Project Serenity: an 08 Tacoma DC overland build-up
- Thread starter frozenground
- Start date
007
Explorer
Truck like that, be with 'ya 'til the day you die!
lol! I hope so, I've never looked at her any other way
frozenground
Adventurer
onboard air version one
up to onboard air install.. I decided on a Viair system with 2.5 gal. tank and pressure switch.
Here's a pic from when I was making the mounting board for the ActionPacker, which was a temporary solution while I was hunting for the perfect aluminum toolbox to mount everything in. Later, I rebuilt this system in a weatherguard box.
Custom bracket setup for the pressure gauge and on/off switch
Installing switch and pressure gauge..
hole drilled in bed, wires and air line routed up and ready for air system/toolbox
almost complete. box mounted to bed and compressor/pressure switch all wired. I later mounted an adjustable regulator on the dividing wall for the main air line..
up to onboard air install.. I decided on a Viair system with 2.5 gal. tank and pressure switch.
Here's a pic from when I was making the mounting board for the ActionPacker, which was a temporary solution while I was hunting for the perfect aluminum toolbox to mount everything in. Later, I rebuilt this system in a weatherguard box.
Custom bracket setup for the pressure gauge and on/off switch
Installing switch and pressure gauge..
hole drilled in bed, wires and air line routed up and ready for air system/toolbox
almost complete. box mounted to bed and compressor/pressure switch all wired. I later mounted an adjustable regulator on the dividing wall for the main air line..
frozenground
Adventurer
rack (v.1) and RTT
So now we get to arguably the most important mods so far, the life support systems. At this point in the build I was in a rush trying to finish everything up before we left for a wander through southern Utah (via Las Vegas :sombrero, so I didn't get many pics of this stage...
First I had to figure a way to mount the FrontRunner Bakkie on the factory bedrails since I wanted to have a quickly removable/adjustable mount for the rack instead of drilling the bedsides for something more permanent. Also, it had to be done with a quickness. I fabricated these "feet" for the rack from 3x3 angle iron.
A few months later I re-built the whole system :snorkel:
I actually took this pic a little while after I had put everything together, after we got back I think.. but it shows the rack feet pretty well. You can also see our OG bed tarp solution there lol
Here she is the first time we deployed the Eezi-Awn after mounting it to the rack!
So now we get to arguably the most important mods so far, the life support systems. At this point in the build I was in a rush trying to finish everything up before we left for a wander through southern Utah (via Las Vegas :sombrero
, so I didn't get many pics of this stage...First I had to figure a way to mount the FrontRunner Bakkie on the factory bedrails since I wanted to have a quickly removable/adjustable mount for the rack instead of drilling the bedsides for something more permanent. Also, it had to be done with a quickness. I fabricated these "feet" for the rack from 3x3 angle iron.
A few months later I re-built the whole system :snorkel:
I actually took this pic a little while after I had put everything together, after we got back I think.. but it shows the rack feet pretty well. You can also see our OG bed tarp solution there lol
Here she is the first time we deployed the Eezi-Awn after mounting it to the rack!
frozenground
Adventurer
Fridge install
Also had to get the fridge installed before that trip, so here's a couple pics.
First I wired a 12v outlet into the storage cubby on the driver side of the bed as a power source for the fridge..
12v outlet ready.. Installing the Engel Slidelock onto the bed.. had to cut the bed mat, and couldn't cut it straight but later on when I redid the bed I cut it again with a straightedge so there
Engel installed with Transit Cover in place!
I think we finally got everything installed about 8 hours before leaving :coffeedrink:
Also had to get the fridge installed before that trip, so here's a couple pics.
First I wired a 12v outlet into the storage cubby on the driver side of the bed as a power source for the fridge..
12v outlet ready.. Installing the Engel Slidelock onto the bed.. had to cut the bed mat, and couldn't cut it straight
but later on when I redid the bed I cut it again with a straightedge so there
Engel installed with Transit Cover in place!
I think we finally got everything installed about 8 hours before leaving :coffeedrink:
frozenground
Adventurer
some trip pics from last fall
frozenground
Adventurer
Scangauge
At that point I started collecting some parts for a dual battery setup and going over options for sliders. In the meantime I installed a Scangauge. Very straightforward install, altho the Blendmount took awhile to get adjusted to fit as it was a 3 handed operation at times..
Here's the unit and the Blendmount mounting adapter:
Blendmount assembled and ready for test fitting, I used blue loctite on all the screws for the final assembly:
this is kind of a weird pic, but you can see the Blendmount collar and bracket attached to the rearview mirror stem:
Ran the CAT5 cable under the headliner, over to the driver side A-pillar, then down thru the dash:
And under the dash where it plugs into the CAT5 connector. Then the cable that came with the Scangauge is pugged into the connector and ran to the ODBII port. Had a bunch of extra cable, so after this pic I just coiled it up with a zip tie and tucked it behind the kick panel for now..
