Glacier - A Backcountry Build

Figure I may as well join the party. My build is going to be pretty slow because right now finances are being primarily poured into a career change. However, I'm still managing to make progress now and then. My goal is to have a truck that still maintains clean lines, doesn't scream "off roader" or "overlander" but is upgraded to the point that I can travel deep into the Canadian wilderness for fishing trips. Think of it as kind of a sleeper offroader.

I bought this truck roughly 2.5 years ago. It had 132,000KMS on it and other than some small spots, virtually no rust. It was pretty much bone stock, with the exception of larger tires.

When I bought the Cooper tires, I also bought Ion Alloy wheels. I only liked them for a month or two and then I started looking for something else.

Current mods:

- Rear differential breather moved to behind driver side tailight
- JVC headunit with Bluetooth capability
- Fire extingusher mount
- Bilstein 5100 suspension, front set at 2nd highest notch to get rid of the rake
- Cooper ST Maxx tires, 265/70/R17 (summer)
- 17" TRD SEMA wheels (summer)
- Nokian Hakkapellita studded tires, 265/75/R16, on OEM wheels (winter)
- Removeable boat rack, built by myself

Future mods:

- 1.25" spacers (not 100% sure on this yet)
- Disable TMPS sensor
- Black-out all chrome
- Remove green film from gauges
- Better headunit with backup camera
- LED lighting both interior and exterior
- New headlight housings
- LED reverse lights mounted in rear bumper
- LED light bar mounted behind grill
- Odyssey AGM battery
- Onboard air mounted under the hood
- Canopy with roof rack for my boat (ARE Overland is my first choice at this point)

I'm a little short on pics right now, but they'll come. Here's what I have so far.

Stock height with Cooper tires and Ion Alloy wheels. Pic also shows my boat rack:



After Bilstein shocks and TRD wheels. Current summer configuration:



Winter set up with Nokian tires and OEM wheels:

 

2021 Tundra Do List!

Here's the list of things I'm planning/hoping to do this year. This list will likely grow or change as things go on. I'll be doing a little bit at a time and hopefully remembering to update this thred. LOL

UPDATED 08/13/21

Current mileage: 195,xxx KMS

• 
  
  • Wiper blades Done April 2021 (Bosch Icon)
  • Windshield Done Jan 2021
  • Lug Nuts
  • Glove box latch Done April 2021
  • Block heater replacement Done Aug 2021
  • Upper and lower ball joints Not needed as of Aug 2021
  • Tie rods Not needed as of Aug 2021
  • CV joints Not needed as of Aug 2021
  • Sway bars Not needed as of Aug 2021
  • Battery and cables Done Nov 2020
  • Skid plate bolts Skid plate removed 04/26/20
  • Steering rack bushings Steering rack replaced 08/13/2021, bushings on order
  • Center bearing Done 08/13/2021
  • Leaf springs Done 08/13/2021
  • Air bags Went with Sumo Springs instead. Done 08/13/2021
  • Repaint grille DONE 04/28/20
  • Renew rubber seals
  • Professional detailing
  • Driver footwell bulb to LED DONE 10/03/20
  • HVAC bulbs to LED DONE 10/03/20
  • Tail lights, cargo lights to LED DONE 3RD BRAKE, CARGO 10/03/20
  • Foglights to LED
  • Replace rear turn signal bulbs
  • Replace missing cover on windshield wiper bolt
  • Iron X, polish, wax Ongoing
  • Adjust/repair heater knob Done 08/13/2021
  • Sparkplugs
  • Refinish running boards
  • Remove, buff and repaint trailer hitch
  • Inspect, replace(?) spare tire DONE 10/03/20 no replacement needed
  • Remove, buff, paint skid plate Skid plate removed 04/26/20
  • Antirust coating/paint on frame, exhaust
  • Address wind noise if possible Diagnosis: Old truck. Wind noise is part of life.
  • Clean out sunroof tracks
  • Install second gas can holder Decided not to do this
  • Inspect and service brakes
  • Inspect and service E-brake Done 08/13/2021
  • Custom fit Weathertech floor mats
  • Headunit and backup camera (finances permitting) Tailgate latch/camera purchased. Waiting on funds to perform install. Need to decide on headunit as well.
  • Remote start Bumped up to a 2021 priority. Current fob is kaput and replacements are unobtanium
  • Custom seat covers (finances permitting)
  • Replacement grille
  • Find a way to repaint that the chrome strip below the grille so the paint lasts.
  • Replace spare tire
  • Diagnose and fix potential exhaust leak In progress as of 08/13/2021
  • Replace muffler due to support bracket breaking Done 08/13/2021

 

Forgot to put in the OP that I also have a Viofo A119 dash cam. Pics coming later today of my install on that.

 

Is it safe to assume these SEMA wheels will work on my 02 Tundra as well? I really like those.

 

They're a 6x5.5 bolt pattern. I believe that the '02 Tundras are the same so they should work.

