Scott B.'s 2015 Tacoma AC Build - Expo Style

Scott B.

Scott B.

Adventurist
Heraclitus of Ephesus, the Greek philosopher, said the only constant in life is change. I had what I thought was a constant, and it has changed. Evolved, if you will. And the evolution will continue...

After owning, building and using a truck for 21 years (the constant), change happened. This change happens to be a 2015 Tacoma Access Cab - an evolution of my previous truck. Just as the previous truck evolved over its life, this one shall evolve to a superior version of its current state. This thread will document said evolution.

Philosophy aside, what follows will be the ongoing transformation of an SR5 model truck to a very capable, comfortable and reliable adventure and expedition-worthy vehicle.

An additional part of the change is going from 2 trucks to 1 - this one will be my daily driver as well.

In the beginning, March 12, I brought home a 2015 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 Access Cab V6 Automatic SR5 in Super White. Seeing as Access Cabs were few and far between, I had ordered the truck in January. I shopped at 4 dealerships - at the fourth dealership, Cherokee County Toyota, I bought the truck on a handshake.

I looked at and compared the different trim levels before settling on the SR5. I have a build plan for this truck, and figured I would replace all the upgraded parts on the other trim level.

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Odo.jpg


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September 2015 - Parashant National Monument

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April 2017, Nottley Lake, Georgia

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Make: Toyota
Model: Tacoma Access Cab 4x4 SR5
Year: 2015

Drivetrain

Engine: 1GR-FE, 4.0L V6
Transmission: A750F, 5 speed Automatic
Transfer Case: VF2A
Front Axle: Toyota, 4.56, Nitro Torsen Posi
Rear Axle: Toyota 8.4", 4.56, TrueTtac
Wheels: FJ Trail Teams 16 x 7.5"
Tires: BFG KO2 285/75-16


Drivetrain Mods

TRD air intake box
Exhaust cam gears (3* retard)
URD 3" exhaust with equal length crossovers


Suspension

Bilstein 6112
Camburg ball joint UCA
Wheeler's brake lines
Speedbleeders
Wheeler bumpstops

Deaver spring pack
All Pro u-bolt flip kit
RuffStuff u-bolts
Bilstein 5165 shocks
Wheeler's extended brake lines
Speedbleeders
Firestone Air Springs, Daystar cradles
Hammer Hangers


Interior (cab)

Tekonsha Prodigy P2 Trailer Brake Controller
BirdDawg Industries Tech Deck and Mirror Riser
Salex Organizers for console and glove box
Autometer Sport Comp II Gauges - Oil Pressure, Transmission Temperature, Voltmeter (2)
Rear seat delete
Molle panel on back wall of cab
Katzkin leather seat covers
Desert Does It seat jackers


Interior (wiring mods)

12V Anytime
ABS Off switch
Blue Sea Systems 12 point fuse block


Communications

Cobra 25 CB
K40 Antenna, roof mount
Laird NMO roof mount


Sound

Alpine
Infinity


Exterior

Window Tint
Line-X fender flares
Husky mud flaps


Armor

Pelfreybilt aluminum skid plates - front, mid, rear, gas tank
Pelfreybilt rear bumper with dual swing-outs
Pelfreybilt front bumper, Warn VR 10-S winch
All Pro bolt-on sliders


Truckbed

SnugTop Sport Hi-Liner shell with WinDoors, Yakima rack rails
Custom sleeping platform with 5' long pull-out drawers
Blue Sea Systems 12 point fuse block
Engel MT45 refrigerator
Viair 400P compressor
Odyssey battery
CTEK D250SA DC/DC charger


States Visited

Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Indiana
Illinois
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Mexico
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Wyoming


Events and Destinations:

2015

DE V - Parashant
Appalachian Rendezvous


2016

DE IV - The Pony Express Trail
Appalachian Rendezvous


2017

DE VII - Big Skies
Appalachian Rendezvous


2018

DE VIII - The Owens Valley
Appalachian Rendezvous


2019

Appalachian Rendezvous


2023

DE 2023 - Colorado Bound!


