[baldguy]

How deep is the storage with the lid closed?

I'm also interested in this info. I'm very tempted to get one for myself... as long as I can install the audio stuff and still have room, I'm in. assuming the storage is big enough to justify.

edit: also need infos on the tonneau cover... I'm looking for one of those myself, but I can't seem to find pricing on the one @Desert Dawg ordered. I'm kinda leaning towards the diamondback. i don't really like the way it fits the '14+ truck though.

 

[FunkinTundra]

Nice build!! :thumbsup: opcorn:

 

[Hoyt2]

I followed your build on T4R.org....sick 4Runner!! Can't wait to see the Tundra finished.........

 

[Desert Dawg]

Interested to see the bar installed

Me too...lol. All I could find was a couple of pics from the SEMA protoype and the final product is slightly different as the bars do not extend out as much.

I am also toying with the idea of powder coating the light bar either silver or maybe even a darker hue to match the "Toyota" grille lettering. But the wheels will be black as well as the tonneau cover, so I may leave it black to tie into those components along with the black Rigid LED lights.

 

[Desert Dawg]

How deep is the storage with the lid closed?

I'm also interested in this info. I'm very tempted to get one for myself... as long as I can install the audio stuff and still have room, I'm in. assuming the storage is big enough to justify.

edit: also need infos on the tonneau cover... I'm looking for one of those myself, but I can't seem to find pricing on the one @Desert Dawg ordered. I'm kinda leaning towards the diamondback. i don't really like the way it fits the '14+ truck though.

The two smaller end bins are 10"x11"x3.5" deep while the middle bin is 10"x14"x3.5" deep. For me, the bins are just deep enough for stowing a good tow rope, shackles and other gear, emergency suppiies, and some tools and cargo straps.

baldguy; I sent you a PM on the tonneau cover. I am not sure the storage unit would work well with the audio stuff unless you're planning to install everything behind the unit under the back end of the seat.

 

[Desert Dawg]

Nice build!! :thumbsup: opcorn:

Thanks man!

I followed your build on T4R.org....sick 4Runner!! Can't wait to see the Tundra finished.........

Thanks Hoyt...always cool to hear from folks off the other forums!

 

[theman]

Nice job so far... totally on board with de-chroming the rig as much as possible. Also totally agree on your grille choice, that TRD-PRO looks beastly... although I prefer the middle grille portion with the more contrasting black or a similarly darker shade, it still looks sweet in the silver.

 

[Desert Dawg]

Nice job so far... totally on board with de-chroming the rig as much as possible. Also totally agree on your grille choice, that TRD-PRO looks beastly... although I prefer the middle grille portion with the more contrasting black or a similarly darker shade, it still looks sweet in the silver.

Thanks...I thought about painting the C clamps and horizontal bar a darker hue as well to set it off, but really wanted to wait until I had everything on to make sure the truck didn't start looking too busy. But if it needs more pop when I am done, I just might reconsider.

 

[Ripple24]

Awesome - subscribed! If I did any of those mods I would totally screw it up. Looking forward to see the progress continue.

 

[Desert Dawg]

Awesome - subscribed! If I did any of those mods I would totally screw it up. Looking forward to see the progress continue.

Thanks! I have done enough mods myself over the years but some things I let the pros do...especially paint and body work; I still shiver when I think about the bondo repair job I did on my old Camaro...lol.

 

[Desert Dawg]

Well, finally settled on the wheels.

I was really trying to stay away from another set of Fuel Off-Road wheels since I have had a few sets of those on my past builds, and didn't want anything too common or familiar so was avoiding the usual others selections from Moto Metal, KMC/XD, etc.

At first, I wanted a set of 2Crave Extreme NX-2 black/machined wheels but they are on serious backorder and wouldn't be delivered in time for my new suspension install.

Then I settled on some black Koko Kuture Force wheels as they are not very common (where I live) either, but again on backorder.

So I ended up ordering a set of TIS 535B wheels in 20x9 with +18MM offset to give me a slightly aggressive stance without pushing the tires too far out past the fenders.

The wheels will be married with the new Copper SST PRO MTs in a LT295/60R20 (34.3 inches tall x 11.7 inches wide once mounted) which should be the ideal height for a 3-inch lift.



I am also thinking about custom painting the wheel facing a slighter darker hue of silver while leaving the satin black ring and center caps black. If I do, I will repaint the C-clamp and center bar of the TRD Pro grille same darker hue as well as my Yakima racks to tie it all together. But I will wait to see how it all looks first as the all black wheels will also tie into the all black tonneau cover and black LED light bar setup.

 

[Tundra_Dog]

Well, finally settled on the wheels.

I was really trying to stay away from another set of Fuel Off-Road wheels since I have had a few sets of those on my past builds, and didn't want anything too common or familiar so was avoiding the usual others selections from Moto Metal, KMC/XD, etc.

At first, I wanted a set of 2Crave Extreme NX-2 black/machined wheels but they are on serious backorder and wouldn't be delivered in time for my new suspension install.

Then I settled on some black Koko Kuture Force wheels as they are not very common (where I live) either, but again on backorder.

So I ended up ordering a set of TIS 535B wheels in 20x9 with +18MM offset to give me a slightly aggressive stance without pushing the tires too far out past the fenders.

