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Sam’s 2004 Double Cab

Discussion in '1st Gen Builds (2000-2006)' started by Arringtonpalmer, Jun 25, 2021.

  1. Jun 25, 2021 at 9:49 AM
    #1
    Arringtonpalmer

    Arringtonpalmer [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2020
    Member:
    #53095
    Messages:
    98
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Sam
    Vehicle:
    2004 Limited Double Cab
    ARE High Cap, Rhino Awning, Century Cap, ARB Bumper
    Not sure this truck is gonna pan out but I’ve got time on my hands to write about it.

    So; This is my 2nd FGT. The first was (is) an ‘03 SR5 4x4 Stepside TRD V8, it’s a good truck, I like it. Have I mentioned I got it for free? Back in 2015 this was my father in law’s truck, I borrowed it to move from Georgia to Upstate New York, at the time my daily was a Subaru. I proceeded to grossly overload it and drive it all the way up the east coast.

    Father in law then plans a sabbatical from work to sail his boat for a year, and decides he should give away the truck; to me. I try half heartedly to pay him but say thanks. It’s 2016. Truck becomes the daily, I like it but not terribly into it. I’ve only got a mile commute, but it sure is nice to put stuff in the bed. I leave the full time Army, start a farm, go to grad school, have two kids. Truck becomes a lot more useful, critical even, and I do absolutely no maintenance. Eventually it needs stuff. Some tires, breaks, etc. I pay the local mechanic to do it, but it’s falling into disrepair. I need a truck though, and new ones are fucking expensive. I start wrenching, find the forum, and fall in love with my truck. I started banging through all the preventative stuff on top of fixing all the little problems. What a great truck, I dream about driving it far away places, and then I put two car seats in the back of the access cab. Dream over.

    IMG_20201209_195625752.jpg

    So in 2021 I’ve got a truck I love, but also a loose idea that I should be on the lookout for a double cab. Since I only left the full time Army, not the whole shebang, I get to take my infantry company back to the desert for an extended stay. I am not actively looking for trucks.


    Suddenly, at the end of April my wife sends me a Facepage Market ad for an ‘04 Double Cab 4x4 Limited very nearby. FGT prices, and used cars in general, have been out of control so at 6800 it seems like a good deal. I tell her that she should go look at it. She buys it for 6k; I wonder if the truck I’ve never seen is a piece of shit or not!


    Photos from the ad:
    0E92E891-489F-48B0-ADAD-332ADF3CD92C.jpg
    63436532-FC32-4CE5-B7CB-B5758D4C6EB3.jpg
    1F0D4E67-B715-4ED8-93AA-6002956479CB.jpg


    It’s got some known issues, but my father in law and brother in law, who is a mechanic, both looked at it and gave it a green light. It’s got a new frame (2017) and the underbody is not rusting away, these were my primary no-go criteria.

    A5611728-BB53-44D7-829A-447B982C6CAF.jpg

    First stop after pickup was the brother in law’s shop. The goal was to get it inspectable so my wife could use it before I got back. She was clearly motivated, she picked up a cap for $400 on the way to drop it off. To get inspected we thought it needed:

    Parking brake cable

    Catalytic converters

    Fuel leak repair

    Tires


    Once it was on the lift, the list got bigger for inspection:

    Leaf Springs (Drivers cracked)

    Fuel tank/pump/sender (Why diagnose when you can replace everything)

    Rear axle (Weaping)

    F418BD09-4396-4C73-B193-6130389BA615.jpg

    Non-critical and already known; I will be replacing the tow hitch, it’s swiss cheese.

    158FC103-E621-4C44-825C-119FC9D5405E.jpg


    After some time zone challenged conversations with Brother in law, the goal of getting it inspectable before I come home was dropped. The difference in price and quality of me doing the work vs him are overwhelming. When I get home, the resto/mod will begin.


    E9085BE8-DA83-4D59-ADF0-F31FD71F72CE.jpg
    General AT/X 275/70R17


    Plans:

    Like most here, I think these trucks are damn fine OEM, but will make enhancements that suit it’s use as I replace and restore wear items. The truck will be used to tow a small livestock trailer, haul stuff, and to recreate. We have driven the ALCAN twice, and want to do it again with the kids. I really want to go explore the southwest for a while. This truck will be the vehicle, loaded with four of us and camping gear.


