Terndrerrr’s “Build It Like I Wish It Had Come Stock” thread

Hi there. Name’s Terndrerrr. I’ll explain in a bit. I got into Toyotas four years ago when I bought my first: a 2012 4Runner SR5. I maintained it and built it mildly and enjoyed every minute of it. It was my favorite vehicle I had yet owned, and I still miss it at times, but my family is too big for that to be our adventure mobile. With three kids and a chocolate lab, we just outgrew it. I decided to shop for a truck mid-pandemic, and as you can imagine I got frustrated at used Tundra values. So, I just decided to buy my first new vehicle—and first truck—ever. I keep putting money into this thing, so I thought I’d start a build thread. I’m building it for the adventures I take my family on. It won’t be too crazy. Building it how I wish it had come from the factory.

LINKS:
DIY Cooler install with OEM part numbers! (below, in this post)
Tundra Fuel Economy math
TRIP REPORT: Land Between The Lakes
TRIP REPORT: SW Colorado
DIY cheap and easy Dual Battery setup
DIY Shovel and Axe mounts – NO DRILLING in truck bed!!
TRIP REPORT: LBL 2
BEST MOD post #71820 4.29.2022
Diffs & TC fluid/washers/torque specs
RAS impressions after install
East Coast Gear Supply bushing install writeup
5.7L Water pump, thermostat, fan pulley bracket, tensioner, idler pulley install writeup

CURRENT (Sept ‘23):

And here is how she looked first day I drove her home. The power difference between this truck and my 4Runner. It’s like night and day. I bought her with 3 miles on the odometer. Snatched her up before the dealer could drill the needless front license plate bracket and put a dealership tag on the front. Stock tires, Off Road shocks, no grab handle, no trans cooler:


I’ve done quite a bit (for a mild build) in six months. This will probably be out of order. Added a driver’s grab handle and an RCI skid plate. I use the handle to get out of the truck without sliding off the side of my seat, and I use the RCI skid for off-road protection and easier oil changes. You’ve probably seen enough grab handles and RCI skids. Moving on...
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I relocated the rear diff breather. On my old 4Runner, I bought the ARB kit. This time, I pieced a kit together on Amazon...fuel filter, fitting, hose clamps, and a hose:


Tucked the other end up behind the driver’s side taillight:


Installed a trans cooler on her. I used a partial kit from Genuine Cooling Systems (Hayden radiator, mounting bracket, and hoses), and the rest of the parts I ordered OEM myself. Here is my OEM parts list:

If you want to know what made me decide to put one on my truck, read this post. It was a simple and straightforward install, especially after watching @2020Platinum’s YouTube video. I was even able to install the hard lines without removing my RCI skid:


I also added the TRD Fox suspension. I was convinced that this was what I needed after seeing a stock TRD Pro tackle some fun stuff in this video. Plus I wanted to keep my stock UCAs and wheels. For now.

This pic was taken a few days after the TRD Fox install. Note the rake. My rear end never settled back down after installing the taller TRD Fox shocks. I know shocks don’t “add lift” but my rear end was almost an inch higher after install and stayed that way with an empty bed. In this pic, the bed is full of 5 bikes:


After I installed the suspension, it was time for tires. I got a SMOKING deal on some 285/75R18 Goodyear Duratracs, courtesy of my retired Grandpa, who worked as an electrician for Goodyear for the better part of 5 decades. After a 45% off coupon and a mail-in rebate, I got these things installed for $761. I chose this size because they’re 35s that fit with the TRD Fox kit and stock UCAs and wheels. That extra bit of lift I got from the TRD Fox shocks disappears real quick when hauling something with any real weight to it. I didn’t want the truck to squat when towing or hauling, so I added some Coachbuilder +2 shackles, too.


I have some more things planned. Maybe some tint. Maybe taming the chrome. Sure looks classy as is, though. Maybe I’m gettin older. A rear locker is definitely on the list. We’ll see!

 

It also happens that today was the first time I took her off-roading. Yeah, it was raining, but we have been itching to get back out into the woods. So we went to Land Between The Lakes. There are so many mild to intermediate trails hidden out here. And if you get a dispersed camping permit, you can camp just about anywhere along the coast of either lake. It’s a favorite quick getaway for my family.

First, I wanted to take a Plano trunk with some tools in it and my maxtrax. I firmly believe that if I hadn’t brought them, we would’ve needed them. Since I did bring them, we ended up not needing them. In the trunk is my trusty Husqvarna chainsaw and all this stuff:


I had it tied up against the tailgate nice and snug:


We got out to the West side of LBL and hit a new trail we hadn’t explored before. It was nice and muddy with some ruts and washouts:


The Tundra handled it with ease. Here we are parked on the foundation of some old building, I don’t know:


My oldest found a very large lake clamshell. Here it is next to his first pocketknife, which I gave him for Christmas. I was thrilled he remembered to bring it on our adventure today:


We hit a few other spots. Here we are parked near the shore (unintentional mild flex ):




My wife and I have three crazy boys. Here is our 4th child, and yes she is as sweet as she looks. She had a blast running and playing in the mud and water with her brothers:


“This one’s mine!”


