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Mikes SilverUnicornimusPrime (AKA Truck Norris) build WITH TRAIL LOG

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mh.meier

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I have never done a build thread. So its fitting that I should do my first one on a forum that isnt even for my truck.

History:
I bought my truck in 2011 as a birthday gift for myself after I got out of the Marines, paid cash and have never looked back.. It has been all over the country. Wheeling, exploring, pavement pounding, camping etc. Truck Norris knows no bounds. When I first started building the truck I had access to fabrication equipment and started doing some stuff with my buddy Andrew out of his backyard garage! The truck has been through many different phases in its 200K+ existence. I would like to share those with you now.

I picked up my 2008 Toyota Tacoma SR5 in Silver Streak Mica in the Double Cab Long Bed configuration (because truck things), 4WD of course (also because truck things).

Here is the stock(ish) Truck Norris. I had only done the BHLM, Plasti-dipped everything and a Billy 5100/All Pro Leaf lift.
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It also came with a shell from the dealership from Jason Industries that I sold to Josh Immediately.
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Took it "wheeling" a ton! As much as possible even though I did not buy the truck with that intention, I just lived in a very rural area.
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I had fallen asleep at the wheel while driving on a mountain road when I was working and going to school,. not a good excuse but I ended up having to run without a bumper for a while as that insurance money went to some new mods.... 285/75R16 BFG KM2's and some Avid Offroad weld on sliders with some sweet Ebay headlights :cool:!
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Which I used to explore some badass places
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I even took it to Moab for the first time without a front bumper, where I also "sent it" for the first time......
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It was also my first time running Kane Creek, which is hands down my favorite trail. It has changed dramatically every year I have done it.
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From Moab the adventures continued. I used to go find old abandoned mines with my buddy Andrew (AKA JeepAndrew) and we went to some cool ass places:
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I used the truck for everything. To pull Jet Skis, to wheel, to camp, mine exploration, to take my trusty sidekick Kuma out and that's how it all started really.I ended up building a custom rack system to mount things too and add a full size spare. The rack attached to my custom bed stiffeners made from 1/4" steel bolted through with 1" bolts. (lost my tailgate wheeling) and added one of them fancy strap ones.
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Then there was the addition of the custom Avid Offroad bumper and some Blitzpro lights, custom brake line relocation lengthening brackets, 7" Kragen HID's and a custom tire gate!
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From there I went on my second Moab Trip which involved fabbing up custom skids and a custom hybrid rear HC bumper to replace my constantly damaged one
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Some cool Moab stuff:
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Per my no shirt wheeling rule:
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From there my build went a little "overland" I added a 6ft ARB touring awning, new custom built bed rack and a camping lab Mansion RTT that I found on CL for 500$. Dont even care if there was a murder in it! We also added some NATO can mounts to the inside of the tire gate and a new CB radio. Cant forget to mention the Desert Rat Rattler II rims and new BFG KM2 255/85R16's!
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Now on to the good stuff, my first Pelfreybilt bumper! I met Tyler on a random off-road trip through Log Corral Trail outside of Phoenix that leads to Bartlett Lake and the rest is history! Here is installed my Pelfreybilt Steel, Full Hoop front bumper with Rigid Industries Dually foglights and a Rigid SR series 20" lightbar:
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After my Pelfreybilt front, the next logical step was a Pelfreybilt rear with gate! Here it is installed with fold down table, dual NATO can mounts and Rigid SR-q back up lights!
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I then upgraded to Icon EXT travel coil overs with 700# king coils, Camburg upper control arms, and some upgraded Billy rear shocks. And you might notice some sweet retrofit headlights as well!
During this time, headed to a camp out I lost my steering rack and burned through the 255's s I stepped back to my 285's while I found something new:
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From here I decided to go to a single hoop, after selling my full hoop bumper to a buddy! I went full steel Pelfreybilt skids and a single hoop color matched front!
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You also may have noticed I found that new new and went with 315/75R16 Goodyear MTR's with Kevlar, SCS SR8's in gloss black, 16" , WARN Zeon Platinum 12-S winch, and added another shell as well that I picked up for 200$!! Then I added a mesh grille to keep the new new going!
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Also feature is my ARB/AirFlow hybrid snorkel Baja Designs Squadron Sport fog lights, and Baja Designs Squadron Pro amber ditch lights on Cali Raised Brackets:
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At this time I am also rocking King RR EXT travel coilovers with CDCV valves and TC upper control arms! This was not the last time the build changed! I am now currently set up as a 2012+ Tacoma! (from the front)
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Current build!
Armor:
-Pelfreybilt Steel Front PLate Bumper, with Center Hoop,
-Full Pelfreybilt Steel Skids
-Pelfreybilt 90" Sliders with Top Plates
-Pelfreybilt Hi-Clearance Rear Bumper with Gate (Fold Down Table, NATO Can Mounts)
-Custom Bed Stiffeners

