InfernoPRO's Offroad Build

InfernoPRO's Offroad Build

How it currently sits:





Suspension & Wheels

Coachbuilder +3” Shackles
Coachbuilder Shims
Coachbuilder Tie Rods
Cooper S/T Maxx 295/70/18
Full Size Matching Spare
Spidertrax 1.25” Spacers (Front Only)

Exterior

SnugTop Rebel
Bedliner Spray
Smittybilt M1 Sliders
AllPro Apex Sliders w/ Bedliner Spray
BD Squadron Sport Fog Lights
SSO Slimline Bumper
Smittybilt X2O Winch
Factor 55 Fairlead
RCI Engine Skid Plate
RCI Transmission Skid Plate
RCI Gas Tank Skid Plate
Prinsu Cab Rack
Prinsu Shell Rack

Lighting

Baja Designs Onx6+ 40" Driving Combo
Baja Designs S2 Amber Driving Combo Chase
Baja Designs S2 Flood each side
Baja Designs Squadron Amber Wide Cornering

Interior

Husky Xact Contour Floor Liners
ESP Aluminum Rear Under Seat Storage
’17 Tacoma Leather Steering Wheel Swap
Switch Pros 9100



I had never owned a brand new vehicle prior to my truck. They were always 10+ years old and in need of work. But that is what I loved about them. Always working on them and fixing them up. While I always had a daily driver to work on, my project cars were my money pits. You can tell from the image below I had a type. When I finally got to a reasonable stopping point with current project show car (1972 Mach 1 Mustang) I decided to save up for a new truck.



I had never owned a truck, but after always needing to borrow one for camping/towing/building I knew that was my next vehicle. I wanted to finally get a new vehicle so that I wasn't always fixing it up and working on it. I had my eye set on a Ford Raptor (I know, I know), but in 2015 I saw my first Inferno TRD Pro. I almost crashed my car as my neck whipped around to get a second look. Spent that day googling what that truck brand was. Never thought I would move into the foreign truck market, but I new I needed to get one.

Finally a TRD Pro showed up at my local dealer, but it was white. Sorry white Tundra owners but I didn't want to get a contractor's truck. Talked to them for a week about the truck, but they just annoyed the heck out of me and wanted $5k over MSRP. Luckily another dealer near by got one in stock and they were asking MSRP. Best of all it was an Inferno! Drove up the next day and drove it off the lot with 6 miles on it. I finally had a new truck that didn't need any modifications. At least that's what I though, but I guess not modifying my vehicles is something I am bad at.

Follow along, I am going to add in some mods I have already done and update with new ones as they come along.

 

Beautiful truck - very nice work so far!

 

My first major purchase was the camper shell. My dogs were in no way ready for an open truck bed. Coming from an SUV, it was easy to just load the dog and gear to take off for camping. Plus I like to leave stuff in the back without worry of theft.



I started looking at all the major brands and it became clear that Snugtop was built better and had more metal components to last. I liked that they had the option for a full flip up rear window to take advantage of the crewmax full roll down window. I wanted the flip up side windows with the gas props, but it wouldn’t have been as functional for allowing air flow with the dogs in the back. As always, I have to show the wife how practical my big purchases are so she can buy off.

Ended up getting the Rebel during the first winter, which I put to immediate use. Have been happy with my purchase so far.

Picking it up after install.


Got it on just in time for some snow fun.


I have really liked this setup so far with the mattress in the bed. Easy to setup and functions really well. This is the DAC Full Size Camper Top Tent.

 

Nice looking truck. I also told myself I had no need for mods on a brand new truck this nice, but several thousand dollars later and I may have lied to myself. Oh well.

 

The second big mod I did was the @Coachbuilder1 TRD Pro setup. This was still fairly new when I was looking into it one the first year of the pro. After reading reviews and talking with David I pulled the trigger. I wanted a little more ride height since I was getting some bigger tires. Plus I wanted to get some experience working on my new trucks suspension, so I thought this would be a fun install.

Went with the +3” shackles. These are beasts! This should have been a fairly quick install, however getting the factory bushings out of the leaf pack was a challenge. I ended up doing what the instructions recommended and rented a bearing puller. Still not sure I would have gotten those out without a pneumatic drill.


Rear height before:


Rear height after:


Waited until I had a full weekend to do the front since I knew it would take a longer. And it definitely did. I went back and forth between the instructions and forums to find out how to take the front end apart. Finally got it done and I love the new look. The tie rods are much beefier and I feel safer off-road with these.



Got the 2 .5” shims in on each side.

If you bought your tie rods early on like me you most likely did not have the rubber sleeves over the joints. I talked with David this year about the constant noise from them and he let me know they sell boots to go over the heim joint. Get these! It will make you so much happier.

 

I think the worst lie is “I just need this one more thing and I will be done.”

Yeah right.

 

Nice I see your truck everyday at work. When you can, can you snap a pic of the rear corner of the cap where it meets the tailgate. Have the same cap and this is where im getting leaks.