These trails always feel hairier than they look. The boys loved them though. I was impressed with the extended travel the TRD Fox shocks allow for the rear. I had no problems with my skinny 35s stuffing into the wheel wells:


We let the boys watch out the window on the mild stuff:

 

Excited for your build thread! The suspension you're looking at is Bilstein and the PRO models have a 2" lift. Not sure if that helps explain the leveling / height difference. Truck looks great and that was a killer deal on the tires.

 

Sub'd for progress, and pictures.

Came right up into my neck of the woods unless you were across the riiffpher from Bumpus mills.

https://youtu.be/YjAqdplA64w

 

TRD Pros have a 2 inch lift up front to level it. They don't lift the rear. If they did, the TRD Pros would have normal rake.

 

Mighty nice truck and wonderful family! Great times

 

Nice build you have going, trucks looks great

 

Welcome and good looking truck! Also, thanks for posting that Dirt Every Day vid! I don't know why it isn't on YouTube anymore but I watched that vid a crap ton right before I got my Tundra. Great to know how capable these trucks are right off the showroom floor.

 

Awesome write up and pics...love the truck, and also dig that color.

SPP

 

Great job and story!

 

After I installed the suspension, it was time for tires. I got a SMOKING deal on some 285/75R18 Goodyear Duratracs, courtesy of my retired Grandpa, who worked as an electrician for Goodyear for the better part of 5 decades. After a 45% off coupon and a mail-in rebate, I got these things installed for $761. I chose this size because they’re 35s that fit with the TRD Fox kit and stock UCAs and wheels. That extra bit of lift I got from the TRD Fox shocks disappears real quick when hauling something with any real weight to it. I didn’t want the truck to squat when towing or hauling, so I added some Coachbuilder +2 shackles, too.


Did you have to do any trimming or mods, or do you have any rubbing with the 285/75 tires?

 

I removed the little mud flap in front of the front tires. If I'm turning at full lock fast enough for the truck to lean or turning at full lock down a hill, it will rub just a tiny bit on the inside of the inner fender. I have a heat gun; I'll warm the liner up and push it back with a basketball sometime. It's so rare it doesn't really bother me.

 

Add the ESP rear seat storage to your list. You will not regret it.

 

I actually have an idea for something else. My neighbor has a 2020 Limited DC. I want to see if I can get the floor under the seat flat enough to fit the OEM storage bin that comes in the DC. I'm going to take some measurements in my neighbor's DC, pull my back seat out, and see if it'll work. I'll need to do something about the taller seat mounts.

Toyota says they omitted the rear storage on the CrewMax because customer feedback told them that floor space was preferred. If that's the case, then why is there that giant shelf in the floor starting at the front of the backseat???

 

I think they occasionally tell us little lies!

 

Great work and it looks fantastic. What size of hose did you use for the Transmission cooler? I have a 2017 Tundra with a stock tranny cooler but want to add an extra Derale cooler. Is the hose size 1/2" or 3/8" when you added your trany cooler?

 

Thank you! I used the hose that came in the partial Hayden kit I bought from @chasenicholas93 a few months ago. I don’t know the diameter. Maybe he can chime in here?

Before you start buying parts for a second aux cooler, check out this post on one of the popular transmission cooler threads. This is a Toyota engineer cautioning against running these transmissions too cool. Just something to be aware of.

 

thanks for your help, greatly appreciate your time, knowledge and advice.

 

Got a cubic yard of mulch today. Twice! We have a ton of landscaping. We had enough rain last weekend to flood many parts of town, so this mulch was very heavy. I’ve read that a yard of wet mulch can be 800-1000lbs. Here is a before and after pic of my 2nd trip. It didn’t squat too bad and handled great. Gas tank is full, too.

Before (stock Pro suspension & CB +2 shackles):


After:

 

I'm going to do that tomorrow. I was going to try and get 2 yards in my truck. I did it with my tacoma figured the Tundra could handle it.

 

Nice! I didn't realize I needed two until the first one was gone and we had only done the front and one side of the house.

 

There is a place near me that gives a true yard, it's amazing how much bigger their bucket is compared to the places that sell a "scoop" of mulch.

 

Very nice! Subscribed!!

 

I'm really impressed that you were able to get 285/75 on the stock wheels. This gives me hope that it will work for my build as well. The little bit of rubbing that you mentioned, do you know if it comes from the front inner or rear inner wheel well?

 

Front inside of the wheel well. It’s very minor.

 

Great color and mods. I have had a similar approach with my build being OEM+. But they're famous last words on this forum

 

unsure if you are aware that bumper shims are available. pretty sure i ordered mine from ekstrom. they arrived with FOUR 1/4" plates. i installed all 4 and achieved a 1/2" shift forward. had very slight rubbing on front of wheel well. shims solved it.

seen others "stack washers" to shim. i was not comfortable with that.

pick up is looking great!

 

Thanks! Yes, I’m aware. Seeing the bumper out of line with the fender from the side makes my eye twitch. The rubbing is so slight, I’m not worried about it at all. Can’t hear or feel it when turning. But I can see it barely touching the inside of the front fender if I get out and look. Next time I rotate the tires, I’ll just get my heat gun out, warm up the liner, and push it forward with a basketball.

 

lol @ eye twitch.

surprisingly enough, the misalignment does not bother my OCD. however, using a heat gun to remold my plastics does. not quite sure why...

 

Shackleford Rusty, are you running the same size tires on stock wheels also?