I almost traded my 2011 4Runner Trail Edition in on a 2014 this past September but the dealership tried to change the deal we made after I put down a deposit so I backed out. I just wasn't comfortable with dealing with somebody that was going to try to change the deal after the deposit had been made. I just continued to drive the 4Runner and I loved it but I really needed a pickup so last month I put the 4Runner up for sale and it sold a couple of weeks ago.

I decided I didn't want to buy new as I can be tough on equipment and I wanted to buy a vehicle with a proven track record of reliability and durability. I have followed 1st gen Tundra builds by Derek24, the dude, Haggis, JCMathews and other so I honed in on finding a 2005 or 2006 Double Cab Tundra. The 2UZ-FE engine is one of the best Toyota has ever made IMO and I like the 5 speed transmission. I almost pulled the trigger on a low mileage truck here on Expo but I had to buy a pop up camper with it and I really didn't want the camper or the hassle of trying to sell it myself.

I have my little 93 Toyota hunting truck that I have a built thread here on Expo to drive so I took my time and watched Craigslist every day locally and just couldn't find a truck I was comfortable with. I finally decided to look nationally to see what else was out there. I found a nice truck in Tucson but there was an accident reported on the Carfax and it had 4 previous owners so I was a little cautious. I have a friend that offered me his 08 double cab(basically extended cab with doors) Tundra with 88,000 miles on it in Phoenix for $14,000 and seriously considered pulling the trigger but it was a tight fit with 2 car seats in the back of that truck so I passed. Two kids under the age of 2 means they'll be growing and will be in car seats for years and the back seat of that DC just wasn't going to cut it. Besides that, I had my heart set on the 1st gen due to the drivetrain.

I finally looked to my home state of Texas and found a truck that peaked my interest. Not only that, I had some good friends that I trust in the immediate area where the truck was listed for sale so I called them up to see if they could check it out for me. Here is the craigslist ad and pictures that were posted�.

"2006 Toyota tundra SR5 4X4 42000 Miles original owner title in hand Before you ask everything works and works well just don't need it... Has a load leveling kit all else factory V8... Need has a dent from someone that shouldn't had been in my truck moving a trailer around... Price is negotiable if you have cash if you don't have cash when you come to negotiate don't negotiate�"













[img]http://i24.photobucket.com/alb...-893c-96f4a01e673c_zps7854a3e3.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i24.photobucket.com/alb...-b6ab-71e0f85b28c8_zpsb8aea93a.jpg[/img]



I like people that are to the point so I called him up. The owner is a super nice guy and told me to send my friends over to look at it to see what they thought about it. I knew about the damage to the bed on the drivers side so it wasn't a surprise when they told me about it and they said that the truck was in fantastic shape with the exception of that. Interior is flawless and it drives like a champ. We discussed price and came to what I feel was a fair agreement for both of us and I bought it.

Immediate plans are just to go get it, have the oil changed and get it back up to Colorado. I am going to go with the Bilstein shocks and OME 885 coils and I have a call in to Deaver to see about a spring pack but might just go with an AAL for the time being. I loved the Duratracs on my 4Runner but might have to go with the ST Maxx tires this go round. I may get the bed fixed and I may not, depends on how bad it is but I am not too concerned about it. I am not sure how I feel about the blue steel metallic color but I think I will like it. I just don't see enough of them around here but its cool that its not a real common color so we'll see. I did find a truck online in this color that looked pretty darn good so I am hoping mine will be as sharp. I really like this truck and the color looks great in his pictures�

[img]http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c11/drumdaddy/tundra023_zpsc04bce25.jpg[/img]


[img]http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c11/drumdaddy/tundra031_zps7c1f147a.jpg[/img]


Anyway, I will update this as it progresses and any input would be appreciated

That's a good looking truck and sounds like a great deal. With less than 43,000 on a Toyota it's not even broken in yet!

I think that you hit the jackpot. Sounds like exactly what you were looking for. Keep us posted...

