[Xtremluck]

As she sits now




Just like others I have decided to create this thread to document the evolution of my 2012 SR5. I moved out to Northern California just about a year ago and have been out of the 4x4 game for almost 10 years. One of my passions is track driving and for the last three years I’ve been driving around in a 2011 E90 M3. Here she is in action:



After a few months in NorCal I started to pick up another old hobby of mine mountain biking. For a few months I carted my bike on a roof rack that I took on and off whenever I went riding. Then one day a friend’s bike decided to topple off the rack and caused $3,000 in damage to my roof. That incident combined with the abusive roads that I sometimes need to travel to get to trailheads were the last straw. I decided I would stop abusing my beloved car and instead would find a dedicated mountain bike shuttle machine.

After months of research I found a cherry CPO 2012 SR5 at a dealer relatively close by. Took a bus two hours south and picked her up. This is what she looked like on day 1:





As soon as I got her home I was already dreaming of upgrades.

Upgrade 1: BFG AT KO2s 275/70r17

The truck came with no name pep boy all season tires that just didn’t sit well with me. So I decided to replace them immediately with some decent rubber.



Upgrade 2: Kuat NV Hitch Mounted Bike Rack

Since this truck was going to be a bike hauler I needed to get a decent rack. The NV is probably the best built rack you can get out there. On top of that it's a breeze to operate. Here is a shot of it doing its thing.



An action shot from said ride:



Upgrade 3+4: Rocker trim delete + FN F(X) Pro Wheels

I couldn’t stand the look of the OEM SR5 rocker trim so it needed to go. At the same time I decided to get rid of the stock wheels and go with something a bit more stylish. So I went with FN F(X) Pro wheels.





Upgrade 5: Lighting Upgrades

No, pictures for this but I upgraded all the interior and license plate lights to LED. I also performed the headlight H9 bulb mod and installed Morimoto LED fog lights. To be honest I am a bit disappointed with the LED fogs as I think the OEM halogen fog lights had better output. Perspective buyers should consider this before buying. At least they look cool?

Upgrade 6: Full Speaker Upgrade

One of the first things I noticed while driving my truck home from the dealer was the horrific sound coming from the stock OEM speakers. I’m no audiophile but I think I’ve heard better output from tin cans. So I called up the folks at Crutchfield and we pieced together a full solution using Infinity Primus speakers. I didn’t want to replace my OEM headunit or run an aftermarket amp so these speakers fit the bill. The performance difference was DRASTIC, totally blown away. Look for a thread describing this upgrade in the near future.

That’s it for now. Will most likely be getting new skid plates, rockers and Gobi rack in the near future. Looking forward to my first 4x4 outing once the trails dry out here in NorCal! Will update as the upgrades pile on.

[Xtremluck]

Upgrade 7, 8 and 9: Bilstein 6112/5160 w/Icon 2" Springs, Metaltech Sliders and Gobi Rack

Took the day off and rented garage space at Pit Row in Santa Clara, CA. It's an awesome facility for any of you NorCal DIY guys who are interested in having access to a lift and every tool imaginable. The rates are extremely reasonable and the owner is a great guy.



A huge thanks to @transworldmoto for spending 8 hours busting knuckles with me. I was ignorant enough to think that with a shop manual and my limited mechanical knowledge I would be able to figure out most of the suspension install myself. Couldn't have done it without his help! Onto the pics!

Front 6112 coilovers set at the third notch (2")



Rear 5160s w/Reservoir Brackets + Icon 2" Springs



The finished product w/ Metaltech sliders and Gobi Rack





Next up is a gas tank skid and air compressor!

[Magnetic4R]

Originally Posted by Xtremluck

Took the day off and rented garage space at Pit Row in Santa Clara, CA. It's an awesome facility for any of you NorCal DIY guys who are interested in having access to a lift and every tool imaginable. The rates are extremely reasonable and the owner is a great guy.

Didn't realized there was such a place. Good to know and it's only 10mins away.

[weeeee]

Originally Posted by Magnetic4R

Didn't realized there was such a place. Good to know and it's only 10mins away.

Me neither until I stopped by last week lol

[transworldmoto]

Originally Posted by Xtremluck

[B]

A huge thanks to @transworldmoto for spending 8 hours busting knuckles with me. I was ignorant enough to think that with a shop manual and my limited mechanical knowledge I would be able to figure out most of the suspension install myself. Couldn't have done it without his help! Onto the pics!

Not a problem! Glad to help out a fellow forum member. The finished product was well worth the work we put into it. Onto the memories you'll be able to make with a capable rig! Cheers!

[Xtremluck]

Installed an aluminum fuel tank skid plate by RCI this weekend. It replaced the weak OEM half skid that was there before. The shot attached is before and after. What a well designed product!

[Xtremluck]

Had a chance to finally get some dirt under the tires out on the challenging trails of Moab, Utah. The truck performed beautifully even with a leaking rear Bilstein 5160. Here are some pics:

My trusty rig climbing up a ledge near Gemini Bridges


My Buddy's 2015 Trail on some slickrock


Climbing up steps in Arches National Park


Getting a bit sideways


Wandering around in Canyonlands National Park


All in all an amazing trip especially with all the mountain biking we did!

[Zackthecoroner]

Looks good! Can't wait to get my KO2s on.

[PK930]

Great pictures! Man I miss Moab so bad. Sometimes I felt as if the the scenery was a painting.

I just picked up black TRD Pro wheels myself (also silver 2012 SR5) so I'll be keeping up with your build thread.

[Esenbek]

Great photos and build! Is there any places in NorCal to offroad? Yosemite? Tahoe?

[Snow-Jet-MK5]

Nice! I'm located in Union City and would be down to go on a few trips with you and anyone else who may be local


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

[Xtremluck]

Originally Posted by Zackthecoroner

Looks good! Can't wait to get my KO2s on.

The KO2s aired down to 22 psi performed amazingly. Such a great tire!

[Xtremluck]

Originally Posted by Esenbek

Great photos and build! Is there any places in NorCal to offroad? Yosemite? Tahoe?

The closest place is Hollister Hills: Hollister Hills SVRA

Tahoe has tons of trails as well. Will be heading up there once the snow melts!

[Xtremluck]

Originally Posted by Snow-Jet-MK5

Nice! I'm located in Union City and would be down to go on a few trips with you and anyone else who may be local


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Yes, definitely! I need to replace my rear shock this weekend but after that I'd be down for trips to Hollister Hills or Tahoe. Keep an eye out for posts in the Norcal section of T4R.

[Xtremluck]

Adding a few more shots: