New 2006 DC 4x4 with Pics

I’ve probably gone about this backwards, I’ve been posting and asking questions on individual items but haven’t done a more basic introduction and general posting about the new truck. I haven’t hardly driven it for a few reasons, and have not had it in a good place to get pics and do a proper intro. I’ve surely breached some kind of protocol and will accept all punishment with a sense of humor.

I bought a 2006 DC 4x4 SR5 Phantom Gray Pearl with dark gray cloth interior. 200k miles one previous owner, although the last 2 years the grandpa had given the truck to his grandson. They were selling to get the kid a smaller car for college. I was able to get a pretty good idea of the history of care on the truck. Grandpa took really good care of it by most accounts.

Documented oil changes every 5k miles. Really clean paint and interior. Interior needed a good detail due to the time grandson spent with it, but it had seat covers and Husky floor mats. The interior is really clean and I prefer the gray color over the beige. Would have bought a clean beige obviously, so got lucky with the gray.

I’ve owned a Toyota truck since 1993. From 1993-2009 had a 90 extended cab V6 SR5 4x4 manual 5 speed. The odometer stopped working at 250k and I never fixed it. I estimate it had 500k by the time I sold it.

From 2009 to 2022 had a 2004 DC Limited 4x4. It was sadly totaled with 335k miles. Still ran great. Bought another 2004 DC SR5 4x4 and it was totaled less than a year later. I was pissed. I’ve spent countless hours the last 2-3 years looking for trucks. I already miss the easy transmission fluid drain/fill on the 04.

I’ve been driving a 2011 CrewMax Rock Warrior for the last 1.5+ years trying to find a good FGT. I much prefer the FGT over the 2nd. Not even close, though the 5.7 is nice. If there was ever a doubt, I had a year and half to decide and compare. FGT all day. Love it.

I did not do a good job of getting before/after pics of small things I’ve done so far. I have a screenshot of the FB Marketplace listing. It has a spacer leveling kit up front. I think it is a bit higher in the front, but I’ve seen this a lot with “leveling” kits. I personally do not like that look, but it seems popular.

I’ve done a good interior detail so far. I installed the BakFlip G2 bed cover. Don’t love the finish on it, but there are few options. I painted the rail caps black. I removed the nerf bars and wind deflectors on the windows.

I lubed a poorly functioning driver’s door latch. It works good now. I think the grandson was trying to fix the door latch but didn’t know what he was trying to do, and he tore up the armrest trying to get the door panel off. I glued back together the armrest and used spray adhesive to address a peeling liner. The armrest came out particularly nice.

Paid to have timing belt and valve cover gaskets done. Maybe next time I’ll feel prepared to do those myself. I’m a novice to say the least, but am getting better and learning a lot. For years I’ve done basic stuff like brakes, plugs, minor suspension stuff, and fluids. I’m very competent with tools and building/fixing things, but I’m a rookie under the hood.

I think I got a good truck. I know how these should feel and sound. I saw the valve cover gaskets off in the shop and it was clean. Didn’t take pictures I need to address some spots of rust you guys have helped me with, but the engine, interior, and paint I believe are good.

List of things either needed or wanted in no particular order
1). Radiator
2). Brake fluid
3). Power steering fluid
4). Spark plugs
5). Grease drive line
6). Wheels/tires
7). HD leaf springs
8). Remove spacer, new coil overs
9). LBJ. Will end up doing the front end. Lots of components, bushings, etc original at 200k miles
10). Exterior window moldings
11). Exterior detail in warmer weather
12). Spray in bed liner behind the current drop in liner
13). Clean throttle body

Would love to hear things I’ve failed to mention above. I’ve been reading a lot of threads and am making lists and taking notes. I may have forgot to list something above. I had bought PCV valve and fuel filter for my 04 but never actually installed them. I still have them.

Have really enjoyed the forum. Amazed at the knowledge and expertise being shared. Lots of good stuff.

Here’s some pics. Exterior is not clean in these pics, I think it is going to clean up real nice with a proper detail

 

You're going to fit in just fine here.

Nice truck. I know you mentioned you don't like the tonneau cover, but that's exactly what I would like. I have a cheap, soft, tri folding cover that came on my 03. Some day I'll probably end up giving it away, once I'm ready to spend the coin on something nicer. For now I like it good enough.

 

I had soft roll up covers on both my 04s. They are nice. Durability can be an issue. Given the choice, I’d probably do a hard roll up. But choices are limited from manufacturers. The G2 is nice and will hold up well, I thought it was the best choice for my needs given the options. It’s growing on me.

 

Looks great. I don’t much care for the wheel / tire combo, but truck looks to be in very nice condition. Nice score.

 

Ya me too. Wheels and tires are going away

 

Very nice truck. I have envy for your OEM floor mats!

 

Nice looking 1GT! Sounds like you're doing all the right things. The first of which was saving it from the untold horrors the grandson would have bestowed upon it!

 

Like those wheels

 

Which Sony head unit is that? Just curious if it's the high-power one that's so sought after. They made a series of them with similar faceplate. Curious if the previous owner actually made a great choice.

