[tacomatoy2001]

I would just like to known if all Mini trucks have to be bodydropped to be badazz, considered for a cover shot and feature in Mini Truckin or whatever. It seems like every truck I see on the cover and have a full feature include the following: Solid background behind truck, beautiful model and interviews and are all bodydropped. I know that it can't all be the lower the better, cleanliness, style and uniqeness have to fall in there somewhere. Febuary 2002 issue of Mini Truckin across the top of the mag (the mail subscription issue with NO calender) reads "Alternative trucks, break away from the crowd!" I update and change my list and plans of things to do on a weekly basis, because I want to do everything perfect, but I just can not bring myself to cut into the bed or the fender wells, I do not know why I feel this way. I am doing everything possible to get the truck as low as possible without any cutting. We are going to install a chrome 4 link in back, with new bags and brackets and either dropped a-arms in front or adjust the stock a-arms, and remove the plastic fender liners, our front tires are sittting right on them now when it is laid out. I do not/ or want to copy everyone elses ideas, but I do use them occasionally and mix them with my own, like our exhaust setup. I got the idea from "Tuckin Taco" March 01 issue of Mini Truckin. The truck has 1 dual exhaust flowmaster coming out the center of the roll pan, I used part of the idea, but we did 2 with the drop tag in the middle.

I would like to know how others feel about this subject, please reply.

Thankyou,
Pete & Sheryl
01 Tacoma SR5 extra cab
"Goldfinger"

 

[Syke Fu]

Personally i don't like bodydrops. I just don't like the way it looks when it sits on the ground. It's just odd. I like seeing some frame at least.

If you want your truck to lay frame, i think you will have to cut the bed someway. I'm not 100% sure though.

 

[slamdtaco]

It doesn't have to be bodydropped to be badazz, but if your into the lower the better, that is the way to go. I know of a truck that is definately cover material, but it is only lowered 2-3 inches. No feature has been shot for that truck.

 

[Awizeguy4u]

i gonna shoot for cover and i'm not gonna bodydrop it...hopefully my other mods will make me worthy...but if i had an Xtra cab yeah i would B-drop it

 

[Woggie]

Man, I just couldn't see myself chopping the he11 out of my truck, maybe if I bought it smashed and didn't have much to start with. Possibly some people have alot more funds than I do and can justify hacking up a perfectly good truck.

Just wondering if anyone has seen any minis with the top chopped, my buddy has an 85 Chev with 4" cut out of the roof and it looks pretty bold.

 

[lowtaco98]

If done right there isn't no hackin involved........and in a lot of cases the work done to a ride will be stronger after the custom items than when stock. I personally cant stand people calling it hacking/cutting. Its a modification that is done to half milllion dollar hot rods, are they hacked too? NO. Anyway No a ride doesn't have to be body dropped to be bad ass. But if your going for Cover just laying frame just about isn't enough these days. So if your not gonna body drop it, I suggest you do a frame off and paint it with detailed/painted everything under the hood.

 

[slamdtaco]

Speaking of badazz trucks, yours definately is. It was on my desktop for a while from your pics on SSM.

 

[lowtaco98]

Thanks im glad you like it, its for sale I wish someone would buy it so I could afford to start something new. 17g or 15g no stereo. Thanks for the the props! Later.

 

[tacomatoy2001]

Jason,

Thankyou for the compliment, it really gives me confidence. We have got a long way to go though. By the way, I love your truck, it is sweet and very clean, which is the first thing I noticed. I have seen it before on street scenemag.com You said you seen our truck pics on SSM, is that streetscenemag.com, if it is, I do not recall putting pics on there, as I was not a member and did not know how to post pics on there and we do not have a scanner, I need to learn more about computers. We have done the following mods and will be completed this weekend:
1. JBM Polished billet grill and valance insert
2.Clear Round driving lights behind grill in the middle about 12" apart from each other (got idea from September 01 "Hooked Up, A Tacoma gone wild")
3. 2001 Toyota Tundra clear interior door panel lights flush mount, (got idea from "Tuckin Taco" March 01 Mini Truckin)

I love to use other peoples ideas, but I do not copy them, I just mix them with my own to try and be unique.

