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Update to my build...big changes coming

Taco4Dan93

2️⃣ Bronze
Joined
Nov 8, 2019
Messages
30
Reaction score
40
Age
30
Location
San Diego, CA
2017 TRD OR DCLB Auto
Magnetic Gray
I am a little late on starting my build thread, but as the old saying goes, better late than never?‍♂️.

I have recently put in quite a bit of work with my truck. But for starters I got rid of the carpet based floor mats and got me some Husky Liners! Great investment, and better than WeatherTech. In my opinion, just because I have WeatherTech in my car and where my right heel rest appears to be worn down through the liner itself. Also took off those mudflats as I knew they would be ripped off after the first trip anyways.

I was tired of that lag in throttle response, so I purchased a pedal commander. The quicker response is much nicer especially when ripping around the desert.

Enough of the boring content, on to the big changes, about 6 months ago I decided my first real change to the truck would be a mid-travel kit. Also got a little handsy with the sawzal

Suspension:
Front End---
I went with the ICON 2.5 CDCV shocks, and paired that with the Dirt King Fabrication Boxed upper and lower arms. I also chose to reinforce my coil buckets with their gusset kit, as well as the Total Chaos spindle gusset and cam gussets. The cam gussets were an after thought unfortunately but will be going on in the next couple weeks hopefully.

Rear End--- For the rear, I kept it all ICON and went with their Stage 2 RXT kit. I paired that with the Archive Garage hammer hangers as well as the bar to tie the frame rails in to really stiffen and tie it all in.

Wheels & Tires:
For the wheels I went with Stealth Custom Series F5 Series and wrapped them in 285/75/16 General Grabbers. Due to the larger tire size, a cab mount chop was in order. We had the material to make plates for the CMC. But at around $18 for a pair from Bay Area Metal Fab, I took the latter and bought them.

As of right now, there are many plans for the truck, such as lights, gears a tire gate and storage setups.

Having to do away with stock spare tire location leaves me with strapping my spare to the bed, but the Wilco Off-Road tire gate is in the budget for early next year. First thing will be 5.29 Nitro Gears installed by Pro Gear in San Diego. We have taken the 1741 JeepSpeed race truck there and have had stellar service!

Hoping to document most of this on Instagram and here, here are a couple pictures from the build thus far.


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I am a little late on starting my build thread, but as the old saying goes, better late than never?‍♂️.

I have recently put in quite a bit of work with my truck. But for starters I got rid of the carpet based floor mats and got me some Husky Liners! Great investment, and better than WeatherTech. In my opinion, just because I have WeatherTech in my car and where my right heel rest appears to be worn down through the liner itself. Also took off those mudflats as I knew they would be ripped off after the first trip anyways.

I was tired of that lag in throttle response, so I purchased a pedal commander. The quicker response is much nicer especially when ripping around the desert.

Enough of the boring content, on to the big changes, about 6 months ago I decided my first real change to the truck would be a mid-travel kit. Also got a little handsy with the sawzal

Suspension:
Front End---
I went with the ICON 2.5 CDCV shocks, and paired that with the Dirt King Fabrication Boxed upper and lower arms. I also chose to reinforce my coil buckets with their gusset kit, as well as the Total Chaos spindle gusset and cam gussets. The cam gussets were an after thought unfortunately but will be going on in the next couple weeks hopefully.

Rear End--- For the rear, I kept it all ICON and went with their Stage 2 RXT kit. I paired that with the Archive Garage hammer hangers as well as the bar to tie the frame rails in to really stiffen and tie it all in.

Wheels & Tires:
For the wheels I went with Stealth Custom Series F5 Series and wrapped them in 285/75/16 General Grabbers. Due to the larger tire size, a cab mount chop was in order. We had the material to make plates for the CMC. But at around $18 for a pair from Bay Area Metal Fab, I took the latter and bought them.

As of right now, there are many plans for the truck, such as lights, gears a tire gate and storage setups.

Having to do away with stock spare tire location leaves me with strapping my spare to the bed, but the Wilco Off-Road tire gate is in the budget for early next year. First thing will be 5.29 Nitro Gears installed by Pro Gear in San Diego. We have taken the 1741 JeepSpeed race truck there and have had stellar service!

Hoping to document most of this on Instagram and here, here are a couple pictures from the build thus far.


IMG_5797.jpg
IMG_5802.jpg

IMG_5798.jpg
IMG_1413.jpg

IMG_1435.jpg
IMG_1434.jpg

IMG_5832.jpg
IMG_5839.jpg

IMG_5869.jpg
IMG_5890.jpg

IMG_5888.jpg
IMG_5916.JPG

Bad Ass build man! I love that last photo of the truck with the flag, looks like it’s on the moon!
 
