OEM Plus (2022 Lunar Rock Pro), Bikes, and BS

LAST UPDATE: 30 JUN 2023

LATEST PICS: 02 MAR 2023









Build out:

EXTERIOR/ENGINE/PERFORMANCE

• @Baja Designs S2 fog light kit (amber)
• iKamper X-Cover 2.0
  • iKamper Annex Plus for X-Cover 2.0
• MillerCat catalytic converter shield
• OEM Predator tube steps
• Retrax PowertraxOne XR powered tonneau
  • OEM Tri-fold tonneau (removed)
• RockyMounts SplitRail LS hitch mount bike rack (COFT)
• UpTop Overland custom hooks
• UpTop Overland TRUSS Retrax AFS bed rack
  • Mid-height
  • MaxTrax boards (COFT)
  • RotoPax (COFT)
• UpTop Overland Zulu roof rack
  • Pelican 1750 Protector cases x2 (COFT)
  • @Baja Designs 40” S8 lightbar (COFT)
  • R4T rock/area lights x4
• Westcott Designs ditch brackets
• Xpel Stealth Wrap
  • Ceramic coating
  • Ceramic rear-matching front window tint
• 23Zero Bushman 68x98 awning (COFT)

INTERIOR

• AJT Designs injection key fob covers (red)
• AJT black steering wheel badge cover (before the cease and desist letter. )(COFT)
• Bulletpoint RubiGrid DashMount
• EEF Dual Charger v2
• OEM Console safe
• Screen ProTech PPF
  • Instrument cluster
  • Multimedia screen display
• Tufskinz console slide-lid pad

SUSPENSION/WHEELS

• Method 305 wheels (COFT)
  • 17x8.5/6x5.5/0 offset
  • Black
  • Custom “TRD” center caps (COFT)
• BFG K02 tires
  • 315/70R17

PLANS

• @Baja Designs 20” S8 lightbar (amber)
  • For bumper
• @Baja Designs XL80 ditch lights (amber)
• CBI Off-Road Covert front bumper
• Warn 12k lbs winch
  • Necessary cabling/shackling/straps etc
• SwitchPro SP9100 switch panel
• Rock sliders
  • Angled and tucked to body
  • No kick out

*COFT = “Carry-Over From Taco”

 

[08/06/2022]

Xpel Stealth PPF appointment made…

[UPDATE] 08/19/2022

Truck made it to wrap installer. Im departing Colorado on Saturday to go trade in taco and take delivery of Tundra once it’s done getting wrapped.



[UPDATE]. 08/23/2022

The wrap is nearly complete. Couple more panels, some decals, ceramic coating, and ceramic window tint is all that is left.

 

Preordered some small stuff before truck had been delivered:

• AJT Designs red key fobs
• Tufskinz center console pads
• ScreenProTech instrument cluster and primary screen PPF

 

[TRANSCRIBED FROM MY FIRST POST TO THIS FORUM]


LAST UPDATE: 15 August 2022

Hello,

I finally got allocated a Lunar Rock TRD Pro with Cockpit red interior last week and have an ETA of early-mid August. While I’m super stoked, it comes bittersweet as I have to depart from my much loved 2018 Cement Tacoma.



I’m also kinda stoked that will have the first Pro build on here. I’m hoping that this build turns out as fun as the Taco Build seen here on TacomaWorld:

OEM Plus (2018 Cement TRDOR), Bikes, and BS

My goals are the same as the Taco: make a truck with equal parts function and badassery to serve as a great overlander, off-roader, and commuter through my current home area high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Unfortunately it may be slow going at first until more parts are developed.

That said, here is the initial plan for the truck (in no particular order yet):

• Xpel Stealth wrap
• King 2.5 with resi/adjustment coilover/shock/springs
• Method 305s (black) (carryover from my Tacoma)
  • MESO Customs TRD center Caps
  • BFG K02 315/70R17 tires
• UpTOP Overland roof/TRUSS rack
  • Hoping for a “small” surprise with this one.
    
