Features
- Details
- By Shane Williams
In late 2014 Angie & I made the decision to build a 2015 CrewMax Tundra as the flagship truck for Toyota Cruisers & Trucks magazine. This would be our sixth Toyota vehicle and the plan is to keep her for many years to come.
Read about our First 2000 Miles on the Tundra
The TCT Explorer was unveiled at the 2015 Overland Expo West event in Mormon Lake, AZ.
The TCT Explorer tackled Imogene Pass at FJ Summit #9!
Build Details
Larry H. Miller Toyota of Colorado Springs was extremely helpful in our quest to find the perfect vehicle. While we initially looked in to a TRD Pro Tundra, due to a few key features (i.e. leather seats since we have small children), we opted to go with a Limited CrewMax. Also, Radiant Red is not available in the TRD Pro or Platinum editions, so Limited was the perfect choice.
Since we really love the styling of the TRD Pro, we got in touch with the experts at Toyota Racing Development so we could start work on transforming our Limited into the TCT Explorer. TRD Modifications include:
- TRD Pro grille – Custom painted Radiant Red with white TOYOTA letters courtesy of Ken’s Colors of Colorado Springs, CO
- TRD Dual Exhaust – Installed at TCT World HQ by Jim Akers & myself
- TRD Pro Wheels – provide the tough look we like and at 17” will perform much better off-pavement than the original 20” wheels
- TRD Pro style badges – The Tundra and 5.7L Badges
- Color-matched mirrors – Custom painted Radiant Red by Ken’s Colors
Of course the TRD modifications only get us so far. We added additional features to the truck to help keep her daily driver manners while providing enhanced performance and utility both on and off pavement.
The Toytec Lifts Tundra BOSS Lift Kit provides approximately 3.5” lift in the front and 3” in the rear, and allows the larger 285/70R17 Nitto Terra Grappler G2 tires from Discount Tire Direct to function without rubbing. Icon Vehicle Dynamics added their Tundra Tubular UCAs to help keep the truck aligned and provide extra strength for our off-pavement fun.
Truck Covers USA sent over their Roll Cover and American Work Cover Jr. toolbox for the bed. This is one of the best mods you can add to a multi-use truck. It provides enough extra storage for recovery gear and tie-downs, and helps keep gear in the bed safe and secure.
For a front bumper, we wanted something that matched the lines of the truck well, wasn’t too heavy, and includes a winch mount. The aluminum Tundra front bumper from Rock Slide Engineering fit each these criteria perfectly, and looks amazing on the truck.
COMEUP Winch sent their new Seal Gen 2 12.5 winch to fit into the bumper, it’s a monster of a winch and will ensure we can self-recover from just about anything, or provide a quick pull to help Jeeps get out of a rut.
Coming soon: A full set of skid plates from Budbuilt.
The graphics on the truck are courtesy of AFM Graphics. Get in touch with Andy if you need any custom graphics for your truck. The price is right and self-install could not be easier.
Of course the TRD modifications only get us so far. We added additional features to the truck to help keep her daily driver manners while providing enhanced performance and utility both on and off pavement.
The Toytec Lifts Tundra BOSS Lift Kit provides approximately 3.5” lift in the front and 3” in the rear, and allows the larger 285/70R17 Nitto Terra Grappler G2 tires from Discount Tire Direct to function without rubbing. Icon Vehicle Dynamics added their Tundra Tubular UCAs to help keep the truck aligned and provide extra strength for our off-pavement fun.
Truck Covers USA sent over their Roll Cover and American Work Cover Jr. toolbox for the bed. This is one of the best mods you can add to a multi-use truck. It provides enough extra storage for recovery gear and tie-downs, and helps keep gear in the bed safe and secure.
For a front bumper, we wanted something that matched the lines of the truck well, wasn’t too heavy, and includes a winch mount. The aluminum Tundra front bumper from Rock Slide Engineering fit each these criteria perfectly, and looks amazing on the truck.
COMEUP Winch sent their new Seal Gen 2 12.5 winch to fit into the bumper, it’s a monster of a winch and will ensure we can self-recover from just about anything, or provide a quick pull to help Jeeps get out of a rut.
Coming soon: A full set of skid plates from Budbuilt.
The graphics on the truck are courtesy of AFM Graphics. Get in touch with Andy if you need any custom graphics for your truck. The price is right and self-install could not be easier.
- Details
- By 4Runner Magazine
Toyota USA released a new series of videos for their #4runner #keepitwild series. Photographers and athletes sit around a campfire telling stories of adventure. Watch all the videos (even the commercial) below.
Tell us in the comments...where will your #toyota adventure take you?
- Details
- By Shane Williams
Our 2014 SEMA Show Coverage begins on Sunday, November 2nd 2014.
Nearly the entire crew will be in Vegas for the event.
- Shane & Angie will be on the show floor each day getting photos and chatting with vendors and Toyota fans!
- Jim already has several appointments setup to help companies figure out the best way to capture thousands of Toyota Enthusiasts
- Bob will be driving his Taco over the hill to the event, and is stoked for his second SEMA in a row
- Jonathan has his gear packed and will be heading down Monday night
- Phillip is the newcomer this year and will be making tracks all over LVCC to get the best coverage!
- Sadly Beau couldn't make it since he covered Outdoor Retailer earlier this year.
Our first official event is Monday evening, so expect a #livefromSEMA update Monday night.
Tuesday-Friday we'll be scouring the Las Vegas Convention Center looking for the best off-road, overland, camping, and 4x4 mods and gear for your Toyota Cruiser, Truck, or SUV.
Stay Tuned to our SEMA feed for the latest information!
Short Link: http://tctmag.me/sema-14
- Details
- By Shane Williams
Some of you may have seen the recent Top Gear (USA) episode that included a 2014 TTUE FJ Cruiser, the Overland Journal LR4, and an AEV Brute Jeep conversion. If not, you can watch it here. I'll wait.
Before I wrote this I watched the episode a few times, partly to capture a few screen shots, but mostly to make sure I really understand what was going on. Like most network television, Top Gear is simply entertainment. The hosts are nice enough guys, and they make us chuckle, but they're not necessarily experts when it comes to vehicles, espcially when it comes to off-road, 4x4, or overland vehicles. When keeping that fact in mind with this particular episode, it's actually quite entertaining.
But there is more.
Read more: Did You See the Top Gear Episode with the FJ Cruiser?
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