Summitbeerowl
Adventurer
Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by my build.
I’ve had the truck for about 20 years now and have always wanted to do something with it but just never got around to it due to money or just not having the time.
Well, now it’s starting to show some rust around each fender and there are a few spots here and there (rear bumper etc) that also need some attention.
So it’s get rid of it and buy something new or stick some money into it and fix it up and transform it into an expedition truck of sorts. We do some mountain biking so we haul the bikes in the box (great to have a 6’ box) and would like to use it for a bit of camping/exploring.
Since I only drive it about 1,200 miles a year it only makes sense to me, to throw some money into it. I just can’t justify (right now) a $40,000 + truck.
This site has been great for getting ideas and now hopefully I can receive some suggestions from all of you on what I can do.
My plan so far is to have the truck repainted in January. I have a topper and so will also have this sprayed to match.
New rims and tires are needed. Ok, mine really are fine but I came across these Stealth Custom Series Ray 10 wheels and I think I need them.
The trucks original size tire is a 31” and so that’s what I’ve always had on it. I seem to have the greatest luck with BFGs and so will probably continue with this brand when I buy new ones. I’d like to go up in size to at least a 33” but then I’ve seen some with 35s on and wow, I like that too.
I guess I’m going to need some help there with what to do.
Right now on the back I have aftermarket leaf springs that I purchased years ago from Northwest off-road specialties to fix the sag in the back that Toyotas were known for. After taking care of this I had the front torsion bars cranked up a bit to level the truck out. I had purchased the new springs as a set along with new 25mm torsion bars (it was listed as a 1.5”lift) but never had the torsion bars installed. Now the truck looks good but rides rough. Not sure if I should install the new torsion bars and see if this helps the ride or just go with a whole new lift kit and raise the truck 4 inches and make sure I can fit 33” to 35” tires on. If I lift the truck will 33”-35” fit? If I leave the truck the height it is would 33” fit?
Once the truck is repainted I’d like to throw a rack on the top of the topper. No idea yet of what kind or from where.
A new bumper is needed on the back as mine seems to be humping up in the center and rusting through. When I find what I like, I’d also like to match it to a new front bumper preferably one with a winch. I probably don’t need a winch but hey, it looks cool and there is always that one time that I could probably use one. I like the plated bumpers like the Warn or the ARB but can’t believe how expensive they are. Tube bumpers…not that big of a fan.
Minor things that need to be done are a new muffler. Mine is shot. When I went online to look for a new exhaust system I was kinda disappointed that there wasn’t the selection there was when I looked years ago. I remember all these fancy exhaust systems like Borla that were stainless steel and had such good ratings. Now nothing when I actually need one. So no idea what to get now.
Oh, looking at putting on some fender flares too. Not sure what brand or width yet. Id like to have these painted the same as the truck.
So where do I start?
Do I order new rims and tires so I know how high the truck needs to be and also be able to tell the width needed for flares?
I guess as I write this I’m kinda thinking 33” are what I would like for tires. But then will I have to change out the gearing? Since I’m going to have to find someone to either do some of this work or give me a hand, am I better off just sticking with 31”? I can build you a house from the ground up, but I’ve never worked on a vehicle before. That’s not to say I cant learn.
Well, there’s the start to my Toyota Truck Build. Hopefully I’ll get some feedback from you so I know where to start.
Thanks in advance for your input!
I’ve had the truck for about 20 years now and have always wanted to do something with it but just never got around to it due to money or just not having the time.
Well, now it’s starting to show some rust around each fender and there are a few spots here and there (rear bumper etc) that also need some attention.
So it’s get rid of it and buy something new or stick some money into it and fix it up and transform it into an expedition truck of sorts. We do some mountain biking so we haul the bikes in the box (great to have a 6’ box) and would like to use it for a bit of camping/exploring.
Since I only drive it about 1,200 miles a year it only makes sense to me, to throw some money into it. I just can’t justify (right now) a $40,000 + truck.
This site has been great for getting ideas and now hopefully I can receive some suggestions from all of you on what I can do.
My plan so far is to have the truck repainted in January. I have a topper and so will also have this sprayed to match.
New rims and tires are needed. Ok, mine really are fine but I came across these Stealth Custom Series Ray 10 wheels and I think I need them.
The trucks original size tire is a 31” and so that’s what I’ve always had on it. I seem to have the greatest luck with BFGs and so will probably continue with this brand when I buy new ones. I’d like to go up in size to at least a 33” but then I’ve seen some with 35s on and wow, I like that too.
I guess I’m going to need some help there with what to do.
Right now on the back I have aftermarket leaf springs that I purchased years ago from Northwest off-road specialties to fix the sag in the back that Toyotas were known for. After taking care of this I had the front torsion bars cranked up a bit to level the truck out. I had purchased the new springs as a set along with new 25mm torsion bars (it was listed as a 1.5”lift) but never had the torsion bars installed. Now the truck looks good but rides rough. Not sure if I should install the new torsion bars and see if this helps the ride or just go with a whole new lift kit and raise the truck 4 inches and make sure I can fit 33” to 35” tires on. If I lift the truck will 33”-35” fit? If I leave the truck the height it is would 33” fit?
Once the truck is repainted I’d like to throw a rack on the top of the topper. No idea yet of what kind or from where.
A new bumper is needed on the back as mine seems to be humping up in the center and rusting through. When I find what I like, I’d also like to match it to a new front bumper preferably one with a winch. I probably don’t need a winch but hey, it looks cool and there is always that one time that I could probably use one. I like the plated bumpers like the Warn or the ARB but can’t believe how expensive they are. Tube bumpers…not that big of a fan.
Minor things that need to be done are a new muffler. Mine is shot. When I went online to look for a new exhaust system I was kinda disappointed that there wasn’t the selection there was when I looked years ago. I remember all these fancy exhaust systems like Borla that were stainless steel and had such good ratings. Now nothing when I actually need one. So no idea what to get now.
Oh, looking at putting on some fender flares too. Not sure what brand or width yet. Id like to have these painted the same as the truck.
So where do I start?
Do I order new rims and tires so I know how high the truck needs to be and also be able to tell the width needed for flares?
I guess as I write this I’m kinda thinking 33” are what I would like for tires. But then will I have to change out the gearing? Since I’m going to have to find someone to either do some of this work or give me a hand, am I better off just sticking with 31”? I can build you a house from the ground up, but I’ve never worked on a vehicle before. That’s not to say I cant learn.
Well, there’s the start to my Toyota Truck Build. Hopefully I’ll get some feedback from you so I know where to start.
Thanks in advance for your input!