Builds 200 Take Two... Our Second 200 Series - Build Thread (3 Viewers)

[TimCFJ40]

Hi All Longtime listener and repeat offender back with a fresh start...
We bought our first 200 series 8 years ago as a 2008 with 200k miles on it. It replaced our 100 series with 327k miles. It had a mild build (Bumper, winch, Bilstein 6112s, etc) and we took it on many epic family adventures over the last 8 years. The 200 series platform has been almost perfect for us. Here are a few highlights from the past 8 years.

Now, with our 08 approaching 300k miles, we started contemplating what we would buy to replace it if we needed to. We have had to do very little work on this one, with the biggest issue being a replacement AC Compressor last month. This got us looking at options... Tundra, 250 Series, another 200, etc. None of the options really appealed to us other than another 200 so I started a soft search for a suitable replacement with no real immediate need. The parameters I set were: $50k max budget, under 100k miles, 2016+. Then this guy popped up meeting all the criteria a few hours away (except a small haggle above $50k).

I jumped right on it, went to see it, and then purchased through AutoTrader's Private Seller Exchange (which was really easy, recommend). She's been well taken care of, and the previous owner was stoked to hear our plans to give her a good cruiser life! I was surprised how much tighter this one is, but I guess 200k less miles is not nothing.

Specs:
2016, MGM on Terra interior, 94k miles, stock except for 285/65K02s. everything works and feels like new. A few small scuffs and dings, but nothing we won't do worse in the first year.

Plans:
-Swap over Rock Warriors (probably with new tires soon), Metaltech Sliders, Budbuilt Skids, Drawer/Bin System, and roof rack from the old girl.
-Install Rival front bumper (they're on super sale right now) with new winch
-Small lift/Suspension Upgrade. Thinking 6112s with OME 2721 rear springs like the last cruiser. It just worked.
-Keep the party going like the last one and take this one to 300k miles!

Will post some pics as I get the new one set up and out in the wild. We're super stoked!

 

[open country]

Congrats on the rig and sounds like a great deal for the condition and mileage. Fan of the "mild build" philosophy. Haven't been planning a front bumper for mine any time soon but I am also tempted by the Rival bumper sale going on.

 

[rexington14]

Congrats! Any plans for the old one?

 

[TimCFJ40]

Congrats! Any plans for the old one?

I'll get things swapped over and get it cleaned up in the next month or so and then put her up for sale.
I'm tempted to hang on to her, but the driveway is getting kind of tight.

 

[TimCFJ40]

Some progress and some weirdness…
Lined the two up to start swapping stuff over.

First I moved the Yakima Racks and the cargo bin/drawer system over. Then I started to pull the factory skids, grill, and bumper off the new Cruiser. That’s when stuff got weird…

I crawled all under the new cruiser before purchase and everything looked clean, stock, and unmolested. No evidence of any body or suspension work at all. I pulled the splash guard off on the front passenger side and found this…

The KDSS bar wasn’t connected to the swaybar on the driver’s side! I first suspected the worst like frozen KDSS shutter valves or something but the shutters opened freely and I was able to drop one side of the stabilizer bar from the frame and get it all lined up and put back together.

I texted the previous owner and he had no idea how this happened and I believe him based on the records I’ve found. Nothing on the records or carfax has any note about suspension work major enough to disconnect the KDSS system.

Remarkably, the truck handled great even with the KDSS disconnected. No weird clunks or swaying. It seems to still have hydraulic pressure, so fingers crossed nothing was damaged by running it disconnected for at least 40k miles. Reconnected it has a slight KDSS lean but no worse than any other 200 I’ve seen.

With the KDSS reconnected, I finished preparing for the Rival front bumper that’s coming Wednesday.

Can’t wait to get the new bumper on and to take a drive it check the KDSS!

 

[TimCFJ40]

Reposting here for build completeness. The absolute most useful mod in our old cruiser was my poor man’s drawer system. Part of what solidified another 200 series for us was this setup. None of the other options had the depth nor the height in the cargo area for this to quite work

Details here:
Poor Man’s Drawer System
Once the third row was out, this goes in in a few minutes, max.