My 2021 Build Thread

Just purchased my new-to-me Tundra! I have had two Tacomas (use 1995 & new 2008) for the last 27 years, and the only reason I purchased the second one was because I needed more room for an expanding family (the 1995 was an extended cab, the 2008 a crew cab). I have been wanting to upgrade for a few years, but just did not have a necessity to do so. Then in June, a huge limb fell on my Tacoma and my daughters KIA Sorento. It just damage both sides of my Tacoma's bed and rear light, while it damaged multiple panels on the Sorento. The insurance company ended up totaling the Sorento so...I get a new truck and my daughter gets the Tacoma. (She actually wants the Tacoma and this was the plan until the Sorento fell into our laps at a price we could not turn down).

After doing quite a bit of research, I knew I did not want to get one of the newer Tundras, because of all the problems people were having with them, so I looked for a 2.5 gen model. I eventually located a 2021 Limited for a good price, and it was in great shape, so I grabbed it. So far I am loving how it drives and tows compared to the Tacoma, just not so much liking the gas mileage it gets.

Of course, within a few days, I was already starting to mod it (will post mods later).

 

Welcome to the Tundra club. I love my '21.

 

Welcome! Congrats on your new truck.

KIA - killed in action.

 

Welcome from OR.

 

So, the first mod I had to make to my new Tundra was to add storage under the rear seats. I just could not believe Toyota didn't do this and didn't have any storage in the cab. I am pretty handy, so I just decided to make my own and not purchase the pre-made options.

I first marked out where I thought the storage area should be...


I then removed the seats and started cutting the carpet. I was originally planning on leaving about a 1-1/2" piece of the carpet on the front and sides to fold down, but eventually ended up just cutting the flaps completely off in the end.


I then folded the remaining carpet all the way back and took out the Styrofoam and cut them to where I wanted them to be (I ended up cutting the sides a little more back in the end).


I then removed the seat brackets and painted them with a black textured protective coating and painted the brackets I was going to use with a textured spray paint.


I then laid down a full sheet of automobile carpet down to cover the whole floor, reinstalled the seat brackets, reinstalled the Styrofoam, reset the main carpet, and then reinstalled the seats.

I then created the front board, installed carpet all around it, making sure to put the staples on the bottom, and then installed it. I used some L-brackets to keep it in place.


I then worked on creating the sides pieces, surrounding them in carpet, and installing them in place with an L-bracket and a single screw.


The final gives me a ton of space for storage (everything I used to store behind and under the seats of my '08 Tacoma). I also have access to behind the seat, though the factory installed subwoofer that was installed takes up about 2/3rds of that space. Nothing moves around because the seats pretty much sit flush to the sides and the seat brackets keep things in place.

 

Nicely done ✅

 

My second mod was to add the Rago dash mount. Luckily, while doing some research, I had seen where the top of the dash was quite flimsy, with it just being a thin sheet of plastic, and after looking at a few different options, I decided to make my own under-the-dash brace. I ended up purchasing a 12" x 12" sheet of 1/8" thick aluminum for this brace (though I only used half of it for the project). I used the rubber dash mat that came with the Tundra to trace out the size, and cut out everything using a band saw and scroll saw.


After drilling the holes for the mount on the dash, I then marked and drilled out the holes on the brace, filed all the rough edges down on the brace, and installed everything. I did have to use a fender washer for the bottom screw because it ended up in the middle rectangular hole on the brace.


I then wired up the USB port, connecting it to the cigarette lighter socket on the center console down below it.


I then installed the RAM nob, RAM arm, and the MagSafe holder.


I like where the arm puts my phone because during the hot summer months, I can turn the air vent up at it and cool down the phone as it sits directly in the hot sun.

I am not 100% sure what people are talking about when they say they have experienced a lot of bounce in their mount arms, because I have an iPhone 15 Plus and have not seen too much of that. I guess maybe they are talking about when they are going off road or something, but since this will mainly be a street vehicle, I don't think that will be too much of an issue.

 

You must have a lot freeeee time on your hands??

 

Well done again…. I’m jealous

 

My third mod was to add a couple of USB outlets that always have power available, even when the vehicle is off. I wanted one for the back seat, wanted to replace the cigarette lighter in the middle storage console, and wanted to wire the two USB charging ports on the front center console to the circuit as well.

I added a new fuse box under the hood for this and future electrical projects that I have planned. I left enough length of wire between the battery and box so that I can easily have access to the fuses below.


I then ran the supply line through the firewall and connected everything up.

I had to make the hole a little bigger for the USB outlet in the center console, but that was an easy fix.


For the back seat, I wanted to keep the cigarette lighter plug, and add the USB outlet. I spent a couple of days looking online everywhere I could for a file where someone might have already done this, but to my surprise, only found where people had made a flat panel with two holes on it and was using the old one to hold the new one in place. So, I took out the panel that came with the vehicle, did some thorough measurements of it, and then designed a new one in Fushion 360. In the two pictures I put the new panel (on the left) next to the old panel (on the right).


I then 3D printed the panel in ABS plastic, painted, and then installed it. It fit perfectly!


If anyone would like the STL file for the panel, here is a link to the two I created and uploaded to Thingiverse.

I am still working on getting the front two charging ports connected up. I wanted to keep the old plug connected up like it is (to come on when the truck is on), just in case if I ever want to change it back, so I decided to make my own cable to connect to the new always-on wiring. I found the part number and ordered the $6 plug that fits into the back of USB socket charger from Toyota, but when I went to the local Toyota dealer to pick it up when it came in, I was surprised that the metal pins did not come with the plug. Every other plug I have ever ordered for every other electrical project comes with the pins, and you just attach the wires. Apparently, this is not the case with Toyota parts. The parts agent told me you also have to order the wires with the pins already attached to it, that they come separately from the plug. He then looked it up and told me that it would cost $23 per wire (I need two). I asked him if they were made from gold, and then told him to forget it. I am still trying to maybe locate a junkyard that has one of the vehicles that has this socket charger in it to be able to just pull it out myself, but have not had any luck in the area where I live yet.

Update: A couple of days later, I happened to see Toyota was having a sale on parts, so I looked online at purchasing the two wires again, and found that I could get them both delivered to the same dealer for $28 total. I felt a little better about getting them now, but still not great. That still is a high price for something that should already come with the plug.

 

These projects have been done over a period of three weeks. The storage took about eight hours of work. The Rago mount and always on USB took about 6 hours together (a lot of the work was done in the same space).

 

I’m still jealous of your ability & talent

 

You have much to learn of Toyota's wiring methods...
Ultimate TUNDRA Wiring Diagrams Collection | Toyota Tundra Forum (tundras.com)

Once armed with the part numbers:
Connector Kits, Terminals, Wiring, Tools | Corsa Technic (corsa-technic.com)
or
hi-1000ec.com
and sometimes
DigiKey - Electronic Components Distributor
and EVERY so often
AliExpress

hi-1000ec is the best source for interior terminals (and some connectors), but note that they are in Japan, so your shipping is going to be $30 minimum regardless of order size...if you plan on doing lots of this stuff, I'd stock up on volume of the terminals you plan to use the most...
Corsa-Technic has been the best source for exterior (waterproof) terminals and connectors.

 

Also - welcome! Build is coming along nicely.

 

I had found those wiring diagrams on the forum and used them to order the plug (and eventually the terminals) They are an incredible resource.

Thanks for the other resources. I had not found those yet.

 

I went overboard in making a bed divider for the truck so the small stuff I usually carry around in the bed does not slide all the way up to the front of the bed.

Made with a 2"x12"x8', my CNC, and a little paint.

 

Cool

 

Start selling it??