Houlds' Cavalry Blue Build Thread

[houlds]

Hey all,

I guess it is time that I started some sort of a build thread since I have done a decent amount of upgrading to my TRD Pro since getting it on February 27. I had a 2016 Trail that ended up getting hit by a city plow causing $12,000 in damage. After repairs I traded it in to a local dealer and got $31,200 for it with Pro rims and bought my current TRD Pro for $42,000 out the door. Below is a photo from the day I brought it home. Only had to wait 2 weeks from walking in to the dealer and taking delivery for it so I took it as a win.

The first order of business for my new rig was to get my C4 Fabrication Sliders repowdercoated since I had them painted when I had the trail. This ran me $250 and didn't get around to doing it till mid June and got them back and installed a week later. Got the "Trail" sliders installed and rocking them.

Between dropping the sliders off at my powdercoater and installing them my weeks of searching for a roof rack on craigslist and Facebook marketplace finally paid off. I was able to source a Gobi Stealth Rack that was a year old with the ladder and two crossbars for $1000 and the old owner even helped me install it in his driveway which was awesome! Thanks again Ryan, I'm pretty sure he is on here.

 

[houlds]

While minor but looks good, I had my girlfriend paint the TRD lettering on my skid plate. I got a $6 can of paint and she went to work and did a phenomenal job. While cheap and nothing major it adds to the look in my opinion and recommend just painting it instead of getting the decals since this can be touched up and is 10 times cheaper.

After almost six months of having my new runner I was able to finally take it off-roading to see how it handle. In my area there is a legal Class Six road that gets torn up pretty good during the mud season. This was both an awesome time and a headache at the same time. I found the ultimate weakness on these rigs which is the low hanging gas tank. While on the trail I got high centered on the gas tank and sort of got stuck, also when this happened I learned that the valances actually work. The valance sheared off instead of my bumper when hitting the water. I assessed the damage and purchased a new valance for $250 from my dealer and removed my gas tank skid to try and reform it. I was unable to reform it so decided to upgrade to an RCI steel which should be here in two weeks. I also learned that I needed more clearance.

On August 10th I took the dive and bought the ToyTec TRD Pro 2inch lift and Total Chaos Upper Control Arms. I was able to get both shipped for $1,100 and had both parts at my door by August 17th. While it is a cheapish lift I decided to get nice UCA's since they can be used for when I eventually get Icon, Fox, or something nicer.

After getting all the parts in I decided it was time to finally replace the front valance after not having one on. Honestly I kind of liked the look of the blue front end since it was unique but the holes for valance kind of took away from it. It took about 30 minutes to remove the bumper, put the valance on and replace the bumper. This wasn't my first encounter with removing the bumper since I installed a Rago Hidden bumper Light Bar on my Trail. I swore to never do this again but here I was doing it.

 

[houlds]

I decided to take my first scenic trip with my Pro and decided to take Saturday night off from work and hit the road to Mount Washington nice and early on Sunday the 19th of August with my girlfriend and my buddy with his in his lifted Tacoma. It was definitely a great day trip and was not expecting how awesome the views are of the White Mountains. I lived in NH for 26 years and have done some hiking in the white mountains but had never been to Mount Washington. Got to test the Gobi out to snap some photos too.

Yesterday I was finally able to make it to my auto shop to get the lift installed. I would of done it myself but I did not have a wall mounted spring compressor and honestly for the $300 it cost was well worth paying someone to do it. The mechanic had no issues installing it and took just over three hours from start to finish. I then already had new tires lined up to be installed that day and decided on Nitto Ridge Grapplers in 285/70/17. Got those installed locally for $1,000 total with an alignment and took them another three hours. All in all it wasn't a bad experience. I haven't driven too much on the new lift but it feels pretty similar to what it was before and the height difference it insane. I was expecting to be higher but after I was almost 3 inches over stock TRD Pro height due to the 285's and the 2 inches.

 

[BELKA]

This looks to be a great build. When I was shopping around, I think I was offered this exact TRD PRO up in NH but decided to go with white and cloth interior, and therefore decided on a TRD OR. The lift looks great. However....

I think you need new rims for the tire size you chose with the Nitto Ridge. Their recommendation is a width of 7.5" at a minimum. By how your tire sits on the rim in the last photo, it looks like the rim is too narrow. TRD PRO rims are 7" wide. Check out the Nitto Spec. https://www.nittotire.com/light-truck-tires/ridge-grappler-light-truck-tire/

 

[baldrik78]

Loads of people are running 285/70 R17 on the 7" TRD wheels.

