New guy, new rig checking in.

[Dos Cylindros]

Hello everyone. I have been browsing this forum off and on for the past few years and had been intending to modify my 2004 Tacoma 4X4 DC into an over landing rig. Kids and life got in the way, but it always kept coming back here every once and a while to see what's up. I recently sold my Taco and picked up my brother's 2002 Tundra 4X4 access cab TRD Limited. He, like me has a company car so his personal ride rarely sees much use. This Tundra looks showroom fresh and only had 83K on the clock. The wife and I took it up above Bass Lake, CA today so the kids could do a bit of sledding. Excuse the crummy iPhone pic, but it's all I had with me at the moment.

I'm set on actually fixing this truck up and wanted to get some opinions. I'm not going to get too crazy (I'm sure those words have been uttered here before), but I do want to turn this into a capable family fun rig for exploring and camping. I'm local to Brute Force Fab, and I'm going to let them handle sliders and a rear swing away bumper to start things off. Right now it's the suspension that has me perplexed. I'm leaning toward coil overs in front to level the truck out, quality rear shocks and bumping up the tires to 265/75/R16. I doubt I will need a full lift (front and rear) as I suspect the truck we be more than capable with just a lift up front. I need to decide if I want to throw a shell on the back or just go with a bed rack and roof top tent. Let me know what you guys think. I'm looking forward to your comments and ideas.

 

[Dwill817]

Welcome to ExPo! I love the Tundras! Near perfect balance between power and size! I test drove several when looking for a truck. Wish I could have afforded one at the time because that is what I would be in.

Derek24 will be your best friend as far as suspension upgrades is concerned! But I can say if you add a swing out rear bumper, bed rack, and a RTT you'll mostly likely be wanting to upgrade your rear suspension also so it can perform as well as your front. That doesn't necessarily mean you have to lift it, but rather "upgrade" subsequently you will probably gain a little more clearance.

Sounds like you have great plans for it so far!

 

[Dos Cylindros]

Dwill817,

Thanks for the input on the rear suspension, as it's something I didn't take into account. I agree about the good balance between power and size. It's just a hair more roomy up front when compared to my Taco, but does have less leg room for the kids as my Taco was a double cab. The 4.7 V8 is a great engine with more than ample power for it's size. As it happens a 2006 2 WD Tundra Access Cab is my company car, and other than the fact that it's not 4X4 I love it. Perhaps a rear AAL would be the way to go once I pony up the $$ for the rear bumper and bed rack with RTT.

 

[Derek24]

Welcome! Great choice! These I believe are the most overlooked trucks on this site, the Marines of overlanding, the few the proud. Il keep this post simple and say a little lift and nice tires and a locker/LSD for the rear will let you go most anywhere you want. I do miss my Tundra, probably should have never sold it, but live you learn. Look through my thread. I think I've tried almost every lift possible for these trucks besides long travel and bracket lifts. toward the end of my build is where I would start and end if I were to buy another tundra, and what I recommend. Keep the updates coming,everyone loves a built Tundra!

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/61250-Derek-s-BST-Tundra-Build?highlight=Derek24

 

[Dos Cylindros]

Welcome! Great choice! These I believe are the most overlooked trucks on this site, the Marines of overlanding, the few the proud. Il keep this post simple and say a little lift and nice tires and a locker/LSD for the rear will let you go most anywhere you want. I do miss my Tundra, probably should have never sold it, but live you learn. Look through my thread. I think I've tried almost every lift possible for these trucks besides long travel and bracket lifts. toward the end of my build is where I would start and end if I were to buy another tundra, and what I recommend. Keep the updates coming,everyone loves a built Tundra!

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/61250-Derek-s-BST-Tundra-Build?highlight=Derek24

Derek,

Thanks bud! Great info in your build thread. So you say Bilsein 5100 and OME 885's? That definitely seems like a sound option, and more affordable than Icon coil overs. Did you have any lift in the rear? How about a diff drop? As far as tire size goes, I want to go up to 265/75/R16 from the stock 265/70 that is on the truck now. I don't feel the need to go up to 285. Mine is a TRD and it has an LSD rear, so I won't be opting for a locker just yet.