  • Standard carryover equipment from my taco: MaxTrax boards, RotoPax, GMRS antenna, pelicans, etc
• Baja Designs lightbars/Pods (carryover from my Tacoma)
  • S8 40” lightbar (roof rack)
  • R4T rack pod lights
  • S8 20” light bar (bumper)
  • Squadron Pro ditchlights
  • RTL rear light bar
• CBI Covert front bumper
  • 12k lbs winch
• Midland GMRS radio system (yet another carryover from the Tacoma)
• Assortment of minor interior upgrade items including:
  • MESO customs “TRD Start/Stop” button that I think looks better than OEM Pro button (hoping Toyota did their Toyota thing and just repurposed the same part that’s found in nearly all other vehicles with PBS)
  • Blackvue 4k front rear GPS camera system
  • sPOD

As I progress, I’ll post up the shops I use, deals I find, and give some reviews for new stuff I try out. I don’t want to give too much away or spoil surprises but I’m hoping to land a couple deals/partnerships which will definitely help along the way.

This opening post will change as more become available and pictures get updated. Thanks for reading and stay tuned!










08/03/2022: finally got word that the truck is actually being built.

 

Teaming up with one of my favorite companies.
Truck will be used to help prototype a new rack system being developed.

 

Bout to be twinning! I’m planning on a 305 70 18 Yokohama geolander mt with the wescott pro lift on the factory 18 bbs rims. I’m curious to see how the 315s look! I wanted 315s because they would be a little bit taller but this nationwide tire back order got with the 305s. Couldn’t quite stomach going with 37s thinking it would kill any functionality with the truck as far as gas mileage and power. Glad to see I’m not the only one with the watermelon truck option with lunar rock and cockpit red. Haha congrats man, I’ll be watching your build!

 

Looks killer!

 

So far I have lined up (some minor stuff so far so bare with me):

• Xpel stealth wrap with ceramic coating
  • Glossy PPF on a pillars and headlights
  • Tint match front windows
• Agreement with a company to drop off truck to prototype their latest roof rack system
  • Will also pick up their mid-height bed rack system
  • Baja S8 light bar and side rock lights will also be added
• ScreenProtech primary screen and instrument cluster screen protector film (prevents swirls and dust collection)
• Hard trifold tonneau
• Predator tubes (to hold me over until I can source some legit rock sliders)
• AJT Designs key fobs
• 35” tire package

 

I've been looking for a screen protector film for my 2019 Tundra, so thank you for providing a name to research!

 

Truck is on the transport from rail yard to dealer.

Also, have appointment made with rack company for the prototype. They will have it approximately 2 weeks and I’m planning on mid-height bed rack with BD S8 lightbar and all-new designed rock light area lighting.

Should have the usual accoutrements like MaxTrax, RotoPax, pelicans, etc.

 

TRD looks awesome, congrats on delivery being right around the corner!

@Front_Range_Pro looks like 6 months on the order. Did you receive any other communication from Toyota during the process?

Just started the same type of build last week for a Platinum, sensing February just trying to figure out level of communication during the build.

 

It was a lot longer than 6 months. Lol

Deposit: 18 Nov 2021
Production confirmation: 16 Feb 2022
Built: 2 Aug 2022
Rail: 4 Aug 2022
Rail Arrive: 12 Aug 2022
Ground Transport: 15 Aug 2022
Dealer Arrival: 17 Aug 2022

Toyota doesn’t communicate with you. But your dealer should. All those dates came from my sales guy keeping me in the loop.

 

SO CLOSE!
Looks sick even under wrap!

 

Finally took full delivery of the truck on Friday (26 Aug). Truck and wrap look frigging awesome. So glad I waited.
Def sorry to see the Taco depart though. It was a great truck.

Cement vs CeMINT:

 

So…minor issue with the wrap. It looks 90% but it’s one of those “if you know, you know” things that will will make it difficult when it gets time to posting to the gram and websites.

The big lesson: find a great wrap guy and use him. It is possible to botch one. Had several significant issues with this one. However, I reached to Xpel and they are going to warranty the wrap (removal and full installation) at a different shop.

