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    This website is the passion-project of a USMC veteran/mechanic, @Tyler. I created Tacoma3G.com to share my knowledge of this subject with others and to provide like-minded folks with a comfortable space to ask questions and create 'build threads' within our Tacoma Forums. Now, if the format of this website is confusing to navigate for you, or if you're interested in my full mission and T3G's history, check out the Help and About pages.

mcharfauros: Mike’s Budget Build which is getting out of hand.

Wow.

Seriously F@&$ing wow.

That’s a badass build you have going on. Finally got a chance to get through it all. Hopefully be able to see it in person someday soon! ?
 
Wow.

Seriously F@&$ing wow.

That’s a badass build you have going on. Finally got a chance to get through it all. Hopefully be able to see it in person someday soon! ?
Thanks man, definitely a work in progress, and not where we really wanna be, but did allot of the work with the help of some really kick ass Taco guys with way built up rigs. Definitely looking forward to linking up sometime for a run.
 
2DEC2019

While I had the truck on the lift, I went ahead and greased the prop shafts, and UCA’s. While I was doing inspections, I noticed my leaf pack was looking like trash. I’m assuming the weight of the ARB Rear Bumper and Steel bed rack was more than it can handle.

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I was able to get a set of All-Pro Expo’s from a local buddy @ChandlerDOOM since he sold his kick ass rig, and no longer needed his spare set.

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I’m probably one of the few people out there who gets excited over rusty junk.

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2DEC2019

While I had the truck on the lift, I went ahead and greased the prop shafts, and UCA’s. While I was doing inspections, I noticed my leaf pack was looking like trash. I’m assuming the weight of the ARB Rear Bumper and Steel bed rack was more than it can handle.

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I was able to get a set of All-Pro Expo’s from a local buddy @ChandlerDOOM since he sold his kick ass rig, and no longer needed his spare set.

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I’m probably one of the few people out there who gets excited over rusty junk.

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Planning on installing them as is?
 
Planning on installing them as is?
Negative on that, ordered a set of sleeves from All-Pro along with some poly Bushings. Looking to gets some greasable pins, for maintenance as well. The retainers are pretty beat up, so I’ll likely get those taken care of too, prior to installation.
 
@mcharfauros, great build thread. Like everyone else whose commented, I love how you’ve put this truck together.

You did your homework and watched for deals. Great job.

What’s next on the list? 5.29’s?
 
@H3llRid3r Thanks Brotha, appreciate the feedback. Definitely has been a fun 19 months so far. Wish I could take the credit for doing the homework and planning, but a good majority was just plain dumb luck. I have a bunch of help from some local Taco guys, also the Toyota Crawler guys here in the region. As for planning on what’s next, just a little preventative maintenance for out trip out to Tennessee in March. Hopefully hang some parts that have been sitting throughout the winter. 5.29’s Definitely in the future, was waiting on a front locker, but that came in. So now just gotta get install kits, and get the truck to an installer. With my daughter’s high school graduation coming up in May, I gotta dial back the Taco time, and spending ya know.
 
Dec2018

With the holiday season in full swing, not a whole lot of work on the truck got done early in the month. However with all the Black Friday deals going on, a few parts started rolling in keeping UPS busy.

ARB RD111 front locker showed up. Still need to sort out a compressor to pair with it.

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Got a deal on some heavier springs for the additional weight of the bumper and winch. My buddy GT was cool enough to let me use his wall mounted spring compressor to get the job done at his shop.

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New sleeves for the All-Pro Expo Leaf Packs. Had to call and special order them since they don’t offer an option to buy them on their site.

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ARB Tire Deflator arrived damaged. Got a refund. Thinking I might just stick with my Staun style deflator if I can ever figure out how to dial them in.

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Quick hitch pins via Tractor Supply, and some tabs for the tire carrier project.

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9Feb2019

Started working on sorting out the tire carrier situation, since my ARB Rear Bumper doesn’t have one. The idea was to make the carrier removable to maintain some flexibility based on the needs of certain trips.

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Gotta get caught up on updates.

24Feb2019

Decided to go ahead and swap out the steel cable on the winch. Went with 100% Made in Merica goodies.

Factor 55 Flatlink
Bubba Rope’s Grabber
Samson Amstel Blue Synthetic Rope
C4RS Abrasion Guard.

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5Mar2019

With our trip to Tennessee fast approaching I finally got the spare carrier finished.

The spare did limit visibility a bit, but definitely helped with available useable bed space.

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Not the sexy pick, like other carriers on the market, but works for me.

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11Mar2019

A few days before heading out to Tennessee, did a dope deal with a local taco guy. We swapped a new Optima 31M battery for his Dobinsons Snorkel. With my rookie mistake of not retaining my splash guards, the air box was continuously getting filthy. So I went ahead with the snorkel installation.

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Checked the template after receiving some feedback from others that it may be off a little.

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11Mar2019

A few days before heading out to Tennessee, did a dope deal with a local taco guy. We swapped a new Optima 31M battery for his Dobinsons Snorkel. With my rookie mistake of not retaining my splash guards, the air box was continuously getting filthy. So I went ahead with the snorkel installation.

