2015 Tacoma build/ progress thread. From day one!

[DesertFZJ80]

Hi everyone, just purchased my 2015 Tacoma a couple of days ago, thought I would document it from day one!

I recently decided to put a hold on my 80 series and try out something new, something I could maintain the way I want to and start fresh at zero miles.

The hunt started a few weeks ago, after searching locally I figured out that the non-sr 4x4 Tacomas are fairly difficult to come by. Scouring different Toyota dealers in AZ one popped up in Show Low that had what I was looking for, Base trim, access cab, 4x4, 2.7l 4cyl.

My dad and I rented a car and drove up there from Phoenix the next day, parts of the 3 1/2 hour drive -

I requested that the dealer didn't touch the truck, no wash, no removal of stickers. It was awesome rolling into the dealer and seeing it backed in front row, waiting for its new life!

If you had to put reliability in words, this would be it lol.

The truck isn't totally option free, dealer ordered it with the convenience package that I'm happy with. Leather trimmed wheel with controls, floor mats, power mirrors etc.

Thanks for reading!

 

[DesertFZJ80]

Placed an order for 3 bed bars from Relentless Fab a couple of weeks ago, The 'tall' version, with no tabs or anything else, they were made up and at my door after a short wait!

I decided to buy three because eventually a RTT will find its way up top, but for now I painted the bars in a textured gun-metal color and mounted the Yakima basket off of the 80 series over the bed, love how it turned out, thinking of putting the spare in the basket but haven't tried it out yet.

Trying to get some more stuff done before Expo west, I have a frontrunner awning coming in the mail so I should be able to install it this weekend along with the Maxtrax in the basket.
Thinking of making a 'snap-together' canvas canopy to throw over the bed bars and rack to sleep under when at camp, there's plenty of room for an air-up mattress and some other stuff in the bed.
A little further down the road I'll be getting a set of 235/85/16's along with a 2in lift.

Thanks for reading!

 

[OldSkoolArcher]

Awesome! If I was to buy another Tacoma it will be VERY similiar! Congrats on the purchase and excited to see how you build it.

 

[Yulli]

Nice. Are those the standard height or the tall cross bars from Relentless?

 

[DesertFZJ80]

Awesome! If I was to buy another Tacoma it will be VERY similiar! Congrats on the purchase and excited to see how you build it.

Thank you!

Nice. Are those the standard height or the tall cross bars from Relentless?

Thanks! They are the tall version, I believe they are 4in taller than the normal ones

 

[Yulli]

Thank you!



Thanks! They are the tall version, I believe they are 4in taller than the normal ones

I may have to look into some of those for my truck. Looks like an easier and cheaper set up than the All Pro rack.

 

[DesertFZJ80]

So this just arrived in the mail! Frontrunner awning, Going to attach it to the side of the bed bars just under the basket, it'll sit lower than most awnings but I didn't plan on walking under it, plenty of room for chairs and a table. Anyone have any tips on mounting it? I have a couple of idea's but I'm open to suggestions!

My plan is to find a flat piece of aluminum to mount to the bars then attach the 'L' brackets to that instead of drilling into my new bars

The awning is about the length of the bed, a little longer.

 

[SunFlower]

I look forward to this thread. I have a 2013 4cyl 4x4 with auto trans and single cab. I love these small motors. Have you gotten new tires yet ? I am running the stock tires but I am getting 24 mpg on the freeway so i'm in no hurry to change them.
I worry about the power of these motors and their ability to push larger tires and how it would affect the mpg.

 

[DesertFZJ80]

Trip report!

For my birthday last weekend I decided to take a spontaneous trip to northern AZ with my girlfriend to do some mild exploring through Flagstaff and down into Sedona, I eventually got the awning mounted about two weeks ago, my dad had a great idea of using muffler clamps to hold the brackets to my bars, the idea has worked great so far, solid as a rock. I would have drilled into the bars but I needed everything to be fairly easy to remove because I use this as a daily driver, and some places in Phoenix have theft issues unfortunately. Under the brackets is thick pieces from a rubber hose to help with any potential rattles or metal on metal sounds.
Mounted the Maxtrax on the other side of the rack to help balance out the weight a little, locked on with a huge carbide lock.

