‘25 TRD OR underground overland build

[CBarclay]

Hello everyone! Just got this truck a few weeks ago at 8k miles. It was already built out about how I wanted to build one. I’ll change a few things to how we end up using it. The main functions are getting to places where we are backcountry fly fishing, a mobile fly rod building workshop, hiking, trail running, mountain biking base camp.

I’m looking to make it more efficient and functional (and get better than my current 14.7mpg). I’m considering a tune and or CAI to help with this but don’t know much about them so I’m in the research phase. So any guidance and/or recommendations welcome!

Build details when purchased:
- ICON 2024-2025 Toyota Tacoma 1.25-3" Lift, Stage 3 Suspension System, Tubular, Triple Rate Rear Springs w/ Overland Rear Springs

5 wheel/tire setup
-ICON Alloys Rebound, Bronze, 17 x 8.5 / 6 x 5.5, 25mm Offset, 5.75" BS
- Kenda Klever RT 285/70r17

- 23Zero PEREGRINE PRO 5 ARM 270 DEGREE AWNING

- 23zero Armadillo Horizon 3 Hardshell Left open

- Decked slide out drawer w/premium accessory pack

- Alu cab Contour truck cap 5’

- ALU-CAB LOAD BAR 1250MM KIT WITH STANDARD PROFILE FEET

- Wolbox G900 Tri Pro digital rearview mirror. Dash and rear cam (need to set up the front facing trail camera)


I’ve got less aggressive and lighter tires on order. A friend that owns Send It Overland here in NC (he’s the one that built the truck for the original owner) recommended some Kenda Klever AT2 255 75r17 that I’ve got on order and will install next week. And I’ll hopefully get the tpms sensors to work too.

I’ll probably get a trail pipe exhaust delete pretty soon. Considering some rock sliders and skid plates. First trip to CO is in July. Going to do a shakedown here in
NC soon.

That’s all for now!

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[GSPHerder]

Nice rig, more mpg is gonna be tough with that big tent on top. My 4th gen is very sensitive to any weight I add, so if MPG is your goal Id think hard about bolting on anymore weight.

Talk to Camtuning here on the forum, he does tuning and testing, he has real data that might answer questions.

 

[bsquaredMTB]

I'm not an expert in building overland vehicles by any means but a buddy of mine upgraded to heavier duty dobinson springs in the back. Maybe it's the angle of the pictures but it looks like there's some sag back there. I'm not sure if it'll help but a bit of front rake might help with aerodynamics.

 

[CBarclay]

Hey guys thanks. Good thoughts. I posted over in another section asking some questions. Hopefully cam will see that. I’ve seen his detailed threads and it’s really interesting how much data he has.
Agreed on the tent. It’s a sail! I think if I had to do this from scratch I’d do an integrated topper/tent. Regardless I love this setup.
As far as I know the rake is ok. I’ll post a photo that’s not on a slope.

 

[lauren01]

We have the same 23Zero 270° awning on our teardrop trailer. We love it! Handles wind really well. We have side curtains for it too.

It weighs over 50 lbs. plus its heavy duty mounting hardware. There are plenty of lighter weight awning options these days that you could swap over to that would also be easier to deploy and put away. But would not be as wind resistant. Kammok is the easiest to deploy and has a tilting bracket to help shade you better. Other less beefy 180 and 270s would save weight too.

I’d sell that tent too and go lighter. Total handling and mpg slayer.

 

[GSPHerder]

If I was gonna go your route, Id do a gear swap to some 4.3's. You'd get alot of your motor and mileage back.

Lots of Colo bound peeps hit the dream stream, If your around there try Spinney lake. That ranks as one of the best times I've had with a big ol dryfly.

 

[Pappy]

I also have an overland truck. I bought and built the truck specifically for longer adventures. My other overlander is a Gen1 4Runner that I use for harder stuff like Canyonlands, and short (1-2 week) trips. The Tacoma was specifically built for a 7 week adventure to western Canada and Alaska last summer.

So, my two cents.

Rear springs. I have Dobinson 821 springs to compensate for the weight, and give me a little lift. I'm getting an auxiliary gas tank installed in July, and will probably upgrade to Dobinson 823 springs to compensate for the additional weight.

Tires. I'm not too sure what to think about your going 1" smaller, skinny, with the tires. I run 285/70-17, and I will be going up to 285/75-17 when these wear out.