All told though, I’m still really digging this monster. Got the 1000mi break in done during the ride back to Colorado from the dealerahip in Indiana.

 

Took the truck by Discount tire to swap the Method 305s with 35” BFGs that I held over from the Taco.

Discount swapped them for free but there a few items I was unprepared for: Although the bolt pattern is the same, the threads on the wheel studs and frequency of the TPMS sensors are not. If you are swapping wheels from a Tacoma to a Tundra, you will need new lugs and TPMS sensors.

 

Just some more stuff

 

PROs are ballin', looks good!

 

Just dropped it off for something all-new brewing.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CiqjlnJpz_f/?igshid=YzA2ZDJiZGQ=

 

That wrap is sexy! - this forums going to kill my bank account over time haha

 

Just picked up the truck from UpTop Overland. They had it for an excruciatingly long 2 weeks but it was definitely worth the wait!

They installed their all-new Zulu roof rack system prototype and were even nice enough to mount and pre-wire my BD S8 lightbar and R4T area lights. This will be extremely helpful for when I get the SwitchPro.

It’s super clean and beefy. Pics are pre-production version but this seems like yet another great roof rack. Has new grab handle and front fairing design. This one is aluminum but I was told there may be a powder coated steel version as well. Of course their usual color-matched powder coating options will be available.

Drove through a snow storm at 10k feet and rain and heavy traffic on my way home. I barely noticed any wind noise and actually seemed quieter than the Alpha rack I had on my Tacoma. Also noted that the moon roof slides back with 2-3 inches to spare and the vent works as well.

Rack looks nice and wide with the side armor extending down to give it a nice silhouette in contrast to some other racks that seem like high-top toupees.

Initial pics below. I’ll get it out tomorrow and do some measurements and try and get some more beauty/detailed shots.

I wasn’t advised on pricing or eventual product release yet but I’m thinking it may sit above the alpha in their product line.

 

Started a project to try and find a solution for the qi charging issue for the 22+ Tundras and iPhones.

The OEM qi charger just doesn’t charge fast and it is temperamental with regards to placement. It cycles on and off and is off most of the time.

Pulled the dash apart and looked at the setup. The biggest issue is the charging area of the qi charger is an abysmal 1”x 2”. That leaves just 2 sq in of surface area for the qi charger.

So me and a buddy busted out the ole 3D printer and are coming up with a plug and play mount to swap in a better charger. The goal is to develop a mount that will be perfectly placed and 100% secure mounting.

Looking good so far.

 

Finally got its first trail run in at Rainbow Falls, CO today.

Couple of super sketch parts but evaded all damages.

 

Working on some drive footage.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CjWUblyjpf5/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

 

It’s always the shots you think you messed up that come out the coolest…

 

Random pic.

 

This is one of the best builds I have seen, I may have to copy those sexy wheels including exact tire/wheel combo. (I have a 22’ limited Trd on order)

 

MillerCat Catalytic Converter shield arrived and installed today.

The cost is pretty pricey IMO. I think they are definitely cashing in on the supple/demand thing (like toilet paper in a pandemic). That being said, it seemed like the cleanest and most solid shield out there. The quality seems legit and the aluminum is a good 3/16” and the beveled bolt holes keep anything from catching sliding-wise.

Installation was fairly straight forward. The instructions were a bit confusing as they seem to be a blanket install for the non-hybrid/hybrid models and are further broken down depending on whether you have a Pro skid plate.

Few items to note during my install:

• Remove rear TRD plate bolts and discard and loosen the two more forward bolts to be able to drop it a bit and slide the MillerCat underneath.
  
• After bolting the side shields to the MillerCat plate, just go ahead and mount the rear section (keeping the rear plate loose). The instructions indicate (I think) to mount the rear section before installing the main shield. If you do it that way, you wont be able to mount the primary shield without dropping the TRD plate completely.
  
• Kit comes with button head security bolt replacement for the rear TRD plate bolts. However they don’t have washers and barely secure the plate. Do yourself a favor and just buy some thick galvanized 5/16 washers from your local hardware store.

 

Got to do some exploring around the area this past weekend…