Truck looks good! Low mileage isn't a taboo or curse, it's just something to be aware of. There are legit ways your truck gets to be this old with low miles.

 

Not sure on the head unit. I haven’t done much with it yet. Pic of owners manual below. It lists model #XAV-AX3200/XAV-AX3250. Can you tell from that? I don’t see any relevant details when navigating the menus and settings

EDIT: added pic of page in manual showing specs

 

Congratulations!

 

And the maxed out front end lift

 

Ugly wheels on a nice truck

 

Truck is nice, interior is super clean, nice score. The exterior looks nice and straight and the paint still shines. Very nice.

Looks like a 3" lift or more up front? Coil spacers stacked? Looks like an add-a-leaf and a block in the rear? Its tall, way taller than mine. Took off the tube steps i see, bet thats a jump to get up in that thing without a step. I use'tacould back when i was younger but those days are long gone. Very good looking truck, tire and wheel change and that thing is tits.

 

Nice truck
I don't even hate those shiny chrome wheels!

 

Looks like only the one puck style spacer upfront. I don’t know suspension very well. I think the added height is from the 17” wheel and 265/75/r17 tire? No blocks or added leafs in back. I believe that is stock in the rear.

I did just notice when taking these pics, the driver’s side upper ball joint has a split. All this is getting replaced, how dangerous is this upper? I have the option to not drive the vehicle if needed.

I don’t prefer the steps. Or if I need a step, it needs a better one. The ones on here were not very functional as a step and all they did was rub up and down the back of my pants and get things filthy

 

Pump some grease in that cracked boot and replace as soon as able. I wouldn't sweat it unless they are creaking and groaning already.

 

That looks like a 2" "leveling" kit spacer, but the axle angle screams 3" of lift.
The rear springs have a LOT of curvature to them, stock is practically flat with only a slight bit of radius in them. Those are likely an aftermarket rear leaf pack, i dont see an add-a-leaf but they are certainly taller than stock.
That front boot with the split is honestly likely not anything to be overly alarmed about. Jack the front end up, pull the tire, put a jack stand under the front spindle and lower your jack to put some weight on the suspension. Use a pry bar and pull and tug on the upper A-arm and see if you have any wiggle or slack. If not i would get a grease needle and pump grease into the boot and ride it until you plan to replace parts in the front end depending on what everything else looks like.

 

Great, thank you. I did not realize the leaf springs were not original. I need to put a good load on it and test it out a bit. I was planning on replacing with the ATS HD springs you guys recommend

 

Yours is the XAV-AX3200, this one: https://www.crutchfield.com/S-oHQSG36tE7j/p_158XAV3200/Sony-XAV-AX3200.html

It’s a solid unit. The AX7000 is the one that’s a whopping 45w/channel. But the one you’ve got there is still great.

 

honestly. Those leafs look stock af
These are mine. We're both '06 DC's only diff. is you have an extra diff.

 

No kidding! I tried to buy a blue DC from my neighbor down the road. He said he was giving it to his grandson. I walk past that truck a few times a week and I swear it is more and more tore up every time I see it.

What are the illegitimate ways?

Asking for a friend.

 

I can’t see any labels or markings on them to identify them as non stock. Based on age/wear compared to the frame and other metals I know are stock, I think they are stock. Any measurements you are aware of that would confirm?

 

We have one guy on here who a couple times a year he hauls stuff a few hours out and back. His truck is all highway miles, but it’s low miles. One example.

 

And that's illegitimate?

 

Ah, brain fart. Been having a lot of those lately. Illegit, just saying, “not ideal”.

 

So what's the ideal way to have low miles?

 

What I just mentioned.

Good is low miles by way of highway.

Bad is low miles by way of barely getting engine up to operating temp, i.e. my previous owner, who drove 4-5 miles to work in the AM, then drove 4-5 miles home in the afternoon. Monday thru Friday, for years.

Good is oil changes based on miles OR time, whichever threshold you hit first. Like, every 3,500 (for Dino) or 7,000 for full syn, or 9 months and 12 months (respectively), whichever comes first. Too many low mile vehicle owners change based on miles while doing short trips, and short trips are supposedly harder on your oil, breaking it down faster than highway miles.

Good is not using jiffy lube shops to do your oil changes, many use bargain barrel oil IF they even change your oil and filter.

 

"Bulk" oil. Yeah I worked in a Pennzoil shop in college, that later became a Mobil shop. Twice a week a big tanker truck would come and take our used oil, which was a mix of a bunch of types of oil and other auto fluids, even water. I was told they run that through a centrifuge to separate stuff and some other processes blah blah blah. Basically it was my understanding when buying bulk oil, you're essentially buying a mix of various reconstituted used oils blended with fresh conventional oil.

Reminds me of a documentary I watched about "recon" tobacco.
That's the stuff that falls on the floor, the expired stuff, and little shredded pieces of paper soaked in freebase nicotine. All blended together with "fresh" (dried) tobacco to make cigarettes. The freebase nicotine paper is both filler and crazy addictive. It's win win for big tobacco.

 

Dont drive it