Mean Green Texas Machine

Hey guys finally gonna start a thread dedicated to my 2010 CrewMax Texas Edition. Got some new parts I'm looking to install today but will update pictures throughout the day of what I've done so far.

 

TEXAS TÜNDRA CRÜE!

SCHWEEEET RIG!

 

So I haven't updated my build in a while and finally now have the time along with the pictures. The first pictures were taken last fall/winter before I got out the Marine Corps (Semper Fi) and have made a few more additions to the truck since then.

 

I went with the Spyder Halo's and still like them but wish I had waited for the @Headlight Revolution XB headlights but regardless these came out great and the bulbs themselves I purchased through @Headlight Revolution . I ran the led gen 1 for a while and finally upgraded the HID in January when I got out and have to say since then they have been phenomenal and light up the whole road!!! The fog lights I went with the morimoto fogs and the HID bulb I got for the low beam match pretty good now.

 

Looking good my man!

 

For the rear's I went with a Alla lighting and SyneticUSA cause they were plug and play as far as upgrading and didnt have to splice or cut any wiring which is what I was going for. The REAL pain in the a** was taking off the third brake light and replacing it with a Anzo blacked out brake light. It took me idk how long and a few trips to Lowes and had to modify it a bit so that water didnt leak in but made it work and havent had any issue or problem with it.

 

Next thing was to swap out ALL the dim lights inside along with license plate bulbs on the outside and I wanted to throw some Rigid lights on with some brackets from @sdhq_offroad. And once again went with @Headlight Revolution

 

Once I replaced all the bulbs it was a HUGE difference and well worth the money, time and investment and gotta thank @Headlight Revolution for the videos and info they provide on the products.

 

During this same time I was absolutely had to replace the spark plugs, I wasnt getting a whole lot of juice and especially with the half cross country trip back to Texas I figured I would just change them out but for 10 years with no issue I have to say they held up pretty good for 100k miles. Also installed some N-fab nerf bars with texture and also put on the AJT Design climate control knobs. I did have a little bit of issue and still do with the A/C knob as it is pretty sticky and not as smooth as the others or like how the stock ones were. Im gonna pull them off and take a closer look and I may have been off on the alignment when I installed them.

 

So crazy how after you move to a new state, move into a new house, get a new job all during the "COVID" year that you forget that about this site or the build page you had.

So to update from beginning of last year to now:

I hadnt done a whole lot of work to my truck until 3rd quarter of last year, I had spent majority of the beginning and middle of last year debating like crazy which lift kit I would go with along with whether or not I would get a bracket lift or not get a bracket lift.

Ended up not getting a bracket lift and began piecing together my new suspension upgrade which consists of:

@Toytec Lifts Toytec Aluma 2.5 coils and the 2.0 in the rear with the adjustable shackles
and JBA Offroad UCA's

 

Once the suspension got installed the ride improved DRAMATICALLY and I couldn't be happier but still wanted to of course get close to perfect as possible so next was wheel and tire set up.

I searched the forums like crazy for a while but finally saw the setup I wanted and thanks to @t4r2tundra I went with the Method NV at 17" and Nitto Ridge grapplers at 35".

Also the brackets for my Rigid's are the @sdhq_offroad ditch light brackets which I think are the lowest to the hood and most badass one's around and solid as hell

 

Now for the fun stuff, I'll have to upload the video when I can but finally finally FINALLY swapped out my Gibson Metal Mulisha exhaust for.........YES YOU GUESSED IT @dirtydeeds Dual Dumped Exhaust and HOT DAMN DOES IT SOUND WAYYYYYYYY BETTER!!!!

Now the install did actually take some time due to the bolts being beat to shit from the last install years ago and also rusted out as can be. Had to go to Lowes to get a bolt extractor kit and new bolts but need to get another set of new bolts cause the ones I got unfortunately are a 17mm head so I need to get some 14mm's. Also couldn't replace the nut's cause all the nut's were pretty much heat welded on to the damn flange's so I will have to cut them off later.

 

Once I got the exhaust put on I finally took off the GOD awful tow mirrors and went back to stock, it was just as bad looking back at them as Ryan Reynolds doing the Green Lantern movie.

Then while paying off my exhaust it was time for the big boy purchase and that was a new bumper. I searched and searched and Demello Offroad was always on my list but was also debating the expedition one bumper or victory 4x4 but in the end went with Demello. The bumper is super clean, great angles, craftsmanship and alot of the thought went into the design and engineering which I can absolutely see.

Jason at Demello def hooked it up, not only on the customer service but on the price. I highly suggest anyone looking into getting one to call and speak with the guys and they will give you a good quote based on what else you are wanting to add.

 

The clearance the bumper gave me on my tires was insane and now have full turning radius of my wheels and tires which I havent had since well all the way back to 2010 when it was stock haha.

But after the bumper I knew it was time to start seeing what else I could do to the suspension to get it even better. The shackles was def on my list and not to take anything away from Toytec but after speaking with @Coachbuilder1 and @dirtydeeds multiple times on what I was going for I knew I needed to replace the Toytec adjustable shackels and the get the Coachbuilder ones. Now I was going to get the +1 but after speaking with David @Coachbuilder1 he told me based off my current set up that I would need the +2 and man will I tell you wow. Like really WOW.

The ride quality now is amazing and phenomenal that it feels and seems even smoother than a stock truck coming off the lot. It was a night and day difference going from blocks to toytec's shackles but these +2 coachbuilders def set the bar. I have absolutely no bed bounce or even feel anything anymore for that matter and feels like I am driving a brand new car or like they used to say "drives like a Cadillac".

 

The other thing I would like to mention is during last year I did get rid of my skid plate and went with the @RCIoffroad skid plate during one of their promos and the skid plate is a damn beast!

Also installed the carrier bearing drop kit and diff drop kit from @Coachbuilder1 to have my angles the right way.

 

Next thing I wanted to get done was the steering as I had some popping noises go on that I did mention in a diff thread and also found out that I had the driver side lean which every good Tundra owner will experience and find out about. Again talked to David @Coachbuilder1 who advised adding the shim, specifically the .50 and was already sold beforehand on the tie rods and also got the brake line relocation tab for the rear.

Now while Toytec did advise against adding the shim I can tell you my ride is perfectly fine and seriously is the best feeling truck regarding ride quality I have ever driven. The tie rods now have made any turn or movement in the steering wheel very minimal due to the overall control I now I have.

 

Glad I could help!