Nice build! I just went through all 25 pages.
I thought I had a solid build plan for mine but after reading your build my head hurt thinking about all of the options.
Keep up the good work!
Thanks! Yah lots of options but sometimes not enough! haha I wish we had more for armor selection and rear suspension, but I guess the options are improving!
UPDATE - Finally something other than tech talk and indecisiveness.
Had some time Friday evening to work on the truck. I recently ordered a Anti-Dark underhood lighting kit from TW hoping it would "just work" on the Tundra. The kit is well put together, but the only complain I do have is that the adhesiveness of the LED light strip is aweful and it wouldn't even hold the weight of the strip once stuck where I wanted it. It's still a work in progress until I can get some double sided 3M ultra sticky tape, which should remedy the minor complaint. I had built somethign similar to this on my 4Runner and always appreciated having the light for checking oil or anythign under the hood late at night. It's even nice to have the compressor lit up for when those long wheeling trips have you airing up in the dark - like last night for example.
Output Photos:
20140122-IMG_4249.jpg by
RickaShay24, on Flickr
20140122-IMG_4254.jpg by
RickaShay24, on Flickr
Had to move the ARB compressor slightly to clear the hood strut. Something that originally I considered but when I bolted it all down I was about 5mm away from clearing the strut. Move the bracket ever so slightly and now it clears as it should and I have my auto-lift hood back.
20140122-IMG_4258.jpg by
RickaShay24, on Flickr
I wish the light color was warmer, but it will do. I did enjoy the opportunity to play around with the night photos though, with the underhood lit up. One last cool shot of the engine bay:
20140122-IMG_4261.jpg by
RickaShay24, on Flickr
Crowsnest Pass - Jan 24, 2015
As mentioned, I was able to head down to the Crowsnest Pass for the day yesterday with a group of members from Untitled Offroad.
No write-up this time but I will let the photos do the talking. It was a great day, lots of sun, WARM weather, lots of stuck as snow conditions were somewhat strange. All-in-all it was my first "REAL" wheeling experience in the Tundra. After the photos I'll make some notes on my first hand experiences on the Tundra platform and some areas that are of immediate concern offroad.
On the drive down:
20140123-IMG_4267.jpg by
RickaShay24, on Flickr
Stopped for a quick break and a couple photos with the Rocky Mountains in the background:
20140123-IMG_4275.jpg by
RickaShay24, on Flickr
Matt's Supercharged RCSB 2nd Gen Tundra w/full Icon suspension and 35's. I absolutely love this truck and it is SO fast:
20140123-IMG_4287.jpg by
RickaShay24, on Flickr
Small to big. And an awesome Tacoma:
20140123-IMG_4288.jpg by
RickaShay24, on Flickr
At the first lookout, the group enjoying the views:
20140123-IMG_4310.jpg by
RickaShay24, on Flickr
"Freeze" destroying some snow:
20140123-IMG_4313.jpg by
RickaShay24, on Flickr
Crowsnest Mountain:
20140123-IMG_4316.jpg by
RickaShay24, on Flickr
Poser shots:
20140123-IMG_4321.jpg by
RickaShay24, on Flickr
20140123-IMG_4318.jpg by
RickaShay24, on Flickr
20140123-IMG_4323.jpg by
RickaShay24, on Flickr
20140123-IMG_4324.jpg by
RickaShay24, on Flickr
On the way back down as the sun was setting, the lighting doesn't get much better than this:
20140123-IMG_4327.jpg by
RickaShay24, on Flickr
Chinook's cause the sky to look pretty awesome, this is no exception:
20140123-IMG_4329.jpg by
RickaShay24, on Flickr
Dave climbing the ice-shelf, after hours:
20140123-IMG_4340.jpg by
RickaShay24, on Flickr
It seems I was taking more video than action shots of the other rigs. Once again I'm trying to compile footage so I can build a 'winter' video this spring.
