2003 Tundra AC, Finally posting a thread!

[Climbermac]

@FJR Colorado, Thanks! I was really impressed. A group I wheel with is gearing up to make a run up Blanca later this month and I'm seriously considering giving it a go with how it went up the wall, but Jaws I is daunting for such a long wheelbase.

@toyotech, Thanks as well. I'm running 285x75x16 on ProComp 16x8 Xtreme Alloys. As for a custom spring pack, there are several manufactures and there. The three names that get put out there the most are Atlas, Deaver and Alcan. Alcan is who I had build my springs. I had them build the springs on my rock crawler, I loved them and the shop is relatively close (Colorado) so I went with them. Deaver and Atlas are similar outfits that build to your specs but if you look into any of the builders you will find solid reviews and negative ones. I will say that the biggest thing you can do is give really accurate info on what you carry, what your rig weighs, how you use it and really think ahead to what you might want to do down the line. There is no magic bullet.

Alright. Fishing was excellent and the weather was nice and crappy! It made for solid hatches, fewer fishermen and not so hot photo ops for the truck. I took these en-route home with weather significantly thinned and some in my driveway. Let me know if there are more specific pics that you want to see of the new goodies and I'll try to take some. I also am hoping to take it out one of these weekends and get some flex pics as well as some measurements on the wheel travel. Enjoy

I noticed a lot of my shots are from the back, here is her from the front!

Nice flat steel belly.

I forgot to add that when I put in the new spring packs I flipped the u-bolts too, also you can see the air tank I added and you can almost see the remote resi's from the new rear shocks.

Now the bay (wiring) is nice and clean.

Overhead switch-bank, Seat Heaters (Wet Okele), Compressor, Front ARB and Power to the bed accessories)

View in from the DS windoor. LED Strips over each windoor are triggered by each windoor opening. (DR windoor turns it's light on, PS windoor it's light, Main rear door turns on all three)

Next to the fridge slide, power outlets one cig lighter style, one pair of USB. The Aux panel in the background and the air-spring controller below.

I couldn't help it... Man he was FAT

 

[AaronK]

Forgive me if it's already been covered...where did you find that switch box? Been wanting to set up something similar. How hard was it to run cable to it? Did you have to remove the headliner?

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[Climbermac]

The overhead switch bank I fabricated. I looked around quite a bit and couldn't find a part that worked. I have seen them mounted flat into the sunglasses holder or garage door switch plate (what I had) in the OEM console but I honestly didn't like the flat layout for looking at the switches or the clearance for wiring behind. I fabricated mine on the existing panel with some ultralight MDF I had in my shop: 1/2" as a base and 1/4" around the switches. I seamed the MDF with epoxy and the base is epoxy and has a few small screws from behind to make it really stout. The sanding and bodywork/paint took longer than the fabrication. I put a removable panel in back to make it possible to re-install it as the two screws toward the windshield are really hard to get to. It took a lot of work but I love the result.

Running wire isn't too hard. If you pull the A pillar cover and the existing overhead console you can fish across the headliner pretty easy.

 

[AaronK]

Thanks for the info! I was hoping I could just fish cable through there but was going to talk to someone who had already done it.

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[toyotech]

Thanks for the update. The overhead switch panel is sick. I would buy one unfinished and I would just do the bodywork/paint !!!


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[skywhitney]

This is an awesome truck! I have an 03 Tundra AC as well, that has been left bone stock for the last 8 years I've had it. Your truck is very similar in build to where I was thinking of taking mine and gives me faith that what I had envisioned is an obtainable goal without breaking the bank and tons of custom fabrication. I'm looking forward to what's in store for the future of your truck!

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[River19]

Fantastic build.

Lots of good ideas here......

 

[Climbermac]

Newest development...HERE...weigh in gentlemen and ladies.

 

[blueranger501]

You are one if the few with 4.56 and 285s.... too low or just right? Was considering 4.30 swap as i may be able to do it for less with used taco gears, thoughts?

 

[Climbermac]

Too low or just right for what application?

Onroad: the powerband is perfect! Speedometer is very close to dead on, just a few percent under the indicated speed. I am considering 295's on the next set of tires and I think it will be perfect.