Gas mileage. I get 16-17mpg depending on how I drive it. Prior to the camper-canopy I was getting ~20mpg. I usually cruise 70-75mph.

Cam tune. Just do it. I gained 40hp at the rear wheels and it significantly compensated for the additional weight and taller tire. To be honest, it's hard to keep it below 75mph.

My stories:

Pappy's Build

Pappy's Adventure Aurora Borealis

Dyno Day

 

[CBarclay]

Thanks so much everyone! Great food for thought and research.
And thanks, @GSPHerder for the gearing suggestion. Haven’t thought of that. (and for the spot suggestion! Haven’t heard of Spinney Lake - will look it up)

I don’t know much about the suspension I’ve got but o know it’s set up to handle the weight. It drives really well as it is so I wonder what I’d need to do if I lost some of the tent and awning weight?

@Pappy - looking into the cam tuning. Thanks for the suggestion.

happy Saturday everyone!
Ordered a STH trailpipe this morning.

 

[Wife bought my 24 TRD]

Hello everyone! Just got this truck a few weeks ago at 8k miles. It was already built out about how I wanted to build one. I’ll change a few things to how we end up using it. The main functions are getting to places where we are backcountry fly fishing, a mobile fly rod building workshop, hiking, trail running, mountain biking base camp.

I’m looking to make it more efficient and functional (and get better than my current 14.7mpg). I’m considering a tune and or CAI to help with this but don’t know much about them so I’m in the research phase. So any guidance and/or recommendations welcome!

Build details when purchased:
- ICON 2024-2025 Toyota Tacoma 1.25-3" Lift, Stage 3 Suspension System, Tubular, Triple Rate Rear Springs w/ Overland Rear Springs

5 wheel/tire setup
-ICON Alloys Rebound, Bronze, 17 x 8.5 / 6 x 5.5, 25mm Offset, 5.75" BS
- Kenda Klever RT 285/70r17

- 23Zero PEREGRINE PRO 5 ARM 270 DEGREE AWNING

- 23zero Armadillo Horizon 3 Hardshell Left open

- Decked slide out drawer w/premium accessory pack

- Alu cab Contour truck cap 5’

- ALU-CAB LOAD BAR 1250MM KIT WITH STANDARD PROFILE FEET

- Wolbox G900 Tri Pro digital rearview mirror. Dash and rear cam (need to set up the front facing trail camera)


I’ve got less aggressive and lighter tires on order. A friend that owns Send It Overland here in NC (he’s the one that built the truck for the original owner) recommended some Kenda Klever AT2 255 75r17 that I’ve got on order and will install next week. And I’ll hopefully get the tpms sensors to work too.

I’ll probably get a trail pipe exhaust delete pretty soon. Considering some rock sliders and skid plates. First trip to CO is in July. Going to do a shakedown here in
NC soon.

That’s all for now!


it.14and h t.g . . . els.o.

Thank you for Being Honest about your gas mileage.



Everyone I have been listening to says that you will get Worse Gas Mileage with a heavier Tire and Wheel 🛞 combination. I can save with certainty from real world testing that it is not s







I'm running Yokohama Geolandar X-AT 255 80 17's 10ply and Back Rhino Fuji 17X8.5 +20 wheels that weigh 27 pounds more than the stock whe



The Tires are a true 33x9.5, which makes them taller and narrower than the stock ones



At the point in my build, when I put them on my truck weighed roughly 1000lbs over stock with this setup



My gas mileage whent up 1 too 2 mileage a gallon



Then I had her Tuned, Stage 1 OTT, and if I keep my foot out of it and try to hyper mile, ( keeping the turbo boost low by manually shifting ) I gained another 1 mile now I was getting 17mp



Well, the downside of a tune: I don't know anyone that's had their truck tuned and keeps their foot out of i



Same set up foot in it now I was back down to 15mp







Next I started adding more overland gear for our trips, and a new front bumper with a winch, full aluminum skids and bla ba bla. My truck fully loaded down to go cross country weighs 2000lbs over stock. Of course I have re springed my king coilovers



rear spring of the truck with Dobinsons 821s to accommodate the extra weight. Now on a good tank of Premium octane I now average, 12 to







OMHO the biggest culprit to the poor gas mileage is the extra weight you add to the pickup and the way you drive, or baby

 

[MERAKIAUTOWORKS]

Nice

-Josh

 

[GSPHerder]

Dang Anthony, nice build

 

[CBarclay]

Wow that’s an incredible truck!

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