My 2nd gen Sequoia - 2014 Platinum 4x4 (1 Viewer)

[Dan McBoost]

Added window rain guards:

Also plasti dipped the badges:

 

[WhiteRomuloxBlack]

I picked up my first gen back in 2018 and mainly became bored of it, but at the same time my kids are getting bigger and did want more a bit more interior space. I wouldn't mind a touch more luxury and a little more towing capacity for my car trailer doesn't hurt either.

I was on the hunt for a platinum trim sequoia. I found a few online in the areas I was most interested (I did not want anything from the salt belt I live in), and went down to Maryland to check one out but had another contender in Iowa as my back up. The Maryland one was a color I really liked (pyrite mica), but it just needed too much work to get it back to a clean stage 0 before I started the mods. On the way home from that Maryland trip, I called the dealer in Iowa and made a plan to go over his in great detail Monday the 28th. By the end of that day, I sent him the deposit and set up shipping.

Received it in good order a just over a week ago and stopped by my buddy's place as he was actively swapping parts from his well worn salt belt 1st gen, onto his Virginia one:

2014 Platinum 4X4 Sequoia, 202 Toyota black (same as my alltrac and MR2) with the red rock interior. The underside is MINT. The inside is also mint, minus the drivers door panel, which had a worn spot from someone's elbow. I found a new one (the only one in America and 56 people are in line on back order) at a Toyota dealer in Cincinnati but they would not ship it. I bought it, and a buddy picked it up to ship it to me ( I will have it today). The outside needs a little love. I will repaint the front and rear bumpers and then get the exterior detailed and PPFed.

Here we go!

Fixed/Bought/Mods:

• 2025 - 04/28 - ** Deposit Sent **
• 2025 - 04/28 - Ordered: OEM Fabric floor mats
• 2025 - 04/29 - Ordered: set of keys and key fob
• 2025 - 04/29 - Ordered: OEM NIB drivers side door panel (installed 5/14)
• 2025 - 05/01 - ** Sequoia was delivered **
• 2025 - 05/02 - A buddy Toyota tech programmed another new key.
• 2025 - 05/03 - Installed: Fabric mats - Missing 3rd row (not in set).
• 2025 - 05/08 - Ordered: bumper hardware, striker plate (rusty) and 3rd row floor mat
• 2025 - 05/13 - Ordered: a new hatch key cylinder (Need to bring it to a locksmith to match my key)
• 2025 - 05/14 - Installed: New Red Rock Drivers door panel
• 2025 - 05/15 - Installed: New bumper hardware and new striker plate.
• 2025 - 05/15 - Ordered: AlphaRex Pro Headlights
• 2025 - 05/15 - Ordered: LED rear plate lamps
• 2025 - 05/16 - The new hatch lock cylinder rekeyed to existing keys.
• 2025 - 05/16 - Ordered: Morimoto LED puddle lamps
• 2025 - 05/20 - Ordered: LED door bottom lighting
• 2025 - 05/21 - Ordered: The 2.75" lift kit from Josh @ 1stgenoffroad
• 2025 - 05/21 - Ordered: Gloss black door handle caps
• 2025 - 05/22 - Ordered: TRD replica grill from ümnitza (Matt Gee)
• 2025 - 05/24 - Installed: Alpharex headlights
• 2025 - 05/27 - installed: LED plate lights and hatch key cylinder
• 2025 - 05/27 - installed: the gloss black door handle covers
• 2025 - 05/27 - Mod: did the fog light mod
• 2025 - 05/30 - Mod: Installed LED door bottom lights
• 2025 - 06/01 - Mod: Finished painting and installed the TRD grill.
• 2025 - 06/03 - Mod: Installed the LED mirror puddle lights
• 2025 - 06/03 - Installed: the LED mirror puddle lights
• 2025 - 06/11 - Installed: Black mirror caps
• 2025 - 06/15 - Replaced the cabin filter.
• 2025 - 06/28 - Mod: Put in the rear lift from Tandem Offroad
• 2025 - 07/03 - Installed: LED H7 bulbs
• 2025 - 07/03 - Fix: drilled and tapped two broken bolts on washer reservoir
• 2025 - 07/04 - Installed: Black rear hatch sequoia panel and sequoia badge
• 2025 - 07/05 - Fixed: Add yellow wire for hazards and alarm feedback
• 2025 - 07/09 - Ordered: Brake inside dust covers
• 2025 - 07/11 - Mod: The front is also lifted. Needs parts for alignment.
• 2025 - 07/11 - Ordered: Front lower control arms and all hardware
• 2025 - 07/15 - Fixed: Driver side headlight leaked. Removed and dried out. *My fault.
• 2025 - 07/20 - Mod: Replaced the door handles and installed the scuff plate protection.
• 2025 - 07/27 - Fixed: The front lower suspension parts were all replaced with new.
• 2025 - 07/29 - Fixed: It has finally been aligned.
• 2025 - 08/02 - Mod: Installed a set of used 18" TRD Pro wheels (and tires).
• 2025 - 08/10 - Fixed: Dyed the exterior black plastic to restore the color.
• 2025 - 08/30 - Mod: Plasti-Dipped all emblems, installed weathertech rain guards,
• 2025 - 09/01 - Fixed: DrColorChip - Fixed chips on right side of hood and such
• 2025 - 09/16 - Ordered: New tires, 35s.

So i have a bunch of questions and 2 suggestions -

Are you just loving it daily driving and not having to care about winning traffic? Do you love the feeling of going the speed limit or 5 under on interstate offramps ( frustrating everyoine else) and then punching it when it straightens out and leaving them in the dust? I do lol.

How do you like the fog lights? Night and day difference?

Why did you order lower control arms? From what i've seen a lot of people upgrade suspension and Upper control arms. but few do lower arms. Are you planning on running dual shocks? Or 3.0? what shocks did you go with?

What wheels do you recommend for someone who wants to add a 1-2" lift with 2.5" shocks and UCA and some slightly bigger tires? I don't really care about aesthetics as much as others, but i want good performance and value. I do 97% of my driving hwy or city but with some gnarly potholes and rutted out farm roads thrown in. I like the look of the 20" rims and the feel they offer for hwy driving but will have to give them up for 2.5 shocks at some point. I'm uttrerlyt clueless when it comes to rims and tires and could use advice.


2 suggestions - get the weather tech cup holders. You will be able to fit ANY cup in you cup holder. Its really a great system.

Also, get a ceramic tint on all the windows. It will reject 99% of the heat so on a 100 degree day when your car has been baking for hours in the sun it will be ice cold in 10 seconds. Plus, get a 5% strip up front. it will payoff for driving into the sun at dawn dusk but its a LIFESAVER driving at night it cuts all glare out of headlights. Look through the strip, save your eyes the strain.

 

[Dan McBoost]

Ok, phew. Here we go, lol.

Do you love the feeling of going the speed limit or 5 under on interstate offramps and then punching it

No, I am the guy doing 15 over.

How do you like the fog lights? Night and day difference?

They are stock currently. I like them, although they do not seem as wide as the 1st gens fogs.

Why did you order lower control arms?

Alignment woe's

what shocks did you go with?

Bilstein 5100's, Dobinsons springs up front with tandem offroad rear air bag spacers.

What wheels do you recommend for someone who wants to add a 1-2" lift with 2.5" shocks and UCA and some slightly bigger tires?

There is a ton of personal preference to that. Check the wheels and tires posts for these and see what looks best to you.

get the weather tech cup holders.

Cool, I will look into them.

Also, get a ceramic tint on all the windows.

This is already tinted. Although I still need to add the front banner section, but my other cars are the main focus.