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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.

Spencer's 2020 Cement DCSB Off-Road "Build" (Slow)

NinjaxBart

NinjaxBart

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Thank you for all the warm welcomes here so far!! I figured I'd start a slow n steady build thread following my introduction thread! This is my 2020 Double cab short box off-road Tacoma, and my favorite color, Cement Grey! This is my first truck so the progress will be slow as I learn new things and make this truck my own, and to fit my needs (and adventures!) We have lots of nice areas and trails to explore here in Alberta where I live!

A big shoutout to @Tyler 's Instagram, I had been eyeing Tacoma's and drooling over all the awesome builds and adventure photos I saw for over a year prior to me picking up my Tacoma! @Jesse Rizo also played a big role as I followed his YouTube.

The day I picked up the Tacoma.. we shot a commercial for the dealership here! I've done one photo campaign for Toyota Canada shooting a 2020' Tacoma prior to this!

Original link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsgMpPeUi5k


The day after picking up my Tacoma we were already out in the mountains!!
DSC09313 by SHPIXX, on Flickr

My girlfriend loves it, too!
DSC09305 by SHPIXX, on Flickr

I found out it's cheaper to fill the Tacoma's tank with regular gas than filling my Subaru's tank on 94 Octane (tuned).. this was awesome to say the least!
Untitled by SHPIXX, on Flickr

First thing I did was the TRD Pro grill :cool:
Untitled by SHPIXX, on Flickr

Untitled by SHPIXX, on Flickr

Applying some sealants to the front end (Sonax PNS, and a windshield glass coating). I'm a detailing nerd!
DSC09419 by SHPIXX, on Flickr

Next I found these online and I thought they were super cool, so ordered and installed. BUT, a few weeks later, I also added black Tacoma badges and then I didn't like having both so I removed these...
DSC09424 by SHPIXX, on Flickr

Original link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk5NbLA-bws&t=


Original link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrWxg2O7OlQ
 
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Okay I figure these grill lights resemble the Raptor' but eh, it's my first truck, and I love that wide aggressive front end look these add!!

Slight dremel down the edge because I wanted to fit them in the middle row. Went with 4 to be just.. a little.. different, haha!
DSC09435 by SHPIXX, on Flickr

DSC09445 by SHPIXX, on Flickr

Classic Canada, it was sunny, and then 10cm of snow came that night! Made for some good shots!!
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Some video work I did of the grill lights! Shoutout @Jesse Rizo on his channel for the inspiration and motivation jumping straight into the Tacoma world on YouTube. Hopefully my channel can transition from the Subaru into the Tacoma smoothly!!
Original link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O18Tx1i9gmU&t=28s


Out exploring a trail called Ya Ha Tinda here in Alberta with some friends (who played a role influencing me into the Tacoma!!)
DSC09487 by SHPIXX, on Flickr

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Original link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWQp4L-LWzY
 
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Now I'm a pretty big lighting nerd, so next up was a nice foglight upgrade! I did some photo work and marketing for Diode Dynamics in the past, so ofcourse I went with the popular SS3 Foglights (Sports) Wide SAE Amber lenses!

Original link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rITlJabmI4&t


DSC09621 by SHPIXX, on Flickr

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Got the front end PPF's with Suntek self-headling film.
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Door handle cups... a must!!
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MORE SNOW! Went out with the guys for some fun...
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My twin
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Next, Diode Dynamics SL1 LED's in the low-beams projectors for headlights! Pretty much a nice white crisp color change from the yellow halogen, same cut-off line in my opinion but the overall color temp. feels and appears more reflective ahead, on the road, lines, signs, fence posts, etc.! I am often out in the back-country on dark roads driving so these were a good upgrade.

DSC00203 by SHPIXX, on Flickr

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Comparison (OEM LEFT vs. SL1 RIGHT)
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MORE SNOW... When will it end.. It's Spring, right??
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DSC00249 by SHPIXX, on Flickr

Original link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iySaoxB_zY
 
I decided on tires and they arrived! I kind of opted for a good - budget friendly option to start out with. Eventually I might go bigger, go the whole life/ cmc route, but that might be a year or two down the road. I'd still like to get out off-roading and exploring, focus on having fun with how it is now, before I "need" more upgrades in this department! General Grabber AT/X's 265/ 75 /16

DSC00558 by SHPIXX, on Flickr

Installed a ProClip mount for my Iphone 11 pro, I am a fan of their mounts in terms of flexability (can be removed and installed with two clips out and very easy) and no drilling required permanently yet. Holding off doing anything permanent.

DSC00572 by SHPIXX, on Flickr

Original link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQMvz7KXGjg


Original link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haB-HSY60q4
 
absolutely loving the build man! that wheel and tire set up are perfect in my opinion.
 
Regan said:
absolutely loving the build man! that wheel and tire set up are perfect in my opinion.
Click to expand...

Hey thank you!! I'm really in love with the setup haha, considering my first truck and coming from my Subaru WRX, these wheels (and I'd say, especially with the tires) I think it's just a perfect setup without lifting. Like if I got a lift I'd probably want / need bigger tires and wheel to kind of fill the space up nicely. But with stock height and 265's like these ATX it just looks so much more aggressive in my eyes. So stoked!!!
 
I went kind of a similar route. I did 5100s all around and brought up the front .65 inches to level it just a little. Then did 265/75/16 BFG KO2s. For my needs right now it's perfect. I just subd to your youtube channel so I can follow on there too.
 
Regan said:
I went kind of a similar route. I did 5100s all around and brought up the front .65 inches to level it just a little. Then did 265/75/16 BFG KO2s. For my needs right now it's perfect. I just subd to your youtube channel so I can follow on there too.
Click to expand...