Talk to you later,
Pete & Sheryl
01 Tacoma SR5 extra cab
"Goldfinger"

 

[tacomatoy2001]

Jason,
please ignore the last message I sent, I thought you were complimenting our truck, my mistake. You were complimenting lowtaco98 truck, which is by far one of the nicest Tacomas I have ever laid eyes on, I would love to see it in person.

Later,
Pete & Sheryl
01 Tacoma SR5 extra cab
"Goldfinger"

 

[Woggie]

Low taco, don't take my opinion as an insult, your truck is very cool, I love the 4Runner front clip and may do it someday if I scrounge up some parts (I work in a body shop). My point is that I would have a hard time just taking a plasma cutter to my truck, as I almost lose my mind when I see a new scratch or a dent. From a how-to article in mini truckin' on an S10 a body drop does seem to be a bit crude in places, and it may not have been a top 'notch' (no pun intended) shop. A custom show vehicle which is used purely for pleasure and not as a daily driver is not something alot of us can afford to do, but would be alot of fun. So my opinion is that it doesn't have to be body dropped to be badazz but it does look cool and it won't be done to my truck as long as I own it.
Thank you and good night! ;-)

 

[lowtaco98]

Thanks also glad you like it.

 

[lowtaco98]

I drive my bagged and body dropped truck every single day, never a single problem......45,000 miles on it too with a body drop on it for about 44,000 of them. No offense taken to your opinon but my opinion is all it how its built. Body Drops when done correct are just as strong as stock or in most cases stronger..

 

[Guest]

I am with Brandt all the way .. I have a 2001 tacoma (daily driver) that is in the shop now for bags and BD. Only reason I am not doing it is so it is done correctly and comes out stronger than factory. I have barely 6k on the truck and cant wait until I get it back layin rocker.

when you take your truck to a shady shop you get shady results. You get what you pay for and when you let a professional do the work on your truck, there is no "cutting and hacking" only modifying.

When it comes home it will still be my daily driver .. i am lucky enough to have a car i can borrow from a family friend.

 

[slamdtaco]

To Brandt and Justin, how much did you pay for the body drop and bags and Brandt, did you take yours to a shop or did you do it? What is a good price from a good shop? This will probably be my next mod. There is a shop or 2 in south FL that can do it, but I'm wondering if I could get a better price at another good shop.

 

[Guest]

*while the truck is at the shop

 

[Justin]

hey Jason ....
Well i do not want to give you my price because it is that, my price. I am not gettin hooked up or ripped off but with diff people prices change... especially if you do some of the work before you take your truck to the shop. I hope you understand but I dont want people running to Jody saying "Well justin paid this much why did you quote me more" ... ya know.

Expect to pay "around" 2500 to 3gs give or take some for the body drop alone since you have an extra cab. A decent bag setup costs 2gs with 4 link etc, and then installing the bags & 4 link prob around another $1500 or so .. i would guess that you would spend about $6k to $7.5k for the work (** This is not what I paid but a roundabout figure for you to go by**)

ALSO, when looking for someone to do a body drop you may want to consider this:
If you have a 5spd you may want to look into having the cab moved back about .5" because it helps allieviate the interference with the clutch cylinder and also tightens up the gap btwn the bed and cab and makes it look cleaner (in my opinion).

My truck is at The Drop Shop in Pikeville,KY right now and is going from stock to layin rocker .... I cant wait man ....check out Eric Cryans Shop it is in Fla somewhere, Brandt should have his number .. he has one badass taco man!!! I am sure he can help ya!!!

 

[slamdtaco]

I know Eric very well. He used to be in my club. He took his to Wicked in Hollywood. I can't wait to see his when he gets it back together. I know yours will come out good too from Jody. Thanks. i was just trying to get other prices.

 

[Justin]

I had no clue .. i thought Eric did all of his own work ... thats what i was told or gathered from previous conversations. Anyway ... well if not Mad Mods and a couple of other shops down that way no how to do some bad ass work man... you shoudlnt have any probs at all gettin your BD when your are ready for it.... I didnt realize your truck was already bagged .. sorry .. i should have looked at your photo!!! I hope mine looks half as clean as yours when it comes back home ...

anyway, take it easy bro!
Justin

 

[slamdtaco]

Wicked did his b/d and hydros. MAD MODS did his paint/body. Eric did the whole interior, system and all. My good friend owns MAD MODS. By the way, my truck doesn't have bags, just slammed.

Hopefully soon though.