2016 TRD Pro Build

Hey all, figured I'd get a thread started as I'm sure I'll have questions as I work through things. A little background, I'm a life long Toyota guy. Have owned more Land Cruisers than I can count including 40's, 80's, 100's and a 200. Still have my 80 for when I want to go solo on more challenging rides.

I bought this TRD Pro a couple of years ago with the intent to build it for "overlanding" (not a fan of the term but whatever) with my wife and pup. I'm planning to retire and hit the road in a year or two so not in a huge rush, but have made some progress.

I look forward to sharing the journey, and hopefully help some folks out with questions, as I know you all have already helped me with the great threads on this site.

The 80..

My Tundra as purchased...

My first mod was the Spider Roof Rack. Very solid design, easy install and a good look.

More coming later...

 

Second mod was unplanned. I parked at the Denver airport for a couple days and when I returned, I was short my cats, and they also managed to slice my fuel line. So, an UBER later I was home ordering MillerCat skids. Some people suck. Don't have any pics, but happy to take some if anyone wants to see. They are a very nice design and I couldn't be happier.

I also had AMP Research steps which I can't say enough good things about. As good as they are, they aren't going to work off-road, so I removed them and went with RCI Sliders. Extremely happy with the design. Super stout, easy install and look great. Also added the gas tank skid from RCI.


For bumpers, there are so many good choices so it wasn't easy to decide. I was at Overland Expo and saw a few with the CBI setups and pulled the trigger on both front and rear. I think it was a good choice. The install was much easier than some other bumpers I've installed on my Land Cruisers, they are very well built and look pretty damn good I think.


On the front, I mounted a Comeup winch, and relocated the Rigid light bar that had been installed behind the stock bumper. Rather than relocating the winch controller, I chose to cut the grill enough to allow for access to the power button on the controller. Worst case, I can cut a bit more to allow for connecting the plug, but would prefer not to, and I'll throw a spare battery in the truck for the wireless controller.



Pic of the pup...

 

sorry to hear about the cats at DIA. I'm pulling my MillerCats for a full set of RCI skids. bad timing ha.

reminds me...i should start one of these threads

 

You'll be able to sell those with all the cat theft going on now. Saved a bit of weight with them vs. the full RCI stuff, but in hindsight, the RCI skids are very nice, and a good bunch of guys. I have a Pro so the front skid is solid and didn't need anything there. If they'd built bumpers, I'd have gotten a set.

 

RCI just released a front bumper for us. I'm trying to get a time set up with them to test it on the Pro grill sensors

 

They mentioned something was coming but I'd already ordered. GL. No doubt it will be a solid product.

 

Sweet truck, man! I live in Foco too (Fossil Creek area). Hopefully, I’ll see you and your truck around sometime soon!

 

Sweet looking pro! That rear bumper looks good!

Love the Land Cruiser I have yet to own one .

 

Thanks! I'm right around the corner from you in Stetson Creek.

Thank you. I highly recommend owning a LC, just know you'll never be the same again.

 

Land Cruisers, dogs and Tundras can't go wrong with any of them. I look forward to seeing the progress on the Tundra.

 

Haven't updated in a while but made a ton of progress and took it for a drive. 8400 miles to Tuk, then to Alaska and back to CO. Had a blast and everything worked as planned.

Major changes:

• Uptop Rack
• Softtopper
• Awning
• National Luna Battery system with solar backup
• 35g water supply and pump
• iKamper 2.0 with a 3.0 tent/awning upgrade
• Fridge/Freezer slide out
• Rear Locker - Didn't need it on this trip

 

That is an absolutely epic road trip...



So, between your 2nd and last pics, did you basically continue straight north or did your route take you to the NW corner of Alaska??



Sorry, I'm not trying to get into your business, but if you don't mind sharing coordinates, etc. of where you landed in that last pic I'd appreciate it.



I did a long road trip w/my dad when I was 16 through Canada and up and into Alaska (mostly off the west coast and not nearly as far north as you went), but I'd like to pursue another road trip through Alaska and explore some more of the beauty of that region....

 

Hey, happy to share what we did. This is the map we followed pretty closely, and the only piece we didn't hit was the Dalton Highway to Deadhorse. Opted for the Tuk route to the Arctic. So to answer your question, we took the Dempster up and back to Dawson City and from there, over the "top of the world" highway through the border to Chicken and then to Fairbanks. From there to Denali, Anchorage and then the spots down on the Kenai.

 

Thank you...


Would love to see more photos of your trip that you're comfortable posting, and if you don't mind I may reach out to you in the future for some tips and lessons learned, etc. for a newby planning a similar trip into that area of the country...

 

Sure thing. Reach out anytime.

Here are a few pics.

 

Holgate glacier in KFNP?

My goal is to find the time to set aside to drive my truck to the arctic as well.

Thanks for the pics

 

That is actually Iliac Glacier. You see that from a boat that takes you to within 1/4 mile of where it hits the ocean.

 

Nicely done Looks like a lot of fun!