2023 TRD OR Access Cab Clean Build

Well this week I went and did it. My DD has been a 2020 SR AC AT 4x4 2.7, bought it used last year with 285s and 3" Icon setup. I quickly put some SR5 wheels with 265/70/16s and obviously worlds better. Thought I could live with it, but been wearing on me. The doggish motor and the SR flare….or lack thereof. I've been watching dealer pricing on new trucks and interest rates. I originally thought I would wait till fall to upgrade, but interest rates are about to go up again (next week) and I'm not sold on the changes with the 2024s coming. My local dealer had a lot of inventory and were doing an end of month frenzy, along with needing to move inventory for 2024s coming. Got a fair enough deal and picked up this truck on Monday this week.



Tuesday I got home from work and removed the mud flaps and running boards. Not my thing, really needed that stuff off for my sanity. Maybe I can sell the steps....



Yesterday I stole the 255/85/16s I had on my Gen2 that has become a back up truck for the family, sorry little buddy....and got ready to swap the 8 tires around.





I got them swapped. I really like the skinny look and so far no rubbing with around town driving. But the lift needs to happen!!! Chasing my tail a bit, but I’m planning a 1.5" to 2" moderate lift. I have a rock crawler for crazy wheeling and a diesel for pulling. I just want this build to be a good all arounder. Probably going to do 5100 OME 885 (maybe 887?) and a 3 leaf AAL and call it done for a bit? I’m not planning to armor the bottom side other than some kind of sliders (can’t find ones I like tight to the body, may build them). I’m fighting the urge on a front bumper, winch, then you want bigger lift, locker….the rabbit hole. So no front bumper . Rear….again I really like the high and tight ones that wrap the sides, but I’m probably just going to get black bumper caps and leave it be. So….try to stay true to the lighter daily driver mild build.



The stock tune on the truck…..not impressed. After work yesterday I went to @Texoma's house for a retune. Hoping I can live without regearing right away. Need some more seat time, but the tune definitely made the truck more drivable, really noticeable 0-60mph. The tranny isn’t hunting around like its lost. 6th gear is still a bit for decoration, so my brain thinks regear sooner than later, like before the lift? With the skinny 33s and a light build plan, 4.88s probably the ticket? I haven’t done the math….but I was thinking if I’m locking the truck in 5th and it still struggles to maintain 70-75 with these skinny meats on a good tune, how different would it be if I regeared and got to use 6th….now it will just struggle to maintain 70-75 in 6th? I can’t imagine one of these trucks loaded down with overlanding gear. There's no replacement for displacement? I just want driving this new Tacoma on a highway trip to not suck….with my skinny 33s and light build. I welcome your guys input/experience with a build like this. More to come....but he is looking better than he did 3 days ago!!

 

No replacement for displacement? Dude, SC dat bish!

 

Not saying it didn't cross my mind. Another can of worms, with dollars being thrown at it

 

Ok, little bit of cosmetic stuff going down. On this truck, I’m not digging the chrome stuff. Or stickers. Here is a before of my tail end….chrome V6 emblem, dealer sticker on bottom left (put on crooked), chrome bumper ends.



And a side shot of the truck, chrome Tacoma on the door and the TRD Offroad sticker on the bed side.



For the tailgate, I removed the V6 sticker with a little heat and some fishing string….wrap the string around some gloved fingers and like dental floss, go between the emblem and the adhesive, emblem comes right off. Then just get the sticky stuff off. Dealer sticker came off with just my finger nail. Bought some TACOMA letters from Amazon for $15 that I thought looked nice and fit down in the recessed stamped letters. Instead of replacing the rear bumper (the one I liked was +$1K, $250 shipping), you can buy aftermarket bumper caps that fit over the chrome bumper ends. I think my hind end is looking cleaner now.



The side of the truck, same fishing line removal operation for the chrome TACOMA emblem that was on the door. They sell a black out set to put over the chrome, but it was a hundred bucks. Removing it was free. And the TRD sticker came off pretty dang easy with just a little heat and my finger nail. I don’t find it necessary to advertise I have some semi ok shocks and a rear locker. I didn’t have any goof off on hand, so I used a little WD40 on the little bit of residue left, then soap and water. I’m hoping these subtle changes to this truck set it apart from the sea of Tacomas out there…..and when you look at it, you don’t know why it looks better, it just does. Kind of a sleeper. Thoughts of the truck after driving it for a few weeks.....I like it overall. But like others, the gen 3 trucks with the 3.5 motor and the tranny spacing, stock gearing....it is sluggish and leaves something to be desired. The suspension is too soft, nose dives a lot, rear feels like it sways too much. I'm going to focus on the sluggish stuff next, gearing.

 

Got an update on the build. I couldn't live with the gutless power.....the 3.5 mini van motor issue. I know I made this worse by adding the 255/85/16 tires....but I couldn't help it. So I decided to invest in gearing. A lot of folks throw a suspension lift and larger tires on and walk away. This truck came stock with 3.90 gears being an automatic. You can easily do the math to find what would put you back to stock. But you also need to factor in the un-sprung weight of the heavier tires. And any future modifications that add weight to the truck. And your plans for the truck's duties/future. Manual Tacoma's come with 4.30 gears and lot of folks feel the autos should have come with even lower, like 4.56 or 4.88. My commute doesn't involve too much highspeed stuff and when I do spend more time on an interstate, it will most likely be with a bike, gear and ice chest full of cold ones, I won't mind the RPMs being a little higher to compensate. And when this truck does go offroading, the lower the better would be cool when you are dealing with the multiplication of the transfer case. And you can't help but have 35s on the brain.....so I went 5.29. It think it is easier to buy complete 3rd Members from ECGS vs. having new ring and pinons installed. ECGS was really slow getting the thirds out, but seems like the new norm these days. Also easier when you have a shop install the thirds for you....ha ha. 4LoFab in New Braunfels took care of me, very reasonable on the labor and a good guy over there. I'm getting a little old to lay around on the concrete all weekend upside down working on axles. I've done it, but dang this heat, I hit the easy button. Driving the truck is night and day, no more hunting for gears, you can actually use 6th gear. Went from 18mpg to 17mpg with mixed city/hwy commute on 33s. I hope it gets a little better when the gears break in...heck the truck in general. But drivability is now back to acceptable vs annoying. I have some more mods in mind for the truck....but they have to wait, working on some bike mods on my 500 next.