1. Welcome to Tundras.com!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tundra discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other Tundra owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Mike's desert adventure toy build - 4x4 AC

Discussion in '1st Gen Builds (2000-2006)' started by MHulsebos, Sep 24, 2021.

  1. Dec 2, 2021 at 7:42 PM
    #31
    FrenchToasty

    FrenchToasty The Desert rat, 6 lug enthusiast

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2019
    Member:
    #36156
    Messages:
    15,435
    First Name:
    Mo
    The SoAz
    Vehicle:
    2006 DC 4.88s Elocker and some other trippy stuff
    None
    It’s not a huge deal just one more step for me. I live where you can’t leave anything out either. But it’s also nice because then you have a great excuse to not help anyone move; oh it can’t fit under my camper shell, sorry.
     
    MHulsebos[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  2. Dec 2, 2021 at 8:08 PM
    #32
    MHulsebos

    MHulsebos [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2021
    Member:
    #68506
    Messages:
    30
    Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2000 Tundra AC 4x4
    Haha! I like your thinking here :rofl:
     
  3. Dec 3, 2021 at 12:15 AM
    #33
    1stgentundradriver

    1stgentundradriver Each sticker adds at least 5hp

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2020
    Member:
    #49798
    Messages:
    422
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Josh
    Silverdale Washington
    Vehicle:
    2006 DC 4x4 Limited
    A few
    My vote is a softopper…if you’re in Arizona chances are it doesn’t rain all that much. You can camp in it and you can fold it out of the way for big tall stuff. If you’re just looking for storage maybe pickup a toolbox that secures to your front two tie downs via turnbuckle…added storage that’s removable if you need it to be.









    or just do what I did and pick up a used decked system for your truck and cut it to fit :yes:
     
  4. Dec 19, 2021 at 4:52 PM
    #34
    MHulsebos

    MHulsebos [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2021
    Member:
    #68506
    Messages:
    30
    Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2000 Tundra AC 4x4
    Got some maintenance items handled today. I've been shooting quite a bit lately, about once a week, and I've been hearing something clanking around under the truck. When I noticed it I got under and had a look and I found my dust shield on the passenger side was the only thing loose. The drivers side was long gone, which I didn't realize until I already had half my lift done a couple months ago, or I'd have pulled this side then. Looks like it finally just broke all the way around due to rust, so fortunately it was pretty easy to remove. Just had to pull the brakes on that side then break it out the rest of the way

    Source of the noise


    Broken out and put aside
    20211219_151652.jpg

    Then I did my carrier bearing, installing a brand new Spicer unit. The old one had some play and I wasn't really sure what was considered 'within spec' for play. Turns out that mine was actually fine, but since it was covered in rust I don't mind having a fresh unit in there for peace of mind.

    Old one came apart during removal, but the bearing itself was still smooth.
    20211219_163624.jpg
    20211219_163635.jpg

    New one installed 20211219_163553.jpg

    Finally, I finished up the day by changing my oil and rotating tires. Nothing special to note here, but it's nice to know that in 5k miles it doesn't burn or leak a drop.

    Here's a pic of the truck at the shooting spot just for fun. The camper is growing on me, and is nice because I can just leave my steel targets back there all the time and go straight to my spot any time I can get out of my office early since it's not too far out of town.
    20211206_172115.jpg
     
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2021
    5N0W808, toyofan87, Bprose and 3 others like this.
  5. Dec 19, 2021 at 5:35 PM
    #35
    TruPatriot

    TruPatriot New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2021
    Member:
    #60755
    Messages:
    262
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Lee
    Northeast Texas
    Vehicle:
    2020 TRD Pro MGM Mall Crawler & Trail Riding Queen
    Very nice build! Thank you for sharing your journey with this build, I greatly enjoyed it!
     
    MHulsebos[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  6. Dec 19, 2021 at 9:23 PM
    #36
    1stgentundradriver

    1stgentundradriver Each sticker adds at least 5hp

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2020
    Member:
    #49798
    Messages:
    422
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Josh
    Silverdale Washington
    Vehicle:
    2006 DC 4x4 Limited
    A few
    Such a sweet truck. Love it.
     
    MHulsebos[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  7. Dec 20, 2021 at 9:31 AM
    #37
    MHulsebos

    MHulsebos [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2021
    Member:
    #68506
    Messages:
    30
    Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2000 Tundra AC 4x4
    Thanks dudes :cheers:. Still a lot more to do, but it's coming along.
     
    1stgentundradriver likes this.
  8. Dec 25, 2021 at 5:32 PM
    #38
    MHulsebos

    MHulsebos [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2021
    Member:
    #68506
    Messages:
    30
    Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2000 Tundra AC 4x4
    No real updates on the truck, but we had a good Christmas and took the truck up North to find some snow and didn't get it stuck :p.

    20211225_135447.jpg
    20211225_142323.jpg

    Hope everyone else had a safe holiday :santa2:
     
  9. Dec 28, 2021 at 4:12 PM
    #39
    MHulsebos

    MHulsebos [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2021
    Member:
    #68506
    Messages:
    30
    Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2000 Tundra AC 4x4
    Polished my headlights today. We're taking the truck to Texas to visit family this week and it's nearly a 1000 mile drive, and we'll do it in one shot, which means the crusty headlights needed a lil love so that we can actually see at night on some of the long empty roads there. I intend to do a hid retrofit sometime but just haven't had the chance to do it yet, so a quick polish will have to do.