Install complete
At that point I started collecting some parts for a dual battery setup and going over options for sliders. In the meantime I installed a Scangauge. Very straightforward install, altho the Blendmount took awhile to get adjusted to fit as it was a 3 handed operation at times..
Here's the unit and the Blendmount mounting adapter:
Blendmount assembled and ready for test fitting, I used blue loctite on all the screws for the final assembly:
this is kind of a weird pic, but you can see the Blendmount collar and bracket attached to the rearview mirror stem:
Ran the CAT5 cable under the headliner, over to the driver side A-pillar, then down thru the dash:
And under the dash where it plugs into the CAT5 connector. Then the cable that came with the Scangauge is pugged into the connector and ran to the ODBII port. Had a bunch of extra cable, so after this pic I just coiled it up with a zip tie and tucked it behind the kick panel for now..
Install complete
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frozenground
Adventurer
round about that point I got really busy with work and we mostly just spent our free time driving the truck rather than working on it. Some pics from the time frame:
frozenground
Adventurer
Slider Install!
after going over a couple of options for bolt-ons I selected the Slee's
had to remove the cross member to put in the backer plates
drilling frame to install secondary support bolts, check out our improvised reverse drill press lol
Sliders installed! had the step plates off in this pic, later decided to put them back on..
after going over a couple of options for bolt-ons I selected the Slee's
had to remove the cross member to put in the backer plates
drilling frame to install secondary support bolts, check out our improvised reverse drill press lol
Sliders installed! had the step plates off in this pic, later decided to put them back on..
frozenground
Adventurer
tonneau cover
next up was a bed cover solution, as our original home built version was simply a stop gap and wasn't doing a very good job of keeping rain/snow out of the bed.
I had some very specific requirements for this, and after some lengthy research I settled on the Truxedo Lo-Pro cover mainly for it's versatility and modifiable installation method. Later on, this bed cover needed to work with my planned upgrade to the bed rail system and seal the bed independently of the bed rack assembly.
install was quick and easy, and had what appeared to be enough adjustment to work with the future bed rail system..
next up was a bed cover solution, as our original home built version was simply a stop gap and wasn't doing a very good job of keeping rain/snow out of the bed.
I had some very specific requirements for this, and after some lengthy research I settled on the Truxedo Lo-Pro cover mainly for it's versatility and modifiable installation method. Later on, this bed cover needed to work with my planned upgrade to the bed rail system and seal the bed independently of the bed rack assembly.
install was quick and easy, and had what appeared to be enough adjustment to work with the future bed rail system..
frozenground
Adventurer
roof rack
next up was the roof rack and basket system. Mostly I saw this as an expensive platform for mounting lights and antennas, but room for extra gear is always nice..
I wanted a nice low profile lightweight rack and basket system, and since we didn't need this to bear a lot of weight I selected the factory optional oem roof rail/crossbar system and a BajaRack basket. BajaRack had recently started making a vehicle specific cargo basket for the Tacoma DC, unfortunately we goofed on ordering the correct model and had to wait awhile to get the right basket.
installing the factory roof rack bars:
installation complete, crossbars in folded position:
ok, gots to get some sleep!
next up was the roof rack and basket system. Mostly I saw this as an expensive platform for mounting lights and antennas, but room for extra gear is always nice..
I wanted a nice low profile lightweight rack and basket system, and since we didn't need this to bear a lot of weight I selected the factory optional oem roof rail/crossbar system and a BajaRack basket. BajaRack had recently started making a vehicle specific cargo basket for the Tacoma DC, unfortunately we goofed on ordering the correct model and had to wait awhile to get the right basket.
installing the factory roof rack bars:
installation complete, crossbars in folded position:
ok, gots to get some sleep!
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frozenground
Adventurer
Thanks! Shedhorn sports is great, dangerous to the wallet though :ylsmoke:
I havn't spent much time exploring the Tobacco Roots, but have been all over everything to the east of them. Lots of fun places in the Gravelly Range over there too.
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Nigel Caffiene
Gentleman Scholar
As a DC TRD Taco owner, I am drooling over your truck. It is very well done, good show! As a browncoat sympathiser, I am liking the Firefly decal! Subscribing to this thread and taking notes...
frozenground
Adventurer
just caught your edit and wanted to say thanks for the added info. I had only done some rough measurements last time I had to drop the XJ tank to replace the fuel pump and it looked darn close.
for navs, we are currently using a Dell laptop in a RAM mount running DeLorme Topo (mostly). GPS antenna is a GlobalSat BU-353 Waterproof USB puck. We also use a Magellan Roadmate unit, which has proven to be less than reliable (POS) and is basically only good as a food/fuel finder.