Here's the dealer I bought mine from.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Toyota-4Ru...sh=item211c597065:g:7OgAAOSwGvhUDymQ#shpCntId

 

Looking good! How are those winters up there? How does the truck handle it?

 

Thanks! This winter has been pretty mild so far. Temps are hovering around -10C during the day and dropping down to -20C at night, give or take a bit. Not a ton of snow by our standards yet either. Only a few inches.

The old girl handles it really well. The battery is still the original one, almost 14 years old and going strong. Last year I forgot to plug the truck in during a cold snap where it hit -45C at night. A few protestations and it started up just fine the next morning. LOL. I'm going to replace the battery in spring though. No sense pushing my luck and there's corrosion on the terminals.

 

@Outbound nice rig dude! The summer set up looks alot better haha but winter kills. I was wondering how your ride quality with the bilstein set at the fourth notch is like? Is it like stock or stiffer? Thanks

 

Thanks! Yeah, winter sucks. The ride is a bit stiffer but way sportier. Its a night and day difference in a good way.

 

Rack and tonneau cover are installed. This is kind of the best solution for dry storage and boat hauling ability without dropping $4K+ for a cap.

Tonneau is a Truxedo and the rack is the Thule TracRac SR. My truck was the first the local shop had installed the Thule system on. It turned out really well I think. The rack comes off by removing 4 knobs and 2 hex bolts. I added pool noodles to protect the rack and my boat gunnels.

I also tested the fitment of a Scepter MFC under the tonneau. I'm planning having mount points for 3 MFC's and 1 MWC on board. 1 in each of the 4 corners in order to extend my range. I have a mounting bracket ordered up so hopefully that will work.

 

My stubby antenna from @TheAntennaSource showed up today. I really like how it looks. I couldn't care less about reception, but I'll test that later today.



I also had a Smittybilt 2798 gas can holder show up today. I took a chance and to my delight I found that it fits the Scepter Military Fuel Cans perfectly. I'll be ordering up 3 more over the next little while as funds allow. My goal is to have one in each corner of the bed, 3 for fuel and 1 for water. I spent a bit of time figuring out where and how I want to mount these in my bed.

I have to mount them onto the bed floor partially due to the shape of my bedside and partially due to the fact that I have a Truxedo tonneau which interferes with their height. I'm ok with this, as I don't haul huge stuff anyways and with 4 of these mounted I'll still have room for all our camping and fishing gear.

For mounting, I'm planning on using Rivnuts. Just need to figure out what size. This allows for two things. First of all, it makes for a cleaner, easier install. No crawling under the truck to tighten up nuts and washers. More importantly though, it will allow me to easily remove the holders in the event I need to open up some bed space.

The only bugger will be trimming my bed mat. That's some thick rubber, so that should be fun.

Here's the proposed locations for the front and rear mounts on the left side. The right side will be identical.

 

I have the same antenna, and I found the reception was about 90% of the factory antenna. I don't know what material they use, but it sure works great!

 

Yeah, I didn't notice any loss of reception. Kind of a moot point for me though, I don't listen to the radio at all. LOL. I love how it looks though.

 

@Outbound let's see some more pictures of the paint correction. I'm glad you were able to get it done. You'll notice it will be a lot easier to maintain now.

 

I'll try to get some more this afternoon. My neighbour wandered over just as I was finishing and asked how old the truck was. Told him and he paused, looked at the truck, looked at me and said "no." LOL.

 

I really need to update this thread. Anyway, here's a shot of the LED interior lighting I installed a couple weeks ago. I love the light output.

 

Those look great. Can you link the exact ones? I bought some LEDs and they suck!

 

Here ya go.

https://www.amazon.ca/SEALIGHT-Extr...sy+License+Plate+Lights&qid=1575509662&sr=8-3

 

Updated post #2 with the 2020 Tundra Do List.

 

LED bulbs installed for the licence plate:

 

Hey man, nice build! I'm looking into lifting my '04 this summer. Were you able to just use the Bilstein 5100's with the rest of the stock suspension? Do your 33's rub at all?? Love the gas can holder!

 

Thanks!

Yes, all I replaced were the shocks. I'm still using factory coils, control arms etc. I did have some very minor rubbing on my front mudflaps when at full lock, so I removed them. Never liked the look of them anyways. I have an update to the gas can holder I need to post when the weather gets better here and I start tinkering again.

 

Is that dashboard..... black?

 

More of a dark charcoal gray. Looks closer to black when it's clean.

 

Grille repainted and coated with acrylic enamel clearcoat

 

Updated pics of LED interior and cargo lights

 

you have the interior i cant find! (painting is working for sure.. but no clue how long it'll last.. i still want to find a donor truck with the dark interior

 

If an accident totals my truck, you can have it.

 

Let’s hope not. Lol



we all know I’ll just rebuild it

 

The Tires don't rub up against the frame with 285s?