'll have to grind the hols out to fit on the M8 bolt... I used a dremel with a grinding bit on it... drills shredded the wire holders. I also put the two camera wires and the power wire in some wire loom (5/8's I think).



Here's where the little squares faile me... I had the leftover cable stuck to the roof. I think I'll put some 2 sided gorilla tape I have on them.



Here are the cameras mounted with GG Outdoor's suction cup mounts.


Here's the whole setup now...



I have some Rok Block for the big gap to the tailgate and some stripping for the verticle section of tailgate and I should be 'done' back here for the cap install.

 

Let us know how the ggoffroad camera relocation kit works out.

 

German wirehair or pointing Griffon?

 

We have 2 Griffons from Duchasseur.

 

That kit worked out great. They have a video also that's super helpful. If you buy the brake light cable also make sure to run it at the same time, because it goes to the same spot... I discovered that after the fact. I like the new suction cup mounts for the rear window too.

 

Beautiful dogs i can't imagine owning 3 my gwp is a daily test of patience also the most impressive dog i have ever owned. I mean here she is on a dead lock point on a cornnut i dropped.

I gave up trying to make a platform i was happy with so I bought a goose gear rearseat delete, I miss the seats once in awhile bought i love having the space.

 

Mine wouldn't point that... they'd just take it out

The plans that someone shared were super helpful with making that platform. I just did a little figuring on my own wrt legs and what not. That Goose Gear platform is nice. You'd think they could come up with a non-rear-seat-delete option.

 

Added Rok Block to the tailgate gap...



And some seals on the verticle section of the tailgate.

 

I'm taking a day off work here in the next few weeks to put my cornfed lift in. Front and rear. Still liking the ride?

 

beautiful truck... but Beautiful dogs!!!! Yall have the patience of saints! My GSP's were enough. My foster GWP nearly broke me.