Poor mans Tundra build

[Semper Paratus]

I have begun my poor mans build! I have often browsed over all your builds and wondered how you all have the time and money to do what you. I am a wanna be, but i am patient and just wait for good deals to come along. I will walk you through my poor man build. I have a few pictures to start us off and i will have many questions i'm sure.

Or maybe not... i have attempted to post pictures a number of times and it keeps giving me an error screen. I will post them as soon as i'm able to.

I work with troubled teens and everyone at my work has recently bought land rovers and are doing the expedition thing with them. Well.. i own a tundra... and refused to give it up. So, I am making a go at it with what i have. I would be happy for any suggestions or advice.

Thanks!

 

[Deleted member 9101]

I work with troubled teens and everyone at my work has recently bought land rovers and are doing the expedition thing with them. Well.. i own a tundra... and refused to give it up. So, I am making a go at it with what i have. I would be happy for any suggestions or advice.

Thanks!

1. Screw a Rover... they are just a trendy name brand. When they break down (and they will) laugh at them while you pull them home...lol.

2. My vote is for electric cooling fans, made a noticeable difference on my truck.

 

[Semper Paratus]

I just picked up a totaled tundra with a lot of cool upgrades on it. The engine also only has 65,000 miles on it. Mine is over 250. It will be nice to have that to fall back on... It was quite a find since i can't seem to find a Tundra in any junk yard within 300 miles of here... Let the poor man begin!

 

[Tim A]

Very nice rig you got there.

I work with troubled teens and everyone at my work has recently bought land rovers and are doing the expedition thing with them.

I LOLed at this

 

[Flagster]

I got out on the trail and in the tent more before I found this site...now I just own more trucks...
I don't think doing what you want to do in a stock tundra will be any problem...:smiley_drive:
And good find on the engine...I am starting to look for a crashed tundra for a possible engine swap into a FJ60 and know they are scarce around here too...

 

[Quill]

I got out on the trail and in the tent more before I found this site...now I just own more trucks...
I don't think doing what you want to do in a stock tundra will be any problem...:smiley_drive:
And good find on the engine...I am starting to look for a crashed tundra for a possible engine swap into a FJ60 and know they are scarce around here too...

Watch I 17 for a ding dong from Phoenix who doesn't know how to drive on wet or snow covered pavement.:sombrero:

Don't worry about hitting the trails in a stock 4x4. Ever see where the Jeep MB or early CJs have gone. They were bone stock. Your stock Tundra is a custom ride in comparison.:smiley_drive:

 

[Semper Paratus]

best top

Here is a top i found on our local classifieds. I couldn't have asked for better

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=54655&d=1300415157

 

[upcruiser]

I recently sold my first gen Tundra this past winter. It was bone stock, with a cap and a bed and drawers I built in the back. It worked great on mild trails and dirt roads. I have some threads on here from trips I did with it. I think my favorite part about it was being able to chew up the miles in it with such great comfort and ease while getting 18-19mpg. It had decent clearance to get me where I needed to go for the most part with some careful driving. It was low key and drew no attention when I was reneagade sleeping in the back somewhere and it was ridiculously reliable. I have been thinking of getting another one in the near future to do a mild build to and add a FWC to make for the perfect live in, live out of rig for the stuff I like to do. Only bummer with them is that there isn't a huge aftermarket for them yet but Toytech makes a good lift for them and I have a buddy who fabbed up some prototype sliders for the first gen access cab and is planning on putting them into production along with some bumpers down the road.

I love me some Land Cruiser and Land Rovers too don't get me wrong, and they all have their strenghts and weaknesses (I will state though, that my D1 has been an amazing vehicle to own and drive so the blanket brand bashing is a bit harsh :sombrero. All that matters is that you get out there! That said, I really think the first gen Tundra is one of the most underappreciated and underated overland platforms in North America. Couple of shots of my 'ol girl...

 

[Semper Paratus]

Couple of shots of my 'ol girl...

