Dolores: Our 2003 Tundra Complete Build Page
This is a chronological list of all major milestones, travels, and build out details related to our truck, Dolores from the day we purchased her to “present”. This page will be updated periodically and will likely lag behind a little on the current state of the truck, but we will do our best to keep it current.
Use the timeline index buttons below to quickly jump to each specific section. 👇
May 2021
Summer 2021
September 2021
March 2022
April 2022
May 2022
June 2022
Summer 2022
November 2022
January 2023
June 2023
July 2023
August 2023
October 2023
November 2023
December 2023
April 2024
Summer 2024
October 2024
December 2024
Winter 2025
April 2025
July 2025
September 2025
Purchase Dolores (May 2021)
We purchased Dolores, thankful to find the truck we so badly wanted, less than 50 miles from our house.
2003 Toyota Tundra SR5 3.4L V6 Manual 5 speed 4x4
Access Cab, 6.5’ bed
No lift, original tire size 245/70/16 factory steel wheels
149,000 miles, one owner
Dolores felt like a diamond in the rough. We saw a lot of potential in her, but we knew that she was going to need some love to get to the point we wanted.
Tires & Wheels (July 2021)
We installed a new set of tires and a used set of first gen Tacoma wheels on the truck. We picked Goodyear Wrangler Ultra Terrain AT tires sized in 265/75/16 with a load rating of 116S. We picked this size because of it being one of the more commonly produced sizes, should we need to purchase another tire while traveling it should be easier to come across. We chose the lower load rating in favor of a smoother rider quality rather than if we would have gone with E Rated tires.
Suspension (August 2021)
We installed an Old Man Emu lift kit. We used OME 2884 springs up front and a single add-a-leaf in the rear to get a level riding, 2.5” lift all around. During to process we installed new, upper ball joints, as well as new break rotors, and pads all around. In addition, the truck got a 1” Diff drop kit installed. We took the truck to get an alignment done and we also had new lower control arms, lower ball joints, and new CV axels installed.
Bed Platform (August 2021)
We built our sleeping platform in the bed of the truck. We wrote an entire blog post talking about this so if you would like to read more about it click here.
Virginia, Maine Road Trip (September 2021)
We set off for our first big trip in Dolores. Driving from Colorado to Virginia then to Maine, and back home to Colorado. The bed platform build out did great! Check out more photos from this trip here.
Cell Signal Booster (March 2022)
We installed a weBoost Drive Reach RV which has helped greatly with cell phone coverage in areas that otherwise had very weak signal. We mounted the antenna to a ditch light mount and tucked away all other electronic components of it within our center console. By this point, we had also added a stubby radio antenna.
Recessed Winch Mount (April 2022)
We installed a Smittybilt X2O GEN2 10K. The winch is mounted using a mount from Amp’d Up LLC bracket that fits nicely behind the factory bumper. We finished the synthetic winch line with a Factor 55 Ultrahook for added safety and threaded the line through a Factor 55 Hawse, all chosen in a color to closely match our paint. We went with this winch setup to help save as much weight on our build as possible, and also to keep a low-profile appearance.
GFC Install & More (May 2022)
These have been some of the most significant changes to our truck so far. We added a Prinsu Rack for storage over the cab where we carry 2 Front Runner WolF Pack boxes and 2 Wavian Jerry Cans. During this time frame, we sold our original topper and picked up a Go Fast Camper, and added an Overland Vehicle Systems 270º awning. We also shortened the Prinsu rack by about 16” to fit with the GFC.
Traction Boards Mounted (June 2022)
Traction boards are mounted to the driver's side of the GFC side panel. They are held in place with lag bolts that pass through mounting holes in the traction boards with large plastic turn knobs on the inside of the camper, fender washer with rubber washers help to keep rain and water out.
Starlink + Mount (June 2022)
We ordered Starlink, and our ability to be a bit more nomadic while working was revolutionized!