 

Shoot me a picture of yours! I can at least be on the lookout.

I found some water in the bed for the first time during the rains we had a few weeks ago. I am hoping it was a one off. I’ll get some pictures. I think it leaked on the corner where the hatch seals to the tailgate. One of the reasons I went with snugtop was because it was suppose to have the best leak protection.

 

One mod I had been wanting to do for a long time was get a winch on the front. I had been doing a few solo offroad trips and was keeping it mild since I had no way of self recovery. After web wheeling for awhile I decided I still preferred the look of the stock bumper. That pushed me into the direction of the SDHQ hidden winch bumper. I did buy one, but before I got it installed I started seeing more and more of the SSO Slimline Bumper. I liked the fact it came with the hoop and added recovery points. Plus if gave easy access to winches that weren't 100% wireless like the Warn Zeon.

I went ahead and put in my order to SSO and after some research went with the Smittybilt X2O 10k winch. Waiting over 3 months for it to arrive was agony, but I finally got it! I knew taking off the front bumper was part of the install. I had been eyeing the Baja Designs fog light kit, so I decided to order that too and get it installed all at once.

Everything unpacked and ready for install:


Had done a bunch of research on where to mount the control box. Decided to modify the Smittybilt brackets to mount it on its side in the bumper where I could still reach in and access the switch and plug:



After I got the bumper ready I picked a good weekend and went at the install. I was a bit nervous at first cutting into the OEM bumper, but what fun are these mods without the fear of screwing up? It went pretty smooth, and the directions were very helpful. It was a little hard lining it up by myself, but with a good jack it can be done.




I opted for no light bar cutout since I still needed a front license plate. With a little modification I bent and trimmed the plate so it was sandwiched by the fairlead with no drilling. Last touch was to add in some shackles that I paint matched to keep the Inferno theme going.



I did finally get to use it this last weekend. It did not disappoint! So far no Tundra left behind.

 

Yeah I had snugtop on the taco and it had no leaks at all. I got the top for the tundra used so the seal is a bit worn at that corner. That winch bumper is clean.

 

The seals do start to split from opening and closing the tailgate too much. You have me thinking I should really take a hose to it and find exactly where the culprit is. You would think they would sell new seals...

 

Awesome! I don't like the look of most front bumper/winch combos but i love the look of yours and how you kept the original front corners. And i like the inferno hooks. Looks very tastefully done. Nice work!

 

Nice looking truck

 

Maybe I am a sucker for the color, but I definitely was looking to keep as much on the front as possible. If you are thinking about getting a winch, SSO is a great design to go with.

 

Thanks!

 

Took a closer look. The seal that goes around the entire rear hatch has a flap at the bottom that should push all that water out the back. Looks like it is cracked over the years. So now the water runs down the rail and catches the crack into the bed. Might check out if I can get a replacement.

 

Sweet build!

 

Nice build page!

A winch was not on my list until last weekend - Now it is on the list.

 

Just trying to keep up with everyone else on this forum!

 

Weren’t you looking to get something more like Joon’s & Matt’s bumper? It’s going to be hard finding something with high clearance and a location for a winch.

 

I've been eyeing the N-Fab MRDS bumper (Warren's) and was going to purchase over black friday but the delivery estimate was June. The more I look at the SDHQ bumpers, the more I like them (Soop has this w/o the winch mount). There are a few high clearance bumpers that offer winch mounts but it's tough to find one that works with the RCI skids.

 

Nice photo framing with the sticker.

 

I am going to have to compare those a little more next time we meet up. I think Warren modified his RCI plate to work with the bumper. Not sure what plate Soop has.

Happy accident

 

Mines the same way.

 

Nothing like a little armor to help out on the trail. After a failed run with the Smittybilt M1 Sliders/Steps (long story), I switched to something more stout. Got a great local deal on some All Pro Apex sliders. Had them sprayed with bedliner mainly for extra grip on the top step. I have already had to repaint the bottom where rocks were pulling off the liner, but I knew that was going to happen. So far very happy with them.





Next removed the TRD Pro aluminum skid for a full set of RCI skids. I was worried this would be too difficult of an install by myself, but the floor jack ended up being enough. Haven't had a chance to test them out, but I am going to appreciate the extra coverage.

 

Looking good Scott. Really really like that winch set up.

 

Awesome color man. Love the mods. I wanted to go crazy on my truck too, but my parents drive in the winter, and don't want me to spend so much. Last 2 things before I stop modding is some 20 inch Fuel rims, and tinting my windows. Changed my tail lights to Winjet tail lights, and interior lights to LED's. Also, plasti dipped my badges, got the black tailgate Tundra insert, changed the oil cap to a TRD one, and got a TRD air filter.

 

Sweet truck Scott! Looks clean and classy

 

If you like the OEM look this is a great add. Very happy with it

 

Once your done there will always be a new list. And sounds like you just need to do your mods in the summer!