The TERRABL Build Thread - '25 Limited Crewmax

So at the time of purchase, the truck's license plate/nickname was going to be BBQSAUZ... But after it ended up like this at 1,270 miles 10 days into owning it, my brain switched it to TERRABL. This won't be a short read, but I promise that at some point, there'll be more photos. I'm typing this thread as the truck has spent the past 2 days at a local dealer after it sounded like the internals wanted to be externals, leading to the tow truck scene below. For those wondering, at this point they have no update for me regarding what the failure/problem is nor a plan on what needs to be done to fix it.



Quick back story, we absolutely loved (and immediately regretted selling) my last Tundra, and so when the itch started earlier this year to start a new project, another Tundra was at the top of the list. My last daily/trail vehicle was an Ineos Grenadier (build thread), which was absolutely fantastic. The story, the vehicle, and the community are all great and I was a day 1 reservation holder for it (way back in 2021, when I still had the last Tundra), but the itch for a new build hit me around the 10 month mark. One of my faults is that I enjoy the build process more than the long term ownership, and so when I was told "if you want a new project, why don't you get a daily and a trail truck", I jumped at it. Trail truck is easy, it'll be an older 4Runner, GX, or Tacoma, but the daily is the "special" one because it will pull double duty for travel as well.

Enter the search for a Tundra, because I couldn't just go with something common. After learning that what I really wanted (double cab SR5, Terra, black softex, TRD Off Road, premium audio) was impossible, I reevaluated what I was ok with and found this Limited Crew Max TRD Off Road at a local dealer. One quick test drive and it was like being home again (we spent a lot of time road tripping in our old Tundra), add to that a dealer that gave me a very strong trade-in number on the Grenadier, and I was happily backing a Tundra into my driveway for the first time in 3 years.

So where is this build going... I told my better half that I would limit modifications to this truck to "quality of life improvements" only, she said "well that sounds like a really vague limit". Shhhh, it is

Plans from the start

• Tint
• Mats
• Topper
• Slight lift
• Wheels/Tires
• Some aesthetic stuff inside and out
• On board air
• Fridge and supporting electrical
• Sound deadening/insulation
• Some extra bass
• Some extra lights

Tint was done on day 5, Xpel XR Plus 20% on the front sides, 35% over factory tint on the rear 3 windows, 70% on the windshield, and Xpel XR 35% on the pano roof. Massive improvement for both light and heat. While sitting at the tint shop (great work by The Wrappers in Westminster, MD btw), I placed an order for a GoFastCampers topper (not the camper), scheduled for delivery in Mid August.

Around the same time some boxes arrived... Amazon purchase of an adhesive cover for the center console (around the shifter) to cover the piano black with matte black, AJT Design armrest liners, AJT Design key, and WeatherTech mats for the front and back.

I also popped on the ICS Fab dash mount with some RAM Size B bases and magnetic mounts for our phones, and a dual USB-C charger plugged into the 12v outlet in the dash cubby.

A whopping 9 days in (yes, the day before the motor unalived itself) I gave it the de-badge and de-sticker treatment and a baseline detail, topped off with Adam's Graphene coating. I've used Chemical Guys, P&S, and Griots products/coatings on previous builds, and it's a constantly evolving process in my driveway. I'm by no means a detailer, or person who always has clean vehicles, it's a light hobby of mine.

Sitting in a box waiting to go on when the truck gets back (eventually? hopefully?) is a screen protector (Xpel stealth PPF) for the 14" screen, BlendMount to mount the V1 Gen2, Rexing 4K dash cam (with 5 pin plug adapter for power), an auto start/stop eliminator, Lamin-X door cup protectors, Lamin-X Headlight reflector film, and Xpel door sill film.

Sound/thermal insulation will most likely be the pre-cut SoundSkins for the doors and Siless hybrid on the floors and back wall; all covered with 3M Thinsulate (I have plenty of SM200L and AU40002-5 left over). I'll probably throw a layer of Thinsulate and maybe 3M Low-E between the headliner and roof as well at some point since I have a lot left over from previous builds.

Wheels/Tires will probably be a set of Raceline Rogue's in 18x8.5 (ET35), specifically because finding wheels that don't poke seems to be almost impossible. And still debating whether I want to go skinny 35s (285/75) or 34s (285/70); the truck will occasionally see some trail use, but it's mostly aesthetics, and I don't know if the trade offs will be worth it to go to 35s.

Lift is still up in the air, but Radflo 2.5s may be the move, along with some Dobinsons springs in the rear, I'm only looking for ~1.5" in the front and 1" in the rear.

Fridge will likely go on a platform in the back seat area. Extra bass and lights? We'll see as it happens.

 

Big plans! Hopefully it comes back better than before! Haven't heard of this happening to a '25