Notes on the Tundra Offroad
I've had the Tundra on the trail a couple time before yesterday, but this was what I consider to be the first real test. A fair amount of snow with varying conditions, a little side-hill and off camber stuff, some tight areas through the trees, a couple larger ice ledges to "bump" up, and lots of loose and steep climbs.
- I'm rubbing in the rear at full compression. The tire actually ripped both (one on either side) of the lower flare bolts off because the tire was catching the bolt head. Should be an easy fix with some flush mount metric allen bolt, but it's just a matter of finding some of those. At full bump (with un-cut factory bumpstops) the top of the rear tire is just kissing the top of the wheel well. I'm not sure how easy this will be to trim as I'd really like to keep the rolled edge of the fender to ad rigidity. Flares might have to go? We'll see.
- The rear suspension also has a pathetic amount of droop. Definitely the least-"flexy" vehicle I've had but I guess I've been spoiled coming from the LX and 3rd Gen 4Runner. I would say that this is one of my most immediate concerns. Several option out there but the Cantelever setup hangs too low for the kind of wheeling I do. SUA with shocks through the bed is on the radar but you usually gain uptravel, which is something I don't really need. I need more droop. Really considering buying a 2nd Gen Tacoma rear shackle flip kit and modifying it for the Tundra, then ordering a custom Deaver leafs pack with more arch and a little more weight capacity to suite. Possible lowering the lower rear shock mounts and adding an under-bed crossmember for a higher rear shock top mount. Might be able to get a 12" stroke shock to work and keep it out of the box or outward shock mounts if the tires would clear. Probaby where I should go with this for the leafs and shackle flips anyway.
- Rear frame is pretty flimsy with the C-Channel frame design. When I am doing the rear suspension, I will definitely be bracing the rear portion of the frame and boxing a portion of it at minimum. The problem here is that there are no "kits" for this. I am going to ask around at work and see if someone can draw me up a template so I can take it to a laser cutter.
- Front didn't complain once and didn't rub at all other than on the frame. Mission successful there.
- Wheelbase seems good. A little long from what I'm used to but I could notice it on the climbs.
- Width. I was worried about this on tighter sections of trail but it's honestly very very much the same as my Lexus. Maybe an inch or two different so I don't think this will be a problem.
- Traction:
Tires: the Toyo's are amazing. At least in the snow and mud that I encountered yesterday. Being open/LSD without a winch, typically I would not be gunning too much trail. However I spent a large portion of the day leading with excellent results. I aired down to 8psi on all four corners and the truck was a monster in the snow. It required some driving finesse to not break the traction surface and not always retort to wheelspin but they did VERY well. I was even surprised a the amount of lateral traction on slippery surfaces. I got stuck once, and dug myself out with a shovel that time but I honestly should have been stuck on several occasions but was able to just work myself free and maneuver. These tires are heavy, yes, but at this time I think they are probably the best tire I've ran. For reference, I've had: BFG A/T's, BFG KM2's, Cooper ST Maxx, Goodyear MT/R Kevlars, Mickey Thompson MTZ's.
LSD: First time I've had one. Haven't been without a rear locker in about 3 years. Definitely sucks being pretty much open/open again, but good to re-evaluate and appreciate the locker. Definitely need to get my gears and lockers done sooner than later as the LSD is kind of a pain. Often working the brakes or setting the E-brake to get the LSD to engage. I guess it does work better than open/open but obviously the best of all worlds is a selectable.
On a more personal note, with the above said and my industry of employment in the ****ter right now, the LT is out. Back and forth I go again but for good reason this time. We took company wide salary reductions late last week and honestly people are dropping like flies with oil prices being nearly %60 lower than they were only a few months ago. I consider my position quite safe but the $$$$ for the LT is going to be put on hold and I'll more be working with what I already have. I can still always make the switch at a later date. Especially after my experiences this weekend, I think the front end is the least of my concerns. Short terms plans are to get the gears and lockers done and then start thinking about how to address the rear suspension.