[/QUOTE]


What type of mattress did you have on that platform? And did you have hatches to access the areas around your wheel wells?

I'm figuring out my platform and storage area right now.

P.S. i have looked at your pics quite a few times... its hard to find good first generation pics and aftermarket items. Thanks for the post

 

[upcruiser]

I used a futon mattress that covered almost the full width. When needing to carry gear inside I would roll the matress to one side when not in use. The drawers were about 4 foot long each and filled the space between the wheel wells entirely. The space in behind the wheel wells was a a ling slit that I would use to slide camp chairs in. The space in front of the wheel wells and the drawers was accessed by a lift panel. The biggest issue I had with the setup is that the Tundra AC bed is pretty shallow. With the cap on there you will find that headroom gets eaten up pretty quick. I belt my drawers and bed pretty short in an effort to maintain some headroom while sleeping on the futon mattress.

I agree finding good Tundra inspiration is few and far between but there are a few here for sure, Jims65wagon, Haggis, Devin67, to name a few. My UPO co conspirator has a first gen Tundra too and created a great solution for easily removable cross rails for above the bed for his RTT. Pops on and off in a couple of minutes and retains the use of the bed for day to day activities. Another interesting option to consider.

 

[Haggis]

I have begun my poor mans build! I have often browsed over all your builds and wondered how you all have the time and money to do what you. I am a wanna be, but i am patient and just wait for good deals to come along. I will walk you through my poor man build.

Well I'm not poor but I am frugal so my Tundra build follows the same approach. I drive my Tundybird about for work and play and figure out what it really needs not what farkle I can throw on it. Then I save up the cash, look for good deals, and pounce on one when I'm ready. I really believe that for most of what everybody does on here a good dependable stock rig works just fine with maybe the addition on better tires. Good tires will often surprise a vehicle's owner with how competent it is in stock form when you have a set of treads that actually have some grip. Than as you explore about you can better determine if a lift, taller meats, upgraded equipment requirements for more comfy camping or what not is in order. Having run all over the east coast following jim65wagon is his mildy modified Tundra and with the experience of driving my Tundra with similar upgrades, I have no doubt that you can have more than enough adventures in yours to bring a smile on yer face as it slowly progresses into the vehicle you envision. Just be sure to share some pics and a story from time to time. :elkgrin:

 

[Semper Paratus]

Well I'm not poor but I am frugal so my Tundra build follows the same approach. I drive my Tundybird about for work and play and figure out what it really needs not what farkle I can throw on it. Then I save up the cash, look for good deals, and pounce on one when I'm ready.

That is my modis operendi also... I appreciate the post. I just got my parts tundra off the trailer last night (good thing i had a neighbor with a fork lift.) I will begin to transfer some of his upgrades to mine tonight. The main reason for the purchase was his engine. My Tundra has 275+ on the engine and his has 62,000. To have my engine rebuilt i was quoted 3,500 bucks! I bought his tundra for 1,500. Of course i had to drive down and get it loaded on a trailer and make the harrowing 300 mile drive back to my house but... i think it will be worth it in the end.

 

[jim65wagon]

Well, what can I say that hasn't been already stated? Not much, really.

Underappreciated - check
Underrated - check
frugal - check
good tires - check
comfy camping - check
adventures - check

got it all.....and now for the usual posting of the "Tundrabirds Go!" link so you can join all of your Tundra brethren from mild to wild in our own (Thanks Mark!) picture thread!

 

[Area56]

I work with troubled teens and everyone at my work has recently bought land rovers and are doing the expedition thing with them.

Sounds like an audit is in their future.

Seriously though, not everyone on here is independently wealthy. Just take a few trips and add things as you need them. Don't just slap stuff on because it looks cool or everybody else has it. Remember that form follows function for a reason.

 

[JCMatthews]

Whats with the wreck

Anything to report. I am curious what you plan to take off of the wreck you aquired, besides the engine. It looks like it has some kind of winch bumper.