Dude nice that sounds awesome! Did you have any rubbing on the rear mudflap? (I do!)

Also thanks so much for subbing I really appreciate the support on my channel!
 
I've met some pretty cool friends so far since owning the Tacoma, got out a week or so ago for a 'socially distant' photo-shoot/ hangout with my friend who also has a Cement Grey. (This was just before I got my new wheels, which was the unfortunately luck we had, but we rolled with it anyways.) His edit is pretty damn epic compared to mine haha but eh I'm just workin' on my YouTube pushing along and almost to 10k Subscribers which is super cool! I did a little video coming soon of the wheels being installed that I'm very proud of can't wait to share.

Original link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpKCxxMAc0s
 
The new wheels + tires are installed and I'm sooo stoked!! They look so awesome, the truck actually drivers smoother (turning almost feels a bit more linear to me if that makes sense) and they look so much more aggressive. Even stock height / suspension, the 265 / 75/ 16's fill up nicely (pretty snug actually). I get a little bit of rub slow speed parking lot turning, just on the corner of the inside mudflap. They said a custom alignment adjustment would be able to get rid of that so I think that's next on the to-do list!

If you guys have a few minutes to check it and leave a comment on my video I'd be super thankful for that!! I just reached 10K Subscribers on my YouTube which is really so crazy to me, 4 years in the making doing videos every single week!!

Original link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdt74CsSTK0
 
So no mudflaps for 1 month now and I don't have any chips or dings around the lower fender area. I think the fenders themselves actually do most of the work, because I do have significant amount of chips on the plastic black fenders, even with the mudflaps though, so I think most rocks are hitting up in that spot.

With that said, the plan is to put the mudflaps back on soon once I get a chance to dremel them down and find a way to make them fit better without rubbing. My dremel crapped out 2 weeks ago so I'm kinda waiting for a decent sale to buy a new one.

Upgraded the reverse lights to some Prolightz PL1 T15 bulbs, I really like these ones...

Original link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeU_5dh_tUo


DSC02845-2 by Spencer, on Flickr

Some recent shots...

Untitled by Spencer, on Flickr

DSC02592 by Spencer, on Flickr

DSC02735 by Spencer, on Flickr

DSC02789 by Spencer, on Flickr

I also got a new dashcam unit sent to me in the mail, this time from a new company to me called Vantrue, they sent me out their N4 Model to do some reviews / marketing photos for them. It's a 3 channel dashcam which is really cool, geared more towards uber / taxi's to record inside the vehicle. The unit itself is pretty cool though with one of the widest FOV's I've seen on a dashcam, 1440p, and 1080 interior + 1080 rear. I'll have some example footage in a week or so of this!

Original link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZmF954T0q8&t=


DSC02754 by Spencer, on Flickr
 
Got out into the mountains this past weekend and really enjoyed taking the Taco' down some of those gravel roads down behind Canmore (Spray Lakes) etc. and I realize comparing it to the WRX is like apples to oranges but the truck just handles those gravel roads so nicely, especially since getting the new tires. It's still bumpy, but it's alot less 'jolting' if that makes sense and I don't feel like I'm about to break or damage something haha... (has anyone beat my record on 4 front lips ripped off yet??)

We hiked a spot that we had attempted last Summer and had to turn back on because of downpour rains once we got about half way up (which when you're determined to climb a mountain, is such a defeated feeling, it really sucks turning back after so much determination) so I'm really stoked on completing this one!!

Original link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvcmIzCHeoQ


DSC03152 by SHPIXX, on Flickr

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Those are some really high quality photos! What camera are you using?

Truck looks great too (y)
 
Installed the new Diode Dynamics kit for the SS3 Ditch Lights. Same lights are the foglights but they came out with a nice simple and low profile bracket that mounts to the hood for bottom pillar lights. I spent probably close to 10 hours on this one and I think it's my most favorite editing sequence to date. I basically uninstalled the old video software I was using so that I could really force myself to learn Premiere Pro and now I'm saying to myself what I think everyone does who makes the switch.."Why didn't I do this years ago!!" ;D ;D

Original link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUskv93L7Nw


DSC03201 by SHPIXX, on Flickr

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DSC03189 by SHPIXX, on Flickr

Original link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53wR7x83jJY
 
Wow, those rims look really nice on the stock suspension. Any rubbing? Got me rethinking my wheel choices
 
Hltaco said:
Wow, those rims look really nice on the stock suspension. Any rubbing? Got me rethinking my wheel choices
Click to expand...

Yup they rub with the tires so I had to remove the mudflaps!! :( Just on the front. I might see if an alignment will help before winter time comes though because I kind of want the mudflaps!

Went and explored a bit last night, and the new Sony 85mm lens has really motivated me to want to shoot more. I realized everything I shot is in portrait, but this lens just feels like it neeeeeds to be shot in portrait haha, everything just looks soo good!!

DSC03235 by SHPIXX, on Flickr

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DSC03218 by SHPIXX, on Flickr
 
This thread is awesome. I love your overall design choices and love how the truck looks even just sitting there. Beautiful shots too!
 
midnight20pro said:
This thread is awesome. I love your overall design choices and love how the truck looks even just sitting there. Beautiful shots too!
Click to expand...

Hey man thank you so much, I've been really workin hard at it learning and improvement my photography and videography on my YouTube! Lots of time reading up on all the tutorials on the web haha!

I'm so stoked with how my Tacoma is progressing too. It's slowly but surely coming together to my vision!! I always like having sort of a 'vision' or a 'theme' if that makes sense, before I install the mods I like to see how it will look and vision that if it flows, instead of kind of slapping different parts and stuff that may not flow. Perhaps this is less functional hahaha.. but I do have the bed rack, etc. coming soon!! Also... Morimoto headlights tomorrow!!
 
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