 

[houlds]

This looks to be a great build. When I was shopping around, I think I was offered this exact TRD PRO up in NH but decided to go with white and cloth interior, and therefore decided on a TRD OR. The lift looks great. However....

I think you need new rims for the tire size you chose with the Nitto Ridge. Their recommendation is a width of 7.5" at a minimum. By how your tire sits on the rim in the last photo, it looks like the rim is too narrow. TRD PRO rims are 7" wide. Check out the Nitto Spec. https://www.nittotire.com/light-truck-tires/ridge-grappler-light-truck-tire/

The dealership wasn't even allocated this truck and had to make calls to secure it. I don't know what the dealership did but where I bought it wasn't suppose to get it but somehow did.

Hundreds if not thousands of people are running 285's with the 7inch Pro rims without issues. The only issue is like you mentioned the little over hang that causes it to bubble out. It isn't a huge issue and mainly is just a looks thing from what I have been told and read.

 

[shrub1]

The dealership wasn't even allocated this truck and had to make calls to secure it. I don't know what the dealership did but where I bought it wasn't suppose to get it but somehow did.

Hundreds if not thousands of people are running 285's with the 7inch Pro rims without issues. The only issue is like you mentioned the little over hang that causes it to bubble out. It isn't a huge issue and mainly is just a looks thing from what I have been told and read.

Agree.
I have the same tires and wheels and air down to 15 PSI with no issues.
Been this way for 10K....no issues at all.
You're fine.

 

[NetsRunner]

Looks good. Keep us posted with your mods.

 

[houlds]

Looks good. Keep us posted with your mods.

That's the plan. I'm torn between either a SSO or C4 Fabrication low profile or a Rooftop Tent. We will see what the next big purchase is

 

[houlds]

Maxtrax came in this week and finally decided to give the GZila Designs Maxtrax mounting brackets so I ordered those for $76 shipped. Sadly they won't be here till mid September since Gzila is out at an Overland event fpr labor day. Also got my 10k Toyota Care done yesterday and the tires rotated. After getting my new Ridge Grapplers I was getting some vibrations from the rear but since the rotation that has gone away. Still waiting for my RCI Gas Tank Skid from Rogue Offroad which should be here in two weeks so I can start hitting some trails again.

 

[houlds]

Got my Gzilla Mount and installed the Maxtrax on them. For the price this is a solid mount and hasn't came loose after 2 trips. I also finally got my RCI Skid plate from Rogue Off Road last Thursday and installed it Friday, hit the trails that day and again today. Overall the ToyTec TRD Pro kit for the price is nice and the RCI Skid plate held up. Along with all this I have been too busy to update and installed a TRD CAI that I got for $200 lightly used, makes the engine sounds awesome even at lower RPMS and my MPG has gotten back to around 16.5mpg with it.

 

[houlds]

The aftermath of Today's trail ride

 

[houlds]

Well I haven't updated this in almost two years and I have done a ton of work to my vehicle. I stayed pretty stagnant between September of 2018 to July of 2019 beside an addition of a Smittybilt Overlander tent. I installed a Gibson Catback exhaust in July also, it was the twin tip and honestly was a giant waste of money since it had a ridiculous whistle on the highway.

 

[houlds]

After the summer in 2019 I scooped a Artec Industries bumper and a Smittybilt XRC Gen3 9.5k winch. I Scooped the bumper during their labor day sale and had it about a week later. Got it powder coated locally and installed it. The cutting and install wasn't too bad since I did it by myself it just took about 8 hours to complete. The Gen3 smittybilt winch I have used a fair amount since getting it and hasn't failed yet, just some minor maintenance and an upgraded synthetic rope after I cut the original one. All this was done in September of 2019. After this the next upgrade was in December.

 

[houlds]

December of 2019 brought some big things. I ended up scooping a set of Icon 2.5 CDCV front coilovers that needed a rebuild for $650 with brand new 650lb springs. I got them rebuild and bought a brand new set of the matching rears. I installed them before a trail ride in December with a buddy and had to do some cutting of the radiator bracket since I did not go with the sway bar/skid plate drop kit. Along with this install I had sold the smittybilt RTT a month prior and ordered a Tepui Kukenam to run for the next spring.