2008 CM Build

Found a high mileage 2008 CM TRD for a screaming price in this crazy market. A bit rough around the edges, poor man’s lift kit, and mostly stock items but with a full maintenance history.

This rig will replace an 90s 350 block Silverado as a 3rd vehicle doing 50/50 pavement vs off-road plus towing #3500 sled trailer, raft trailer, and firewood duties seasonally.

First step was piecing together a suspension upgrade. OME 613 kit plus dakar leafs, Coachbuilder 2” shackles, coachbuilder steering rods, JBA UCAs, diff & carrier drop.

Next up was wheels. Wanted to stick with 18s but stock alloy were road rashed and rusting with the ole p255 Michelin LTX. Had to go… Lurking in online classifieds paid off after a month when I scored a set of Method 305 with almost new 35” BFG KO2! Bingo.

Last I had my eye on a meaningful front bumper that could actually smack down a deer or elk. I live in the Rockies and drive in dark shoulder seasons, so this was a needed mod. Went back and forth about fabricating or buying a self weld kit but didn’t like anything off the shelf aesthetically. When a new to me ARB deluxe popped online locally for a couple hundred discount I couldn’t resist. Bam!

Last week I finally got the last bits installed. Huge improvements in handling and responsiveness. Very pleased with turn key nature of all upgrades working together. Dakar leafs don’t squat under towing so far and washboard and rock crawl handling immensely improved.

Safe travels

 

mmm those shackles look noice. you rock crawl with those boat anchors though?

 

@grave_ agreed - CB shackles are uber burl. This truck hauls crap and people, 50% of the time on public lands in the N Rockies where we see everything from rocky FS trails to washboard gravel to deer trails. The OEM build here was all about set and forget.

 

Great looking rig

 

Welcome to "da club!" I too am in Bozo...I know right where you're at as I've driven by several times noticing your truck! Great looking, strong rig!

 

Time for another contribution to the brain trust on 2nd gen Tundra modifications.

Photos below of truck today, including: OME 613 suspension with dakar rear leafs, JBA UCA, CB shackles, CB differential drop, CB tie rod replacement, method 305 18x9, 37x12.5r18, ARB bumper + 12k winch.

 

I’ve probably read 99% of suspension threads online regarding OME, removing your sway bar, actual lift, and how the vehicle feels both with stock diff gearing and without sway bar and larger wheels.

My subjective experience is as follows.
First, OME 613 full lift with dakar leafs should include R&R of your UCA, a diff drop, and checking/maintaining your front CVs and steering. The 613 netted about a 3.5” lift even with the heavy ARB bumper and winch. 613 also rides stiff, like a 3500 series truck; the Wife has complained since day one as her experience is a stock 2018 Seqouia (a land yacht comparatively).

In combination with my JBA UCA, CB tie rod mods, diff drop, and preventative maintenance on CVs and other steering elements, OME 613 does great handling towing and moderate off-roading on everything USFS and BLM public land has to offer. Note I don’t crawl, but I do drive places a Tundra probably shouldn’t go and where I ought to have a locker or real LSD.

Driving 35s felt fine with no meaningful difference on the engine or suspension. Adding 37s, and removing front sway bar, helped soften ride noticeably but added a bit of twitchy-ness to highway driving >65mph. I’ve adapted my driving style, and for now will keep FSB off. Of note, 37s lifted with OME 613 and my mods feel significantly softer and precise in slower driving, and while there is body roll, it is not intolerable for commuting. Reminds me of driving a mid 90s Silverado in terms of engine lugging and commuting performance. Note: I don’t rally drive commuting, and willing trade off street driving performance for off road handling

Another notable is the 37 wheel effect on stock gears. Again, YMMV, but you can keep stock gearing, but it will affect your driving performance in terms of responsiveness compared to stock. Considering I’m likely to keep this vehicle as a secondary vehicle for toy hauling, accessing weird places, and family camping I’ll likely pony up for the re-gear and add a powertrax LSD, which will make towing more enjoyable and mean far less likelihood of getting stuck in mud and snow.

Driving on 37s overall is great on the whole so long as you accept the consequences in terms of your suspension limitations, invest in steering mods, and you do the necessary BMC alongside wheels with offsets. I would not drive a Tundra CM without a FSB on lighter rate springs than 700lbs (ome 613 is 750/lb rate, fox 2.5 is 700/lb rate), and I’ll admit highway driving and towing a toy trailer requires more attention than stock, and the differential gearing, for driving in the American West, would be happier with 4.88 or 5.29

Thanks for reading, safe driving.

 

Nice work!! I drive by your truck everyday and always notice it! Truck is looking like a useful truck now!!