The wheels will be married with the new Copper SST PRO MTs in a LT295/60R20 (34.3 inches tall x 11.7 inches wide once mounted) which should be the ideal height for a 3-inch lift.



I am also thinking about custom painting the wheel facing a slighter darker hue of silver while leaving the satin black ring and center caps black. If I do, I will repaint the C-clamp and center bar of the TRD Pro grille same darker hue as well as my Yakima racks to tie it all together. But I will wait to see how it all looks first as the all black wheels will also tie into the all black tonneau cover and black LED light bar setup.

Awesome rims. I have not seen those before - which is why you chose them, in part. Can't wait to see them on the truck!

 

[goods2409]

Awesome. Subscribing

 

[griffinzx10]

sub'd

 

[Desert Dawg]

Awesome rims. I have not seen those before - which is why you chose them, in part. Can't wait to see them on the truck!

Thanks Tundra_Dog; I think they will look great with the aggressive tires I am trying to get.

Awesome. Subscribing

sub'd

Thanks guys!

 

[Desert Dawg]

So I ordered my tires through Desert Rat. As mentioned before, I trying to get a set of the new Cooper STT PRO in a LT295/60R20 size as I didn't want a full a 35-inch tall tire but definitely wanted something taller than a 33-inch size.



These tires have great reviews so far. The additional sipping provides decent on-road and wet conditions traction. Since I live in the high desert of New Mexico with lots of mountain driving in northern NM and southern CO where I go trailing and skiing, I also want something that does well in snow as well. The BFG KM2s and Nitto Trail Grapplers I used in the past all looked good and had decent on-road manners, but they got a bit more dicey in snowy or icy conditions.

Based on my last set of Cooper ST MAXXs that I ran on my 4Runner, I have high expectations for these new shoes!

Hopefully I can get them before my suspension install in about 10 days. If not, I may default to the new BFG KO2s.

 

[baldguy]

@Desert Dawg - I'm trying to figure out a couple of things that I think you can help with.

first, on that TRD Pro grille: it looks like you painted the "TOYOTA" denter text to match. is that true? If so, did it by chance match the center bumper valance before you painted it? I'm debating getting that grille but I want to keep the black parts. If the logo matches the bumper valance, then I'll keep the one I have. If not I'll probably get a black valance or paint both of them the same color. or some other combo that I come up with between now and then

second, how do you feel about the TRD exhaust? your tastes and mine seem to align for the most part, looking at this and your last two builds. I like clean, smooth, and not obnoxious. both to the eyes and to the ears. a new sound is welcome, but not if it's overly aggressive.

thanks!

 

[native texican]

- Truck Covers USA American Retractable Cover with Yakima Tracks
- Yakima Rack System

I can't wait to see pictures of this, as this is the route I would like to go over the BakFlip F1. I would like to combine this with the cargo carriers to make it easier to do road trips with the kids and all their required "accessories."

Excellent build so far!

 

[Desert Dawg]

@Desert Dawg - I'm trying to figure out a couple of things that I think you can help with.

first, on that TRD Pro grille: it looks like you painted the "TOYOTA" denter text to match. is that true? If so, did it by chance match the center bumper valance before you painted it? I'm debating getting that grille but I want to keep the black parts. If the logo matches the bumper valance, then I'll keep the one I have. If not I'll probably get a black valance or paint both of them the same color. or some other combo that I come up with between now and then

second, how do you feel about the TRD exhaust? your tastes and mine seem to align for the most part, looking at this and your last two builds. I like clean, smooth, and not obnoxious. both to the eyes and to the ears. a new sound is welcome, but not if it's overly aggressive.

thanks!

No, the "Toyota" text is actually the factory hue that came with the stock TRD PRO grille insert. I purposely left the lettering the factory color so that it would pop a little against the Sliver Sky paint match I did on the rest of the grille and surround assembly. The bumper end caps were painted Silver Sky as well but the center valence was left the factory bright silver that comes on the 1794 Edition (I am still debating if I will paint that a darker hue or not to match the lettering).

I love the TRD Dual Exhaust; it definitely has a powerful note to it but not overly so and does not intrude into the cab much at all. But I am use to aftermarket exhaust systems having installed Flowmasters, Gibsons, Magnaflows, and others. One end of the spectrum are the more aggressive Flowmaster systems that can be too obnoxious for daily driving while the other end are the Gibson systems that are very mellow. My favorite has been the Magnaflows as they have a great deep mellow sound at idle and come alive at WOT but do not drone at highway speeds. I rate the TRD dual exhaust system very close to the Magnaflows I have used.

 

[Desert Dawg]

I can't wait to see pictures of this, as this is the route I would like to go over the BakFlip F1. I would like to combine this with the cargo carriers to make it easier to do road trips with the kids and all their required "accessories."

Excellent build so far!

I will definitely be posting pics when I get it installed. I am away for a few days so I won't be installing the tonneau cover and Yakima racks for another week or so (I still have to get the racks PTM as well).

I am not sure you can mount the racks with the BakFlip unless you are prepared to totally uninstall the system every time you want to fold up the BakFlip; that is why I chose the retractable style as I can mount the bikes but still have full access to the bed for when loading the bikes (instead of trying to lift over the side of the truck) or for loading gear and other things.