Trip Reports:

The Pony Express Trail
Big Skies
The Owens Valley
Colorado Bound!
 
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The Start

First mod - tinted windows.

LLumar film to block heat and UV. Aside from looking good, it will keep the interior nice for many years.

Tint2.jpg


Tint1.jpg
 
Sleeping Platform

I built a sleeping platform in my previous truck, and really liked it. So, I am building one for this truck.

The Tacoma platform will be a little different than my other one. This one will have slide out drawers, not just underneath storage. The drawers will be a little heavier, but I think the convenience will pay for the weight.

The bed is 6' long - the platform will have 5' drawers, and a 12" compartment at the front of the bed. One drawback/issue with the long drawers is the side support. I wanted to use 1/2" plywood for this project, but decided to use 3/4" for the additional strength. The deck will also be 3/4". The bulkhead area will drop to 1/2", since the load is vertical.

Laying out the drawer slides:

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The forward section of the deck:

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The drawer dividers:

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The center divider and forward bulkhead:

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- - - Updated - - -

The underside of the deck, routed for the vertical dividers:

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Glued up:

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Forward compartment access panels cut:

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Topside varnished (for water repellancy):

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Trial fitting in truck with the rear part of the deck:

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Drilling holes for RivNuts in a brand new truck:

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- - - Updated - - -

Drawer slides mounted:

sp1-3.jpg



Mounted in the truck, on the way to get the shell:

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Looks like a great start

A little advice, it does not look like your drawer slides lock, and this is a problem i have had. The Tailgate holds them shut, but if you are nose up on the trail and need to open the tailgate the drawers slide out. And just so you know, there is no way to hold both drawers in, on a hill, in loose dirt and close the tailgate with out looking like a complete idiot, ask me how I know :D . I would fashion up some kind of a "lock" to keep them closed. Even if it is just a pin you drop through a hole. Could even put multiple stops in it, closed, partially open, open all the way.

Curious to see where the rest of this goes.
 
Hmmm...now I know why you were selling your trailer wheels, new lug pattern.:D

I like the cab choice. I can get some photos of the dual battery setup my brother did with his Tacoma if you want, although it appears you have already thought it out. Nice work on the drawer system.

-Andy
 
BlkWgn said:
Looks like a great start

A little advice, it does not look like your drawer slides lock, and this is a problem i have had. The Tailgate holds them shut, but if you are nose up on the trail and need to open the tailgate the drawers slide out. And just so you know, there is no way to hold both drawers in, on a hill, in loose dirt and close the tailgate with out looking like a complete idiot, ask me how I know :D . I would fashion up some kind of a "lock" to keep them closed. Even if it is just a pin you drop through a hole. Could even put multiple stops in it, closed, partially open, open all the way.

Curious to see where the rest of this goes.
Click to expand...

I have thought about the non-locking drawer slides, and have not yet decided how to solve the problem. Other than never parking uphill!! ;)
 
Scott B. said:
I have thought about the non-locking drawer slides, and have not yet decided how to solve the problem. Other than never parking uphill!! ;)
Click to expand...

I am sure you put 2 and 2 together, but parking downhill can be an issue as well. You pull them open, try and grab something and the drawer slides shut




you know, now that I think about it, maybe this is an operator issue and not a drawer issue
 
Line-X Flares

I pulled off the flares, and had them sprayed with Line-X. When re-installing them, I installed a set of Husky mud flaps.

For the record, I am not really a fan of mud flaps, but they will save the paint and underside of the back of the truck.

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- - - Updated - - -

I ordered an ARE X-Series for the truck.

I had a Z-Series on my previous truck, and really like the look of it. However, the Z is not available with Windoors (which I really wanted this time around.) So, X it was.

I also got the tilt down front sliding window and Yakima rails.

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And I had to make it mine! :)

s4.jpg
 
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I bought my shell used, and am kicking myself for not holding out until I found one with windoors. Keep up the good work, I am enjoying this
 
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