I had the same truck in the same color. Nice paint that you don't see every day.

That is a nice truck bro -

Thanks guys!

Die hard Toyota guy here.
I like that model 100X better than the gas guzzling behemoths they've turned the Tundra into.

Good score.
Enjoy

Bought a plane ticket to TX and I'm heading down tomorrow to pick it up and drive it home

Where in Texas Drum?

Flying from Denver to Houston and Houston to Tyler and then driving home

Text me on the way by and I will buy lunch.

Count on it! Looking forward to it

ugh.

We have a 2204 extended cab, not a 4 door, but my wife drives it almost exclusively. We have no sedan, van, or SUV. Most of the time, I have to drive my 98 Dodge 2500.

In 2005 we has sold our 94 Toyota with 275K miles on it and was hunting for another. We had all the prices and figures, etc. and went to look at a different one at John Elway Toyota on Arapahoe Rd in Denver. Sitting beside the one we were to look at was this 2004 with 2500 miles on it that had just come in. The had not even priced it. We went inside and they offered it to us for $2000 less than I expected to pay and well below book value. Can't ever tell where you might find a good deal.

You did great on the deal. I've always figured if my '05 Sequoia ever pukes I'll find an 06 double cab tundra, or another 06 or 07 Sequoia.

So, the plan was to leave Denver at 1:45, have a 40 minute layover in Houston, land in Tyler Texas at 6:45 and pick up the truck then head out to my buddies place and hammer hogs with night vision scopes and silenced rifles. Honestly, I was more excited about the hog hunt than I was about the Tundra

Then, United Airlines struck. They were late getting off the ground and I missed my connecting flight to Tyler. Hog hunt is off and they told me to take the shuttle to the Houston Hilton North but when I got there my hotel voucher said HYATT Houston North so I walked form the Hilton to the Hyatt in north Houston with $16,000 in my back pack. Fun times. I HATE UNITED! Seriously, I am pissed but there is nothing I can do except maybe stay in Texas one extra night and take my frustrations out on a bunch of hogs and break this Tundra in right

Anyway, how was y'alls day?

Ooooh--not good! Hope tomorrow is better and that you bond with the truck. Get a good night's sleep--that will help.

Hope you got your truck today!

I finally picked it up. It's a solid truck and I'm happy with it. The dent on the bed is a little more unsightly than anticipated but repair cost is the same. Got the oil changed here in Tyler TX and it's ready to head to CO

I'm heading out in an hour or so and am going to pound some hogs with buddies here in Texas then heading to CO when we're done hunting.

What a long few days! I will NEVER fly United Airlines again. Delayed flights and missed connections to no communication on when I could get out to the $7 meal voucher they have me for dinner. Screw United. They even broke my CPAP that was in the overhead compartment and I haven't slept good in 3 days. I'm whipped. That being said, I made it down there, bought the truck, smacked a truckload of hogs and drove it back to northern CO.






First impression, I liked it but didn't love. I wasn't sold on the color but it's growing on me. The PO hadn't cleaned it at all and he sold to to me with no gas in the tank which wasn't a big deal but when I got to the gas station and went to clean the windshield I noticed a few imperfections that I wish had been disclosed before the purchase. I knew then why it hadn't been cleaned but the fact is I still got a good deal on a truck with super low miles and I'm still happy about it. They wouldn't have been a deal breaker but you hate to figure it out less than 5 minutes after you fork over a fistful of hundreds.

Anyway, I took possession and went straight to the Toyota dealership for an oil change. The PO said he changed the oil every 5000 miles but didn't have any records or receipts and he wasn't sure which oil they used so I went right down and had them but their 0w20 synthetic and new Toyota filter on it so I knew what was in it and exactly when it had been changed. We went through it while it was on the lift and everything looked good. I changed out a license plate light and the air filter and called it good. I then met up with some hunting buddies and we headed out to break that truck in proper. We had a blast but we didn't finish until this morning so it's been a LONG day!

