1st Gen Tacoma Budget Build

[Kwikvette]

Seeing how I went a little overboard in my intro thread, I figured I'd create a separate thread depicting my "build"

2001 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner Access Cab

First picture, all stock with street tires



Now as of 2020



First order of business, aside from maintenance, is to replace those fogged up lights and side markers as well as deleting the chrome.







Since the truck is pretty new to me, and my intentions are to use this rig specifically for camping, I went on to address any and all much needed maintenance.

Here's replacing the radiator and coolant, since the current radiator had a hairline crack. Didn't have any overheating issues at all but I don't like to leave things to chance.

 

[Kwikvette]

This truck wouldn't be fun if it didn't have a lift so when the opportunity for a group buy popped up, I took a chance on it!

Purchased Fox 2.5 coil over fronts and Fox 2.0 rears. For the remainder of the rear, I went with OME Dakar leaf springs, Wheeler's Super Bump stops, u bolt kit, and other odds and ends.

 

[Kwikvette]

Over the next 2 months, I racked up a few thousand miles to allow the rear to settle, but since I don't carry much weight I wasn't happy with the Fox 2.0's.

I opted to try out some Bilstein 5100's -





At this point, I've taken care of some maintenance and did a few mods at the same time, but I still needed new tires. Before I could get tires though I needed to replace my LCA bushings because my vehicle wouldn't hold alignment.

 

[Kwikvette]

Sorry for the lack of pictures of the LBJ replacement as well as the LCA removal; that was not a fun process but not really difficult by any means. Just a pain undoing things to pull the cam bolts out of tight spaces.

In between the suspension install and some maintenance, I had ordered and installed a new Trail Gear rear bumper as well as a custom made bed rack.



If you didn't notice, I've also got new tires already installed in this picture. Falken Wildpeak A/T3W in 235/85/16 (10 ply). Can't overland without a good set of tires! Really digging the way the suspension settled since initially, it was a good 3" higher.

 

[Kwikvette]

Yesterday was probably the latest mod I've done, and that all happened on impulse when I went to visit Tepui in Soquel, CA. It doesn't help that they're only 25 miles away from me. Anyway, I finally filled that void on my rack -

 

[Kwikvette]

I will say the next mod is already lined up; I purchased a hard to find, discontinued Wilco Tiregate. It replaces the factory tailgate with one that's made to hold a tire (the same way a Jeep does).

I opted for this because

1. a 32" tire is difficult to fit in the stock location, without getting in the way of the exhaust pipe since I had to cut it
2. I can use the spare tire void for my rear shock relocation mod

UPS says my tiregate arrives today! But I'm at work all day and won't be able to install it until I get the necessary hardware needed (pivot cups) directly from Wilco.

 

[JCWages]

Curious about the switch from Fox to Bilstein as that is usually the reverse of how most people do it. :)

I'm running the opposite setup of a progressive front and digressive rear and I hate the way the rear end feels.

 

[Kwikvette]

Curious about the switch from Fox to Bilstein as that is usually the reverse of how most people do it. :)

I'm running the opposite setup of a progressive front and digressive rear and I hate the way the rear end feels.

I'm glad you mentioned it!

So yes, Fox 2.0 are an upgrade from Bilstein 5100's but I didn't purchase the OE replacement that Fox lists on their site.

Since I wanted more rear travel, I opted for the "universal" rear shock for the full 8.1" of shock travel. Only problem with that is, the valving is different even though 1 source initially claimed that the valving was similar to the OE replacement for my truck.

When I first installed the Fox 2.0's, I thought it was weird that I couldn't compress the rear shock without putting all my weight into it. Installing the Fox rear's consisted of me jacking up on side of the truck and flexing the leaf springs just to get the shock mounts to match the shock. Test driving the truck with no weight in the rear (before I got my rack and bumper) really sucked; going over speed bumps would make the whole truck "jolt" and well..you get the idea.

I reached out to Fox and later confirmed from someone else that works there, that the valving is indeed different from their OE replacement even though I was told they were the same. A revalve will cost me $35/shock and shipping on me. So right now, at only 150 miles give or take a few, they're paperweights until I figure how much weight I'll carry in my truck.

I ordered the Bilsteins since they're cheap, and I figured if I don't like them, I can just give them away. Well, it was night and day and I actually enjoy driving off-road or on really crappy roads. Since I just installed my Tepui yesterday, I've been even more impressed with how the truck feels. Even going over a speed bump quickly is fun!

I've read that if you want a better off-road feel, go with a digressive setup. Progressive will work well off-road as well (versus stock) but they feel a lot better on-road as well.

 

[Kwikvette]

There's another mod I forgot to mention that I finished up over a week ago -






Powertank 5lb CO2 bottle; this thing fills up ridiculously fast!

 

[Threads]

Very nice! Looks like its coming together quite well.

 

[Kwikvette]

Very nice! Looks like its coming together quite well.

Thanks!

You know that saying about taking everything but the kitchen sink?...well I just bought the Tacoma a kitchen sink -

 

[Threads]

Thanks!

You know that saying about taking everything but the kitchen sink?...well I just bought the Tacoma a kitchen sink -

View attachment 111996

That is awesome lol

 

[Kwikvette]

I can't wait to get this installed!



Contacted Wilco to see about buying the pivot cups that sit between the frame of the tiregate and the truck bed.

 

[Kwikvette]

I keep adding more mods before I get other ones installed!

Anyway, Wilco shipped out some replacement bolts/pivot cups needed to install my tiregate. While I'm waiting for that to arrive, I went to my buddy's shop and bought a Frontrunner water jug.

Originally, I was going to set it up on the passenger side, closest to the tailgate but then I thought, that's going to be over 100lbs when full just behind the axle. So either in 2-3 weeks when I decide to go camping again, I'm going to put it up closest to the cab between my Powertank and my fuel jug.



It may be a little inconvenient connecting the water supply line to the water jug but we'll see. If it works well though, I'll bolt the bracket to the bed and make it a permanent solution. This way I can set my Trailkitchen sink at the edge of my trucks bed and use it to wash off, etc.

Oh and for the hell of it, I bought some Maxtrax.

 

[Kwikvette]

That tiregate I mentioned? Installed it this morning -

 

[NC-Trooper]

sweet 1st gen build. Nice and clean look

 

[Kwikvette]

Since my rig is almost complete, thought I'd just enjoy it the way it is and took it camping with me...or more like it took me camping with it -

 

[Kwikvette]

Stoked to say that just recently I purchased;

Aisin manual hubs, spindles with wheel bearings, axles, and a manual diff tube with new bearing for my 4x4 conversion.

All that's needed is a 4.10 front diff, j-shift transfer case, and auto transmission.

Hardest thing to find will be the transfer case, but that's if I keep my search to a local one.

 

[Kwikvette]

I can't stop buying stuff!

 

[Kwikvette]

Also, these bad boys arrived!



I also have an almost-entire front end setup to include spindles, hubs, and axles for my 4x4 conversion. I figured I'd rebuild the manual hubs that are on the old spindles, and use the new ones instead. Rebuilt hubs will remain as a backup.

And since I have more weight in the rear than I did before, I went ahead and cleaned the underside of my truck, and reinstalled the Fox shocks.