Suspension:
-King RR EXT Travel Coil-overs with CDCV
-Extended Brake Line-Custom Brake Line Brackets
-Total Chaos Upper Control Arms
-Total Chaos Spindle Gussets
-Total Chaos CAM Tab gussets
-OME Dakar HD Leaf Pack with Extra AAL
-Loaner Rear Shocks to be replaced with Custom Length RR Kings with CDCV for Dakar Leaf Pack
-Custom Carrier Bearing Drop
-Wheelers U-Bolt Flip Kit
-Custom Bumps
-Steel Sleeved Steering Rack

Wheels/Tires:
-Falken Wildpeak MT01 315/75R16 (5)
-Stealth Custom Series SR8 16" in Gloss Black (soon to be Spruce Mica PC) (5)
-Extended Lugs and Lug Nuts

Lighting/Electrical:
-**NEW** Kustom 54 Retrofit headlights
-Baja Designs S8 20" Driving Combo Light Bar (1)
-Baja Designs Squadron Sport Wide Cornering Fog Lights (1 Pair)
-Baja Designs Squadron Pro Spot Ditch Lights (1 Pair)
-Cali Raised LED Ditch Light Brackets
-Rigid SRQ Flushmount Reverse Lights (stolen)
-Retro Fit Headlights (currently being constructed)
-Red Interior Lights (for that night vision)
-Pelfreybilt 31M Battery Cage(to be installed)
-Optima31M Blue Top (to be installed)
-Secondary Optima31M Yellow Top (to be installed)
-Pelfreybilt Blue Seas Bracket (to be installed)
-Blue Seas Fuse Box (to be installed)

Performance:
-ARB/AirFlow Hybrid Snorkel
-4.88 Gears with rear ARB Locker (to be installed)
-Heavy Foot/Fuck These California Drivers Mod
-ARB Air Compressor

Extra Exterior:
-2012-2015 Tacoma Front End Conversion (Magnetic Grey Metallic)
-MGM Roof Vinyl (to be installed)
-Pelfrebilt Aluminum Hawse Fairlead
-Color Matched Century Long Bed Shell
-Frontrunner Racks (to be installed)
-Modified Toyota Tacoma Long Bed, Bed Mat
-Custom Bedrack with Hi-Lift Mount/Rotopax mounts
-BAMF Corner Bed Tie Downs
-Camping Lab Mansion RTT
-ARB Touring 2500 Awning

Extra Interior:
-Pionerr in Dash DVD (from 2011)
-Pioneer Speakers
-Pioneer Amp
-Weather Tech Floor Liners
-Aluminum Molle Panel behind rear seat

Recovery:
-WARN Zeon Platinum 12-S Electric Winch (needs to be re-installed after bumper is re-powdercoated)
-60K# Rated Line Man Shackles
-Hodge Podge Recovery Kit
-Deadman Earth Anchor
-Hi-Lift Jack
-Harbor Freight Aluminum Floor Jack on Skid
-Axe/Shovel Mount in bed

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Future Modifications Planned:

Major:
-Pelfreybilt Solid Axle Conversion 3-Link Kit (in development)
-FJ Dual Transfer Case W/ Marlin Taco Box
-Associated SAC Mumbo-Jumbo (D60ish)
-KUSTOM KINGS!!!! (because they will be red anodized (JK they will also be super long) haha)
-Custom removable flat bed and cage (combo to use RTT, and associated bed accessories)
-Full Interior Cage
-Big Ass Tares (40+)
-LS swap (once I finally hit like 500K miles or so)
-Big Diesel to replace Tacoma and/or pull Tacoma (yeehaw)

Minor:
-Vinyl roof wrap to match MGM hood
-New seats :)
-Katskinz
-TuffSkinz interior kit
-Finally install my audio system
-New Molle Panel Attachments to make CA people mad
-Tred Pro's
-Rock Lights
 

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Dude the chronicles of your truck are awesome! I dig each look it had, especially the no front bumper. I hope I get 200k+ worth of memories with mine too.

