Blue Thunder Build

I sold my 2006 Toyota Tundra last April and bought a Voodoo Blue 2019 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro.

My 8 year old son saw the blue and said, "Dad, you should get this one."

I have had it a year now and have been slowly upgrading it. This is my first 4WD and I have been having a blast off roading up the mountains in Idaho.

I am going to post in here with all the upgrades I have done until I get up to where it is now. I will also put my thoughts on the upgrade in each reply. Most of them I have installed myself and I am not a mechanic.

I still have a list of upgrades I want to do, so it will be ongoing.

Here is a picture of it still on the dealer lot. At this point I hadn't talked my wife into it yet.

 

The first upgrade I did was to put in a toolbox.

I don't have anywhere to store anything and this solves that problem.

I got this one from Home Depot. It matched the colors on my truck and wasn't ridiculously expensive.

The only thing I can say about the install is to make sure you tighten down the bolts real good or it will move. Other than that it was pretty easy to install.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Weather...rossbed-Truck-Tool-Box-302105-53-01/301282035

 

Next, I installed these running boards.

$189 APS Running Boards 5"es Matte Black Compatible with Toyota Tundra 2007-2021 CrewMax (Nerf Bars Side Steps Side Bars)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00VIVXLQU/ref=ppx_yo_mob_b_inactive_ship_o0_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Very easy install. Took maybe 45 minutes.

 

I attempted to do the DIY center console wireless charger.

It sort of worked.

Once I upgraded to a new iPhone, it did not work anymore.

 

Shortly after that, I took it out for its first real off road test on the Oregon Trail. It was pretty muddy in parts and I got it dirty.

I was real impressed with how well it handled some of the terrain.

This trip started the wheels spinning in my head for all the upgrades I wanted to do.

This is where things started going south.

 

I installed two Rigid pod lights next. This must be enough light, right?

The only thing I will say about this install is that getting through the firewall into the passenger compartment sucks.

 

It was not enough light for me.

Incoming NSV light bar!

This thing is rad. I had no problems installing it.

I will say that the videos say you can install it without removing the headlight. Bullshit.

Not unless you have baby hands.

After I was done my hands were all scratched up like I had pissed off a puma.

 

I added two more Rigid pod lights to my truck.

So now I have two spots and two floods on there.

I can now turn night into day. It's a cool super power to have.

 

Here was my solution for where to mount the switch for the pod lights.

 

I needed somewhere to store my jack.

So, I mounted it on my toolbox and reinforced the inside with a piece of scrap hardwood I had lying around. This way the mount was super secure.

 

I did not like the fog lights it came with. I know people love these Rigid fog lights, but I wanted some amber colored fogs that really lit up the road in foggy conditions.

I bought some Rigid fogs to replace the ones it came with and quickly realized they had some funky mount on the old ones. This complicated things.

So, I found, on this forum, a DIY solution.

The day after I installed the amber fogs, we had a serious fog roll in. I was not disappointed.

Now I just need to figure out how to make it so my brights don't turn off the fogs. I hate that. What if I want them on for off roading?

FYI, if you are interested in buying the TRD PRO Rigid fog lights, they are for sale.

 

I may be getting a little out of order here, but it happens.

I found the link to this oh shit driver's side handle in this forum.

I even got the wrong color the first time I ordered it. They were very cool about exchanging it for me. I just told them I was an idiot that never learned to read.

Thanks Toyota of Cool Springs!

 

My wife got me this for our anniversary.

The sound quality is so much better and the Carplay and camera are super cool too.

I had a local shop do this install for me. I just didn't feel comfortable with this one.

 

In preparation for bigger tires and 17 inch wheels with a 0 offset, I installed these Bushwacker fender flares.

Yes, my TRD wheels and tires will soon be for sale. Let me know if you are interested.

The fender flares will look bitchin once I have bigger tires. Now they are a little embarassing.

Hopefully the local shop will be able to get my wheels and tires quickly.

 

I was driving around about a month ago and the sun was behind me. It reflected off the chrome vent trim and just about blinded me.

This started Operation Yeet Chrome.

I ordered almost everything from AJT designs.

I even just pre-ordered the steering wheel emblem cover.

They were also very cool to deal with. They sent me a whole set of new rings when I noticed I was missing one of the required rings for the AC knob trim thingies.

The hardest part was replacing the knob on the AC. Not because of anything wrong with AJT designs stuff, but because it is so damn easy to get the knob slightly out of whack.

I spent a good two hours trying to resolve this. My advice is to install the knobs, don't put the cover on, and test it like that before you put it all back together.

You may think, "I did this all perfectly! No reason to test this."

HA! Good luck. I was definitely hoisted by my own petard.

 

nice rig

 

I think that brings us up to today.

I got a Console Vault safe for the center console and a bed step at some point, but I don't have any pictures as they are not very exciting.

$330 AMP Research BedStep | 75316-01A | Fits 2016-2017 Toyota Tundra w/Resin Bumpers

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01DG1SAO2?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_image

The bed step was kind of a pain in the ass to install. The instructions were not great and the bolts are in impossible positions to tighten.

One of the bolts says, tighten with a torque wrench to 90 lbs. You literally can't fit a torque wrench in there. I just use a small wrench and did my best.

I did eventually figure out how to install it but I spent a lot of time staring at the illustrations trying to figure it out.

The safe was pretty easy to install. I did not have to remove the center console lid.

However, the bolts they supplied were not long enough. I had to make a quick run to the hardware store.

Anyway, I will post more in here as I do more and have more off road adventures.

 

Oh yeah, one last one I almost forgot about. After my failed attempt at the DIY wireless charger, I got the actual OEM one from the 2020 Tundra.

That was a cool upgrade. About 30 minutes to install.

https://www.sparksparts.com/accesso...rts-tundra-wireless-charging-tray-00016-34506

 

I got some nice floor mats a while back.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01MA3NO0P/ref=ppx_yo_mob_b_inactive_ship_o1_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And here are some more pictures.

 

I have just ordered wheels and tires. I have no idea how long it will take to get.

Here is what I ordered.

Method Race Wheels 305 NV, 17x 8.5 with 5 on 150 Bolt Pattern-Matte Black

Nitto Ridge Grapplers 35 12.5 r17 (315/70 R17)

I am also getting the BMC.

Anyone have any patience I can borrow?

 

Wow, you got a lot going on! What are you doing with the TRD Pro suspension and TRD Pro wheels?

 

The suspension is going to stay the same for now. Sticking with the TRD PRO suspension.

I am going to sell the wheels and tires once I get the new ones on. Only like 6k miles on the truck in a year.

I have a lot of parts to sell off the truck that I have upgraded.

 

What kind of safe is that?

 

Looking good!

 

That is a Console Vault. I had one on my 2006 Tundra too. I chose the barrel key option.

https://www.consolevault.com/Toyota-Tundra-2014-2019.html

 

Took her out off roading today. Went up the mountain and through some scenic dirt roads.

 

Small upgrade today. Got the last bit of my chrome covered up!

 

I just ordered my Toyota emblem cover today, last piece of chrome to cover myself.

 

Never skip leg day.

35" Nitto Ridge Grapplers and 17" Methods. 315-70-R17

Did the BMC and some front bumper trimming was required.