Project Serenity: an 08 Tacoma DC overland build-up

[frozenground]

What is the opening in your bed for?

that is the opening where the front cubby goes, I took it out to route the diff breather line, then put it back

[007]

Nice truck, you do nice work!

The open bed, racked rtt is an awesome set up. I love that you can access anything with the lift of a lid.

No shuffling for buried items, or undoing a swing out to lift a window to lay down a tailgate, so that you can pull out a drawer! Its all just there and nothing moves.

There are two of us in Helena that do trips, if you ever want to join us, let me know.

[Overland Hadley]

that is the opening where the front cubby goes, I took it out to route the diff breather line, then put it back

Sure. Guess I am not used to looking at a short bed box.

[frozenground]

Nice truck, you do nice work!

The open bed, racked rtt is an awesome set up. I love that you can access anything with the lift of a lid.

No shuffling for buried items, or undoing a swing out to lift a window to lay down a tailgate, so that you can pull out a drawer! Its all just there and nothing moves.

There are two of us in Helena that do trips, if you ever want to join us, let me know.

Thanks! I agree on the open bed setup. We debated a topper for awhile but wanted a little more versatility and a little less weight.

Cool to know on the trips! Got some in-laws in Helena

[Overland Hadley]

thanks! your build thread has been very helpful to me

The Timbrens have been great, much better than the harsh bottoming on the stock bumpstops but I crave even more so have been eyeballing jounce shocks lately..

I didn't order a custom spring, but I did specify vehicle type, not sure if that mattered or not.

I am glad my thread could be of help.

I ordered my Timbrens with a custom spring, as the Dakars put the rear higher than stock.

[frozenground]

I am glad my thread could be of help.

I ordered my Timbrens with a custom spring, as the Dakars put the rear higher than stock.

I am currently running about 2 inches over stock height in the rear and don't know if I would want the rubber any longer for my setup. Once the bed is loaded they sit pretty close to the frame..

[frozenground]

ok here's where things started to get interesting.. ever since i saw this photo of a concept tacoma from the 08 SEMA show i wanted a grill like this:


So with a little research I decided to cut up the original and try my hand at some fiberglass and bondo work. Used a dremel and a hacksaw blade to cut out the factory grill:


Grill removed from surround, no turning back now


Making a mask for the fiberglass


Fiberglass applied


Setup, masking removed and ready for bondo fill


Meanwhile, wifey painted the radiator etc with a high temp flat black engine paint


Bondo all set and being sanded down to match the surround


Days of sanding later haha.. ready for paint! Multiple coats of duplicolor and clearcoat, and it still didn't hold up..


Ready for Grillcraft insert. Used threaded rod cut to length in order to attach the insert to the inside of the surround..


Couldn't find a good pic of the surround with the Grillcraft attached out of the truck, but here's how it looked all finished up. I used the Toyota badge from the tailgate for the lower corner of the grill. Deep-dish mod complete!

[frozenground]

ok so we're up to new shoes! The gloss finish on the wheels was bugging me, so we had them powder coated flat black. And since the Ragged Fails sucked in the loose and slippery stuff, I got some BFG AT K/O's in 265/75R16 on there



nothing quite like getting new tires



first run on the ATs:






hazing the bison, lol

[007]

ok here's where things started to get interesting.. ever since i saw this photo of a concept tacoma from the 08 SEMA show i wanted a grill like this:

I wish I knew what color that was, i'd paint my truck with it!, they should have all came with those grills.

[Mr. Leary]

Truck like that, be with 'ya 'til the day you die!