- Joined
- Nov 16, 2020
- Messages
- 130
- Reaction score
- 139
- Location
- Connecticut
Blazing Blue Pearl
*Updated 10-10-2022 - last edit(s) in red*
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Gandalf the Blue, a 2017 TRD Sport - current as of September 2022
Wheels/Tires
-OEM TRD Sport wheels (17x7.5, +30)
-Nitto Recon Grapplers 255/80/17
Suspension/Drivetrain
-Elka 2.0 IFP coilovers and rear struts
-Dobinsons L59-111-R leaf packs
-SPC upper control arms
-TImbren Industries bump stops and U-bolt flip kit
-ECGS clamshell bushing
Lights/Electronics
-Cali Raised LED 40" and 32" light bars
-Clearance light pods - Midatlantic Offroad
-Solar Burn LED low beam replacements - Midatlantic Offroad
-Smoked sequential mirror turn signals - Midadtlantic Offroad
-Switches - Cali Raised LED and Custom Ebay for L/R scene with yellow pods
-Diode Dynamics SAE Sport fog lights
Function/Recovery
-ATH fab bed stiffeners
-Prinsu Top Rack
-Leer 100R cap
-Tacoma Twins paracord grab handles x4 on Prinsu
-Factor55 hitch link 2.0
Aesthetics
-Import Equipment amber delete 'TRD' vinyls
-OEM Sport Grille hit with Rustoleum high performance black enamel (Matte for grille, semi-gloss for badge)
-Black tailgate "Tacoma" inserts
Future Plans
-Hidden Winch Mount/Winch
-Front Recovery Points
-Relocate lower light bar
-Relocate spare hanger, upsize spare
—————————————————
Hey guys, I’m Joel, driver of a 2017 TRD Sport, manual transmission, in blazing blue pearl. As I write this, I’ve just paid off the truck, which has 104K on the dash and has brought me to (or through) 38 different states, 18 national parks, and back and forth to work about 1300 times.
Owning a Tacoma (or pickup in general) was never something I planned on. Take a look at my post in @Tacomadad18 thread “Why did you choose the Tacoma” if you want a verbose account of the how and why behind the purchase in chronologic disarray.
Having added to and subtracted from the truck over the past few years, I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for and understanding of want versus need, and form versus function. I’ve certainly enjoyed every step of the build, and with each iteration, the excitement of owning and using my truck continues to grow.
Oh and regarding the build page title— My previous vehicle, an ‘03 Corolla, was dubbed Gandalf the Grey—and since a name for the Tacoma hasn’t yet found itself worthy, Gandalf the Blue it is.
So here’s GTB, September 2017, fresh off the transport from Texas, less than 60 miles on the clock:
And that’s about how the truck looked until the first transcontinental voyage in spring 2019. The whole trip was based on attending the Cali Roots festival in Monterey, CA. In preparing for the trip, the world of [overlanding, vehicle based exploration, car camping, etc.] was completely foreign to me. I knew that I wanted to drive cross country, camp as much as possible, and try to connect with a few friendly faces along the way (and snag much needed showers at those check points). Little did I know that those 21 days behind the wheel, waking up to incredible new vistas in places I never fathomed existed in our country, would forever change the dynamic between this driver and vehicle. I'll save the details of the trip for another post, as I think it would be fun to share, but that collection of experiences served as the catalyst to "The Build" as I know it.
Here's one of my favorite photos from the trip. This is us, just arriving at Badlands NP in South Dakota, a moment that will always remain special for me as it was my first ever national park (and certainly it did not disappoint).
Pictured here are the first four additions to GTB.
1. KB-Voodoo Hi-Rise Crossbars
2. Extang Solid-Fold 2.0 Tonneau
3. Smittybilt Overlander Gen1 RTT
4. Thule EasyFold XT 2 hitch mounted MTB rack (I think...it was a gift and I frankly forget which exact model, so google images most closely resemble that one).
A few months later in 2019, still buzzing off the high of cross-country travel, we made the trip out west once again. The truck hadn't changed, but the evening that the following picture was taken, the idea for the next set of additions was conceived.
