No event culls the herd for exceptional builds as well as SEMA, as they meticulously select the highest end custom rigs for their annual show. This is why it was such an honor for Rick Lopez to be chosen to bring his 2014 Toyota Tundra CrewMax TRD 4x4 to the 2014 SEMA show.
While it’s certainly an honor for Rick to be invited to SEMA, one look at his truck will tell you why it’s no surprise he was. Just a few weeks ago, the truck was awarded a third place best in show prize at the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Expo. The radiant red paint job is an instant head-turner, and once it’s got your eye, this truck just keeps on reeling you in.
The second thing you notice about Rick’s truck is the size of it – this vehicle is a monster, resting on 37” Toyo Open Country M/T tires and an 8” lift. The radiant red 24x11 MHT Fuel Off Road D532 Hostage wheels bring the aesthetics full-circle, while the Bushwacker pocket-style fender flares and Smittybilt front bumper highlight its already aggressive stance.
The M1 2014 Toyota bumpers by Smittybilt haven’t been released to the public yet, but Rick has connections – as a graphic designer at Transamerican Auto Parts, he was able to snag a set of Smittybilt’s latest product before it hits the shelves. The M1’s are manufactured out of 3/16" cold rolled steel with 1/4" mounting plates and come standard with 7/8” solid D-Ring mounts, Ultra Bright driving & fog lights and a winch mount system that can hold up to a 16,500 lb winch.
Rick fitted his truck with a Bullteproof 6-8” lift kit and extended it out to maximum ride height. To complete his suspension setup, he also installed Bulletproof reservoir coilovers and shocks by Icon Dynamics and a Hellwig adjustable rear sway bar, helper springs and lifted air bags.
With the size of the tires alone, he was going to need a boost in power, so he fitted his 5.7L V8 engine with a Volant air intake and MagnaFlow exhaust, installed a Bully Dog programmer and threw in a set of Odyssey batteries and a Painless Performance dual battery management system. Once it was all said and done, his engine could outperform just about any truck on the lot. He also installed a set of EBC brakes and rotors, because all the power in the world is no good if you can’t bring it to a halt.
Of course, the truck wasn’t complete without the addition of some interior and exterior perks. Rick had the interior fitted with custom Alea Leather, F1 series with red and black inserts for the seats. He also installed Rugged Ridge floor liners and a 6-switch sPod system to turn on and off the front and rear bumper lights.
Rick suited up the exterior with one of DECKED’s new truck bed organizers – because imagine clambering after something that had rolled up against the cab in that truck bed – an A.R.E. tonneau cover and a bolt lock to keep everything he hauls safe and secure.
Rick’s truck will be on display at the central hall booth #21325 Nov. 3 – 7 and will also be part of the post-SEMA parade down Las Vegas Boulevard. Follow Rick on Instagram for more build details.