Never too late and welcome to the forum. I love that you went all in on the suspension right away. The wheels look sweet with the red letters on the tires. And bonus points for the longbed. Looking forward to seeing what else you've got coming for it.
 
Never too late and welcome to the forum. I love that you went all in on the suspension right away. The wheels look sweet with the red letters on the tires. And bonus points for the longbed. Looking forward to seeing what else you've got coming for it.

I knew I wanted all the bells and whistles with lighting, the cool grills etc etc...but FOR ME, there was no point in that stuff if I couldn't go fast across the desert. Now that I have the suspension, I am out driving my stock high beams, so, needless to say, I have started shopping around for that. Baja Designs is what I am looking at as of now.
Also hoping to find some nice LED aftermarket ones for the headlights.
 
I knew I wanted all the bells and whistles with lighting, the cool grills etc etc...but FOR ME, there was no point in that stuff if I couldn't go fast across the desert. Now that I have the suspension, I am out driving my stock high beams, so, needless to say, I have started shopping around for that. Baja Designs is what I am looking at as of now.
Also hoping to find some nice LED aftermarket ones for the headlights.
That makes sense. I'm in the same boat. No good lighting on my truck but I do have the off-road capability. Check out the @Baja Designs section here to see some of their deals.
 
Great looking setup ?. I have the Dirt King upper and lower control arms as well and they are awesome. Their gusset setups are on my list. I also want the Archive stuff you've got in the back. I hear it makes a HUUUUGE difference.
 
Great looking setup ?. I have the Dirt King upper and lower control arms as well and they are awesome. Their gusset setups are on my list. I also want the Archive stuff you've got in the back. I hear it makes a HUUUUGE difference.

I have been out twice. First time was in the enclosed, juuust incase. We welded the cam gussets last weekend, but the weather and then Superstition Mountain trip put a hold on that. But that is the next thing to go on. I just got my quote from Pro Gear down here in San Diego, so hoping to save up some change for that one. Hoping to squeeze in some lighting and skids before that though. I have my eyes set on that Wilco Tire Gate, but for now my SpeedStraps are doing a nice job.

IMG_5904.jpg
 
Over the holidays I bought myself a lil something! Picked up the Wilco Offroad PreRunner tire gate. Due to the bar that ties in the frame rails, I wasn't able to carry a spare, so that forced my hand on this purchase! I have had it on for about a month now and it is perfect! I leave it angled in-board unless I throw the quad in the back, in which case it will get flipped out-board.
IMG_6128.JPG
 
Over the holidays I bought myself a lil something! Picked up the Wilco Offroad PreRunner tire gate. Due to the bar that ties in the frame rails, I wasn't able to carry a spare, so that forced my hand on this purchase! I have had it on for about a month now and it is perfect! I leave it angled in-board unless I throw the quad in the back, in which case it will get flipped out-board.
IMG_6128.JPG
That has a really aggressive and unique look. I don’t see too many of those. And with the longbed, you still have plenty of space for the beer cooler.
 
Been a while since I've posted so heres an update. The truck has remained the same ever since installing my Dirt King Arms, ICON suspension and archive garage hangers/frame stiffener.

Picked up an LSK +4.5" long travel kit with a DMZ Fab SUA kit for the rear and all KING shocks from a guy who changed his mind on the plans for his Tacoma. Not shown is my DMZ bed cage, JD Fabrication Lower Control Arm Pivots, billet tie rod kit, and Dirt King's frame plates. I am also planning to purchase their inner fenders as I'll be running bigger tires than the 285's that are currently on the truck.

This past weekend my buddy and I made a lot of progress. We removed all the old suspension and prepped the surround area for the JD Fab LCA pivots. We did manage to get the driver side frame plates welded on.

Build List
Front End:
  • LSK +4.5" Long travel
  • King 2.5 x 8" Coilovers
  • King 3.0x8 3 tube bypass shocks
  • King 2.0x2.0 bump stops
  • JD Fabrication Lower Arm Pivots
  • JD Fabrication Billet tie rods
  • Dirt King upper arm double shear kit
  • Dirt King frame plate kit
  • RCV Performance extended axles
  • ADV Fiberglass
  • Kartek 8" limit straps
Rear end:
  • DMZ Fab SUA Kit
  • DMZ Fab Bed Cage
  • DMZ Fab Frame boxing kit
  • King 2.5x16" Bypass shocks
  • King 2.0x2.0 bumpstops
  • ADV Fiberglass
Wheels & Tires:
  • 17" KMC Grenade Desert Beadlocks
  • 37" 12.5 17 Nitto Trail Grappler M/T

A lot of work left! Stay tuned.

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