Starlink Pivot mount is added. This allows us to mount the Starlink dish to our roof, and raise it safely above obstructions, as well as getting it off the ground so it’s less likely to get damaged. It was mounted using a 90º aluminum angle that we mounted to the side of our GFT top with T nuts that GFC makes to fit the track system in our camper. The Pivot mount is then bolted to the angle using rivnuts that I installed into the angle. We only have the dish on the roof when the truck is stationary.
Solar Install (June 2022)
A small solar system is added to our camper. There is a complete blog post about it here if you would like to read more about it specifically.
Canada & Alaska Road Trip (Summer 2022)
We set off on the longest trip we have done yet. Colorado to the Arctic Ocean at Tuktoyuktuk, Northwest Territories, then down to Alaska before returning home 4 months later. There is an ongoing blog series about that trip that you can read more about here.
Rear Seat Delete and Storage (November 2022)
Back home in Colorado prepping for the next trip. Back seat delete and storage system is added.
100 Series Snorkel Installed (November 2022)
I’ve long hated the look of snorkels, and still do, especially one on my personal truck. However, we have now crossed several rivers with Dolores, the first being the namesake of our truck, and another being deep enough that I feared we’d flood the motor. It was finally a justifiable expense for me, it sure beats a hydro-locked motor. We used a knockoff 100 series Landcruiser snorkel since there isn’t one made for the 1st gen Tundra anymore. During this install, the WeBoost was relocated to the driver’s side from its original passenger-side location.
Solar Build #2, Fridge and water (November 2022)
We redesigned our solar system. Switching from 100w of solar to 300w and tripling our battery storage. There is a complete blog post here with full details. In that process, we added a Dometic CFX 35 fridge and a small Dometic GO hydration facet.
Custom Leaf Spring Install (November 2022)
Alcan custom leaf springs are installed at their shop in Grand Junction. Unhappy with the ride quality of the add-a-leaf pack after our Alaska/Canada trip, we decided to order springs to support 1,400lbs and provide a rear lift from factory to 2.5” so that we would get our factory rake angle back.
Southwest Road Trip (November 2022)
We drove from Colorado towards southern California in an attempt to intercept our good friends who were hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Just a few miles away from where we would have been able to surprise them, our clutch went out.
New Clutch (November 2022)
This was an unplanned event, our clutch release bearing failed after 190k miles, it had a good run. Thankfully we were only 8 miles away from the Temecula, CA Toyota dealership when the clutch went out and we were able to limp our way over to them where they helped us in replacing the clutch.
New Tires and Valves (January 2023)
After 40,000 miles of hard use, our tires were due for replacement. We again went with the same Goodyear Wrangler Ultraterrain AT 265/75/16 116S tires. By this point, these tires had proven themselves on the Dempster Highway and nearly countless miles off-roading in Utah and Colorado, so we feel very confident in them.
We also installed some Colby Valve Ultimate Tire Valves. These valves are unique in that they are an all-brass construction that is installable from the outside of the wheel, aiding to trailside repairs should we ever damage a valve stem.
Our First Trip to Baja! (Winter 2023 )
We spent from January until early May exploring Baja California from north to south! This trip will certainly be one for the books and hard to beat! We drove the majority of the Baja Divide Route and were really happy with how our little truck allowed us to access all sorts of beautiful remote beaches, desert, and mountain landscapes. Check out more from our Baja travels here.
Center Carrier Bearing (June 2023)
After driving a significant portion of the rugged Baja Divide Trail, Dolores was in need of some TLC. We started ticking off the list by replacing our worn and sagging center carrier bearing that supports our drive shaft.
Suspension Maxx Endlinks (June 2023)
Another wear point that needed some attention after Baja was our sway bar end links, we installed a longer end link produced by Suspension Maxx that will hopefully work better with the lift on the front end of the truck.
Alubox Storage (June 2023)
In preparation for carrying around our recently purchased packrafts we decided to swap out our Front Runner roof storage boxes for some Alubox 60L boxes which are weatherproof and will greatly protect our gear during travel.
