Sunnier Finally Got 4x4!! Need Help Building It:

It's just a matter of time 'til The BFT, my beautiful 3rd gen inferno orange Tundra, figures out s/he's not a 4x4. This last desert run that @Spvrtan led, I recognized it when we went up the Calcite Mine trail, so here's my solution:


This one hasn't got a name yet. I figure it'll come to me at some point. Of course, y'all are welcome to weigh in with ideas.

I've been looking for a low mileage 1st gen access cab because: Tundra reliability, V8, and size-for-purpose (balancing a bit of backseat space in the cab against a full bed so I can move my bed rack, RTT, and gear over for comfortable camping).

I think I could've eventually found an '05 or '06 with mileage around 130k, but I might have lost a season doing it. I have a plan, dang it!, and I want to get started!

I found several 1st gens for sale with about 160k miles, ranging in price from $13k - $16k. Good values probably, but very likely due for timing belt and water pump... and that's a lot more $ than I had left in my personal savings fund I'd squirreled away over the years (yes, I spent a lot of that on a 4R last spring, thinking that would be my off-road play vehicle-- but I think this plan is gonna work better; and I've got support from the Fambly which always makes life easier!).

Anyway. This one posted to CL late night on a Saturday (who does that?). A 2002 Limited with 209,388 miles for $6350. Oxidized green paint, worn leather on the door side of the driver's seat. Neither of those gave me pause. I like dark green and oxidized paint looks good with pinstripes! I texted the owner a bit, but I was going into my work week, so I couldn't really meet. He mentioned he was about to deploy and, if it didn't sell, he'd just wait til he got back. Not a lot of negotiations room there.

Anyway, late night the following Tuesday, I found the truck still listed and now there was updated info that it passed smog, and the price dropped to $5500. Wut?!!

I dunno why I didn't worry there was something wrong with it, but I felt a sense of optimism the truck would be great mechanically... and that others would ignore it because of the colour and condition of the paint.

I was still in the middle of my work week (work nights/ sleep days, move kid around in between). I emailed him but got no response by the time I got off work. I texted again, and offered him a bit more than the new, lowered price to hold it for me while I slept. He'd already told me no one smoked in it (a must), so I promised, essentially, that if there was no frame damage or rust, I'd buy it.

I haven't been sleeping well in the daytime lately so I was up by noon and offered to drive to meet him outside the base at North Island, where he worked. Unfortuneatly, he said he couldn't get away to meet me. Foiled again and I had yet another night of OT scheduled. Anyway... all I could do was ask, so I did. I told him I'd give him $20 more for Lyft if he'd drive the truck to meet near where I work. And he went for it.

So that's how it happened. It was kinda fun. We were done in 15 minutes, then had to wait 40 minutes for his wife to show up, but the whole transaction took an hour. Then he deployed at o'dark:30 the next morning.

I've never bought a vehicle after dark before, but went over it with a flashlight. I felt reassured when I looked at the engine from the top and saw the skid plate below was suitably dirty from 209k miles of use, but no sign of leaks, or recent cleaning to hide leaks, etc. The frame and undercarriage look good, barely any surface rust, consistent with a full life in SoCal. The tires are "too big" cheap Chinese Wal-Mart specials mud tires (more below) and he told me it had a spacer lift (he sounded suitably embarrassed about the cheap tires but not the lift; I managed not to roll my eyes).

I've since had my regular mechanic inspect it. The timing belt and water pump are in good shape. Replaced the serpentine belt which showed a little wear, and replaced a couple gaskets. He agreed with me that new suspension should be first on my To Do list.
And while he let me know he hates Chinese tires and showed me these are wearing quickly (in part because of the shoddy suspension), he confirmed I can probably use them a while, hold off the expense of replacing them, while I get the suspension dialed in, and probably a while after. I also noticed yesterday (in the daylight), there are 2 dings in the windshield. But in the big scheme of things, I'm pretty happy with it.

Now I want as much advice as I can get about best options and things to avoid. Please weigh in to help me get started right. Thanks, y'all!!

 

Suspension:
It came with 285 75 16R M/T's. I like the size for off-road clearance when aired down (and, since I've got to start from scratch with suspension, I want to know if I can go even bigger-???). I'm a little worried that no coil over suspension lift will accommodate them though-- I managed to put off learning about suspension because I had no plans to upgrade The BFT, but now it's a priority to get up to speed on best options for a 1st gen.

I'd appreciate advice/ experience/ opinions on coil over lifts, UCA's, bump stops, leaf packs-- wherever I need to know that you know! Thanks, y'all!!

