I got my Tundra in 2014 and I’ve kept it pretty stock until this year I plan to build it out for a overlander/prepper truck.

Niche of prepper truck.

1. get to adventures…prepared.
2. wherever I go, I’m ready/prepared to assist/evac…prepared.
   1. work
   2. play
   3. adventures
   4. evac
3. pull vehicle for 7×16 trailer (that holds Honda Pioneer 1000-5, real dedicated off road vehicle).

 

 

 

• Under rear-seat organization

DU-HA Under Seat Storage, is a great way to prevent gear from going flying in the event of a hard breaking event. 

• Decked Truck Drawers

So far, these are excellent. Nearly water proof, 200 lbs per drawer and 2,000 weight rating on top of the drawer. No more injuring yourself grabbing gear from the back of your truck! I use a drill bit driver extension to hold the drawers open (if needed). I also use white gaffer tape to “map out” where things are in the drawer (inside the drawer, there is a handy place to put the tape).

•  Decked D-box box organizer for decked drawers!

I got four of these d-boxes. I labeled  (gaffer tape again) one “get home”,  “range”, Tools & first-aid. I do want to be able to run “long-guns” in one drawer, so I need to figure out how to slim-down to 3 boxes instead of 4. I have an old ammo can that my dad used for a first-aid kit when I was a kid. So I think I’m going to run that one. and make the first aid-box into a “camera” box or something like that.

I’ve found that now that I have d-boxes, I don’t really need the dividers.

• Decked Dividers

• 1,000 lbs mounts. With the decked drawer system in, I don’t have access to my corner anchors. So, I got two pairs of these.
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• Anchors inside the corner storage of decked.I found some “eyelet” bolts at walmart ($1 each) and cut them shorter and cleaned up the threads and put lock tight on the threads, so now I have another mount option by removing the corner lids. I used some nite-ize twist ties to prevent the eyelet bolt from rattling!

 

• • ARB bumper. I did a lot of research and thought about this for over a year. In the end, having air-bag support, lifetime coating (I’ve never seen one rusted to the point of degraded strength). I really want to protect against a deer/elk strike. I’m buying from http://www.sierraexpeditions.com and they are giving me free shipping. $1700 ish delivered!  I also considered https://www.buckstopinc.com/classic-1-1093.html which comes with a front receiver hitch!  But I wanted the computer welded/built bumper from ARB.  The ARB weighs about 140 lbs vs the buckstop of 200 lbs.

FUTURE/WISH LIST

• Rock sliders. Still researching, but I’d like to be able to use a hi-lift jack on the side of the truck on the rock sliders (yes, VERY strong sliders! no city slicker “nerf bars”!).
  • considering these sliders: https://amzn.to/2MOviI7
• Winch,
  

  Smittybilt (98510 X2O Waterproof Synthetic Rope Winch – 10000 lb. Load Capacity.
  I picked this winch because of weight (S-rope) and waterproof and plenty strong to pull my truck and trailer out if needed. NOT planning serious off road with this truck…I have a Honda Pioneer 1000-5 that is built for serious off road use!

• front receiver hitch. I plan to add this to my ARB bumper (hopefully!).
  • why you might want a front receiver hitch.
    • front motorcycle carrier (if you are pulling a trailer or have a camper shell).
    • much easier to back a trailer in the front!
    • run a basket for hauling more stuff in the front.
    • have a multi-vehicle winch that you can put in the front of the truck or rear of the truck as needed. a portable winch!
      • winch for truck
      • winch for motorhome
      • winch for a trailer (to pull other vehicles –disabled or otherwise onto the trailer).

• Bed liner truck and shell.
  • I want to bedliner my tundra “concrete grey”. Quick Sand would be better “discrete” camouflage, but grey will “blend in” better on and off the road.
  •  Planning to use Raptor tintable bedliner this summer (likely July shutdown/holiday). I will likely roll it on, like I did the tacoma.
• Shell. Still doing research on which shell, I’m having a hard time finding a used truck shell that fits my truck. I’m thinking for now, just a cab flush shell. Future I’d love to get a camper shell that has beds, stoves and bathrooms, but that will need to be for future.
• suspension upgrades. I want better shocks and adjustable front shocks for dealing with the extra bumper weight. Still doing research. 
  • upgrade front suspension
    • considering: https://www.realtruck.com/bilstein-b8-5160-reservoir-shocks/
  • upgrade rear suspension for adjustable (air weight).
    • https://amzn.to/2D9Z0Tu

 

ARB Tundra Bumper Install

MAKE SURE YOU GET THE LATEST COLOR install instructions!!!

I was going off an outdated Black/White install instructions and it caused me lots of grief. Sierra Expeditions was great when I called for help on the turn signals, they sent me the color instructions and it was a snap after that!

 

TIP: start from the top and work your way to the bottom removing molding and bumpers. The instructions are pretty good that came with the bumper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Custom Front Receiver Hitch Build

 

 

I bought a hitch step from amazon as a starting point.

https://amzn.to/2UX5ufM

 

Then 4″x4″ 1/4 angle iron.

I used cardboard to fabricate a template and then cut the steel with a angle grinder (cut off wheel).

Once completed, I sanded and then primered it. Then spray can bedliner.