"Exit Plan" - 2018 Barcelona Red Platinum

Hi Everyone,

Wanted to share my 2018 build, even though it is not as crazy as some, I sure enjoy it!

I came from a 2007 Tacoma that I bought from my father. Sold it with 200k on the clock after getting notice about the frame replacement. I didn't want to deal with that, and had been thinking about a Tundra for a while anyhow...

I was seeking out a Pro for a while, but began to take the advice of this forum and started thinking about a "platinum pro" AKA "faux-pro." Fast forward a couple months and I ended up finding this '18 with the TRD exhaust, air filter, and skid plate from the factory. I got it for a LOT less than a 2019 Pro, and I really loved the color and interior features.

I always loved the Barcelona red, and this thing really shines. Almost makes me not want to take it into the grime

I'm making a pretty major life change and switching careers to be able to focus more on spending time outside, living in a small town in the mountains (similar to where I grew up), and being part of a community that I was brought up in.

I'm hoping this truck will carry me there, and carry lots of friends/bikes/gear along the way.

Currently:

• TRD Offroad wheels w/ fresh black powder and TRD Pro center caps
• 275/70R18 Nitto Ridge Grapplers
• TRD Pro exhaust (love, love, love the rumble)
• TRD Pro skid Plate
• Tacoma TRD Pro shift knob, ebay Toyota shift boot
• Full LED interior lighting
• 30% Tint match on front windows
• Color-matched mirror caps
• Black door handles, tailgate emblem, and inlay
• LED cargo lighting
• Husky Liners
• ESP Long Box storage
• Center console organizer and OEM tray
• Line-X Premium Liner
• OEM bed mat
• Amazon special Tyger running boards

Planned:

• Ceramic coat/PPF
• Suspension lift w/ UCAs.... maybe
• Bed rack/crossbars/bike hauling and camping set-up

As it sits:



At the dealer. I was traveling and couldn't pick it up for a while, but it was worth it! All the sales guys were drooling....


Picked up some TRD Offroad wheels for 350 on CL on the way home. 15k or so miles, and looked great. first 600 miles road trip was pure bliss

Started hoarding parts and got the wheels off to powder, and got some fresh rubber on:

 

When I was installing the new cargo lights, I really had a tough time with this gap on the tail light cover... anyone seen this before? I was really worried I was about to strip the screws putting them back in, but I still had this gap? My gasket was super twisted from the factory, and I tried to straighten it, but worried it may be pretty jacked up.

Thinking some black RTV gasket or a quick trip to the dealer for a replacement....?

Anyone else have this issue?

 

Good looking truck, thumbs up on the wheels and tires!

 

Thanks!

Funny story... I actually bought aftermarket wheels to start, but I just got cold feet about them. Not really anything specific, but I just didn't feel the quality was there and they looked a little too flavor of the week to me.

I love the factory look, and really like how these stay in the wheel wells to protect the truck. Natural beauty, know what I'm sayin?

 

I do....everyone has there own preference on wheels/stance, I like the factory wheels (powder coated mine)

 

Love that gray man, very understated and clean. Makes me think I should hang onto my 20s and powder them too...

 

Side note own your roof mount cargo light, I replaced mine with a smoked housing and recall the gasket being twisted and bent too. Definitely was not seated or water tight the way it was installed from Toyota.

 

Good info! I was thinking mine looked way fucked up. Does your seat flush now? Did you have to tighten them pretty hard?

It's dark and raining here so I might take another look in the AM, but I don't want to be taking those screws in/out too much as they are just plastic....

 

Like the color!
Sharp looking truck.

 

I switched out the whole housing and lens with an aftermarket one, so I removed the OEM cargo light altogether. That gasket should be warranted by Toyota as its defective from the factory.

 

Looking great!

 

What size tires are you running?

 

Love that red! Sharp looking ride!

 

Great looking truck!

 

Thanks guys, a bit more work today. Started withi the chrome on the tailgate, and went for the black badging on the stamped tailgate. Overall, I like how it turned out (excuse the chrome dealer plate covers, waiting for my permanent tags).

I used the fishing line method to de-badge and am happy with the outcome. I did not want to cut into the clearcoat and do any paint damage. A little goo-gone and IPA and I was good.

Also added the Tyger running boards from Amazon. They are no set of proper sliders, but for 300 bucks, they should do the trick for a while in keeping some shit off the doors and providing a little more access to the truck. Definitely worth the money if you're on a budget.

 

Then came the mirror caps and door handles.

Door handles were a piece of cake, maybe 10 minutes total? The mirror caps were a whole other can of worms though.... My chrome ones popped off easy, but the color-matched set I got would not go on no matter how hard I tried. They seemed to be a bit more flimsy than the originals, and so the top tabs just wouldn't snap. After many tries, I finally had to go another route. I started at the top, engaging the tabs up there and then *carefully* working in the bottom clips, backwards from the "recommended" way. Just wanted to put that out there in case anyone experiences similar issues.

All said and done and we have no more chrome! Would have preferred color-matched handles, but wasn't so sold on the $300 to do so.

 

Awesome truck man. Looks great. Love the red color. Gives it a good pop.

 

Best color!

 

Agreed!

 

Now I'm just contemplating ways to make the platinum badge pop a bit

 

Does anyone know where we can get color matched door handles, or side mirrors? Sorry for the noob question, but I've been looking all over. I might or might not change my handles and mirrors, but it's always good to know. Thanks for the help guys.

 

You can get everything from @SparksParts or @Roman on here. However, some colors (this red for example) don't have a door handle available from the factory.

 

Playin around with a few ideas.... based on my "factory" styling build....

 

Your truck looks so sweet and I was liking how clean and mean it looks. In my opinion, the decals kind of clash with what you have going.

 

Red is not my color at all .. but this looks fantastic. also like like how you’re hype on the factory look and actually building on that theme. it’s working really well for you. congrats on the project o far.

 

Awesome looking truck!

 

Thanks guys! gonna try and keep it as lean and simple as possible, but I do see a diamondback cover in my future (gotta haul shit after all)...

 

Your truck is looking great Cantle. Really pops.

The black bedside decals look good and keep with your theme but the white one, I think, throws it all out the window.

I wanted my bed decals to pretty much "ghost" into the paint when looking at them straight on from the side. When you change your viewing angle they become noticable. It took a couple tries to get it right but Matt @DecalsByDesign pulled it off. You should check him out of you want to do anything custom on your bedsides, or anywhere for that matter.

 

Funny you mention that, as him and I were talking tonight about doing the "ghost" graphic, and I cited your build as inspiration!

I agree though, for my application I think it's black or nothing.... don't want to overdo it and has it lose the clean lines. Maybe a black on the back glass for a subtle touch.

 

It's so easy to over do it, I tend to do that myself. I think you're on the right track with clean and simple.

I'm slowly de-chroming and painted my 5.7 badges red. Looks ok from 20 feet but I'm not really happy with them so, Matt sent me some of the vinyl he used to make my decals. I'm going to try and wrap the badges instead. If I don't like that I'll probably just take them off.