2001 Tundra- Tow Rig

**YodaNutz** · 01-23-2009, 11:18 AM

Ok after not being able to come to and idea on The Green Machine suspension I feel like I need to explore my options and look further into what I want and what works. Due to my lack of knowlege and the need of research I'm going to flop onto the Tundra project and get that bitch up and going. Carrie and I voted and it was 2 to none on the tow rig project going forward and also the runner was my DD and i don't like the fact that i depend on my trail worthy rig as a DD so the tow rig will soon be the DD and i can chop what i need to off the runner and start my swap and still have a 4wd DD to play with if needed. I'm ordering some parts next week and getting this up to speed....pics to come of what i'm doing. just wanted to start the thread.

TacoManny98 · 01-23-2009, 02:11 PM

That's what i plan on doing to my 02. So far i'm having two issues.

Squating: When i was towing Jose's during the parade it brought down the rear end pretty bad more than what i would like. So i plan on building a stronger leaf pack along with a leaf helper/air bag system

Brakes: I'm having big problem. From what i read on the TS board it happens alot on 00-02 Tundras so i plan on doing what they recommend. Swap out mine with 03-06 calipers & rotors they are bigger, bolt up with minor trimming the dust cover, and seem to solve the problems i'm having

As a extra i plan on getting a bigger tranny cooler. Other than those things i see with my Tundra i think it will be a decent tow rig.

**YodaNutz** · 01-23-2009, 06:47 PM

all i know is that the brakes worked when i was towed home by carrie....unknown if there are more issues as of yet...and remember mine has the 6" lift w/rear blocks

....gotta change those out.....

**YodaNutz** · 01-28-2009, 07:12 AM

ok got the seats and carpet removed for some much needed cleaning and I also found an engine that has 11,000 miles on it and its from a 2004 model tundra. they want 2200 for it....so i'm going a head and getting that ...don't feel like messing around with that other engine need a dependable one cause its my DD now. man that fucking inside of the truck is just dirty...plain and simple ........never got cleaned out on the farm i guess.

my2coma · 01-28-2009, 08:01 AM

Good luck... it sounds like a good plan to me.
I would for sure do a brake upgrade... I even have problems stopping the F250 tow rig w/o trailer brakes. Thats alot of weight (4Runner & trailer) for a Tundra to stop. Maybe even consider brakes on the trailer.

Snorkie · 01-28-2009, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by my2coma

Good luck... it sounds like a good plan to me.
I would for sure do a brake upgrade... I even have problems stopping the F250 tow rig w/o trailer brakes. Thats alot of weight (4Runner & trailer) for a Tundra to stop. Maybe even consider brakes on the trailer.

Thats what the cars in front of you are for.

**YodaNutz** · 01-28-2009, 11:13 AM

don't worry, brake up grades are a must.......maybe even rear disc brake conversion possible???
and yes the trailer i purchase will have trailer brakes for sure...love me some braking power....all else fails...jump ship a the last possible moment...and yes...replacement bumper(full)....so i can use the vehicles in front of me to stop...!!!!!!!

**YodaNutz** · 03-08-2009, 06:07 PM

Fast Forward ______-------> got bunch of little issues fixed,installed a bunch of parts that were ordered from Champion Toyota(thanks shannon), got the engine all buttoned up and she fired and ran like shit....started going over all the connections,vac lines, added fresh gas and changed some one of the coil packs, but still.....shitty idle, engine would stall after giving it gas, just mysterious, so...........................I check the ground points....AHAHHAHAH...found one that was not connected to ground and BAM....fixed issue.

BUT! powersteering sounds like a kitty cat muffled in a pillow being slowly stangled to death...need another or new one.

Other than that few other issues, swap the head lamps/blinkers out with the newer ones, install some door seals and other parts inside, wating on my new Pioneer CD Reciever w/HD radio to come in from CrutchField this week, and bit of wire restoration to do...well see if i can make it in the tundra to the SA event

Snorkie · 03-08-2009, 06:22 PM

**YodaNutz** · 03-17-2009, 11:51 AM

Got my new replacement shocks in....
got my PJ's mounted and just need to get the front studs replaced and a splice 6 wires together........and i'm done....
lack of pics does suck....but...i'm gonna take some today.

**YodaNutz** · 03-17-2009, 10:38 PM

heres some photos of whats been up today with the Tundra:
to start things off the previous owner did this.....

to allow for the incorrect back spacing of the rims and use spacers....

since it was welded i had to grind each weld with the cuting disc and then break each stud loose and remove.....

new strut installed on the passenger side along with the sway link

the rim and the tire combo....mounted

various photos ...

STOPPED AND WILL CONTINUE......until next time

Snorkie · 03-17-2009, 10:48 PM

looks good, are those the tire that were on the runner? what size?