About 2 hours into the drive approaching Flagstaff

After finding out the planned road was closed (Mount Elden?) We found the entrance to Shultz Pass and decided to see what it had to offer, I really had to idea where it would end up but it all worked out perfectly

Looks like a fire had taken its toll at some point in the middle of the trail

Shultz Pass was a really nice drive, only saw one jeep and an Xterra in the hour and a half that it took, fairly smooth windy dirt road that ended up dumping me out on the 89, 2 miles away from the cinders which was my next stop! Pure luck.

Immediately headed over to the cinders and started to roam around to find a place to eat and finally, test my Frontrunner awning!

We found a nice quiet spot to relax and make a late lunch, The frontrunner awning was great and easy to deploy, wind levels were pretty high that day at times and this thing didn't even think about moving, the lower side of it is perfect to sit under and the high side still has plenty of head room (I'm about 5'11")

You can see the wind lifting up the back part of the canvas here

We ate lunch and watched the awesome northern AZ sunset over the mountains
This truck has been amazing so far, after this trip I was definitely happy with my decision.

That was the end to the first day, the next morning would take us to Sedona, where I would really get a chance to see what this truck was capable of in its stock form. Attacking Broken Arrow in a bone stock Tacoma was the highlight of the trip for me.
Part two coming very soon! Here's a sneak peek..

 

[DesertFZJ80]

I look forward to this thread. I have a 2013 4cyl 4x4 with auto trans and single cab. I love these small motors. Have you gotten new tires yet ? I am running the stock tires but I am getting 24 mpg on the freeway so i'm in no hurry to change them.
I worry about the power of these motors and their ability to push larger tires and how it would affect the mpg.

I haven't done tires just yet, everyone has mixed opinions on getting bigger tires with the 2.7l, from what I've read online you wouldn't want to go bigger than a 265/75/16 without re-gearing, people say you'll feel a small power loss and lower mpg with that size. Personally I was looking into getting 235/85/16's, I've talked to a couple of people with that set-up on the 2.7l and they say the mpg drops a little bit but theres not really a noticeable loss of power, I should be ordering my set in a month or two and i'll try to see how the mpg changes. Since your truck is a single cab I think it'd do great without the extra weight of the back doors!

 

[DesertFZJ80]

Another delayed update, life got in the way of my second post so that'll be coming soon!

Off to Expo in the morning! My dad and I will be heading out around 9:30am from Phoenix when I get off work, in the tacoma and the 80 will be staying home this time around, camping the first night at expo and might head up to flagstaff to camp in the cinder hills the next night if the weather permits. Hopefully there will be a good spot to park this year! :sombrero:

Might bring some 1st gen yota parts to sell or trade while up there, have axles (front for 1st gen 4runner, 6 lug spacers (3in), extended front spring hanger (fabbed), drive shaft (4runner), spare tire swivel bearing thing whatever its called, I have the exploded high pinion front diff out of my 80 if anyone is interested, housing is good but everything else is trashed, If anyone has some tacoma stuff or 80 series stuff for sale let me know! I'll add to the list if I find anything else laying around the garage.

 

[DesertFZJ80]

Been enjoying the tacoma in its stock form over the past few months, multiple lake trips and another trip to Sedona and this thing hasn't let me down!
For its 7500 mile gift I decided to try out some Hankook Dynapros in 265/75/16. I read a ton of good reviews about them on tacomaworld and decided against the pizza cutter coopers as they looked a tad small for the look I'm going for, being that my truck has the 2.7l 4cyl I was worried about losing power but after a week of having them I stand by this decision 100%.
Regular street driving has improved a ton, not only in ride quality but sitting at freeway speeds is much better, I'm sure i'll notice a power difference going up hills to get up north but I haven't tried yet. Regular city driving going to work I notice no power loss at all, personally I think it feels much better than it did with the stock Dunlops. These are also a much lighter tire from what I've read so that probably has a lot to do with it, I had planned on getting some wheels from method to go with them but I fell in love with the steelies all over again seeing them on a proper size tire!

Here's a few shots of it before and after the tire upgrade

Having a hard time getting pictures to do it justice but it looks great in person, I'll go outside and get some full truck shots in a bit.
Next up will be an order from Bilstein to get it up in the air a little higher, hopefully in the next week or two! Thanks for reading

 

[DesertFZJ80]

Finally got around to cutting the insanely long front mud-flaps tonight, took no time at all, quick measurements, some masking and a dremel.
Took off 7 inches!

Did a first initial cut to get the big stuff out of the way then I went back over it to smooth any roughness and remove obvious corners.

Looks a ton better IMO, not sure why Toyota made them so long, the scraping/ removing them every time I went on a trail got annoying quick!