What Have You Done To Your 3rd Gen Today?

Link?

 

Damn, except for the city thing, that's me

 

Well Rob, to be honest there seems to be difference driving uphill and not having to engage the ECT. However, it seems like on flat ground if your under 25 mph and you let off the throttle for a second it feels like it’s searching for the right gear, almost like it doesn’t wanna downshift. Maybe it has to learn your driving habits all over again. I’m gonna bring it up when I go back for the sticker. I’ll keep you posted. They’ll probably tell me I need have the air changed in my tires for $200!

 

I bought it Monday when eBay was running a 15%off discount. Currently it's 89.69 all cutouts in place and good fit

https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/292483582428

 

Ohh nice

 

Well my Rhino Rack Batwing came in today. First attempt to buy from etrailers.com was a bust after they said it was in stock and then it wasn’t. It’s on a back order until October. I find it on Amazon for the same price and get it two days later... however it didn’t come with the t bolts to mount the awning. I didn’t order the mounting hanger kit because I have the prinsu mounts. But the screws I need should have come with the awning. So I complain to amazon and end up with a 25% discount. Can’t complain anymore! My $650 paperweight turned into a $500 paperweight after a 20 minute phone call.

Now I just have to source parts at Home Depot or somewhere to get it mounted. Hopefully I can get this figured out in time to use it on my hunting trip this weekend.

 

Brought her home today after doing suspension and wheels

 

$105 shipped

 

pretty much me as well lmao. Main thing that swayed me to Tacoma was the legendary reliability and resale. Also the ridgeline is overpriced as fuck (and I already consider the tacoma overpriced to begin with). $40k for a 4x2, no thanks

 

I'm just bustin' your nads. I'll be ready for off road shenanigans soon enough.

 

Just a quick double-sided fisting...

 

Imma have to steal this for my MGM. You thinking about doing the tailgate Tacoma logo letters in matte black too?

 

About the same at Amazon

$123 Westin 50-6315 Truck Bed Mat fits 2005-2023 Tacoma 5ft Bed Black Rubber

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F6XA1IM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Looks like Amazon has a used one for 67.00. If you have prime its worth taking the risk, free returns if you have any issues.

 

The 1st time I have spent this much money on a vehicle that had nothing wrong with it. Also at 40,000 miles, this is my first modification.

 

For pot holes and such right?

 

A little review on my first impression when it comes to the Tacoma Orange Virus Flashing - Thanks to @OVTune



Truck Details:
2017 Tacoma 3.5L AT TRD Off-Road DCSB
1.04R 91 Octane 04B04
AirAid CAI
AirAid Poweraid Throttle Body Spacer
Nitro 4.88 Gears (Front & Rear)
Stock Exhaust System
Tuff Country- 3" Suspension Lift Kit converted to 4" Suspension Lift Kit Nitto Trail Grappler LT295/70R17 mounted on Helo HE878 17x9 Black 6x5.5 -12mm Offset.

First, I would like to state that I went with the AirAid CAI/AirAid Poweraid Throttle Body Spacer as one of my first mods. I immediately saw gains in HP. I wouldn’t say a lot of gain, but a gain is a gain. The throttle response was also definitely improved as well. This is probably what you notice the most. Some say that 3.5 Engines do not benefit from CAI’s. I would highly disagree. Like I stated, I noticed a difference right away in the throttle response.

Second, I opted for the 4.88 Gears. Overall, the Nitro Gears have drastically improved the truck. Not only does it get up and go with vast improvements to its acceleration, but what has stood out the most to me is the gear hunting. I will definitely agree with the fact that prior to installing my Gears the truck would hunt for the correct gear all the time. I hated going up mountains or even slight hills. The truck would shift back and forth so much. However, now that I have had these Gears installed on my truck for quite some time, I would like to note that the Gears did not solve the Gear Hunting 100%. While still going up mountains and slight hills, I found my truck still shifting back and forth when it wasn’t needed. Shifting wasn’t the smoothest either. On the other hand, the power and drivability did drastically improve the performance of my truck.

Most recently, I opted to purchase the Orange Virus Tune. I was informed by someone that has been around the block for a long time and knows whats best for these trucks, that if I purchased this tune it would only be a gimmick. However, if I wanted to waste my money to go ahead. Well I can officially state it is NO gimmick and this person that claims they have been around the block for a long time and knows what’s best for these trucks is wrong. He is definitely missing out on this one for sure. This mod is hands down the best mod I have installed on my truck for performance. The shifting and drivability of this truck has improved more than I could have even imagine. The shifting is smoother than its ever been 100% both up shifting and down shifting. The throttle response continues to get better and better with each mod. However, what I want to talk about the most is the shifting and smoothness of the ride now. On my routine trip to and from work, my truck would shift from 5th to 4th and back to 5th all the time. It’s a pretty flat drive to and from work but it does have some slight hills here and there. Today, for the first time, my truck did not shift once. It stayed in 5th Gear the whole time. There were moments where I thought the truck could have shifted to 6th on the more flat ground spreads, but if I had to choose between the two options I would pick the less shifting option. It was very frustrating, even with the 4.88 Gears, how often the truck would need to shift down and then shift back up. I haven’t experienced the ECT button yet, but I can only imagine what that is going to be like. I love driving my truck!

With my review, I’m not sure if I would be able to tell a difference if I hadn’t gone with the Gears and then the Tune. By going with the Gears first, I have been able to experience how much better the Tune enhances the Shifting and Drivability. I think if I had gone the Tune first and then the Gears, I would probably have noticed the Gears providing an increase in HP, but probably nothing else.

This truck is really coming together! With the combination of mods I have installed for performance enhancement, you can really notice a drastic difference from Stock until now. I highly recommend all of them. There isn’t one mod I have done that I haven’t noticed a change for the better. I still have two more mods in the performance category: Custom Dual Exhaust System and Twin Turbo Kit. Then this will be the best running Tacoma on the market.

For those that are on the fence with whether to go Gears or Tune. I would say it depends on what you are looking for in your end result of your build. It is really hard to say. However, I would say that I would not leave out the Tune. If you only want to do one, I would install the Tune 100%. If you can afford both, then I would definitely do both the Gears and Tune. I just can’t believe how much the Tune really smoothed out the drivability of my truck. Right when I thought the Gears had fixed the shifting 100%, I notice more and more of improvements with the Tune. I’m excited for the future to come!!!

 

I have been known to drive along foothills and mountains trying to find that perfect composition.

 

Replaced the original license plate bracket will something more aesthetically pleasing. Now I just need to wait for my plates. Thanks! @mrprodux

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/fs-3rd-gen-15-99-replacement-no-drill-front-license-plate-holders.552130

 

whatcha gunna do with the old devil head?