1st Gen Tundra + OVRLND CAMPER family Camping Truck Build

Hello. Starting a build thread here to document everything I do with my 1st gen Tundra.

Flew from Long Beach to Denver to pick this up! 2006 Double Cab TRD Offroad with 4x4... 180k miles and well maintained! First pics in the desert was when I bought the truck, on the trip home. Second pic is today after swapping over my 255/80/17s w/ Level 8 MK6 (zero offset) wheels from my Tacoma. By the way... I had a 2006 DCLB tacoma that I loved... but 2wd was getting old and so was the interior space with family of four. Super stoked on this one so far...
Hello. Starting a build thread here to document everything I do with my 1st gen Tundra.






I think the 255 size is pretty darn good on the 1st gen tundras! hardly notice any difference in power and braking compared to the 265/75/16s that were on it before. If anyone is curious.... Toyo Open Country AT3s only weigh in around 51lbs. Not bad for an all terrain 33".

Will be adding a lot more info in the coming days just getting the thread started!

 

Welcome! Congrats on the upgrade.

 

thanks! I appreciate the welcome.

 

Next up gonna change out the oil in the diffs. Lucas in the rear (non-synthetic for limited slip) and synthetic in the front as recommended by some fine members on this forum. Think it'll harm anything to have two different brands?

 

Do you mean, two different weights? Nope. I just had my truck regeared and the shop put in different weight gear oil front and back and spec'd in writing that I do the same.

 

Awesome thanks. Yeah I meant different brand and also weight.

 

Dropped this stuff in...

$20 At-205 Re-Seal Stops Leaks, 8 Ounce Bottle

At-205... To see if this helps with minor camshaft seal leak and power steering leak

 

Ok, it took me a minute to find my notes in the gear oil recommended by ProGear in San Diego. I know most 1st gen participants on here like Lucas. These guys are emphatic that Shaeffer gear oil is best, and will order it for customers that want to do maintenance changes at home.
90 weight, front diff
140 weight, rear diff

 

ok thanks for checking.

 

I'm about to do exactly that, for exact same reason. How much you put in for power steering? Did you remove any oil or steering fluid prior?

 

3oz for Power steering. Didn't remove any fluid or oil.

I watched this video before

https://youtu.be/LgctUEfEE14?si=ssWgPWapVEkWfoLv

 

Perfect! And a full bottle for oil?

 

Yep that's what I did

 

I used this stuff to clean up the wheels and tires just now. Same stuff I used to clean up the Tacoma to get ready to sell. Damn I'm going to miss that truck, but the two-wheel drive and the smaller interiors was starting to kill me.

 

Recently swapped my tires/wheels over from the Tacoma. These look great on the Tundra!

Took her out to get dirty for the first time. Tested out the 4wd lo and hi everything shifted great. the 33s 255/80/17 barely rubbed and that extra inch of height was great. Super happy with it so far considering i mainly bought this truck for overlanding/camping trips. Here are some pics:

Off-road with my First gen Tundra by Mike Macias, on Flickr

Off-road with my First gen Tundra by Mike Macias, on Flickr

Off-road with my First gen Tundra by Mike Macias, on Flickr

Off-road with my First gen Tundra by Mike Macias, on Flickr

Off-road with my First gen Tundra by Mike Macias, on Flickr

Off-road with my First gen Tundra by Mike Macias, on Flickr

Off-road with my First gen Tundra by Mike Macias, on Flickr

Off-road with my First gen Tundra by Mike Macias, on Flickr

Off-road with my First gen Tundra by Mike Macias, on Flickr

Off-road with my First gen Tundra by Mike Macias, on Flickr

More first gen Tundra photos by Mike Macias, on Flickr

More first gen Tundra photos by Mike Macias, on Flickr

 

Sadly it took me this long to discover that there are generation specific build threads. I’m super stoked to see how this turns out

 

Thanks and welcome to my build thread!

 

cross-posting this in a few relative threads to help others:


I finally got my hands on a bedrug - although it's just the floor portion of this product. It didn't come with the zippered sides but it has the built in zippers for attaching the sides. It's made for an access cab (model number), although it fits my double cab perfectly. it includes the tailgate area built in so it will cover the cab between the bed and tailgate, unlike the universal model. I wanted that "bridge" of material between the bed and tailgate to help with dust intrusion in the camper. Since the access cab has shorter bedsides and tailgate, the tailgate area of the rug is a bit short. It's a little bit of a bummer but it's not a deal breaker for me. I would like to find the sides that I can zip up to this to help with insulation a bit and overall comfort inside the camper. Worse case I will have to DIY up the sides with some outdoor carpet.

I just wanted to post this here for anyone looking for a bedrug for a 1st gen Tundra.

 

That feeling you get when you realize the cup holders on your old truck fits a nalgene bottle

 

Nostalgic

 

Do you know what a nalgene is? Texas seems to be some kind of vortex……

 

Yes. Also, I grew up in NC and spent many weekends on the AT. I practically lived in this store

Jesse Brown's Nalgene Water Bottle – Jesse Brown’s Outdoors (jessebrowns.com)

 

it's a staple for many campers and hikers. super simple, nearly indestructible water bottle. usually around $14. Holds a lot of water. A popular cold weather camping hack is to heat up some water to nearly a boil, pour it into the nalgene, and slip that into your sleeping bag near your chest or feet to help keep you warm. Drink in the morning. Personally I prefer my insulated water bottle that keeps my water ice cold all day.

 

wife found this and got it for me as a gift. Getting my OVRLND CAMPERS truck camper installed next week and I've been super stoked about it. she's awesome.

https://campovrlnd.com/

 

I was joshing; the texas crew in Sedona acted like we were speaking a foreign language when we brought up nalgenes and was sorta the running joke the whole week.

 

haha those texas guys are just too cool. speaking of sedona, the camper company is located in flagstaff so i'm driving there next thursday for install! Plan to drive down to sedona that night and possibly spend a few days there. gotta find a few easy hikes to do w/ the kiddos. i'm sure there are plenty.

 

Snow should be well melted by then; 3' was on the ground this weekend.

 

What was the brand of camper you went with?
Look into soldiers pass, requires permits but is a short moderate trail to a few cool hiking spots and lookouts

from the hike at the end of soldiers pass

 

Awesome thanks for the info about soldier pass. Great to see that kid out in the wilderness exploring.

The company is called OVRLND CAMPERS out of Flagstaff. It's a pop top camper that's made of all aluminum and sits on the bed rails instead of a slide in. The interior is left bare so you can build it however you want or keep it minimal. Has a 65x80 bed above the cab and plenty of standing room. At around 350lbs it's perfect for these Tundras that don't have a huge payload capacity. I'll have some photos next week!

 

Good to know! It looks like they might be getting a little bit more snow on Wednesday evening. I'll be driving up early Thursday from Long Beach, California.