What Have You Done To Your 2nd Gen Tacoma Today?

Front one would be like a "spotter" cam for offroad..........provided it didn't get coated with mud first.

 

Removed the OEM style Predator steps from the truck in preparation of installing the RCI Sliders that arrived yesterday. Put two good coats of primer on the sliders last night, then going to put the flat black on there today after work and hopefully install them on Saturday.

 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CZVMO3M...UTF8&colid=KAT1QUVFDMGC&coliid=I1QDQHDK3AB1D5

This may be something worth looking into if you don't like the front one where it's at.

 

Bed Mat installed this morning

 

What kit and how much lift in the front?

 

i was wondering if anyone would like an EAF patch like this with Velcro backing? I need to get atleast 30 of them to make this happen though is the catch.

 

EAF?

 

Eccentric as F

 

EatAFagina

 

I didn't cover anything. But I've seen people cover the fuse box with a plastic bag. I just made sure not to drench it when I hosed it down.

 

What kit did you use? hows it ride?

 

I am planning something similar for a rock camera setup. Want to add multiple switchable cameras up front, probably 3-left, center, right- just not sure how I want to engineer it yet. Very nice and straightforward how-to! Thanks!

 

I performed the "LED bulb fell into my headlight" removal mod last night, and a few tips for anyone removing the headlight. I removed it three times, so I got really good at it.

First off, wear a headlamp while doing this. Everything is painted black, so you need extra light. It also helps focus your attention. You can do everything with a flat screwdriver, phillips head, and a 10mm socket. Use painter's tape on the headlight edges so you don't scratch anything.

Start by unclipping and separating the electrical connectors for the side marker and headlight. The DRL is a huge bulb and it's not going to fall out, so just turn and remove the harness and bulb.

Next is the infamous third bolt in the fender wall. Remove the bottom fender mud shield that is held on with two screws. BTW one is a sheet metal screw in a plastic nut. The nut will probably break. Replace it with a stainless threaded bolt and nut. One demerit for the engineer who designed that crap. If you look up in the fender, you will see a black nut in a black metal brace. That ain't it. The bolt you want is directly above the nut. Both are 10mm, so get the right one. It just takes a bit to loosen it, then you can unscrew it with your fingers. (BTW, I have 3 foot arms and the handstrength of an upland gorilla, so YMMMV)

Next up is the grill, yes the f-ing grill has to come out. Simple really, 2 top screws and 4 pop out tabs. The screws are obvious, the tabs remove by lifting the center disc with a sharp flat screwdriver, then pull up the tab ring. There are 2 tabs up top, two down towards the bumper. Pull the whole grill forward gently and the locking tabs at the bottom of the grill come out. Careful to pull only forward or they will scrape the bumper cover. Once you do it twice, you can do it in your sleep.

Next the annoying gap fillers under the headlights. Why aren't they attached to the lights? That would have made everything much easier; and you wouldn't have the plastic post in front of the headlight assembly to worry about. Another demerit to Toyota. The tabs are held by two plastic friction mounts. The first is green and is visible once you remove the grill. You must pull gently forward to pop this tab. But not too far or the other tab will break. The side tab disengages when you pull horizontally, so you must pull sideways not front/back.

OK, now remove the two bolts at the top of the headlight and the thing should almost be be free. There is an friction snap mount thing in the front corner of the headlight. I gently opened mine with a flathead screwdriver while pulling the headlight forward slightly. Careful not to pull too hard or the headlight will scrape the bumper if it pops out too far when the last mount gives way. Toyota should have used a screw mount instead. Third demerit. If you can pop that last mount, then the whole headlight is free. OK, now what?

Removing the headlight is like freaking Jenga. You have to shift it slightly towards the grill hole then rotate the front down when it clears the metal radiator brace. You would think it can come out forward, but no. Take your time and play with it a bit, it will come out. No way I can really describe it or take decent pictures.

Now, in my case here's where the comedy starts. I pull the headlight and shake out the LED. Two seconds. I put the headlight back in, and replace all the bolts. I decide to check the bulbs, so I put the connectors and bulbs back in. And then my OEM side marker bulb falls off and goes into the headlight. Mother-f%^$^$er. OK, so I pull out the headlight again. Turn it upsidedown and the bulb disappears. WTF, it fell in between the two layers of the headlight. So 10 minutes of shaking and I get it out. Then install the headlight again. Then install the sidemaker. Then the bulb falls out again. I finally figure out that that sidemarker is designed in such a way that it will pull the bulb if you don't hit the hole in the first try. So, after shaking out the bulb again, I decide to disconnect the bulb socket from the wiring harness and install the bulb while the headlight is out of the truck. This is why I put that instruction first on my list. Trust me, disconnect the wire harness, leave the bulb in there.

Getting the headlight back inside is actually easier. Tilt forward, angle into the grill hole then slide into the fender. Snap in the front mount, replace the top screws and annoying third screw. Re-install the spacer under the headlight. The grill is cake, as are the fender mud guards.

And that's what I did for fun last night.

 

TLDR but is it really that hard to pull out a headlight on the 2012+? I can pop mine out in about 5 minutes.

 

Yup

 

Mounted my Ray10s today. These thing are awesome looking!

 

that is beautiful. that's matte black right?

 

Gunmetal. I wanted to be different ha

 

I understand, still looks amazing. I PM'd about black, just hoping they have em.

 

SR8s and KO2s. Just in time for the deluge around here.