Wundra Tundra

I've had quite a few cars and trucks in my day, and I drive a lot. I've had everything from expensive luxury cars to bare-bones Ford Rangers, with full size trucks by Ford, Dodge, GM and Toyota. I've had vehicles from Toyota, Nissan, Ford, Chevy, Jeep, BMW, Dodge, Ram, Chrysler, Volkswagen, GMC and more. A few years ago, I bought a 2015 Dodge Durango Citadel, and in the course of a year, put 30k miles on it. Thereafter, my wife needed a car, and so she started driving the Durango. Not wanting to keep getting new vehicle depreciation hits, I picked up an excellent condition, used 2007 GMC Yukon. It was built out pretty well, and I enjoyed driving it, racking up nearly 70k miles in 2 years. However, towards the end of its life with me, it started getting more and more expensive to maintain. In the last year, it had upper and lower control arms, shocks, struts, CV shafts, brakes and rotors, tires, batteries (2), swaybar links (replaced twice), a main fuse box, 3 blend door control motors and more. It was time to put it out to pasture.

I wanted to stay in a full-size vehicle with 4wd and good towing capacity. However, having spent much of the past 2 years under the Yukon, I valued reliability over just about everything else. I looked at everything available in SUV and trucks, and decided I wanted to go back to a pickup truck. I looked at every manufacturer, and was turned off by the amount of crap on the trucks that could go wrong. My vehicles are usually fully-loaded...but this time, I wanted something a bit more basic. I didn't want navigation, didn't want a sunroof, didn't want a ton of options. I did want heated, leather seats. After test-driving and researching, I set my sights on a Tundra. (I previously had a Tundra back in about 2009).

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I found my truck, a 2018 MGM Tundra SR5 Crewmax 4x4 with the SR5 and TRD options packages, exactly how I wanted it (minus the leather). This will be the build log for the truck. It isn't going to be a high-speed desert pre-runner; it is going to be a functional, do many things truck for moderate off-roading, camping trips, trailer pulling, and a lot of business miles. This will be the tale of the Wundra Tundra.

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Updated to add the P&P Engineering Sliders installation post, which is here.

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With previous trucks, I had some shock damage caused with moderate off-roading, including denting a shock body when engaged in some recreational mudding on private property (with permission). When I saw the P&P Engineering shock skids, I was pretty stoked. Having a great experience with my P&P Engineering Sliders, I knew their products were beefy, and as always, Mac was great to work with.


The skids bolt to the shock mount, opposite the shock. They also bolt to the lower shock bolt itself (and P&P includes all hardware necessary for the install). Installation took all of 10 minutes, with most of the time being maneuvering the shock into place. I jacked up the truck by the receiver hitch, to extend the rear suspension and make this a bit easier.


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The profile of the skid makes it easy for them to function well and slide over obstacles.


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And they tuck out of the way as close to the rim/tire as possible:


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They came nicely powdercoated, and I'm sure they'll do a great job!


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Also in the realm of truck gear, with some of the camping we do, I wanted a reliable dual-battery setup for powering a 12v ARB fridge/freezer. After evaluating many options, I ended up opting to install the 2nd battery in my toolbox, isolated with a 12v constant duty solenoid up by the main battery (and fused on both ends). My toolbox also houses recovery gear, tools, and some specialized equipment for my work. In addition, it serves as the storage point for my ARB TRED Pro recovery tracks, a hi-lift jack, a max-axe and a halligan bar.

The Treds rest atop the toolbox, held in place with a cargo strap:

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The hi-lift is on a hi-lift mount, bolted to the toolbox, and the axe/halligan are mounted to quickmount tool mounts below.

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Welcome from NC! Good looking build!!

 

Thanks!

Up next will be a bumper mod to hold an integrated Warn Zeon Platinum 10S I have kicking around. After that, the plans are for a mild lift (probably 2.5-3 up front and 2-2.5 in the rear), and eventually an ARB rear locker. I already have full skids underneath (TRD up front and RCI transmission, transfer case and fuel tank skids).

 

Welcome from Ct

 

Welcome from NC

 

Welcome from CO.

 

Updated to add the P&P Engineering Titus Winch Bumper.

Here it is:

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And another view:

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With my previously installed, behind-the-grill LED and the new, in-the-bumper LED, light is not a problem.

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