TRD Bro became more PRO!!! Hard Shell Taco is finally LIFTED!!!

I picked up a 2015 TRD Pro suspension for a great deal from a Toyota deal. Part # PTR13-35150

I installed this last President's Day weekend. Because of plans with Chinese New Year and needing to have the Taco ready by Monday I had no choice to do most of my work at night. It wasn't as easy but I got it done. The hardest part was the AAL (Add A Leafs). I explained it in my latest youtube video:

The instructions below are for a 2015 Pro but it's exactly the same for the 3rd gen Tacos too however the cam bolts for the 2016+ are 22mm NOT 19mm! And of course works on all 2nd gen Tacos.

You really want a 22mm handy!!!





The ride is a little firmer on the street but soaks up bumps and especially dips VERY well. For spending under $1000 with front shocks + springs , rear reso shocks , AAL and alignment...I'll say it's an awesome deal!!!!

Who's tougher? Taco or T-rex???

I had to do some work out in Palm Springs so I had to stop by to see this giant dinosaur and see who's tougher.

What do you guys think?

Who's excited for new trucks in 2019?

Well the Ford Ranger got announced and it's getting really hyped up.

What do you guys think?

2018 Toyota Sense Tacomas are getting lifted... wrong?

It sure is tough being sick and thinking about these things but I gotta do what I gotta do.

Lake Arrowhead trip in the Taco

Last weekend before New Years my wife wanted the family to go to the mountains so the kids can see snow... WELL first of all she told me it was Big Bear so we prepared for colder temps.

Look at how much we packed for a single overnight stay. It took me a while to pack it and get it to fit everything. Having 3 kids and a wife in the Taco is a little tight but fortunately I'm the only tall one for now.

After doing my wonderful pack job. I asked my wife for the Big Bear address...Well it was Lake Arrowhead instead!

Also going up at 9am it was sunny and 70 degrees! 😆

Well I dropped her off and Joanna (the baby) and took my boys to some adventures.  It was a little sketchy but for a noob offroader like myself but I handled it.

Check out the wheeling vid and also my vlog about the drone.

It was a good day with no problems in the end.

My Taco doesn't have a crunch ... it CREAKS !!!

Yes folks. After 10,000 miles my clutch pedal developed an annoying creak. It happens after some time driving and when it's warm indicating the lubricants could be failing at a certain viscosity.

It gets really stiff when it does this as well.

I took it to the dealer and they couldn't duplicate the issue and lubed up all the joints. Well I drove it the next day and boom! Creaking is back. Now it's not as loud as I documented in the video but it's there.

There isn't a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) or recall on this year. There is one for the 2005-2015 second generations which they replace the entire pedal assembly. I'm curious which parts have been carried over to the third gen.

It's a good truck overall but this sure is annoying. Nobody can get everything perfect but they do need to strive just a tad more. I wanted to add too that I'm not the only person with this issue so it's not an 'bitter owner' syndrome.

Check out my videos and please post if you're a victim as well.

Thanks!

Biggest Toyota meet in Orange County...raised over $10,000 for hurricane victims

Today I took my kids and Tacoma to a huge meet out in Anaheim, CA. It was a great turnout.

The weather felt like it was still summer.

It was flattering for people to recognize me and discuss trucks. If you ever see me and want to chat, let me know.

Here's a video I did and introduced the guys who organized the event.

Holy Jim Trail - Redux ... yep.. I went back!

This time I went with friends but didn't take the easy way. In fact I went up partially what they call Jeep Hill and chickened out. I'm a noob and literally just figured out 4LO engaged properly. Yea I know..I should read the manual...or how about just the card on the visor?

Anyhow here's a few pics but the best highlights are on my video.

Please chime in with any comments.

Bro Pro lost some wheels....

I did some magic though and got some other ones!

Wheel magic


I've been eyeing SCS Ray10 wheels for some time and had an opportunity to get a set. I like them. They have an aggressive offset of -12 for a 16x8 wheel but I think they look great. It's the maximum amount of poke I'd want to add. Any more and it's overBRO.

Now I need to do a new video with all my mods...stay tuned...

Cleghorn ? What's that? It's a fun trail!!!!

A friend of mine just picked up a Jeep Wrangler and added a lift. He called me and invited me out to Cleghorn along with a few others to have some off-road fun. You may have seen my Holy Jim post which was my first off-road outing.  It's rated "easy" at Holy Jim. Now Cleghorn can go from mild to wild depending on the path you choose. I've seen 2wd trucks taking some paths so if you ever want to go, just go...but be sure you take someone who knows where they're going unless you're okay backtracking.

I learned a few things with my Taco. I should have run 4LO with traction control off when I tried going up the steep hill. I literally had no power and I smelled my clutch smoke. Now I know. lol

So the order of driving was the TRD Pro 4runner because he's been here the most. 2nd was the Sport 4x4 Taco with Kings suspension. 3rd was my buddy's lifted Jeep and me with stock suspension.

My boys were excited to go on this outing and you can see it in the end.

Check out my YouTube Channel and Video highlights

My FIRST Subscriber Showcase on YouTube! Blazing Blue Pearl Taco talk!!!! BRO PROs united!!!

Jason Payne bought his BBP Tacoma just 6 weeks ago and he was surfing the web for mods.

He found my YouTube Channel and started looking at all the mods I did. Jason was so interested he posted several questions on each of my videos. His first mod was the TRD Pro grill. He then focused on getting some wheels. He's become a BRO PRO / PRO BRO!

He lives out in Nevada but was visiting family here in SoCal as well as doing a few mods. This is when I did my mini photoshoot and decided to do my first Subscriber Showcase.

It was a pleasure to meet Jason and his Taco.

Washed the dirty taco and got me a new mod!!! Hint you use it with ice cream...

So I combined 2 videos this week since it was a short work week for me.

I really enjoyed the trip to the trails for the first time but I had to wash her. It wasn't that bad!

Also today I picked up my latest mod. I've been trying to work this deal for a week and I was the first of 30 peeps who wanted it!!!

YOU NEED TO WATCH WHAT I GOT!  I'm that excited.

I think you may have figured out my clue though. 😝