This was somewhere in Capitol Reef NP, where we had set off to find some landmark before making it back to camp for the evening. Travel was slow over washboards, deeper ruts, and curvy, rocky and sandy climbs, all of which I had frankly zero experience maneuvering at the time. The TRD Sport stock Hitachi struts weren't too pleased with the terrain either. As we were turning around and making our way back to the trailhead, we saw a couple well equipped Tacomas making the evening journey out, boasting much more capable suspension and with arrays of forward lighting blasting serious lumens into the ever blackening desert night.
Now this was also the time that instagram started intelligently sneaking builds into my feed. Needless to say, I was influenced, and influenced hard. The next phase of the build began to address some of the items I felt the truck lacked based on our most recent trip. It was also during this time delving into truck social media, that I made a couple key connections on the that would provide helpful insight when it came time to work on the lower half of the truck.
Notable additions at this point included:
1. Prinsu Cab Rack
2. Cali Raised LED 40" combo light bar in amber
3. Cali Raised LED 32" dual row combo light bar in amber mounted on the hidden lower bumper mounts (also Cali Raised)
4. Amazon purchased modular RV leveling bricks. Can't recall the brand, but they look like the flat lego 4 pieces, and continue to be incredibly useful.
5. Apache 9800 weatherproof rifle case used to store miscellaneous recovery gear, tow ropes (Rhino), air compressor (Viair 88P).
6. Nitto Ridge Grapplers in OEM size 265/65/17.
7. X-Bull traction boards from Amazon (when I briefly thought I was going to go with a yellow accent scheme).
GTB remained in this form for the better part of a year, with a few aesthetic changes (some transient) shown here:
In no particular order:
1. Spidertrax 1.24 hub-centric wheel spacers
2. Faux TRD Pro grille (Cali Raised Offroad) with Smoked/Amber Raptor Lights
3. Import Equipment Amber Delete 'TRD' Vinyl
4. Smoked sequential mirror turn signals (Mid-Atlantic Offroad, now Thrashed Offroad)
5. Diode Dynamics SAE Sport Fog Lamps
I scored a great combo deal on the next addition to GTB by sheer luck, thanks to a well timed scroll though the Noreast Yota's Facebook page. To top if off (no pun intended), this was one of the things I knew from very early on I would eventually like to purchase. The deal was made even sweeter by what came already mounted:
There she is, in all her glory - the Leer 100R cap with Windoors (a MUST in my book) and a Prinsu Top Rack to match the Cab. Not pictured are the ATH Fab stiffeners I snagged on a killer sale to protect the composite bed. I wish I had a photo from before I had the cap paint matched. It came off a Quicksand, and the contrast actually looked pretty cool, like a hard version of the tan Softoppers.
Now, having a constant load of around 200 sitting on the bed, the stock suspension's shortcomings (and overall wear from regularly overloading the leaf packs) became woefully apparent. After a great deal of research, process of elimination, and chatting with quite a few folks with far more experience than I, several orders were placed in early 2021 to address the all important interface between machine and terrain.
1. SPC Light Racing UCAs
2. Elka 2.0 IFP coilovers and rear struts
3. Dobinsons L59-111-R leaf pack rated for 600 lb constant load
4. Timbren Industries Active Off-Road rear bump stops and U-bolt flip kit.
Night and Day. Couldn't be happier with this setup, which checks all the boxes for my needs. Specifically, big needs for suspension were off-road capable (weekend warrior, not rock crawling or dune hopping), while remaining responsive and fun on pavement. I also needed something that would stand up to New England winters with their glorious road salt, hence the all aluminum Elka. Lastly, I needed the added adjustability and added load capacity to accommodate camping gear, hardware store hauls, and future possible changes in tire size, armor, and mounted recovery items (winch in particular).
So, this more or less brings us to today, with a few notable recent changes. As GTB has grown, I've tried to be mindful of the items I use (or don't) and the impact of keeping them on or in the truck. I've also noted a shift in the overall style that I find most pleasing on the truck. With that in mind, here are the most recent photos I have of Gandalf the Blue (minus a very recent debadge), as well as the complete list of current modifications. As always, thanks for reading!