Was there really a redrum in the RTT?
 
Dude the chronicles of your truck are awesome! I dig each look it had, especially the no front bumper. I hope I get 200k+ worth of memories with mine too.

Was there really a redrum in the RTT?

Haha, thanks man! I know very few other trucks that went through so many changes, sometimes I miss the no bumper look haha, I have this most recent one:
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There is so much more I can add, and I will do a trail log for it as well!
I dont think there was a murder in it, just was so cheap. its 6'X8'
 
Man that was so long ago... brings back memories! That shell served us well for a long time.

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I know haha! As soon as I sold it to you I wanted it back but you sol d it and the truck haah! I like that little thing.
 
I know haha! As soon as I sold it to you I wanted it back but you sol d it and the truck haah! I like that little thing.
Hahaha yeah we ended up keeping it on there for at least a year and a half... may have conceived in it... definitely got engaged in it.

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Brings a tear to the eye *sniffle*

Not really but definitely good times haha
 
For sure man, I will definitely be getting out of Commiefornia a lot to the good ol AZ so we will have to get together for a camp out!
 
For sure man, I will definitely be getting out of Commiefornia a lot to the good ol AZ so we will have to get together for a camp out!
Yesssss!! Hopefully we'll get a good monsoon so some of these frickin fire restrictions will be lifted!
 
Yesssss!! Hopefully we'll get a good monsoon so some of these frickin fire restrictions will be lifted!

No shit man, I heard the Expedition Overland is being investigated for having a fire, posting a video and pictures of it up on the internet, right outside Flagstaff for Overland Expo West haha, DURING FIRE RESTRICTIONS!
 
No shit man, I heard the Expedition Overland is being investigated for having a fire, posting a video and pictures of it up on the internet, right outside Flagstaff for Overland Expo West haha, DURING FIRE RESTRICTIONS!
Oh jeez. They of all people should know better.

Some of the restrictions are retarded but I mean come on, don't post about it if you're going to be an ignoramus.
 
Oh jeez. They of all people should know better.

Some of the restrictions are retarded but I mean come on, don't post about it if you're going to be an ignoramus.

Exactly, it is BS but people ruin it by not knowing proper fire safety/precautions. But also they are like the Kings of Overlanding, you think they would have known (there is no way they didnt, they are all just huge douches that think they can get away with anything they want haha)
 
Awesome rig, awesome log. Seriously in crushing on your rig. Definitely staying tuned!
 
Awesome rig, awesome log. Seriously in crushing on your rig. Definitely staying tuned!

Thanks man, that means a lot! I have put a ton into the build and I cant wait to add to this when we link it! I am debating on adding a trail log as a new thread instead of adding it to this one.
 
Thanks man, that means a lot! I have put a ton into the build and I cant wait to add to this when we link it! I am debating on adding a trail log as a new thread instead of adding it to this one.
From where I’m sitting I dig reading both the build progress, and trail log together, but I can see how beneficial to the mass it could be separated. Either way, definitely staying tuned!
 
No shit man, I heard the Expedition Overland is being investigated for having a fire, posting a video and pictures of it up on the internet, right outside Flagstaff for Overland Expo West haha, DURING FIRE RESTRICTIONS!
WTF? I was there but I also was drinking heavily so didn't notice much.
 
Its pretty cool seeing the different stages if your truck and knowing that after 200k+ miles I will still be dumping money into mine and changing it up like you haha. I hope to have my truck that long. Cool build
 
Man it never fucking ends haha, but it has been a fun ride. With that in mind I should probably do the future mods on my build too.....
 
OP updated with future mods, just some small stuff.
 
Looking good :cool:

Let me know when I can stop by to see my new bumper! We're overdue for a trip to SD anyways.

Well you can always just "stop by" if you want.... bout to get a place in Poway
 
Well you can always just "stop by" if you want.... bout to get a place in Poway
If that's what it takes to get a glimpse of this new bumper I'll come over this weekend
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