Tundras live: Dumb Dad Jokes, Incorrect Opinions, and Relationship Advice.

As an active member of two vehicle forums with my username floating around on several other vehicle forums I would absolutely love to write up the journey of my first Tacoma. Fair warning though it will take a little while because tonight is more Hands-On than usual.

 

So it all started when I decided that I couldn't stand putting my Miata away for the winter. Even though I loved that car so much, making payments on something that I couldn't drive for like 5 months of the year was unacceptable even though I thought I would be fine with it (if I had a nice daily driver I might have felt different but my daily driver was somewhat of a beater.) So I start shopping around without having a specific vehicle in mind. Ended up at a Nissan dealership and test drove a frontier. Wasn't terrible but I didn't have the fall in love feeling like I did the Miata. He's like okay well let's have you try something else. So we go from a brand new or nearly brand new frontier to a like 2010 beat to shit Tacoma with 200,000 miles on it. I was looking at it wondering why they even brought it up to drive considering the interior and exterior were trashed. I said fine I'll test drive it. It ended up feeling wonderful and I figured if a beat to shit high mileage Tacoma felt good then they must be quality vehicles. A little time goes by and I happen to swing by my local Toyota dealership randomly. They had a brand new 2016 3rd gen and a 2014 2nd gen. Test drove both and decided I like the second gen more. It was a SR5 and had like 40,000 miles on it when I got it.

Both the Nissan and Toyota dealerships were not very good experiences but I will share that some other time. I don't actually recall how I came across Tacomaworld although I'm sure it's the way most people do, just googling a question with the word Tacoma in it. So when I started out I didn't really have any intention of modifying it too much. (Hahahahaha) when I bought it I had the dealership put on rain guards and install a remote start. Then the first mod was I bought some first gen Tundra Wheels off of Craigslist and had them painted body color and switched the original tires to those.

Then the next thing I did was put snow tires on the original Wheels as well as a BPF skid plate and shackle mount.


Then, ( pics got deleted unfortunately DX ) I installed the second gen TRD Pro suspension which was TRD branded 6112s up front and 5160 and back. It had a slight bro-lean which I actually didn't mind looks-wise but I wanted better performance so I put in the headstrong progressive three leaf add a leaf. Only picture I have after all that is pretty lame.

Next is when the truck started to look really good and I got fired up. I got some MB 352s and Falken Wildpeaks for a good price.

Next I put a tool box in and had a drink at the Mexican restaurant.


Next was the pro grille.

Next wasn't a mod but rather the first time I got rowdy.

Then JBA UCAs went on

Then made a great life memory (trip out west)

Next was worst off-roading damage it received.

Next was acquiring and installing the bumper. I saw the bumper on Craigslist months before I actually picked it up. The price was too good to be true and I figured it was a scam and I didn't feel like losing my kidneys. Funny enough while on vacation I happened to be miles away from where it said it was for sale. I said f it, I'll go check it out and if anything feels shady I'm out of there. Ended up getting a $1,200 bumper for $400.

Then, because I didn't like how the skid plate looked with the bumper, the skid plate got modified.


Then I installed the headstrong top plate spacers just for a tiny bit more lift and then flexed for a picture.

Lastly, the worst part of the whole story, I put on a bed extender and full bud built skid plates just to trade it in like 2 weeks later.
Now that you've seen mostly good, some bad. When I lifted it my needle bearing went bad (which is common unfortunately) so I put the ECGS bushing in. Also, when Iifted it, it got a bad take off shudder (also common, also unfortunate.) Decided to change the carrier bearing seeing as it had some play and looked rough. Accidentally cracked a driveshaft yoke during replacement. Welded the crack until the new part came in (which was pretty hard to locate.) Put new yoke in and driveshaft was out of balance. Unlike all the big city folks who have a specialty shop for everything nearby, nearest drive line shop to me was like 4 hours away. Did a redneck balance on jackstands. Still bad takeoff shudder but fine otherwise. Tried some shims to change pinion angle. Still didn't work. Drove far too long with bad shudder before finally getting a Tom Woods one piece.

Final thoughts/reasons for trade. Although not real high mileage for a 2nd gen at 110,000, they were very hard miles (at one point I blew the headlight trim pieces out from getting so rowdy that the bumper/frame twisted and hit the trim) I beat the shit out of that truck. I had a vibration, and it could have been as simple as a rear wheel bearing (fronts were already changed) but I feared driving with such bad shudder so long could have damaged bearing in transmission or transfer case. I didn't feel like diagnosing it. Also, while not super rusty it had more than I would like seeing how it was never rust proofed until late in it's life. Also, all the modifications that made it cool gave it horrendous gas mileage. I had my fun with it, I didn't regret trading it though I wish I would have traded it in on something other than the passport.

 

@GODZILLA

 

Yeah there was lots learned, and sometimes I'm a slow learner so I had to relearn stuff a few times lol. No regerts though

 

Mmmmm more like this

 

Night!

 

POS school didn’t handle some kid fucking with my son and it’s been almost a week
Fuck that. I went to his school. Principal too busy to see me. No problem, I’ll handle it (like I told them).

“she can call you at 9 sir”

-no.

“did you want to meet with her in person and setup an appt”?

-sure but it has to be now.

“she can’t sir; 9A she can call you”

-she can’t take 5 mins then I’m going to have my son find this kid right now, and hit him in the face. That’s her options with me or I’m going to handle it right now

I walked off


Found the kid. Scared him shitless where he’s crying like a fucking punk he is, and had my kid shove him. Punk ass bitch. Fucking hate bullies. Fuck around and find out.

 

Local PD called me (expected) I explained my side. She said she’s so frustrated with this school as she’s done this so many times and the school hasn’t done anything. She agreed with me as a parent and would encourage her kids to stand up for themselves and beat the kids ass as well. Case closed. I’m going to write her commanders and deputy chief as I know them to let them know how supportive she was of the situation.

 

Wife is already calling them and then following it with an email

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlpBxjwy1Es

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiXb-6j4R98