—————————————————
Gandalf the Blue, a 2017 TRD Sport - current as of September 2022
Wheels/Tires
-OEM TRD Sport wheels (17x7.5, +30)
-Nitto Recon Grapplers 255/80/17
Suspension/Drivetrain
-Elka 2.0 IFP coilovers and rear struts
-Dobinsons L59-111-R leaf packs
-SPC upper control arms
-TImbren Industries bump stops and U-bolt flip kit
-ECGS clamshell bushing
Lights/Electronics
-Cali Raised LED 40" and 32" light bars
-Clearance light pods - Midatlantic Offroad
-Solar Burn LED low beam replacements - Midatlantic Offroad
-Smoked sequential mirror turn signals - Midadtlantic Offroad
-Switches - Cali Raised LED and Custom Ebay for L/R scene with yellow pods
-Diode Dynamics SAE Sport fog lights
Function/Recovery
-ATH fab bed stiffeners
-Prinsu Top Rack
-Leer 100R cap
-Tacoma Twins paracord grab handles x4 on Prinsu
-Factor55 hitch link 2.0
Aesthetics
-Import Equipment amber delete 'TRD' vinyls
-OEM Sport Grille hit with Rustoleum high performance black enamel (Matte for grille, semi-gloss for badge)
-Black tailgate "Tacoma" inserts
Future Plans
-Hidden Winch Mount/Winch
-Front Recovery Points
-Relocate lower light bar
-Relocate spare hanger, upsize spare
—————————————————
Hey guys, I’m Joel, driver of a 2017 TRD Sport, manual transmission, in blazing blue pearl. As I write this, I’ve just paid off the truck, which has 104K on the dash and has brought me to (or through) 38 different states, 18 national parks, and back and forth to work about 1300 times.
Owning a Tacoma (or pickup in general) was never something I planned on. Take a look at my post in @Tacomadad18 thread “Why did you choose the Tacoma” if you want a verbose account of the how and why behind the purchase in chronologic disarray.
Having added to and subtracted from the truck over the past few years, I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for and understanding of want versus need, and form versus function. I’ve certainly enjoyed every step of the build, and with each iteration, the excitement of owning and using my truck continues to grow.
Oh and regarding the build page title— My previous vehicle, an ‘03 Corolla, was dubbed Gandalf the Grey—and since a name for the Tacoma hasn’t yet found itself worthy, Gandalf the Blue it is.
So here’s GTB, September 2017, fresh off the transport from Texas, less than 60 miles on the clock:
And that’s about how the truck looked until the first transcontinental voyage in spring 2019. The whole trip was based on attending the Cali Roots festival in Monterey, CA. In preparing for the trip, the world of [overlanding, vehicle based exploration, car camping, etc.] was completely foreign to me. I knew that I wanted to drive cross country, camp as much as possible, and try to connect with a few friendly faces along the way (and snag much needed showers at those check points). Little did I know that those 21 days behind the wheel, waking up to incredible new vistas in places I never fathomed existed in our country, would forever change the dynamic between this driver and vehicle. I'll save the details of the trip for another post, as I think it would be fun to share, but that collection of experiences served as the catalyst to "The Build" as I know it.
Here's one of my favorite photos from the trip. This is us, just arriving at Badlands NP in South Dakota, a moment that will always remain special for me as it was my first ever national park (and certainly it did not disappoint).
Pictured here are the first four additions to GTB.
1. KB-Voodoo Hi-Rise Crossbars
2. Extang Solid-Fold 2.0 Tonneau
3. Smittybilt Overlander Gen1 RTT
4. Thule EasyFold XT 2 hitch mounted MTB rack (I think...it was a gift and I frankly forget which exact model, so google images most closely resemble that one).
A few months later in 2019, still buzzing off the high of cross-country travel, we made the trip out west once again. The truck hadn't changed, but the evening that the following picture was taken, the idea for the next set of additions was conceived.