**YodaNutz** · 03-17-2009, 10:51 PM

no no....I just purchased those suckers.....35X12.50r16 ....the rims i purchased off of the forum for 400 from one of our members they are 16X10 DC's

notyourmomslx450 · 03-18-2009, 08:57 AM

Are those PJ tires, too? Man, you are keeping them in business single handed! Truck is looking nice, man. It'll look great hauling around a pink-bumpered FJ, too!

onelastcast · 03-18-2009, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taco_Nutz

no no....I just purchased those suckers.....35X12.50r16 ....the rims i purchased off of the forum for 400 from one of our members they are 16X10 DC's

Looks good, but are you considering regearing? Pulling a rig with 35's is going to make it harder.

BTW, why did you have to remove the studs, were they too long for your wheels?

I'm sure Desert Rat appreciates your business.

**YodaNutz** · 03-18-2009, 07:39 PM

dude...those studs were too long...man they were so long i had about 3/4" thread after they bottom out on the nuts and also the splined base stuck out pass the new rim hub area...

yep love me some PJ tires....carrie is fixing to order a new set for the FJ...shes...squirming around about the price for the rims and tires...think i may have to help her out with the cost...

Oh and yes i'm going to regear for sure.....originally the kid that owned it had 35s on it and pulled a lot of trailers....his father was a horse trainer/farmer/cattle rancher.....so it got used a bunch for work .....

**YodaNutz** · 03-19-2009, 08:18 AM

i'll be doing some test runs today and giving her a good bath maybe some wax'n too

onelastcast · 03-19-2009, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taco_Nutz

dude...those studs were too long...man they were so long i had about 3/4" thread after they bottom out on the nuts and also the splined base stuck out pass the new rim hub area...

**YodaNutz** · 03-19-2009, 12:00 PM

test run was good to go....gonna run to town and see how it does and get her washed up....

TacoManny98 · 03-19-2009, 12:29 PM

What kind of 6" lift do you have?? Man seeing your truck makes me want to get a 5" TC lift to run with the coilovers i got for it..
7"-8" would look good on Taylor's truck.

**YodaNutz** · 03-19-2009, 03:24 PM

RCD 6" lift......

**YodaNutz** · 03-19-2009, 03:52 PM

here is a pic after a run into town and got her cleaned up......and finally the "Engine" light came on...now to see which sensors are fucked up...runs good....probably oxy senor or the air fuel....unknown yet.........

**YodaNutz** · 03-22-2009, 12:21 PM

well a couple of wires came loose and touched the belt enough to cut them and thats what some of the "engine" light reasons....but the rear 3rd started making some noise...sounded like a bearing cause everytime i would take off it would grind and seem like it was hanging up so...i swap in one from a 98 taco and yes the original 3rd was showing some fine shavings and the pinion bearing had been worn ..pics to come....starting the swap out

...got it all pulled apart

done

**YodaNutz** · 03-23-2009, 11:14 AM

well Saturday night i was driving home from Louise and hit a 175 lb(estimating) with the tow rig and man.....that m-fer scared the shit out of me....i never seen the hog while i was driving....didn't really know what i'd hit. knocked my ds fender flare loose and cracked it and my steering wheel is off a bit now...but i'll get it fixed. Oh i was doing about 60ish mph and i was on a gravel road so...its all good still. Just thought i'd share that with yall.

mudwieser · 03-23-2009, 11:36 AM

looks nice cliff. the truck needs an add-a-leaf in the rear to be sitting level....but sweet!!

**YodaNutz** · 03-23-2009, 08:30 PM

gonna either get some new leafs from alcan or do the "Joe H3 blend" rear leaf build. want to get way the hell away from blocks....

my2coma · 03-23-2009, 08:40 PM

The Tundra has tasted blood.......

No pics of the pig carnage?

**YodaNutz** · 03-24-2009, 06:44 AM

it was late and no camera with me....i had to check out the damage first thing in the morning when i got up, so i ran to the car wash......washed what shit was stuck to the drivers side of the vehicle and headed back to the house, because i was going to lift Pauls ride that evening and i still had shit to do on the FJ. So unfortunetly i didn't get any or even the aftermath of the poop that was slung across the door and bed....lol

**YodaNutz** · 05-19-2009, 07:10 AM

I got the 2002 rear w/locker installed and started working on the Sequoia rear disc brake swap/coversion now. Got a price qote from Alcan for my springs and i went down on tire size with the tundra now, purchased a used set of the same rims that are on the FJ(DC-1 blacks).
rear locker installed...

now i'm working on the rear end i got form joe and i will be rebuilding this entire rear end...new everything including gears...

cleaned up now...

painted just to protect it from rusting...for now...

Jacob Cox · 05-19-2009, 11:23 AM

Looks nice Cliff. You should probably go to work for Toyota at some point!