Vicali's 2005 TRD Sport - Expo bound..

[vicali]

Current Pic;

Figured I should add a build thread here as I have been lurking around here for over a year getting ideas and have just recently started to post up, Here goes;
I started with a Toyota as my first set of wheels, my 1986 Xtra cab never left me stranded and was always up for an adventure;

After moving to a big city and selling it to someone who was doing an expedition to Belize I settled into car life.

Jump ahead to last September and we were looking for a Toyota again. We found a local 2005 TRD Sport with low km and great maintenance and brought it home;

The next day we were off for a road trip with the family packed in, and loads of room to spare, our inlaws have a 2006 TRD Sport so the trucks got to know each other while we visited;

We always planned on adding a canopy and after comparing to all of the caps available we decided on an Arrow. It's a local company in our area, Here I am picking it up from the factory- installed by the company owner himself on a Saturday morning;

I found an NFab lightbar locally and installed some Hella 500FF for better light;

Next up I installed some gear using DIY bed rack brackets and a WW2 Ammo box to hold offroad gear. The plan is to have Sliders so I carry my cleaned up Jackall too;

Cleaned up the corroded sport wheels and finished them flat grey;

I've done a little work on the inside, added a ScanGuageII (Coolant temp, Trans temp, LHK, and daily avg);

Hardwired my Nuvi in;

and next is installing a P2 Brake controller sitting on my workbench at the moment.

This summer I got my Ham ticket; VA7MLS, and plan on installing a FT-7900 dual band over the winter.

I've got lots of plans in the works, meeting lots of new friends, and learning a lot more that I can do with this truck.
See you around the board..

 

[vicali]

Brought this home yesterday afternoon..
It's not really expo style, but it's a gateway to get the family out exploring and adventuring outdoors..

Keystone Hideout 19ft, 4080lbs.

 

[rickashay]

Nice moves on the trailer Mike! It will make a very comfortable base camp.

 

[wonderfulremark]

A familiar ID alert!

Nice truck Mike!

I too have graduated from a forester to a Toyota

I went by JeffLee at SF.org

 

[vicali]

Hi Jeff! Yeah, I keep using the same username so I leave a trail..
Toyota/VW/Air-cooled/Subie/Rally/and back to Toyota :ylsmoke:

The Forester is busy doing family duty, it still comes out to play when there are rallies nearby though;

 

[SDDiver5]

I like your light bar. Been wanting one like it for a while.

 

[NorthernWoodsman]

Do you recall what tires you were running in this photo?

I started with a Toyota as my first set of wheels, my 1986 Xtra cab never left me stranded and was always up for an adventure;

 

[vicali]

I like your light bar. Been wanting one like it for a while.

Thanks! It's a N-Fab bar, I came across it locally from someone who just took it off before trading in their Tacoma- I ended up getting half my money back because the mounting brackets were left on his truck and I needed to order more from N-Fab.

Do you recall what tires you were running in this photo?

Those were awesome tires, they were Yokohama Geolander AT-S in 31x10.5r15 but I bought them in 2002.. I don't like the current Geo design; the old ones were way more aggressive..

 

[DeskToGlory]

Hey vicali, the truck and trailer look great! Great combo for staying out of the city for as long as possible!

 

[NorthernWoodsman]

Those were awesome tires, they were Yokohama Geolander AT-S in 31x10.5r15 but I bought them in 2002.. I don't like the current Geo design; the old ones were way more aggressive..

Ha! That's so funny. I had the same tires on my '85 right before I sold it. Never saw them dirty and covered in snow so no wonder I couldn't recognize them. Those are great tires. Loved 'em before I sold them.

 

[vicali]

Finally got a set of wheels for my winters so I can change them over myself.
I was planning on getting new summer wheels and using the TRD Sport alloys for winter but I decided that $$ could go to sliders instead.

After looking around at alternatives I ended up ordering some FJ steelies and painted them white.

I like it, fits my clean build while still being a bit different.
Plus it will look even better once I get some more aggressive tires on there.

 

[Dwill817]

Did you order the FJ steelies from the factory? If so, how much were they if you don't mind me asking?

 

[vicali]

After getting my HAM ticket back in august I finally spent a few hours putting my radio into the truck. I had ordered the FT-7900R plus the MLS-100 speaker and a Larson NMO 2/70 antenna from Gigaparts before the holidays, and they all arrived just in time for Christmas.

I started by putting on the mount and antenna, and running the wires and coax through the firewall and into the cab.

I considered putting it on switched 12v, but in the end I decided to follow the instructions (and advice!) to wire it directly to the battery.
I was able to use the same grommet in the firewall that I used to wire my lights through,
and put together a sheet of plexiglass with both the external speaker and the radio body to hang under the drivers seat;

I was planning to mount the faceplate in the center cubby, or sticky taped right on the dash below the heater controls,
but while I wired the base in I set the faceplate down in this spot and really liked how it looked;

The remote wires run out around the front of the seat rail and then under the center trim.

Only one hole was required to pass the remote cable through and it is completely covered by the faceplate.
I pulled out the rubber liner from this pocket and if I ever pulled out the radio it would be completely stock looking.

Now I need to figure out the local channels and repeaters, and get them programmed..

I also managed to fit the truck in the garage.. with a few inches to spare

 

[Chaser88]

Hey Mike are you still active on here? I love where you put your CB Radio! Cleanly done.

 

[vicali]

Hey Chase, I saw your thread! Welcome to Expo!
I'm on here but some but the banner ads on this forum set off alarms in our IT dept! So I don't visit as often as UO.

That's my Ham radio, the CB is out of site under the passenger seat