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Checked the template after receiving some feedback from others that it may be off a little.

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I’m liking the snorkel more and more. I’m almost ready to pull the trigger on one.

Truck is looking good.
 
I’m liking the snorkel more and more. I’m almost ready to pull the trigger on one.

Truck is looking good.
Appreciate it. Never thought I'd put a snorkel on, but then again i never thought I'd do half the shit I've done to the truck either.?
 
14Mar2019

Shamrock Shakedown came and went in the blink of an eye. Evan Patterson and his crew Titan Offroad put on a great event at Windrock Park in Oliver Springs, TN. Can’t wait to get back next year!


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Made it back home to find out my Skids I ordered came in while we were wheeling Tennessee, so I got to work on getting prepped, painted, and mounted.


My welcome home sign from my kids.

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Unload

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Picked up the skids from Fastenal

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Prepped, Primed, Painted, and Mounted

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Made it back home to find out my Skids I ordered came in while we were wheeling Tennessee, so I got to work on getting prepped, painted, and mounted.


My welcome home sign from my kids.

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Unload

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Picked up the skids from Fastenal

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Prepped, Primed, Painted, and Mounted

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If you happen to have someone with a plasma cutter I'd get some drainage holes in that badboy, main reason I went with cbi after helping my buddy work on his truck and watching him wheel with mobtown skids. After a water crossing there was soooo much water on them and then when we were in the shop installing bumpers the skid was filled with rocks and sand, but it did protect more then well enough so can't go wrong with them
 
If you happen to have someone with a plasma cutter I'd get some drainage holes in that badboy, main reason I went with cbi after helping my buddy work on his truck and watching him wheel with mobtown skids. After a water crossing there was soooo much water on them and then when we were in the shop installing bumpers the skid was filled with rocks and sand, but it did protect more then well enough so can't go wrong with them

Appreciate the pro tip, I did notice that after we got back. We pulled my buddies GT, and Mike’s skids which were beat to shit and caked in mud.
 
31Mar 2019

Got to work pulling the welded on sliders off of the wife’s 4runner. Even with proactive preventative maintenance 2 years of the Midwest winter roads definitely wasn’t kind to this set.

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13May2019

Got some time to test fit the terminal block and bus bar mounting tray. Running the
S-Tech universal 6 Switch system remotely mounted on the left side of the bay since space is at a premium, and haven’t found any other way to get around the clutch fluid reservoir issue. Shout out to Jerry at BAMF and for getting the tray out to me. I’m sure it could be a simple fabrication solution for some, but this made for an easier fit.

Gonna see about wiring and getting it all cleaned up.

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11June2019

Shoutout to Eddy at SOS CONCEPTS for getting this out to me. Gonna join the High Clearance Rear Bumper Club.


26May2019

Eddy sent me a shot of the bumper just hanging out at his shop in South Carolina.
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28May2019

All cleaned up banded and ready for shipment.
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11June2019

I took a drive to the Fastenal to pick it up, drove another 30 minutes in the opposite direction to drop it off for media blasting and powder coating.

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Pretty Freakin Stoked!

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17Jun2019

I owe Eddy at SOS CONCEPTS a huge “Thank You” for getting this out to me. Dude is truly first class! Second to none customer service, he’s hands down one of the best guys to deal with!


Had to beat feet to the powder coating shop, to pick up my bumper before they closed. I got small town problems, they’re only open 4 days a week from 0800-1700


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Unloaded at the house. Yes I know it’s gonna take a beating, but it can look pretty for now. Might even fuck around and find a mall to stunt on. Can’t wait to get it mounted up, still gotta pull the ARB Rear Summit Bumper off, and get some cutting disks from the friendly Harbor Freight. Ordered up some edge trimming for the bedsides, which should be here on Thursday via prime.
 
23June2019

Got the Rear Bumper mounted up.
Cut lines on the bed sides aren’t the straightest, but I can live with it.
Install was pretty straight forward, a little rough knocking it out solo, but definitely doable.

Huge thanks to Eddy at SOS CONCEPTS for getting this bumper out to me wicked quick.
Pretty stoked to have another piece of Rock Solid SOS Armor fitted to the Taco.

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13July2019

Not a whole lot has been going on with either the Taco or the 4runner. But I got some new to me FJ Steelies. The plan is to get em cleaned up and paired with some Cooper ST Maxx 255/80/17 All Terrain tires, may give the 35x10.50x17’s a shot

Bonus was the OEM center caps

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23July2019

The Softopper arrived today, thankful for the long summer days, which allowed me enough daylight to get it installed. Rough fit for now, I’ll fine tune it and make it pretty in the morning.

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26July2017

Made it to Austin, TX.

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28Aug2019

I know I’m Late to the ditch light party. I Never really saw a need for them. Figured I’d give em a shot in preparation for the Appalachian Toyota Roundup this weekend. Went with the Rago Fabrications Brackets, paired with some @Baja Designs Squadron sports, since I have a set in my fog light positions.

Knocked it out over lunchtime, will see what they look like tonight, and adjust from there.

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