Build Out Remodel 2.0 (June 2023)
After living in the truck at this point for well over a year, and still using the build-out that we had before the GFC it was time for a refresh. Here is a full blog post on this build but remodel.
Cab 12volt Power (June 2023)
A small challenge that we have faced while traveling has been keeping the computer charged when one of us is working in the front passenger seat, so we set about providing power from the house battery to the cab at a rapid charge 65watt USBc port. This has truly been a huge improvement to our quality of life and ability to live and work on the road!
New Lower Ball Joints, Lower Shock Bushings, CV Axels, and Wheel Bearings (June 2023)
I handled the first half of this project at home, replacing the lower shock bushing, and lower ball joints. But handed Dolores over to the pros for the second half to replace our front wheel bearings and CV axels, all with genuine Toyota parts.
New Shifter Bushing (July 2023)
At 20 years old, the truck is showing some age. We replaced the shifter bushing to get back a new-from-factory shifting feel. The truck now smoothly goes in and out of gear, as well as stays there on really rough roads.
Drip Rail Install (August 2023)
We had been waiting to do this mod for a while. Adding the Drip Rails to our camper will vastly improve it on rainy days and solve an annoying issue of water dripping off the leading corners of our camper and into the rear doors of the truck when they are open.
MAXTRAX MKII installed (October 2023)
After carrying around some Amazon knockoff traction boards for a while it was finally time to replace them with something proper, and easier to use when needed. We are super grateful for getting hooked up with these MAXTRAX MKII along with the 17mm mounting pins that will allow us to lock the boards in place.
We bolted the pins directly through our driver’s side panel, and to assist in lifting the additional weight we picked up a set of slightly stronger gas struts from GFC.
To find the mounting position we started by taping off the inside of our panel so that we could make any needed marks with a pen and not have to work about removing the pen marks when the job was done. We then marked on the tape where the diagonal supports are so that the mounting pens wouldn’t interfere with them. Once we had that, we then marked the center of the panel relative to the front and back. From there we then measured out the mounting hole pattern on the traction boards and transferred it to the panel. We mounted the traction boards as high as we could so that gas struts would struggle less to open the panel, but not so high that the boards interfered with the top thing.
Weight Reduction & Venting (October 2023)
In an effort to shave some more weight from the bed of our truck and to also help our Goal Zero battery to breath we removed even more material from one of the vertical portions of our build in the back. We did this by drilling 1” holes on a 2” square grid pattern.
Baofeng Radio and Antenna (October 2023)
Wanting to be able to communicate more reliably between distant vehicles and to make spotting on obstacles easier, I installed a very simple radio setup in the truck. I used one of our Baofeng radios that we already had, ran an antenna wire out from the cab of the truck to the GFC where I mounted a small whip antenna that we already had. It was a simple and effective solution for getting a stronger radio signal outside of the metal enclosure of the cab. After the install all of the external antenna wire was wrapped in Alex Tech Braided Cable Sleeve to protect it more.
Starter, Alternator & Belts (October 2023)
When going to leave camp one morning our starter was completely unresponsive. A few taps from the blunt end of the hatchet got it started but that was the clear indication needed to finally replace it. The original one made a good run making it to 205,000 miles.
The starter job sparked a string of preventive maintenance getting ticked off. The truck also received a new alternator at the same time we stuck with the original alternator size, but in hindsight it wouldn’t have hurt to sized up. We also replaced all the belts shortly after as well.
New CV axles… Again… (October 2023)
Several weeks earlier while at camp I noticed a packrat running around our truck. We attempted but were unsuccessful at chasing it off. Several days later I noticed some grease being thrown from our brand-new CV Axles and quickly learned that the rat had chewed up our boots on the new axles. We were unable to order new boots by themselves so we were regretfully forced into replacing them again, this time we decided to get a set from CVJ Axles in Denver. They offer a lot of options but one of them is to take genuine Toyota Axles and add a high-angle inner CV boot to it that is hopefully more durable on lifted trucks than the stock setup.
