Basil's Garage Shop Truck | 05' AC Flatbed Baja Expedition Rig

Well, I figured it was time to introduce myself here and our shop truck.

I'm Basil, the owner of Basil's Garage, a shop in San Diego. We've somehow made a name for ourselves in the FGT world and have been lucky enough to build many trucks for customers.



Our shop truck, and my rig, is a 2005 Tundra. I bought this truck about 5 years ago with plans to build it to travel the Pan American Highway, which has not happened yet, but in the meantime, the build has evolved to my take on the perfect Baja surf exploration rig.

To start, there's honestly not much factory Tundra left. Everything except for the Engine, Transmission, and steering has been modified in some massive way or is completely aftermarket.



I'll save a few posts for details on the rig, its an ever-evolving project and I'll try and keep this thread updated.

Here's a flat-out list of the modifications & truck

• 2005 Toyota Tundra
  
• Access Cab
• Limited
• 4x4

Driveline

• Factory Toyota 4.7 V8 engine & 5-speed transmission
• FJ Cruiser transfer case with twin stick modification
• Custom Oceanside Driveline rear drive shaft
• CVJ high-angle front CV axles
• Factory front differential. (4.88 gears, ARB air locker, ECGS needle bearing delete)
• Custom-built East Coast Gear Supply Dana 60 rear axle. (4.88 gears, ARB air locker, 67” WMS, 35 spline chromoly axle shafts, 6 bolt Toyota lug pattern, full float hubs, 3/4 ton disc brakes, ARB diff cover)
• Crown Performance braided stainless steel ARB air locker lines
• GPS wheel speed sensor sending unit
• Long-Tube headers

Brakes

• Powerbrake big brake kit with PB05 upgraded pads
• Crown Performance custom braided brake lines front and rear
• Wilwood rear brake proportioning valve
• 3/4 ton rear disc brakes
• Toyota T100 Master cylinder & brake booster

Wheels & Tires

• BF Goodrich 35x12.5R17 KM3 tires
• Custom-made BRAID wheels (17x7.5, 0mm offset, 108mm hub bore, beadlock-B system, Antracite)
• APEX Designs rapid air up/down valve stems

Miscellaneous Truck

• 100 series land cruiser snorkel
• Centri pre-filter
• Custom aluminum 24-gallon auxiliary fuel cell
• ARB Twin air compressor & locker manifolds
• Custom side exit exhaust with Magnaflow muffler

Armor / Barwork / Gussets

• Modified Tacoma ARB front bumper (WARN ZEON 10, Master Pull synthetic line)
• Custom rear hitch
• White Knuckle off-road rock sliders
• Custom aluminum front skid plate
• Shock tower gussets
• Spindle gussets
• Cam tab gussets
• Fully boxed frame & gusseted cross members
• Additional cross member above rear axle
• Gusseted steering rack mounts

Front Suspension

• Arizona Desert Racing 2.5” coilovers with resis, adjusters, and 700lb coils
• Speciality Control products upper control arms
• Solo Motorsports factory length lower Control arms
• Speciality Control products 1.5” travel hydraulic bump stops
• 10” limit straps

Rear Suspension

• Arizona Desert Racing 2.5” rear shocks with resis & adjusters
• Speciality Control products 3” travel hydraulic bump stops
• Custom Alcan leaf springs for 3” of lift & 2500lbs of additional weight
• East coast gear supply Dana 60 u-bolt flip kit
• Archive garage Hammer hangers & shackles
• Currie Enterprises Antirock sway bar
• 16” limit straps

Truck electronics

• Custom Off-Grid Engineering dual battery system
• REDARC BCDC1225
• REDARC load disconnect (for self-jump start)
• DC-Power 270A alternator & big three wire upgrade
• 2x Group 35 Full-Throttle batteries
• Switch-Pros 9100
• Kenwood TM-D710 radio
• Alamosa dual-band radio antenna
• Baja Designs 40” ONX6+ light bar
• Baja Designs Squadron SAE fog lights
• Baja Designs rock lights
• ARB Intensity V2 LED driving lights
• Baja Designs RTL-M 3rd brake light
• iPad Mini for nav/music
• REDARC tow pro

Tray & Canopy

• MITS Alloy 1870mm x 2050mm x 850mm tray
• MITS Alloy 1870mm x 1000mm x 850mm canopy
• MITS Alloy stubby sideboards
• MITS Alloy 30L headboard water tank
• MITS Alloy fenders & under tray toolboxes
• MITS Alloy ladder rack
• MITS Alloy under tray drawer
• MITS Alloy rear ladder
• Custom rear canvas walls
• Custom twin spare tire mounts
• Custom interior fit out (single drawer w/slide out table, pull out vertical pantry, battery cover, oven mount)
• Go Fast Campers V2 pass through XL Roof Top Tent
• ARB Awning
• L-Track tie-downs throughout tray & canopy

Canopy electronics

• REDARC REVISION system w/ 3x screens
• REDARC Manager 30
• REDARC BCDC1250
• REDARC 3000W inverter
• RELiON 300ah low temp lithium battery
• REDARC 240W folding solar blanket
• REDARC water tank level sensors
• 1500w Induction cooktop
• Nespresso coffee machine
• Starlink 12v satellite internet
• 12v camp oven
• ARB Elements fridge/freezer
• Exterior solar input Anderson SB50 connector
• Exterior 12v Anderson SB50 connectors
• 110v outlets
• USB/USB-C outlets
• Hardkorr lights on canopy doors
• Interior Baja Designs rock light
• Exterior cargo area Baja Designs S1'

 

Thanks for sharing, that thing is AWESOME!

 

Good to see ya on here!

 

Hell yea love your truck. Great to have you here . Can’t wait to drool over all the info tomorrow after I wake up from this food coma

 

Fu(k!ng amazing
Wish I had the time, money, and skills for such a rig

 

Wow. Just wow. This thing is incredible! Something special about seeing someone go full send on mods! Can’t wait to see more posts in the future!

 

Bitchin'!

Welcome!

 

I've been following on instagram for a long time. Unbelievably cool build! We're all glad to have you here.

 

I brought my kids up to your shop when you had the GFC open house party and was able check out your truck and place. VERY nice all around. Thank you, that was a great party.

Also, It's actually more impressive in person. You should be proud of your FGT.....it's top notch!

 

The food/booze coma around the holidays is REAL

 

BAD. ASS.

Nice rig and thanks for sharing!

 

Especially when you're the one cooking, whewwww. Love it hahaha

 

Basil, a couple questions for you:

• with the rear dana 60, what did you do with the ABS system? is it inoperable? light on the dash? i have an 03' (with ABS) that has a rear axle from an 00' (no ABS).
• i notice you have some hefty alignment marks. do you need to adjust that much? i have a basic truck that probably weighs a ton less than yours and im always messing with the alignment. maybe there's something I'm missing. its getting frustrating!

I've admired this truck for quite a while. beautiful work!

 

Great looking rig, and very well thought out. I also have seen your work on instagram.
Im curious why you chose the 2005 over the earlier 2000-2003 model?
Also, I thought I saw you were going to start selling some accessories for our trucks soon. Any updates?

 

Wow this is such a cool build. Full send on everything. Pretty awesome.