    Before
    20211228_161217.jpg
    20211228_161211.jpg

    After
    20211228_164325.jpg
    20211228_164318.jpg

    Much better
    20211228_164311.jpg

    I didn't clear coat these, so I'll put a ceramic coat on them tomorrow after I give the truck a full wash. I dont expect that I'll keep these on long enough for them to re-yellow again anyway though.
     
    TruPatriot likes this.
  10. Dec 28, 2021 at 5:30 PM
    #40
    TruPatriot

    TruPatriot New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2021
    Member:
    #60755
    Messages:
    262
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Lee
    Northeast Texas
    Vehicle:
    2020 TRD Pro MGM Mall Crawler & Trail Riding Queen
    They look great!
     
    MHulsebos[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  11. Jan 18, 2022 at 2:33 PM
    #41
    mmcdaniel

    mmcdaniel New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2022
    Member:
    #73213
    Messages:
    6
    Gender:
    Male
    Mississippi Delta
    Vehicle:
    '01 Tundra AC 4x4 Limited
    Love the build! I'm going for something very similar. I think the camper shell fits the access cabs so well. I'm on the hunt for mine, as well! Look forward to see what else you have in store for that beast!
     
    MHulsebos[OP] likes this.
  12. Jan 18, 2022 at 2:38 PM
    #42
    Black@Blue19

    Black@Blue19 Old Salt

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2018
    Member:
    #23066
    Messages:
    3,616
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ken
    SE Texas
    Vehicle:
    21 SR5 TSS Onroad, 24 Camaro 2SS 6.2 L
    To much to list:)
    Come Spring and this is just a suggestion power wash the under carriage and POR that thing. Paint Over Rust. You have done a bunch to that truck.
     
    MHulsebos[OP] likes this.
  13. Jan 18, 2022 at 2:57 PM
    #43
    toyofan87

    toyofan87 Beer thirty

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2020
    Member:
    #43653
    Messages:
    1,381
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Seth
    Gettysburg, Penna
    Vehicle:
    80- Longbed/87-4Runner/08-Sr5 Tundra
    Toytec 2.0 Aluma 3/1.5 lift with JBA's UCA Falkens AT3 295/70/18
    Doing a killer job on the gen 1, congrats.. Well done.
     
    MHulsebos[OP] likes this.
  14. Jan 18, 2022 at 3:40 PM
    #44
    MHulsebos

    MHulsebos [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2021
    Member:
    #68506
    Messages:
    30
    Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2000 Tundra AC 4x4
    I am going to do something along these lines at some point here. I have some minor surface rust in the corners of a few areas of the new(ish?) frame, but it's mostly in really good shape still. A lil bit of wire wheel love and a good coating ought to keep it in decent shape. This truck will mostly see dry dirt, and will rarely see salted roads. Still, I'd hate to see it degrade if I can prevent it.
     
  15. Jan 18, 2022 at 4:10 PM
    #45
    MHulsebos

    MHulsebos [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2021
    Member:
    #68506
    Messages:
    30
    Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2000 Tundra AC 4x4
    So, just before our trip to Texas the alternator started whining a bit. Voltage was still reading ok, but it was whining louder and louder, and my idle would not stay consistent for long, it kept rising, I assume because it was trying to keep up with electrical demand of a slowly failing alternator. My lights were also dimming a lil if I rolled windows down while they were on. So, we took the Prius instead and left the truck at home. Boo. :(

    Upon return, I ordered up a replacement Denso reman and installed it.

    20220116_081420.jpg

    New on left, old on right. 20220116_082116.jpg

    After replacement, I have no more dimming and the loud whine is gone. We took it for a 300ish mile trip to a distant desert spot immediately following the replacement and the truck did great. Seemed to drive much smoother, and idle stopped surging and stays consistent now.

    Interestingly, there is still a very, very faint whine, and I'm having trouble determining if this is normal or not. I only hear it from the passenger wheel well, and only if I stick my head down there. I am familiar with Toyota V8's, but in car chassis, where the alternator is buried in the bay, and I wouldn't be able to hear this faint whine anyway. I'm wondering if I'm just hearing a natural sound that I only hear because the alternator is basically completely exposed in the passenger fender, especially since my splash shields are gone. I dont know. Maybe I'm just being paranoid. I guess I'll keep watch for anything abnormal. :notsure:.
     
    Last edited: Jan 18, 2022
  16. Mar 19, 2022 at 7:05 PM
    #46
    MHulsebos

    MHulsebos [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2021
    Member:
    #68506
    Messages:
    30
    Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2000 Tundra AC 4x4
    Well boys, I've decided that the Tundra was a great intro to offroading for me, but I'm sick of working on this rusty thing LOL. Between the rust on everything but the frame, upcoming maintenance, and upgrades I wanted to do, I realized that I would ultimately be happier in something newer, so I brought home this 2022 TRD Offroad 4x4 Tacoma, and man is it sweet so far. I can hear your booing through the screen, trust me. At least I kept it in the family, I guess.
    20220311_123746.jpg 20220311_123733.jpg

    Anyway, the Tundra has been brought back to a more presentable form to be sold, I'll be selling the camper separate, and putting the TRD wheels on the Tacoma once it gets lifted.
    20220319_123434.jpg

    It's been fun guys. I'm probably out for good at this point. Cheers! :cheers:
     
  17. Mar 27, 2022 at 4:33 PM
    #47
    Jayprestonky

    Jayprestonky New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2020
    Member:
    #41876
    Messages:
    60
    Gender:
    Male
    Central Kentucky
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tundra TRD
    Enjoy the new truck!
     
    MHulsebos[OP] likes this.

Products Discussed in

To Top