On my first tank I averaged 15.8 mpg, second tank was 17.2 mpg and the last tank was from Dumas to Denver and I got almost 19mpg. I am thrilled with that and the truck was a pleasure to drive. It's just tight if you know what I mean. The more I drove it the more I liked it. I am happy that I went down to get this one, I think it will be a good truck









That's the last fill up and I didn't baby it. In fact, I drove it like I stole it which was probably good for it. Who knows how long it's been since it was really run.

I'm looking at lift and tires first. The PO has those hockey puck looking spacers on it and I hate those so I'll be taking care of that ASAP. As for tires, I'm leaning towards the ST Maxx tires in either a 265/75r16 or the new 255/85r16. Haven't made up my mind yet. Lift will be OME 885 coils and bilstein up front and bilsteins and aal in the rear to start

Any input or suggestions are appreciated. I'm tapping out fellas. I'm beat

0-20w synthetic ?

Yes, it's a Mobil 1 oil made to Toyotas specs and it's good stuff

I thought that model year ran 5-30?

Toyota synthetic motor oil, although made by Mobil 1, has a much stronger add pack than the off the shelf Mobil 1 5w-30. The TGMO 0w-20 also has a much higher viscosity index than the off the shelf Mobil 1. Toyota had back spec'd the 4.7 liter v8 to take 5w20 so with the colder weather I'm positive it will be fine

Ok that sounds good ...for whatever reason I thought they ran the heavier stuff back then but didn't know that about the Toyo synthetic oil. I know my dealer doesn't sell it

I hadn't been feeling 100% for a few weeks and when my CPAP went down on my trip to TX to get the truck I just wasn't sleeping very well. I got home from picking up the truck on Saturday night and then went in for a shift at the fire station at 7pm on Sunday. At this point I was going on about 6 hours of sleep over the previous 3 days and I normally get 7 or 8 hours a night. We started doing some search and rescue training exercises and I couldn't finish one. I tweaked a previous injury and couldn't breathe and so I went home with instructions to go to the urgent care or ER to get checked out. I didn't go right away as I had an MRI on the previous groin injury just a week ago and wanted to get those results before I went back to get it looked at again and I felt like the fatigue over the previous 3 days had something to do with it. Long story short, at about 11 pm I went to bed and couldn't breathe. I felt like I was suffocating so I told my wife that I was driving myself to the ER to get checked out. Turns out I have had Pneumonia for over 2 weeks. No wonder I haven't been feeling good! Anyway, just a reminder to not be like me and get these things checked out. My groin injury is an avulsion fracture and I should have handled it a while back instead of waiting around. I have had Pneumonia for over 2 weeks and ended up going to the ER at midnight to get it checked out. Basically I was the guy I cuss when they call us at 2am for something thats been bothering them for days or weeks.

I am also doing a build on me the same time I build the truck. I was an athletic guy and I'm only 40. I'm 6'4" and weighed 272lbs about 3 weeks ago. I'm down to 258 now and want to get to about 230-235 which is slender for my frame. With 2 kids under 2 I let myself go for a couple of years and I am sick of not being in good shape.

All of us here love the outdoors and love exploring new places. We all try to keep our equipment in tip top shape so it doesn't fail us at the wrong time. Basically what I am saying is that I am going to take the time to get back as close to 100% as possible so my body doesn't fail me when I'm in the wrong place. I guide and outfit hunts for a living and spend time in places not easily accessible here in the US and in Mexico. The past few days have been an eye opener and just wanted to share it with you guys

Old Man Emu suspension kit going on tomorrow. Should be an upgrade over stock

Looking forward to seeing a few "before" and "after" pics!

Nice read. I looked at getting that same year and model but I couldn't find anything close to what you found. I settled on a '11 Tacoma. Hope that truck serves you well. Good luck on the weight loss and just stay after it, you'll be better fir it and the family will appreciate your hard work.

