Battle Born Tacomas: A Community Truck Club

Being a Toyota Tacoma enthusiast has it's perks. One of these privileges is instantly being a part of an underlying community since the day you become a Tacoma owner. To some, a Toyota is just a daily driver or used as a work truck. To others, it is a lifestyle, a sense of belonging, and mostly a hobby. If you have been following my blog, you have read that I refer to my truck as the "Battle Born Tacoma". Not only is it the title of my blog, but "Battle Born Tacomas" is the name of the truck crew my prerunner was born into. This post will explain the club, our motives and how it all began.

Battle Born Tacomas is a truck club for Toyota Tacoma off-road enthusiasts based in Las Vegas, NV. It was founded roughly two years ago by a Tacoma owner named Austin Wood. Referred to as BBT for short, it is composed of members dedicated to camaraderie and sharing the enjoyment of owning a Toyota Tacoma truck. Just as any other club, our crew members share many of the same interests. It is amazing how something as simple as a vehicle brand can bring so many different people together. BBT started as a small crew of about 3 or 4 members. By using our skill sets and different traits, we were able to form social media accounts and vinyl stickers, and get our name known across the valley.

As of now, BBT has grown to roughly 20 members. Each member has a Battle Born Tacomas vinyl badge on the front and rear windows of their trucks. We all usually meet up at various parking lots around the city to grab food and hang out. Each week these meets take place and we have opportunities to meet new and old faces. To become a member, you must drive a Toyota Tacoma and have a positive attitude. You should also be able to represent the club in a positive light. Image comes first and if your truck and personality fit, you may just be a qualifying candidate. BBT has an organized executive board including the Founder, President, Vice President and Director of Marketing/Public Relations. The last position is where I fit in.

Our purpose is to foster an environment where other Tacoma enthusiasts can enjoy each others company, talk trucks and develop professional and/or friendly relationships. Each member has something to bring to the table. This helps us keep the club alive while we help each other modify our trucks. Many times we will organize off-road meets where we drive out as a convoy and hit trails together at high speeds. At sun down, we will find a spot to camp out at and start a bonfire. Everyone is invited to the fire provided that you find a way. These camping trips usually consist of grilling bratwursts and drinking beers. All in all, we just know how to have a great time! For more information about our club, you can follow us on Instagram @battleborntacomas or at facebook.com/battleborntacomas to keep up with our happenings. This is where I spend most of the time having fun with trucks and friends!

Ready, Set, Action: Race Truck Flyin' High!

So if you have been following my blog, it can be seen that the truck build is coming together! This post will demonstrate the trucks capabilities off-road and feature some action shots taken by a professional photographer.

One of the enjoyments of having a prerunner build is being able to take it to the limit and put its features to the test. This Battle Born Tacoma is a truck that never disappoints. It has endured the most adrenaline rushing situations. A few of the guys from the truck crew, a professional photographer and I went to the off-road trails near the Nevada/California border in Jean, NV. Here, we were able to test out some intense terrain at high speeds. Our photographer was there to catch the action!

With the suspension all tuned, the truck was ready for anything and everything. As we hit the trail, I was going about 40 miles per hour and came upon some uneven ground. With the crew spotting me ahead, I was directed to accelerate. Before I even expected it, the Tacoma was sent into a launch. Nothing extremely spectacular, but this was the very first time my prerunner had left the ground. All four tires were in the air and the suspension was extended to a full droop. The front end soon came back down and I successfully landed my first jump off-road. I'm no professional and it was only approximately 2 feet of air. Either way, I was still pretty excited about it.


With the crew in awe, it was a given that I needed to turn my truck around and hit the same jump again. This time the photographer was ready and I was determined to get some great footage. Most of the higher quality pictures were taken on my second and third attempts. The camera shots were not half bad, but for some reason, I was not able to hit the jump as well as I did the first time. The lower quality picture was the only one I had of my first attempt and it was only a screenshot from a cell phone video.

As the day came to an end, I was satisfied overall of the footage we captured. It was a good, safe run and nothing on my truck was broken. That being said, I figured it was a good idea to quit while I was ahead. As the truck advances and the build becomes more capable, one day I will be able to have an even better photoshoot. Until then, it's just good, clean fun with a bit of dirt on the windshield!

Tacoma Prerunner: Off-Road Suspension

One of the main reasons I made the Toyota Tacoma my truck of choice is its versatility. The Tacoma is the perfect truck to build into a highly capable off-road machine if done right. The term "prerunner" is derived from two-wheel drive trucks that would pre-run an off-road race course before the 4x4 vehicles. Having a 2-wheel drive truck test the course first ensures that the track is prepped and ready for racing. If a prerunner can get through it, then a 4x4 would have no problem. A prerunner is built to imitate the capabilities of a 4-wheel drive truck to its most extreme potential while keeping its two-wheel drivetrain. I will discuss the suspension components of my prerunner build and how they make my truck capable.

Many modifications can be done to make a 2-wheel drive truck worthy of trailing behind a 4x4 to an extent. Although there are many places a 4x4 can go, a well built prerunner can keep up for the most part. Both trucks have different purposes, but a prerunner is built for high speeds across mild to rough terrain. I chose to replace the stock suspension components with all aftermarket off-road racing parts.