Offroad: what is too low :ylsmoke:. My only real issue is the shifting. 1st is a good deal lower and is much appreciated (particularly with a full loaded rig) but it has taken a good deal of re-learning how to wheel the rig as I need to choose gears differently than before. My honest complaint would be that I wish I had a 5 speed or a better yet a stick!

I wouldn't want to go thru all the work to only step up to 4.30. I can run my 285's but I could also go bigger again. Yes I would drop my performance a bit but not as much as from 4.30. If 285 is as big as you could ever see yourself running and the price is really solid, I don't see the harm but if you are already tearing down the diffs, I'd go 4.56 and never look back. Do you think you can drop anything into the carriers while you are in there? If you are interested I have a used rear 3rd member housing sitting in my shop. You could build it on the bench, drop it in and only have the truck down while you do the front. PM me if you want to talk about the housing.

 

[QuadsBC]

That topper is pretty awesome! Keep up the great build.

 

[toyotech]

Too bad your selling it. And too bad I'm so far into mine already. I think you built the perfect tundra that I could easily pick up today and be done with it. Just go wheel it!! If you decide to part it out. I would love a lot of the parts lol. Diff and all the suspension lol.


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[PhillipButtolph]

RideRite Air Bags...Why did they fail?

Climber,

I have noted that you kept loosing the Firestone Ride Rites...why specifically did they fail? Any issues that could be corrected?

Thanks...Phil

'05 Tundra AC 4x4..with Ride Rites

 

[Climbermac]

@toyotech: it's funny that you noticed I'm "selling" the truck. I'm still not as committed to selling as one could be...I have no real add up and no plans to put one up. My wife and I are still trying to see what we can work out as we do really love the rig! If a buyer handed me a check over a certain number I am sure I would hand over the keys but I am not "actively" selling it. I did finally sell my RTT and am thinking on some other adjustments in line with my plan but otherwise just enjoying the truck! :sombrero:

@PhillipButtolph: RideRites... that is a bit of a list. I've lost three sets:

First pair formed cracks in the rubber and blew on a trail being stretched and compressed hard (still attached at the bottom) I don't see that as preventable, it was Las Vegas, NV (really hot and dry) and "offroad use" voids much of any coverage. I chose to install cradles to limit stretching on the new set.

Second pair rubbed slightly against a set of tires when aired down, backspacing was too deep, and under compression (and a lot of load) they must have leaked, flattened out and proceeded to rub constantly for 500+ mile drive home. I couldn't tell it was happening but they ended the drive with silver dollar size holes! Yes, preventable, operator error.

Third pair didn't rub (new wheels), BUT during a several day wheeling trip: a rock, just smaller than a golfball must have gotten into the cradle and on hard compression punched the lower bolt hole (threaded insert) into the bag, breaking part of the internal weld. I bush fixed it with a bolt into the lower bolt hole with a wide (3") washer and rubber washer covered in liquid thread sealant, AND pumped slim into the bag; it held air and I was fixed. LITERALLY the next day I came off a ledge and did the same thing to the other side! I must have jinxed myself as I bought a second set of washers as a precaution. The washers held for the rest of the trip but I decided I was DONE with Ride Rites. I don't think this was really preventable and the bags were only 7 or 8 months old, but "offroad" and not attached at both ends=no chance of coverage.

I am now running Slam Specialties bags and they have been pretty solid but not without minor problems. They are composite top and bottom, which I can'd decide if I like but the specs on them are substantially more robust than the Firestone's. I had also looked at the new Firestone Red Line bags but the SS bags were recommended by someone I trust (who uses them) and they were nearly half the price of the Red Line. Firestone has plenty of my money to date, SS can have a try. They will get a proper hard workout this spring/summer but so far they have been great. HTH

 

[dfout]

Awesome Tundra, quite literally the spitting image of what I hope to turn my 03 into.
Im just starting out modifying mine, its only been in the past year that I have really gotten into overlanding.
Is there anything you would suggest doing/ not doing right off the bat?
As of now, I have a Softopper cap, custom rack in the making to go overtop of that, and a CVT on the way.
There are so many things I want to do, I have no idea where a good place would be to begin.