Pap's Trailhunter Tacoma build

[Pap]

I bought the Tailhunter in underground color January 2025. I started my driving life in a Toyota 1991 pickup. In 2010 I got a 2G Tacoma DCLB modded for wheeling and went to another 2g DCLB and switched all the mods over to that truck. Since then, I've been driving around larger amercin 2500 trucks for work. Glad to be back! This new Tacoma is miles ahead of the 2G I last drove. It's been amazing in the woods for the two times I got it out there so far. The camera system is incredible and all the extra TH protection and systems have been amazing.

Here's the mods I have been doing and will add as I go.


Exterior Cosmetic:
PPF wrap
35% tint front passenger and driver windows

Armor:
Rago center mount front bumper
Rago trailing arm plate
C4 sliders en route
Stock TH skids. The front skid may be replaced as I don't like the gap between the Rago bumper and skid. It's a scoop!

Recovery:
Hi lift Jack
ARB recovery boards
Warn 10s platinum winch with Stinger 500 relay hooked up to Aux 2

Suspension:
Front lift Dobison springs c59-822 - raised about 1 1/2"
Rear lift peak 1" untill Dobison springs C59-817 show (backordered 2 months) peak

Lighting:
Baja Design OnX6 20" in Rago front bumper

tires:
Toyo open country 275/70/18 - I may go bigger depending on next wheeling trip

Misc:
Backflip MX4 bedcover

Here's the Trailhunter stock

This is the Trailhunter prior to lift

Here it is today

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[Pap]

I did some cosmetic changes to the exterior including the PPF and tint

Added arb traction boards and the hi lift. Made some brackets to mount the boards to the hi lift. The hi lift is mounted to the bed rail t slot

 

[Pap]

I ended up going with the Rago center mount bumper, warn winch and Stinger relay hooked up to Aux 2 switch.

I received the Rago bumper Friday. They gave me a deep discount on it try out as they never fit them on a Trailhunter.

Beautifullly made and very robust. Fitment once I made some modifications to the bumper for the TH is perfect. I installed it yesterday.

Rago only accounts for the standard model fogs. The rigid fogs project out further (about 3/8")so I had to modify the opening with a die grinder to be 1/16" wider each side of the opening. I assume all other fogs on the Tacoma are recessed more and sit behind the bumper.

I also had to relocate the hybrid noisemaker behind the grill to clear the winch. Very simply drilled a new hole in the bracket to move it up and out of way.

To maintain the existing factory metal grill support and if Baja design fog lights are utilized, you need to cut the bottom of the support bracket lip off. It contacts the Baja design light bar when trying to install the bumper. i believe the metal grill support is critical for additional support. Some just remove it all together.

Minus modifying the bumper.... Easy for me... this bumper works perfectly with our TH. I gave this feedback to Rago and hopefully they will have a bumper for us TH and Pro owners.

This is how I installed the wiring for the winch:

Stinger relay located on on driver's side towards the front of the wheel well. 2 guage power cable goes from there back to the battery under the rear seat. 2 guage ground cable goes from battery to the winch. (2) 14 gauge wires (power and ground) start at the Stinger relay and go to Aux 2 located in the left side of the drivers side panel. All the wires were protected with wire loom after install.

Both sets of wires go through the fire wall gromet. I made a tiny slice in the rubber gromet to pass the 2 gauge wires through. The 14 gauge wires go through the rubber gromet nipple. Just cut the end of it off.

This is where the aux 2 connector is located. Toyota provides the pig tail to make the connection. You will connect both of the 14 gauge wires to the provided pig tail.

Here's where the 2 gauge cables pass through the front door sill

This is where the 2 gauge cables pass through the rear door sill and connects to the battery

Grill and bumper removal

Rago tray and winch installed

 

[Pap]

Today I added dobison springs to the front to compensate the newly added front bumper/ winch weight. It also raised the truck by about 1 1/2". I also order the the rears but they are on backorder so in the mean time, I installed 1" peak spacers.

Changing the suspension on this Tacoma might simply be the easiest I've done on any vehicle. Such a pleasure.

 

[MT-Taco]

In the best color of course!!

 

[Pap]

In the best color of course!!

 

[Nelly12]

How much was the PPF?

 

[Pap]

$4500 for the PPF

 

[DFTaco19]

I ended up going with the Rago center mount bumper, warn winch and Stinger relay hooked up to Aux 2 switch.

I received the Rago bumper Friday. They gave me a deep discount on it try out as they never fit them on a Trailhunter.

Beautifullly made and very robust. Fitment once I made some modifications to the bumper for the TH is perfect. I installed it yesterday.

Rago only accounts for the standard model fogs. The rigid fogs project out further (about 3/8")so I had to modify the opening with a die grinder to be 1/16" wider each side of the opening. I assume all other fogs on the Tacoma are recessed more and sit behind the bumper.

I also had to relocate the hybrid noisemaker behind the grill to clear the winch. Very simply drilled a new hole in the bracket to move it up and out of way.

To maintain the existing factory metal grill support and if Baja design fog lights are utilized, you need to cut the bottom of the support bracket lip off. It contacts the Baja design light bar when trying to install the bumper. i believe the metal grill support is critical for additional support. Some just remove it all together.

Minus modifying the bumper.... Easy for me... this bumper works perfectly with our TH. I gave this feedback to Rago and hopefully they will have a bumper for us TH and Pro owners.

I like what I am seeing and want to have this bumper to my TH next year!

 

[DFTaco19]

Today I added dobison springs to the front to compensate the newly added front bumper/ winch weight. It also raised the truck by about 1 1/2". I also order the the rears but they are on backorder so in the mean time, I installed 1" peak spacers.

Changing the suspension on this Tacoma might simply be the easiest I've done on any vehicle. Such a pleasure.

I didn’t realize that you need to change the spring after the front bumper with winch installed. I’m learning and preparing for next year. Thanks for sharing!

 

[BAQ717]

Is that 35% on both front and back? Looks good. I’m not interesting in the futile task of making the front match the rear.

 

[Pap]

I didn’t realize that you need to change the spring after the front bumper with winch installed. I’m learning and preparing for next year. Thanks for sharing!

You don't need to add the springs but keep in mind, with the bumper and winch you are adding about 150lbs to the front. In my case, it sagged about 1/2". I brought it back up with the springs and lifted it about 1 1/2" beyond stock.

 

[Pap]

Is that 35% on both front and back? Looks good. I’m not interesting in the futile task of making the front match the rear.

I did 35% up front only. I think the rears are about 20% privacy glass. Not sure about that. I have 20% up front on my previous trucks and it was too dark at night.

 

[DFTaco19]

You don't need to add the springs but keep in mind, with the bumper and winch you are adding about 150lbs to the front. In my case, it sagged about 1/2". I brought it back up with the springs and lifted it about 1 1/2" beyond stock.

Got it! I watched one of Independence Overland YouTube videos and Tyler Snider mentioned he wanted to upgrade the springs. Thanks.

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