FOX Racing Shox
The most prevalent suspension component consisted of a "Fox Racing Shox" kit. This kit included coil over shocks for the front and dual adjustable compression shocks for the rear. All shocks on the truck are equipped with remote reservoirs that improve suspension performance in situations of endurance. When shocks undergo heavy cycling, it causes them to heat up due to the amount of friction present. The remote reservoirs attached to the shock are filled with extra oil that allows the shock to endure high-speed compression rates while keeping it running cool. The extra shock oil helps avoid overheating which would cause equipment failure. The adjustable compression allows me to tune the ride stiffness with the simple turn of a dial. When using my truck as a daily driver on the road, I set the compression to the lowest setting. This ensures a softer ride on the street. When going off-road, I am able to adjust the shocks to a higher compression setting to help absorb impacts on rough terrain. These features alone make the truck highly capable in demanding off-road situations.

Total Chaos UCA
When upgrading to aftermarket shocks, it is necessary to upgrade other surrounding components to accommodate them. One of the parts I had to replace was the stock upper control arm. There are fabrication companies that make these custom replacement parts. I decided to go with Total Chaos upper control arms to pair with my new coilover kit. These aftermarket upper control arms enable the truck suspension to work at its fullest potential. They correct vehicle alignment, allow for extra ride height, and allow the wheel to droop down further providing extra extension for the shock. This extra extension is known as "suspension travel" and it is necessary for a smooth ride off-road. These Total Chaos control arms are stronger and beefier than the stock parts and are a necessity for an off-road build.

Maxtrac Spindles
The next component that I chose to complete the front end are the aftermarket MaxTrac spindles. Spindles are exclusive to two-wheel drive trucks because there are no 4x4 moving parts that interfere with the front end suspension. Spindles are great because they allow the truck to be lifted without changing the suspension geometry. Lifting the truck allows for more underside clearance; this helps avoid rocks and other objects from damaging the truck. It can drive over just about anything.

Deaver Leaf Springs
Last, but not least, are the rear leaf springs. I replaced the stock springs with a Deaver Suspension off-road custom leaf pack. This spring pack is custom and contains more springs than the old one. More springs allows for more ride height and a better ride. All of these components are the heart of the prerunner build and without this suspension, my truck would not be as capable as it is today.

Toyota Tacoma: Under the Hood/Performance

Things started falling into place and I continued adding onto the Tacoma build. I began to add on accessories that would help improve the way my truck sounded and help its efficiency in performance. A lot of the time I spent on Craigslist.com in the classified auto parts section. Here, I'm able to find great deals on certain parts. Not all of the items in the used auto parts classifieds are always the best thing if they are overused or junk parts, but I sometimes get lucky enough to find some great components that are barely used at all.

This first picture is of a K&N cold air intake kit. What this kit claims to do is improve gas milage and add a small gain in vehicle horsepower. Whether or not these claims are valid is debatable. However, I feel as though I experienced a slight improvement in miles per gallon as well as a better throttle response when accelerating. Throttle response is the vehicles reaction time in comparison to when you put your foot down on the gas pedal to accelerate. I believe that the new cold air intake kit is less restrictive than the original manufacturer's intake system. Having a less restrictive system means more airflow to the engine and the truck can breathe better, so to speak. The cooler and more breathable airflow allows the engine to perform at its peak. Performance aside, this kit provides a great sound over the previous quiet intake system. It sounds like the perfect pitched hum that compliments the sounds of the engine along with the custom muffler which brings me to the next subject.

The second picture shows my Flowmaster muffler. It is the Super 40 model and sounds awesome overall. It gives my truck a throaty, deep growling sound. With this muffler I can drive around the city or off road sounding like a beast! Performance wise, the manufacturer claims that it provides more torque and air flow while maximizing horsepower. I decided to get it mainly for the sound. It makes my truck loud enough to be noticed, but not too loud to give off an obnoxious vibe. The resonance of this muffler is perfect and makes an impression without disturbing others in the vicinity. The K&N cold air intake in combination with the Flowmaster muffler provides the best sound possible for a mid-size pickup truck.

The last image appears to be a car battery, but I will add that it is not an ordinary one. This truck battery is what starts it all! What makes it special is that it is what is known as a "deep cycle" battery. Not like your average starting battery, this one provides ample amounts of energy for long periods of time. It powers the truck and all of the accessories that I have installed into it. Traditional car batteries provide quick, short bursts of energy to crank over an engine. This battery is dual-purpose and is not only able to start the engine, but it can be constantly used for hours even when the engine is not running. With a higher reserve capacity, a better than average sound system can feed off of it's power for more than 2 hours at a time! The auxiliary lights and interior accessories (sound system, etc.) that feed off of it will be discussed in a later post. Stay tuned!

