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[FDMD]

Hey everybody,

Some of you already know a little about my new 2017 200 Series with the electrical problems I had just 4 weeks in. Long story short, there was a loose connection from a junction box to the alternator causing it to not normally charge the battery and the result was a dead battery every other time I tried to drive the vehicle. Unfortunately, it did take 2 trips to the dealer and about 7 days in the shop, but I walked away with a new alternator and battery and no costs to me. Thanks to Camelback Toyota for their hard work.

The only issue with the truck now is that the black dash plastic piece below the dashboard dials (speedo and odometer) squeaks constantly where the black piece contacts the clear acrylic protecting the dials and I can't get it to stop.

Got a great price from Earnhardt Toyota in Mesa, they were extremely easy to work with, no pressure. Did the deal almost 100% by email without stepping foot into the dealer other than to take delivery.

This truck is intended to take the place of our 19 year old Collector's Edition 80 Series. The mods on that truck became too much and started to make it a little uncomfortable for long road trips out-of-state and not very functional for a mom and twin toddlers (it has a 4 inch lift on 35s) around town. This will be a daily driver for the next 2-3 years, but capable of all the off road adventures we might do these days with kids (easy and moderate trails, hiking, camping, etc).

Story behind the name: my wife let our 3 year old daughters name it. Case closed.

So here are the details. This is a work in progress.
- 2017 200 Series, magnetic grey metallic, terra interior
- Deleted all chrome
- All-weather mats
- Glass Breakage Sensor
- Remote Start
- Ironman suspension with Foam Cell Pro shocks and Performance coils
- Toyota OEM front spacers
- SPC Upper Control Arms
- Toyo Open Country AT II 285/65 R 18 tires, including spare underneath
- Method "The Standard" wheels, 18 x 9, matte black, + 18 offset (trimming required, front mudflaps removed)
- White Knuckle Offroad sliders with 2x2 rail
- Polyurea sprayed onto rocker trim panels under doors
- Japan-issue Toyota OEM 3rd row seat covers (TOYOTA GENUINE LAND CRUISER 200 BLACK SEAT CASE COVER JDM 2016 2017 2018 URJ202 | eBay)
- Center console storage box insert (Black Car Auto Center Console Armrest Storage Box for Toyota Land Cruiser | eBay)
- Raingler back ceiling storage net
- Yodateq onyx keychain bottle openers


Day of deliver. Did you know that exactly 83% of the weight of a 200 series is all from chrome trim pieces?

What it looks like as of today. Everybody used to think it was a Highlander when it looked like it did above. No longer.

The birth certificate.

Fresh off the shipping crate from Japan.

What's next?
- Prinsu rack
- Slee rear bumper
- Aux lighting
- Dual battery
- Camping trailer

 

[TexAZ]

Beautiful truck. hope to see you at the Copperstate cruisers meeting.

 

[pdxlc200]

That is a great looking truck!

 

[wardharris]

Subscribed

 

[FDMD]

@TexAZ Thanks for the compliment. I'll have to reach out to you when my Prinsu gets here in a few weeks to make sure I don't screw up the factory rack removal. Read all about loosing the nuts in the ceiling and weatherproofing questions.

 

[ryanCA]

Nice truck
No pics of 80?

 

[FDMD]

Here is the 80.

 

[Tapage]

- Toyota OEM front spacers

did you have pic or more info on this ..

 

[FDMD]

OEM Toyota 200 series front spacers (#43136-200) ($71 Camelback)

 

[teambell]

I love the name of the rig!

 

[FDMD]

A few better pics.

 

[mark71]

Looks great, especially with the partially blacked out grill. Great idea.

 

[jetstream23]

Great ride! (And thanks for your replies to my Q's about local shops). Another question - You mentioned the following:

"- Toyo Open Country AT II 285/65 R 18 tires, including spare underneath
- Method "The Standard" wheels, 18 x 9, matte black, + 18 offset (trimming required, front mudflaps removed)"

Can you tell me how much trimming was required and where (both front and rear)? Was this to avoid rubbing when the springs are compressed (bottoming) or when turning the wheels (or both)?

It looks like you went from a 31.46" (stock) to 32.59" diameter tire. That 1.13" diameter change really made a big difference? I wonder if a suspension mod (lift) of about 2" would reduce or eliminate the trimming need? Thx.

 

[FDMD]

Your chart comparison is correct. I had to trim aft of the front tires after removing the front mud flaps. This is a plastic piece that runs the length of the rocker panel. I subsequently sprayed the rest of that from front to back with bed liner material. I also trimmed under the front section of the wheel wells and then pushed and secured that trim piece further forward to retain a factory look and protect from debris. Unfortunately, the rocker panel trim exposed the entire channel under that plastic and I am concerned about debris spraying into that channel - very difficult to wash after the fact. I would like to come up with a way to cover that again somehow. Would have to fab some plastic and bolt into place. This was accommodate contact when simply turning the wheel. I have not actually had an opportunity to flex out the suspension to check for additional pinch points.

This truck is already lifted. The front struts have settled a bit and I will take it back in to adjust to get my front height back. Even after this trimming, I still contact one of the bolts that held in the factory mudflaps on the driver side. No pics as my wife has the truck out of town all weekend. All this contact is a result of the aggressive offset of this wheel more than actual tire diameter. But worth it for the great look of the stance.

 

[Rigger]

Looks great!

 

[usmcHOG]

Nice looking rig! What did you do to black out the chrome trim on the door panels and the lift gate?

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

Wow. It's amazing what turning some chrome to black can do. Great looking truck, and I'm glad everything got worked out from the generator issue.

 

[Like2Detail]

The only issue with the truck now is that the black dash plastic piece below the dashboard dials (speedo and odometer) squeaks constantly where the black piece contacts the clear acrylic protecting the dials and I can't get it to stop.

I'm hyper sensitive to rattles and squeaks and spent a long time working on my 2015 center dash cluster. I'm a General Sales Manager at a Toyota store and had one of the Field Tech Specialists from Central Atlantic Toyota spend a morning with me to diagnose my rattling dash. I've since repaired myself and it's absolutely perfect.

It's a fairly simple repair, look online for "automotive felt rattle tape". I took apart the entire center dash (center speaker grille, nav display unit, both center a/c vents, dvd unit, ashtray and the trim pieces on each side that house the climate control buttons and start push button). I know yours is laid out slightly different.

if you take a piece of tape and stick it anywhere that two pieces of plastic touch, the rattle disappears. I even put it between the frame work behind the dash and the metal mounting tabs that attach the radio units before I put it back together. It was a little time consuming but nothing that a few Sunday afternoon beers can't pass the time.

I really wish I would have taken photos now. I'm going to do the center console next. Happy to answer any questions. Good luck!

 

[FDMD]

Thanks for the tip to help stop my squeak, @Like2Detail .

@usmcHOG, I did vinyl wrap on all chrome except rear lift gate where it says Land Cruiser, where that was not an option. For that I did PlastiDip.

 

[usmcHOG]

@FDMD, thanks for the reply. I did the same, for now. Thinking of pulling them off and having them painted.