Heads up. Just received a notification from Toyota on my 2005 Tundra.

"Toyota has received reports that certain 2004 through 2006 model year Tundra vehicles operated in specific cold climate areas with high road salt use may exhibit more-than-normal corrosion to vehicles frame.etc, etc etc"

These States are involved: ct, de, il, in, ky,ma, md, me, mi, mn, hn, nj,ny, oh, pa, ri, va, vt, wi, and wv.

Long story short, you are to take it to a dealer for inspection. "If significant rust perforation IS NOT found Toyota will apply Corrosion-Resistant Compounds to key areas of your vehicles frame at NO CHARGE to you. The CRC application will enhance the corrosion protection of the vehicles frame." " If a participating Toyota Dealership, located in the colds climate states, confirms that your vehicle's frame has significant rust perforation, the dealer will provide an appropriate remed at NO CHARGE to you."

Inspection must occur before July 31, 2015.

Out with the old...



In with the new...

The OME kit is on and I am thrilled with it! Obviously it will settle but the ride is fantastic now. I can't imagine how good it will be once it settles. Here is a pic and I'll tell the story how all this came to be when I get home this evening. Wheels and tires next...

Looks good! What do you have in mind for wheels and tires?

I don't know yet, any suggestions?

So heres the story on why I lifted it so quick. I was looking around on CL for some steel wheels when I came across an ad for some wheels and tires so I called the guy. I went down to see the tires and I knew he would be cool because I could see a 40 tub in the background as well as the rear wheel well of another 40 he was building in the background. I have always been a sucker for FJ40's so I knew the guy was going to be a cool cat.

I get there and I see he has a paramedic sticker on the back of his built Tacoma and it turns out he is a flight medic on the helicopter that services our district where I am a fire fighter. We hit it right off and knew a few of the same people. His garage was pure awesomeness and he had all of the tools he needed for the frame off 40 build he had going on. He pulled my Tundra up and we tried a tire but it wasn't going to work as the backspacing was off. He asked what my plans were and I told him that I eventually wanted to lift it and he said "how bout tomorrow"? I asked if he was serious and he said that he loved doing that kind of stuff so I showed him my plans. He also loves Old Man Emu stuff and we made a couple of calls and I ended up at ToyTec on Wednesday afternoon. The guys at ToyTec are absolute studs and they answered all of my questions. They helped me piece together what I wanted and agreed that it should be an awesome setup on my 1st gen Tundra. The only issue we had was that they didn't have the top plates for my Tundra and when we called earlier they said they did. They were freaking awesome, they said to take the struts off on Thursday morning and bring them in and they would assemble the strut free of charge because they didn't have the part. The customer service at ToyTec is TOP NOTCH! Drew and Kevin are a pleasure to deal with and I will give them my business from here on out. It helps that they are in Northglenn and its less than an hour from my house

So yesterday I met Matt at his house at 10 am and we went to work. I should say Matt went to work. He is a great guy and showed me how to do everything. We took the front struts off and installed the diff drop and then went down to ToyTec to get the new struts put back together. I was as useless as tits on a boar hog but I look forward to returning the favor to him in some form or fashion. I learned a lot about my truck and we were both pretty jacked to see how it rode when we were done as we took off a homemade add a leaf and the front hockey puck spacers. We are both really impressed with the setup and even though OME is notoriously pretty stiff it actually felt pretty good. I can't imagine how nice it will be once it settles a bit.

Anyway, to my new friend Matt, THANK YOU! You will never know how much I appreciate you taking the time to help me out and I will return the favor! To Drew and Kevin over at ToyTec, you earned a customer for life. You guys were great and I will get you some before and after pictures as this is a lift you should market for the 1st gen Tundras.

What's going to be your main usage?

I LOVE BFG KM2 Mud Terrains. They're not real quiet on road use, but will be damn good off the road. The noise isn't too bad on them, just not quiet.