    My brother in law is going ahead with tires and the parking brake cable, and then my wife will bring it home.


    First order when home will be to pull the bed and address the rear suspension, find and fix the fuel leak, drop the old hitch, clean up and patch the rear axle housing, clean and grease rub the whole shindig (I believe I am required to acknowledge @PHM here). I replaced a broken leaf on the other tundra last year, and that was cheap and easy, but this one will get the ATS HD packs. As everyone knows the old packs are tired, and this gets used as a truck. I'll do shocks while back there, probably Icons. The bump stops are gone, so I’ll do the Archive U-bolt flip and add their bumps.


    Once the rear end is done, I’ll do a front end refresh, likely with the Mevotech/SPC upper arms and aftermarket coil overs, aiming for about 1.5 inches of lift. Looking to keep it pretty close to stock, but gain a bit of ground clearance. Undecided on coilover brand, right now I think The Dobinson’s IMS seem like a nice compromise, but Kings are so pretty! I’m pretty fugal and practical, so I am not 100% I’ll go to the bigger bore coil overs. I think the added ride quality, increased spring rate to match the back, and rebuildable (buy once) might be worth it.


    After suspension will be under hood stuff, mostly the standard preventative things. I’ve got a spreadsheet, I’ll keep a current snapshot of it in a subsequent post. I’m sure more needs will be discovered, who knows, maybe I’ll get my eyes on it and decide it’s not worth fixing. Hard to tell from the desert.
     
  2. Jun 27, 2021 at 6:12 AM
    #2
    KNABORES

    KNABORES Sarcasm incoming

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2020
    Member:
    #40572
    Messages:
    8,923
    Gender:
    Male
    Arkansas
    Vehicle:
    2000 Limited TRD AC 4X4 Thunder Grey 270k miles. 2019 Limited TRD CM 4x4 Cement Grey 75k miles
    2000: Bilstein 5100's 16x8 589's with 265/75/16 and 1.25" spacers Flowmaster 50 series over the axle dump Pioneer touchscreen with backup camera Full interior and dash LED conversion Trailer brake controller with 7 pin Bedliner coat bumpers & trim ARE topper 2019: ARE topper with full Bedrug kit and Vortex rack TRD shifter 1.25" wheel spacers (I like to live dangerously) Red tow hooks for that +15 grip bonus
    Thank you for your service and sacrifice. Here's hoping the truck is workable when you get home. Stay safe.
     
    Arringtonpalmer[OP] likes this.
  3. Jun 30, 2021 at 7:50 PM
    #3
    Arringtonpalmer

    Arringtonpalmer [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2020
    Member:
    #53095
    Messages:
    98
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Sam
    Vehicle:
    2004 Limited Double Cab
    ARE High Cap, Rhino Awning, Century Cap, ARB Bumper
    Thanks @KNABORES almost at 20 years, hoping this is the last desert trip! It’s been a pleasure

    Got another set of competent eyes under the truck this week, and his vote was also that it’s workable.
     
  4. Jul 1, 2021 at 11:43 PM
    #4
    Arringtonpalmer

    Arringtonpalmer [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2020
    Member:
    #53095
    Messages:
    98
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Sam
    Vehicle:
    2004 Limited Double Cab
    ARE High Cap, Rhino Awning, Century Cap, ARB Bumper
    signal-2021-07-01-220938.jpg
    New tires mounted. Recognize the folly of putting new shoes on first with other issues pending. I had my brother in law cease effort on the other tasks so my wife can park it at home until I am back.

    I like it. 275/70R17.
    signal-2021-07-01-220934.jpg
     
  5. Jul 18, 2021 at 1:47 AM
    #5
    Arringtonpalmer

    Arringtonpalmer [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2020
    Member:
    #53095
    Messages:
    98
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Sam
    Vehicle:
    2004 Limited Double Cab
    ARE High Cap, Rhino Awning, Century Cap, ARB Bumper
    Bought a bumper for it, 450 for an ARB and wife went and picked it up. Ooops.

    23C184FC-AD69-4520-A4F9-EA910B20B5B7.jpg C87E2174-B487-41EA-B9EF-885CECCD1877.jpg

    The brown is grime, not rust. I’ve heard about some of the bracket woes with these, we will see what happened when I get home.
     
    Tundra2 likes this.

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