Lunar Rocky Mountain Build

Delivery day was just over a week ago. I found my '24 Limited TRD OR at a dealership in Twin Falls, ID and had it shipped to Denver a couple weeks later.


Today she's bone stock, but the parts list is expanding quickly. I spend my weekends in the Rockies chasing trout, floating rivers, and exploring the high country. This rig will be my "do it all" companion. To me that means modularity and balance in picking mods.

The current plan:
-Dobinson's MRR 2/1 kit w/ UCAs
-35 x 12.50 Kenda Klevers
-Black Rhino Rapid wheels
-RCI sliders
-Either RSI smartcap or GFC Topper
-Lil Bs front bumper

 

My past two projects:

2017 Taco


I loved this truck. I had it in multiple configurations with an ARE topper, GFC camper, softopper, and the RSI Smartcap. It wheeled like a champ, but even with a tune and 4.88 gears it could barely keep up to speed on the high elevation passes. I got tired of screaming @ 6000 rpm to get over the mountains.

So I bought a van...


2022 Sprinter





I spent a year building this from an empty shell. I learned a ton about running electrical and custom fabbing interiors. Looking forward to carrying those type of mods over to the Tundra in the future.

The convenience of a van can't be beat, but I was in Pagosa Springs last summer and found myself looking up a 4x4 trail that I couldn't make it any farther on. The itch was bad...I needed a capable truck. I listed the van in August and sold it a few months later.

Here we go..

 

This is basically a post about me… after 3 Tacomas, got a MB sprinter van and built it out and now I am in a Lunar Rock Tundra. I even picked it up at Wills Toyota in Twin Falls (I’m from SLC). I actually have my truck in the shop right now for a Dobinson MRR 2-1 lift with Icon UCA’s. I even have the smart cap on my tundra.

 

Lol, I'm glad someone else had as hard a time finding the perfect vehicle to fish out of (I only had 2 tacos). Hopefully these ones will stick. Also, my IG handle is modern.mtn ....we definitely have some overlap! You get out to fish the flaming gorge much?

 

Yeah exactly. I’ve got a drift boat and head to the green a decent amount. WY and ID are pretty rad too. Haven’t fished Colorado though

 

Heck yea, we'll have to setup a lunar rock green river meetup when the float season starts. I've got a 13' RMR with a fishing frame. Colorado has a ton of great rivers, too. I think I'm going to go chase some trout tomorrow

 

Right on! Always down to chase some trout. I’ll keep you posted on how the Dobinson MRR turns out. About headed to grab it.

 

Wheel are tires arrived today!

Black Rhino Rapid 17x9 +12
Kenda Klever 35/12.50/17


My lift components won’t be here for another month. Can’t decide if I want to slap them on the stock setup or wait and do it all at the same time

 

Going to look bad ass when they are on for sure

 

Following the build.

 

I really like those wheels!

I've traditionally looked past Black Rhino wheels. Mot because I think they don't look good, but because they're traditionally really heavy.
The dimensions and offset being geared more towards Tundra fitment peaked my curiosity and I was pleasantly surprised to see they're listed as being 23lbs. If that's correct, that just may be the wheel I go with.

Looking forward to pics of them mounted!

 

You picked my favorite size tires. This looks to be a really interesting build.

 

Yea man, I had the BR arsenals with 34s on my van and they felt heeeavvvvy. Taking the spare tire off the rear door was a total pain. These 35s with the BR rapids are much more manageable...picking them up feels considerably lighter than the 11 lb difference in wheel weight. You're correct, they're 23 lbs. I searched far and wide to get these wheels in bronze instead of the matte black, but they've been discontinued for a while. I only managed to find one across the whole US.

 

Yessir! 35/12.50s are the magic maker. I hemmed and hawed about 37s for a few weeks, but ultimately lost interest for two reasons: 1, everyone I watched that actually wheeled with them was getting stuffed with minor articulation; 2, I don't want my spare tire in the bed of the truck or on a swingout.

 

I have a fresh set of 37" Kenda klevers in the garage and after seeing your set up, I spent a couple hours last night searching for these wheels in bronze.

I took a gamble on correctly listed inventory on two different vendors and ordered three from one shop and two from another in matte bronze. Fingers crossed I don't get an "out of stock" email from either.

 

I did the same thing back in December. Good luck, amigo! I got a bunch of emails back saying their websites were out of date. I hope you found some better sources than I did.

 

I just got a tracking number on three. Hopefully it's legit and hopefully the other two pull through!

 

Nice! are those three all from the same vendor? Who was it?

 

It's three wheels from some shop called Throtl.

 

The truck made a visit to Mountain Yotas this week for the suspension install.

Dobinson 2/1 with the MRRs
Kenda Klever 35s

 

The day after the lift was put on I went and picked up the new bumper from Lil B’s.

Last weekend I took a stab at it. The install was fairly straight forward and took roughly 9 hours. I screwed up one of the fender trim cuts but otherwise am stoked on the final product. I didn’t realize that the factory fogs wouldn’t fit on the bumper, so I also picked up some Diode Dynamics SS3 Pro SAE fogs. They plug right into the factory harness with a deutch/H11 adapter harness.

Also added a softopper and decked system.

 

Nice looking!

Is that the mid or high hoop on your Lil B's bumper?

 

Thanks, man. That’s the mid hoop. Sits right in the middle of the camera view but there are no issues with visibility.

you ever get those wheels delivered?

 

I dig that hoop!

I have no front camera to block so it's a win for me.

I got 3 wheels in bronze and two in matte black. They're at the powder coating shop now and should be finished on Wednesday. I have a Dobinsons MRR lift sitting in the garage waiting for the wheels. I'm hoping to have it all together in the near future

 

Nice build! Silly question, do you think you could fit a 6" pod in the bumper "wings"? Would you mind posting a pic of the front camera & 360 camera view with the bar?

 

Sure, here's the front camera view:


It looks like you could technically fit a 6" pod in the space, but the beam would likely be cutoff by the various angles of the bumper wings. IMO, anything larger than 4" would look a little stuffed:

 

How do those Dobinsons handle on the road? Does it feel better or worse than stock?

 

They're fantastic. "Better than stock," would be an understatement. The TRDOR stock suspension wasn't too bad, but never really felt responsive to multiple types of driving. The dobby suspension is great on trails. Very smooth at moderate to high speed. In the city there is a little body roll when taking corners, but I typically have them close to the softest setting. I've tightened up the rear shocks when fully loaded and towing a trailer. There was very little sag and suspension felt responsive.

100% recommend.