This was somewhere in Capitol Reef NP, where we had set off to find some landmark before making it back to camp for the evening. Travel was slow over washboards, deeper ruts, and curvy, rocky and sandy climbs, all of which I had frankly zero experience maneuvering at the time. The TRD Sport stock Hitachi struts weren't too pleased with the terrain either. As we were turning around and making our way back to the trailhead, we saw a couple well equipped Tacomas making the evening journey out, boasting much more capable suspension and with arrays of forward lighting blasting serious lumens into the ever blackening desert night.
Now this was also the time that instagram started intelligently sneaking builds into my feed. Needless to say, I was influenced, and influenced hard. The next phase of the build began to address some of the items I felt the truck lacked based on our most recent trip. It was also during this time delving into truck social media, that I made a couple key connections on the that would provide helpful insight when it came time to work on the lower half of the truck.
Notable additions at this point included:
1. Prinsu Cab Rack
2. Cali Raised LED 40" combo light bar in amber
3. Cali Raised LED 32" dual row combo light bar in amber mounted on the hidden lower bumper mounts (also Cali Raised)
4. Amazon purchased modular RV leveling bricks. Can't recall the brand, but they look like the flat lego 4 pieces, and continue to be incredibly useful.
5. Apache 9800 weatherproof rifle case used to store miscellaneous recovery gear, tow ropes (Rhino), air compressor (Viair 88P).
6. Nitto Ridge Grapplers in OEM size 265/65/17.
7. X-Bull traction boards from Amazon (when I briefly thought I was going to go with a yellow accent scheme).
GTB remained in this form for the better part of a year, with a few aesthetic changes (some transient) shown here:
In no particular order:
1. Spidertrax 1.24 hub-centric wheel spacers
2. Faux TRD Pro grille (Cali Raised Offroad) with Smoked/Amber Raptor Lights
3. Import Equipment Amber Delete 'TRD' Vinyl
4. Smoked sequential mirror turn signals (Mid-Atlantic Offroad, now Thrashed Offroad)
5. Diode Dynamics SAE Sport Fog Lamps
I scored a great combo deal on the next addition to GTB by sheer luck, thanks to a well timed scroll though the Noreast Yota's Facebook page. To top if off (no pun intended), this was one of the things I knew from very early on I would eventually like to purchase. The deal was made even sweeter by what came already mounted:
There she is, in all her glory - the Leer 100R cap with Windoors (a MUST in my book) and a Prinsu Top Rack to match the Cab. Not pictured are the ATH Fab stiffeners I snagged on a killer sale to protect the composite bed. I wish I had a photo from before I had the cap paint matched. It came off a Quicksand, and the contrast actually looked pretty cool, like a hard version of the tan Softoppers.
Now, having a constant load of around 200 sitting on the bed, the stock suspension's shortcomings (and overall wear from regularly overloading the leaf packs) became woefully apparent. After a great deal of research, process of elimination, and chatting with quite a few folks with far more experience than I, several orders were placed in early 2021 to address the all important interface between machine and terrain.
1. SPC Light Racing UCAs
2. Elka 2.0 IFP coilovers and rear struts
3. Dobinsons L59-111-R leaf pack rated for 600 lb constant load
4. Timbren Industries Active Off-Road rear bump stops and U-bolt flip kit.
Night and Day. Couldn't be happier with this setup, which checks all the boxes for my needs. Specifically, big needs for suspension were off-road capable (weekend warrior, not rock crawling or dune hopping), while remaining responsive and fun on pavement. I also needed something that would stand up to New England winters with their glorious road salt, hence the all aluminum Elka. Lastly, I needed the added adjustability and added load capacity to accommodate camping gear, hardware store hauls, and future possible changes in tire size, armor, and mounted recovery items (winch in particular).
So, this more or less brings us to today, with a few notable recent changes. As GTB has grown, I've tried to be mindful of the items I use (or don't) and the impact of keeping them on or in the truck. I've also noted a shift in the overall style that I find most pleasing on the truck. With that in mind, here are the most recent photos I have of Gandalf the Blue (minus a very recent debadge), as well as the complete list of current modifications. As always, thanks for reading!
Last edited:
