Forest Adventurer 2002 Tundra 5SPD 4x4

Hello all!

This is meant to be a log of my restoration and build of this 2002 Tundra! Come along with me on my transition from 2 previous Tacoma's to this Tundra.

Background:

I had owned my 2011 Regular cab for 8 years. Modified it, took it wheeling and everywhere. It went with me from NC, to VT, TO MS, to AK. I planned to keep that great little truck forever. Eventually, in December of 2022 I decided that I needed a back seat. I went looking and eventually I found exactly what I wanted! A 2023 Tacoma TRD Offroad 6SPD 4x4 in Lunar Rock. It was perfect! Okay, this is the truck I'm keeping forever. Living in Anchorage AK at the time I flew down to Tacoma WA and picked up the truck. I then proceeded to make the 2,000 mile trek home via Ferry and the ALCAN. Over the next year and half I made some amazing trips and memories in that truck. Tastefully modified it into the overlanding rig I needed it to be and put on 34,000 miles by August of 2024.
In August of 2024 I was on my way into work sitting at a red light. I was slammed into at about 55 MPH by a driver that claimed they couldn't stop (pretty certain they were on their phone). Looking at the damage I was fairly sure the truck would be repaired in a few weeks and I'd be back on my way. I was wrong. As it turned out the frame had been bent and punctured. Still under the threshold to total it I still expected to get her back. It was not to be. With frames on a national backlog the time to repair it was expected to be over a year and the insurance company was not going to do that, totaled..
That brings us here, after weeks of scouting FB Marketplace and any other source I could use I found what I was looking for. The truck was located about 900 miles away. No stranger to traveling to get the vehicle I want I booked the flight.

2011 Tacoma


The 2023 before and after the accident:








The Truck:
2002 Tundra SR5 5SPD Manual in 4x4
Mileage: 137,800 when purchased (139,400 now)
Color: Imperial Jade Mica

 

Having flown in and picking up the truck it was time for the long shakedown drive back south.

The game plan was to drive down to NC and help out my relatives in the mountains who had been hit by Hurricane Helene. Everything went smooth for the first 700+ miles. Then 50 miles from my destination heading up the mountain into Hendersonville NC the clutch went out. There had been no warning until about 20 miles prior I got some surging indicating it was starting to slip. I figured I had at least a few hundred miles left but no.




$1400 and 3 days later and I was back on the road with a new clutch.

 

After making it back home now its time to start doing general MX and basic mods.

• Replaced the fluids in the transfer case
• Cut out the rotted rear hatch hinges. (Still trying to find replacements)
• Added new gas struts to the cap
• General deep clean
• Protective coating to the frame
• Added fender flares
• New wipers

Next up is this pile of parts waiting for me!

• Lower & Upper Control Arms
• OEM ball joints
• Sway bar end links

I've got more on the way! It's going to slow down as I can only wrench in the weekend and it's my Daily Driver so I have to keep the projects self contained to the weekend for the time being.