jmladdy's overland build

I bought my stock 2020 Tundra TRD Pro back in early September of this year with 17,000 miles.





I must say, I’ve loved this truck stock, minus the Michelin’s that look weenie… but truthfully they ride great and function perfectly right now.

However, I purchased my truck with the intent to make it a fun overland weekend warrior, handle a handful of cross country trips in the mountains a year with my wife and dogs, and meet my needs for hunting. I feel strongly the looks will come when I make it fit my function - but street cred is nice too

The purpose of this thread is to share my build. I’m no professional and debated creating this, but I’ve seen many others across this forum receive helpful input when they’ve run into crossroads or issues. My desire for input is for others to help me learn in my weak and/or ignorant knowledge and point me in better directions when needed. Frankly, I’m the new kid on the block.

What I have ordered:

• CBI Bed Rack (Cab Height)
• CBI Overland Rock Sliders
• CBI Ditch Light Brackets
• Mountain Hatch Tailgate Cover

What I am doing homework on:

• If I can/should keep stock TRD Pro Fox suspension (which are excellent stock) with future added weight accounted for without destroying it and the quality of ride + performance fast (there’s definite loss in quality with added weight regardless)
• If I upgrade suspension, what grade of Old Man Emu or Icons (my personal likings) I want to run for performance, ride quality, and generally ease of maintenance
• What tires (size + brand) to run with stock 18” TRD wheels
  
  • I’d like to shoot for 35s or 295s, but will most likely settle for 33s or 285s for sake of not chopping anything for now.
  • Dream would be a 17” TRD wheel with larger tire. I love the TRD red badging and it doesn’t seem that 17” TRD wheels fit the 2.5 Gen Tundra. I like retro and simple look of NOMAD wheels, but I haven’t seen great quality reviews across the forums.
• Installing Spidertrax 1.25” or not
• Sound suppression in cab for road noise
• Roof Top Tent
• Decked System
• 50’ lights for Roof Rack
• Lights for front bumper
• Ditch lights
• Electrical management for lights and potentially fridge in further time.
• Dash mount
• Storage system under rear seats for rifles/odds and ends

Looking for input or links to follow on my suspension, tire, and wheel inquiries! Thanks ahead of time. Toyota For Life

 

Can’t wait to
See

 

Nice truck.
I recently put the Fox TRD Pro shocks on my truck. They felt great. Super plush on and off road. A week later I added my rock sliders, about 150 pounds, and my gas tank skid, about 80 pounds. I definitely felt a difference in the handling department. Mostly on the freeway, and in a negative way. Now the truck rocks and sways. And more body roll towards the drivers side. I'm know it's the extra 80 pounds on the drivers side from that gas tank skid. I tested it and threw a couple spare wheels and tires in the bed on the passenger side. Much better now. But the point is, the Fox TRD Pro shocks don't handle extra weight well. I pretty sure they aren't valved and sprung for extra weight. At least not unbalanced weight. That's where the super plush becomes a negative. The guy I had rebuild mine, said they can be revalved though, so there is that. Cheaper than buying new shocks. That's probably what I will do when I get all my other mods finished and final weight figured out.

On my other '20 Tundra, I was running Bilstein 6112/5160 combo. When I added all the same parts on it, the suspension went from being on the stiff side to feeling pretty good. With pretty much no body roll and great handling.
Overall though, I still like the TRD Pro shocks better.

You can run 295/70/18 on stock Pro wheels without chopping anything. You just will need to remove the stupid front mudflaps. I ran them for a few months on 100% stock TRD Sport suspension. That's 1-1/2-2" lower in the front than the Pro suspension. No rubbing anywhere. Now I have the Pro suspension on ( I gained 1-1/2"), still no rubbing.

 

I would check out 285/75 R18
Basically equates to 34.8 in. high and 11.4 in. tire width.
To me personally l like this better than the 295/70 option and the 35x12.50 option (which only measure 34.5 high)
I am running Falken WildPeak AT3's.
Awesome tire.
Plus with the 285 set up i have, my gas mileage basically stayed the same.

 

I’m thinking of running the 285s on my trd off road wheels

 

I’m also thinking 285/75 Falken WP on my stock pro wheels when the Michelins finally wear out. Crazy how the 285s are often more expensive than 295s.

 

Yes, but the trade off is less stone chips and dirt thrown up on the side of your truck all the time.
I am running +20 offset with my 285/75 set up. Gives truck a slightly more aggressive stance than stock, maybe 1/2 in. of 'poke' if that.

 

This is the stance I'm digging however they're actually stock pro wheels 18".

 

Long awaited update!

Goodies from CBI delivered yesterday. Ordered in Nov 2023 and have been patiently waiting!

• CBI Baja Hybrid Front Bumper
• CBI Rock Sliders
• CBI Bed Rack (Cab height)

Other updates:

Prinsu rack is in, but I’m waiting for sound deadening to come in so I can take off roof lining in the cab and knock out two birds with one move.

Got a set of Baja Squadrons (Amber) for Christmas and have CBI ditch brackets to install with! I’m mapping out wiring for planned/future lights and accessories with an sPod in mind. I will install ditch lights after install of sPod and the like. I’m picky and want a super clean wiring for ease of working on the inside and set myself up for more in the future without starting over.

My Mountain Hatch came in last week and will go in soon too! Probably the easiest install of them all. The wife and I have been making meals with our camping equipment for reps and we’re pumped to eat good out on the trails and campsite. Found a fire carne asada street taco recipe if anyone is interested.

Favorite part of it all? We’re planning our first trip out to Wyoming in July! Let me know if you have any have-to’s up that way.

 

CBI goodies went in this past weekend. Didn’t have access to a lift so a co-worker and I did everything for the bumper and rock sliders on the ground.