The appropriate remed for a frame that has significant rust perforation is an entire new frame. My buddy in NJ has a 2004 Sequoia and his is getting done this month. Said he's getting new frame, new fuel lines, new brake lines, new gas line, new control arms, and a few other things...

I really liked my KM2s on my Jeep too. Not sure I'd want to run them for a daily driver though....they weren't as good offroad as my swampers Trxus MTs but they wore better (lasted longer and wore more evenly) and they were a whole lot quieter.

I used them on my Ford F250 for everyday driving. Folks always said they weren't very good on ice but I didn't have any issues with em there either.

For an everyday rig with off-roading that isn't a bunch of mud, I'd look into the Yokohama Geolanders.

I have the 2007 version of that truck in silver, there was a recall for soft sagging rear springs so the dealer replaced mine with stiffer new springs, I also put air suspension bags that can be inflated in the back end. Of course mine has 112k miles on it though.

265's are on and I'm perfectly happy with them. I may go 255's next go round but I like these. I'll keep performance and mileage and only sacrifice 1/2-3/4 of an inch in clearance

Man, that's just one sharp looking truck...

Thank you!

I am starting to really like it and am glad I went this direction. It just feels like the perfect size, not too big but comfortable for four adults or my wife and I and two kids under two, its nimble and it gets 16-20 mpg depending on driving style. I am in it for about $17k with lift and tires and it only has 44,000 miles on the odometer so it should last a LONG time

The truck looks really good! Them's some good looking tires too!

Drum,

I'm getting ready to get an everyday driver and turn my 05 Sequoia into a hunting rig. Sending PM as I am not up to speed on truck mods and would like more details on what you did.

Thanks,
Marty

Thanks! The Cooper ST Maxx tires have a 3 ply sidewall and are on the heavy side so I was looking forward to the ride with these heavy 10 ply tires. I'm impressed. Very little road noise and the Old Man Emu suspension just helps soak everything up and the ride is actually really good. So far I do not regret any decisions so that's a plus

They use these ST Maxx tires in the oil field and they resist chipping better than the others according to a friend that owns a local tire shop. I loved my Duratracs but the sidewall was a little mushy. I'm not saying I won't go back to them someday, I just have had great luck with Cooper and wanted to see what all the fuss was about with the ST Maxx

Amen

Bought a Ford last time though. Wife and kids told me the Tacoma was too small, and I just don't like the 2007 and later Tundras enough to pay the high price to own one.

I did my research and found that the Ford in 2011 was my choice. Nice truck, but it really is light duty. I miss my Toyota (1991 4x4 Pickup) off road.

This is the reason why I went with an 06 double cab. Its about 80% the size of a full size and just a hair bigger than the newer Tacomas. The drivetrain is bulletproof and it should run a very long time. Thats why I am building this one just the way I want it.

The Old Man Emu suspension and the 265/75's are the best decision I've made

Looks sharp Drum -

Thanks bud!
Took the chrome nerf bars off. Rock sliders are being ordered tomorrow

Clean and understated. I like the look

The look makes the blue more manageable for sure -

Just need to brush stripes now and it'll be a real hunting truck...grin...

I agree about the blue being more manageable but the color is really growing on me. I have yet to see another 1st Gen Tundra around thats the same color so thats cool. I plasti-dipped the badges black and with the tires on it I think it looks pretty damn good. The pinstripes are coming! Soon!

Thank you sir!

Funny you say that. I haven't seen too many but after you've started this thread, I see one in my neighborhood 4-5 night a week. There is also one for sale on Carsoup, that could be the twin to yours. I'm going to be in the market soon and I hope it sticks around, though it's doubtful.

That's funny! I do see a few sequoias around in this color but haven't seen a tundra yet and I've been looking

Congratulations on your find!

Stout looking machine.

I like the tires. Pretty happy with mine at close to 10,000 miles so far. mtmuley