 

[Dwill817]

Bilsein 5100 and OME 885's

Sounds like a good plan. With the OME and bilsteins up front plus the extra weight out back, you may need more than a simple AAL out back to keep it level. I'll be waiting for the post when you decide to go to 285s

 

[Derek24]

Derek,

Thanks bud! Great info in your build thread. So you say Bilsein 5100 and OME 885's? That definitely seems like a sound option, and more affordable than Icon coil overs. Did you have any lift in the rear? How about a diff drop? As far as tire size goes, I want to go up to 265/75/R16 from the stock 265/70 that is on the truck now. I don't feel the need to go up to 285. Mine is a TRD and it has an LSD rear, so I won't be opting for a locker just yet.

You're welcome! Yeah Bilstein 5100's and OME 885 springs. You will need a Tacoma top plate isolator (2005+ Tacomas) it's a rubber piece on top of the strut assembly that holds the spring in place. Wheelers offroad sells them, think they are like $10 for the pair. I had my 5100's set on the second notch with the OME 885 springs which gave me around 2.5-3" of lift. For the rear I had Wheelers 3-leaf progressive leaf pack. Rode really nice while giving about 1.5" of lift. For you and the added weight in the future I'd probably go with a single long add-a-leaf, make sure its a long leaf, sort one ride rougher and do not hold weight as well. It's all about leverage! Maybe airbags too.

265/75 will fit stock, no lift. With a lift it will look just as mine did. It is a toss up between 285's and 265's. IMO 285's look best on these trucks with their size, fits them perfect. I went back and forth. My 285's rubbed, and I cut alot away, others have had total opposite and never rub. With 265s you keep your power and MPG's, although it was only slightly noticeable difference with 285's. I never keep up with MPG's with 265 vs. 285's, living up here in Northern CA I will never see the MPG's others will see who live in the open plains of Kansas, there are mountains or hills every mile here. With a nice MT 265 tire it will look really good. If you decide to go with an AT I would go with a 285. Either way you will love your truck so much more with new suspension!

 

[Derek24]

Here's a pic of my brothers old 2002. Same exact truck as yours. This is with 285's and a 3" spacer and AAL in the rear( this was before we knew about proper lifts).

 

[Dos Cylindros]

Derek,

Thanks again for the info brother. Your brothers truck looks great, and perhaps I will go 285's. I'll have to wait and see, as unfortunately the tires on the truck now only have about 700 miles on them. I can't justify new ones right now as the wife would gut me. I'm going to get some sliders, and possibly a shell on the back. I already miss the shell that was on my Tacoma. I will deffinately give the 5100/OME combo strong consideration, along with an AAL or perhaps even a whole new leaf pack.

 

[p nut]

How much legroom is there in the back for your kids? How long before they outgrow the back seat?

Always thought Tundras were great platforms.

 

[Dos Cylindros]

How much legroom is there in the back for your kids? How long before they outgrow the back seat?

Always thought Tundras were great platforms.

Definitely not as much as my DC Tacoma, but there is enough for a good while. By the time it's too small, I'm going to buy something else. The main reason I don't plan on getting too crazy with mods. I already ditched the idea of front and rear bumpers for now. The wife just informed me that she is in no way down for a roof top tent, but was interested in an adventure trailer. We will see where this goes. Finances are the severely limited right now, so this will likely be a budget build.

 

[stclair]

Put a FWC on it.

 

[Dos Cylindros]

Put a FWC on it.

Sorry, here is where I prove that I'm a newb.....what is FWC?

 

[Derek24]

Yes, your wife I sure will love a Fourwheel Camper (FWC)!!!

 

[Dos Cylindros]

FWC, check! That looks very promising, but I wouldn't want it on full time and I would have to think about where I would store in while it's off. I have been researching like mad and I think I have the base mods all figured out. I'm looking at some 2.5 coil overs for the front (most likely IVD) with a progressive AAL in the rear. The tires will most likely be some type of AT, in 265/75's or 235/85,s (I think that's the right size I saw them in another build thread and they are supposed to be true 32"). I will probably go with an in bed tool box which will also serve as the mount for my CB and give me just enough storage for important stuff. Rock sliders (Brute Force Fab because they are local), and I will wait on bumpers until the very end. The wife is leaning toward an adventure trailer set up and I like the idea of a fully contained all in one grab and go setup. Once we invest in the trailer, it can stay with us regardless of what new vehicle we may purchase down the line. Thanks for all the great ideas so far gents, I will be sure to start a build thread when I get the first of the mods going.