 

The truck still has stock TRD Pro Fox 2.5 suspension. The additional weight of CBI additions is marginally felt in body roll and in shock performance when I tested it on forest service roads in Eastern OK (nearing Ozark country). Road and highway, no noticeable change.

Ride height decreased by a 1/4” due to compression as well.

 

Spent 3 days exploring Big Bend National Park. Old Ore Road, Glenn Springs, River Road, and Black Gap with the stock Fox 2.5. The truck handled everything we threw at it, we just took it slow!

 

Installed a Mountain Hatch before the trip and it is worth every penny. 2 minute install.

 

Working with a local shop to get a total Dobinson suspension swap. Moving up in tires sizes with that move (most likely 295/70/18). They'll install my Prinsu rack during that time. My 2020 has the shark fin antenna, however I've been encouraged by other '20-'21 owners that it'll squeeze. I'm scheduled to put my rig in the shop April 18th, we'll see how it goes!

 

Upgrades:

Suspension

• Dobinsons 4x4 2.0" -3.0" Suspension Kit for Toyota Tundra 2007 to 2021 Double Cab 4x4 V8 - DSSKIT61
• Front Springs: C59-610 (50mm-2") Bumper and Winch Load (220lb)
• • Front Struts: GS59-710 Twin Tube Nitrogen Charged
  • Rear Springs: L59-121-R - (50mm - 2") 330-770lbs Load
  • Rear Shocks: GS59-711 Twin Tube Nitrogen Charged Rear Shocks
• Differential Drop Kit: DD59-530K Diff Drop Kit (Recommended for 2" Lift)
• PB59-1102K Polyurethane Leaf Spring Bushing Kit
• UB59-437K U- Bolt Kit
• SP59-060 Greasable Pin
• SK59-076K Greasable Shackle Kit

Tires:

• LT285/75R18 TOYO OPEN COUNTRY R/T TRAIL (129/126R)

Roof Rack:

• Toyota Tundra Roof Rack Height Bed Rack | 2007-2021

 

I was concerned my CBI Roof Rack wouldn't fit (or any brand) due to 20-21 Tundra models coming with the shark fin antenna on top of the cab. I found a few other owners online with a rack on my same year truck and they gave some pointers on the install. She'll squeeze!

 

The Dobinsons suspension swap was a great move and relatively softer on the wallet than a jump to Kings, ICON, etc. The daily ride is excellent again and performs like magic on the trail (s/o to NWA). My TRD Fox suspension was beautiful when the truck was stock, but all current and future weight thrown on the truck ruined the performance.

Springs are weight rated for future additions of front winch, steel rear swing out bumper (with jerry cans/spare tire), and some form of bed organizations system... may just settle for Decked system if I don't build my own.

 

Should have upgraded UCAs when I swapped suspension, but I will need to do this later this summer when my bumper comes in.

Due to the offset of my TRD wheels, there's still minor rubbing on front sway bar, even with the "narrow" 285/65/18 Toyo OC RTs. I really love these wheels, so I may go with spacers as a temporary solution until I find wheels I like...

 

I have 17s. They’re fifteen52 brand and the design is the Turbomac HD. They have pretty good sales from time to time. When I got mine I paid 700 and change for all 4

 

You might want to think really hard at extending your front lca bump stops or replacing them with some durobumps or similar. If not, you might find your new shocks bent or broken due to bottoming out hard. Not good!

 

Timbren makes a nice, cushy bump stop. And a matching rear bump stop, too!

 

I've been scheming what to do for this... whether to replace LCA totally with upgraded bump stops or do something like durobumps/timbren. I'll need to make that move when I replace UCAs for convenience's sake.

 

Be careful, one big pothole could be a really bad day. If you jack it up and let it droop, swap is really simple. Just be advised, the welded to frame nuts like to snap off, so some penetrating oil and back and forth twisting as you slowly back them out can save the day. Good luck neighbor!

 

Replacing the LCA with Total Chaos or Dirt King is entirely unnecessary unless you're bashing your truck on rocks. Factory LCA is more than enough for most. Plus it would be 6 more total joints to keep lubed.

AFAIK no one makes a hydro bump kit for our IFS, so rubber/foam bumps are the best you can get for bolt on bumps.

 

You can get 1" extensions for factory bump stops. I used BDS prior to my current durobumps.

 

Finally figured out (with advice from another thread) how to mount my Baja Designs Squadron SAE fog light kit.

 

I spent a lot of time contemplating and researching electrical options. There’s a lot of great options and I wanted something I could build upon over time. After finding Blaze Off Road’s Garmin Power Switch Ready to Run Kit, it was a no brainer to use. Wireless control, expandable, and clean wiring (my favorite).

My “issue” with Tundra’s, as opposed to Tacomas and 4Runners, is a lack of available holes in engine bay to mount to. I had to drop two holes and use 1/4-20 riv nuts to mount it over the factory fuse box. It will mount to the inner fender there under the hood strut, you just need to make sure that the bracket is up high enough that you can still remove the factory fuse box lid and low enough that you can still close the hood without the strut hitting the Garmin kit! That may sound pretty complicated, but I assure you it really is rather easy once you get under the hood with the kit!




Wiring up was a breeze. Blaze Off Road has install videos on their YouTube that are straight forward and great, but if you have any experience with electrical you can probably hook it up blindfolded.



With the Garmin Power Switch finally installed, I installed my CBI ditch brackets and hooked up my Baja Design Squadron Pros with Blaze’s Off Road hardcore wires specifically made for the Garmin and sized for my Tundra.

 

That looks nice. I went with ********* fuse panel under my hood. Still gives me easy access to the factory fuse box