Tacoma: History & First Modifications

As a proud owner of this new Toyota pickup, I was already eager to show it off. I created an account in a special community known as TacomaWorld.com. This website allowed me to interact with other Toyota Tacoma enthusiasts and discuss vehicle modifications and other topics. The community was welcoming and before I knew it, I had already built a small fan base. The pictures that you saw in my previous blog post are the same ones I posted in TacomaWorld to show off my new truck. If you recall, I had purchased this truck used from a dealership. Not long after I posted that picture, I received a private message from one of the members of the forum. Little did I know, the trucks original owner would end up finding my post in the community. What I also did not know is that he too was still a Tacoma enthusiast and we would soon become great friends.
The picture above is an original picture of my Tacoma when it was owned by a man named Austin. Austin was the original owner of the truck who sent me the message on TacomaWorld regarding my first post. He sent me this picture and we eventually exchanged phone numbers so we could meet up for lunch. We talked about our trucks and he told me stories of when he had my Tacoma. Austin now owns a newer truck of the same model and he later became the founder of what is now known as the local truck club, "Battle Born Tacomas". I'll talk more about the club in my future posts, but for now, it's back to the truck!

With the Tacoma in my possession, there were many ideas flowing through my head. Mainly, I wanted to modify my truck and make it my own. I wanted it to stand out from the rest. First thing that came to mind was cosmetics or things on the outside. This is what people see first, so I decided to black out the tail lights and install High Intensity Discharge headlights (HIDs). The black tail lights inspired me to take on the color scheme of black on white. The headlights were upgraded and brighter than standard headlights. They burn a very light, blue color called ice white. While my truck was in the shop, I also had them install a light tint on the windshield and LED bulbs into the tail lights for a different look.

The Tacoma was on its way to becoming the beast I have made it into today. Much of the later mods on the truck I installed myself. I also scout Craigslist for good deals on aftermarket parts to help me build it. The next post will discuss later modifications, how I acquired them, and ways they help enhance my Tacoma.

New Beginnings: Tacoma & Me

Welcome to the new Battle Born Tacoma blog page featuring my truck build and our adventures in the Battle Born Tacomas truck club in Las Vegas, NV. This is a picture of my daily driver Toyota Tacoma at Pipeline Trail off of Horizon Ridge in Henderson, NV.

Now that you've seen the Tacoma as she sits today, it is only proper to begin from the very start. This post will illustrate my truck from the day I first got it from Findlay Toyota in Henderson, NV.

The truck has come a long way since day one, but I was not always fortunate enough to be driving my dream vehicle. It all started when my first off-road machine, an Isuzu Trooper, began to fail. My first vehicle was given to me when I turned 16. It was a stick shift 4x4 that was highly capable in the dirt. Not the shiniest truck on the block, but it went places. One night I took the Trooper out to the desert and it was long after the sun had already set. Daylight was no more and I was the only truck in sight. Traveling at about 35 miles per hour, the dirt road suddenly turned into a paved pathway. Not knowing that the pavement lead to a different direction, I quickly tried to get back on the dirt and overcorrected. The tires caught grip to the pavement sending the vehicle into a half roll. My Isuzu soon ended up rolling over the driver's side and landing onto the roof; I was upside down and realized that I made a mistake.

Eventually, help arrived and the Trooper was put back on all four wheels successfully. Fortunately, I was not injured in the event. However, the Trooper was substantially damaged. After it was determined that it was salvageable, the Trooper was out of the shop and I drove it around for another two years. Living up to its name, the Trooper had been through everything. One day it gave up on me and the engine failed. It was time for a new vehicle and I was determined to not settle for something that would not make me happy. I was looking for something that had the capability to go off road and had a bed that I could haul things in as I ride a dirt bike on the weekends. I also wanted a vehicle that had a lot of aftermarket parts already manufactured for it so I could easily modify the truck. This next truck would be mine for years to come, so I patiently waited for the truck of my dreams.

After a month passed of searching everywhere for my dream truck, the day finally came. I received a call from the dealership saying that they had certified preowned Toyota Tacomas on the lot. I was excited, but I was also on a budget. I had nothing else to do on that day, so I had intended on just looking at what they had to offer. I arrived at the dealership, and sure enough, all of the trucks were out of my price range. They were nice and the test drives went well, but the circumstances were not in my favor. Feeling envious, I was about to leave the dealership without a vehicle. Then a moment happened. The salesman told me to hang out in the lobby just a bit longer. He said he might have a deal for me. There was a Toyota Tacoma in the back that they had not showed me yet. They pulled it around and it was perfect. I knew it was the one. It was a newer truck with a lot of miles on it. It had been taken care of properly and was still in immaculate condition. It stood out to me because it was white with black fenders. White and black are my two favorite colors because they compliment each other so well. It was also a two wheel drive truck which is what I was looking for. Two wheel drive trucks are better for suspension upgrades because you do not have to work around four wheel drive parts when upgrading. With proper negotiation, this truck could very well be mine. After hours of trying to make a deal, it was finally agreed upon that I could take her home. The best feeling came over me and I was lucky enough to finally be in my dream truck. It was much newer than my first vehicle, fast, had a smooth ride, and plenty of power. This was the start of the Battle Born Tacoma prerunner build!