Kingpin 40” V-series Light Bar (November 2023)
Several months ago Kingpin approached us and asked if we would be interested in trying out one of their lights. Pretty excited we said yes! We installed their V-SERIES 40" LIGHT BAR and Smart Touch Dimmer Switch on the rear hatch of our GFC using VHB tape to stick it into place. We chose to mount it close to the hinge of our panel rather than the end so that we can use it outside while hanging out or cooking and also inside whenever we hang out in there as well. Since it is able to rotate in the mounting hardware we are able to bounce the light off our shiny interior when we are inside and also pivot it to illuminate our kitchen area when we are outside as well. We added Alex Tech Braided Sleeves to cover the wires and protect the butt crimp that we used when we wired it in. It’s been several months since we installed the light, it’s worked flawlessly the whole time and is one of the few things in our truck that we use every single day!
Here is a more detailed breakdown similar to how we installed our light.
Kingpin is the first company that we have worked with in this fashion and we feel extremely grateful for their support! This was one of the first products that we truly felt good about, have a direct need for, fit within our current build, offers something that we would benefit from every day, and would have purchased with our own money. So please know that the few times we promote companies or products its something that we truly feel good about. They have been gracious enough to extend a promo code that we can share, so if you feel like this is something that would elevate your camping experience you can use the code “DIRTTRAILSWANTED” to get 15% off. Following this link also does the same.
2nd Trip to Baja (December 2023)
We only had a month in Baja this time but it was still wonderful as ever!
Midland Radio Upgrade & Dash Cam (April 2024)
We were generously gifted a Midland dbr2500 Radio from a friend when they learned about my budding radio habit. Aside from being much easier to operate than the Baofeng setup while driving this radio and the much stronger antenna that we installed as part of it is all around more powerful than the previous setup. Combined they allow us to both transmit and receive from further distances. Midland no longer makes this radio but a nearly identical option from Anytone is available on Amazon.
At the same time as the radio, we installed a Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 in preparation for an upcoming trip to the East Coast. Both the radio and the Garmin are being powered by our house battery.
North Atlantic Canada Trip (Summer 2024)
One of our favorite trips to date! Not much off-roading but we absolutely loved how beautiful, remote, and picturesque the North Atlantic was!
12v Starlink conversion (October 2024)
In an attempt to reduce our electrical consumption, we converted our Starlink power source from its original 120-volt source to a 12-volt source. We have more in-depth information on how we did it here.
New Lower Ball Joints & Tires (December 2024)
While preparing for another big trip through Baja, Mexico, it was time to replace our lower ball joints (a known catastrophic failure point for these trucks) as well as our tires. We chose to go again with the same set of tires that we have been using for years as we are quite happy with them.
3rd Trip to Baja (Winter 2024)
There are few places that pull us back year after year, the Baja Peninsula is one of those places. This was our third trip back.
New Brakes (April 2025)
Close to 100k miles since the last time we replaced our brakes, it was now time to do it again.
New Ram Mounts for our Phones, Radio, GoPro (April 2025)
For a while, we have been wanting some better solutions for small things in the cab, specifically, we were after a better solution for our radio mic, and we both wanted a MagSafe-style mount for our phones.
GFC V2 Pro Tent Upgrade + Headliner (July 2025)
After nearly 1000 nights in our original V2 GFC tent, the heavily sun-faded fabric ripped when Greta made a bold push to escape through our tent fabric, leaving behind a rip that stretched the whole length of the back panel of our tent. We sewed the back door shut using our Speedy Stitch so we could complete the WA-BDR and then promptly headed to Montana to replace the tent at GFC. We swapped out to the new V2 Pro tent and while there we also grabbed a headliner kit. Our camper now feels almost like new again!
On-board Air Compressor Install (September 2025)
This has been an upgrade I have wanted to make for a while! We mounted a Dual VMS PRO Complete Air Management System into the engine bay of Dolores. Mounting this proved to be a good challenge, but we are very happy to have a system on board that is considerably faster than what we had been using.
Got a question?
Feel free to shoot us a message — we love talking about all this stuff and happy to answer any questions you may have!