 

Tires:
The M/T's on it now are very loud. Based on all I've read on here, and the likelihood I'll drive through a lot more sand than mud, I'd probably go with A/T's as replacements. Please tell me your favourites. I've read that Nitto Ridge Grapplers and Toyo AT2's are "easiest" to balance, and that Copper Discoverer ST Maxx are quiet on the highway and have a 65k tread warrantee.... This won't be a DD but will travel miles on freeway to get to dirt. Please render an opinion if you've got one.

 

Rock sliders:
I can't imagine I'll be easier (or luckier) with this than my 3rd gen, The BFT, and I've ridden on my sliders several times already. So I'll "need" em for this truck. So far, I've learned from @BestGen that StubbsWelding makes sliders for a 1st gen access cab, and I think White Knuckle does too. I'd appreciate any additional leads on options, as well as any photos to show me what's what.

 

Skid protection:
I've heard from 1st gen guys including @BestGen, @Casper421, and @Darkness that Skid Row, Brute Force, and BudBuilt make protection skids for 1st gens. Any others? Anyone got photos or links to help me out?

 

Other 1st gen builds:
There's a few 1st gens on here, outfitted for overlanding. I've learned a ton reading about @01erionracing Jimmy's build and how he uses his truck, and excited to meet up with him for some in-person pointers to get me started in the right direction. But more is better! Please link me to any other 1st gen builds you know about that I can learn from.

@eccracer104 have you got any 1st gen buddies you can point me to, so I can read builds and start right?

 

Congrats on the new truck!!!

Looks like I missed a bit of stuff over the last few months. I still haven’t made it down there . One day..... one day lol

 

Wish list:
If this goes well (and I don't go bankrupt before I move on to another hobby ), I have ideas about on-board air, a rear locker, dual batteries, solar panels, a 'fridge.... So please share any cool ideas or stuff you've seen. If it's out there, I'd love to know about it!

 

Congrats! Now go have fun with it.

 

Another great start, @Sunnier.

 

Thank you. You're our treasurer, @JuanHomie007; make it happen!

 

As soon as I organize suspension. I actually need to figure out which part in that photo is the spacer.

 

Thanks for the vote of confidence!

 

@Marty McFly I'm missing you, Buddy! This is me hoping to keep up with you and your Pro.

 

Haha my home gym took priority 1. Now I have this charity event. My journey out date got pushed back from April to July. Lots going on. I’m hoping we no kidding make it down there in 2019.... good news looks like I’ll have plenty of vacation time.


Unrelated somebody posted an inferno pro crew max the other day for sale in Portland... I was going to tag you.

 

Aw, thanks for thinking of me!

I went round and round in my head for months, about whether to trade The BFT in for another, everything the same + 4x4. It took months, but I finally found one (double cab infernos are hard to find) in Phoenix. And it sat on the lot a while so I thought I could maybe get a deal. But finally decided there's no deal that would make up for the depreciation I'd experience trading in a 1 year old truck. And I didn't want the TSS stuff that's on the 2018's. Probably a lot of people don't have problems, but I didn't want to risk trading in my perfect truck for an unknown. Also, it still tears my heart up when I get pinstripes on that beautiful inferno paint. All told, it's a better idea for me to buy one I can play in unreservedly.

 

On your coilover it's at the top sandwiched between the upper control arm.

When I lifted mine I pieced everything together, if I did it again I'd do the Toytec Boss kit with SPC uppers and call it a day.

 

Nice score! Keep her stock and wear her out.

 

Thank you!

How do you mostly use your truck? Pavement, easy dirt, slow off-roading, fast dirt, (with unforeseen jumps and uh-oh moments), or something else-? It occurred to me it'll be easiest to mimic someone else who does what I want to do.

 

Awesome buy! I would love to have a nice 1st Gen Tundra, they are animals.

Enjoy the build!

 

Mostly a pavement pounder but I live on a dirt road and it handles 30mph over light washboarding and potholes well.

 

Thanks. Will do. I'm very excited!

 

CONGRATULATIONS!!! What a great project!!!

 

Sweet! I’d love a dedicated off-road rig. Looking forward to see what you do with it. Congratulations!

 

Looking forward to see how this great project truck progresses!

 

Awesome find @Sunnier
I’ve been pretty busy this last week and I’ve missed a lot on good ol Tundras.com.
My vote is to call her the Hulk. She’s a big green angry beast of a truck LOL

 

Hmmn, not sure I want an angry truck. Maybe somewhere on the continuum closer to Jolly Green Giant...?

 

I'm still bummed that HLDMYBR isn't available as a CA personalized plate.

 

Congrats!

What's up with the broken back window; did you steal this truck? LOL