What Have You Done To Your 3rd Gen Today?

TRD Pro Skid Plate, using a dealer 35% off parts coupon. These things are heavier than they look!

 

Finally joined Demello gang. Got myself some sliders!

 

Happy #frontendfriday with a little rear end action. . Took the truck to Big Bear, CA last week.

Last Saturday, along the way to Big Bear, I went ahead and did the oil change myself since the Toyota Care maintenance service ended. Changed out the stock skids for the TRD front skid plate that I got from Toyota of Glendora (Calif.) while I was at it.
Also, I finally got to bolt on the Waterport container onto the back end of the Front Runner Outfitters bed rack. (Hard to see, but it's underneath the axe, behind the bike)

 

Looking good! I ordered those Dominator sliders, also, back during the week of Overland Expo West and am waiting for them to be ready. How do you like the feel of them? Sturdy? Heavy? Useful on the trails or for getting around the truck for doing stuff?

 

I like what you did there! It was light carrying it while standing, but the weight made it a bit cumbersome to handle when trying to install it while lying on the ground. Without the help of another person and the use of a lift, it took a little bit of creativity and a collapsible stool for me to bolt one onto the truck.

 

Creativity is right! I tried the belly-lift method...once...and realized that wasn’t gonna work. Spent more time getting a small 18x18 pallet fastened to my jack, than I did bolting the thing in place. It’s amazing what a person can do with a couple of short bungee cords. I should’ve took a pic of it, because it worked like a charm.

Edit for typos

 

truck 4m old, only 2k miles. Already have a screw in the right rear tire. Removed tire and wheel to drop off at discount tire to get fixed, and the lugnuts on the right rear were definitely not torqued to the 83ish ft lbs like they were supposed to be. They loosened up pretty easily. I was a certified mechanic for years, so know they were not tightened enough. Checked all others, fronts were both at least 83 as they didnt budge when I checked them, but the drivers rear, I was able to tighten up all 6 lug nuts. I dont know how accurate my torque wrench is, its a craftsman brand I've had a few years, but the bottom line, both rears looser than both fronts. But I trust my torque wrench is at least close.

 

My opinion, no. Nothing is going to hit your metal hood ‘cause Toyota put plastic in front of it. The hood has no exposed vertical surface. Bug/rain deflectors work great though. Think of it this way; 3rd gen grill is like putting up your arm so a branch doesn’t smack your kisser.

 

Ouch!! Oh man, ALWAYS start threads with your fingers and NEVER, when there’s more than one, tighten one fully first. Grab surfaces evenly.

 

That thing is a bear when you are under there lol. I just recently had to take it off and put it back on to change my diff fluids. Man was it a pain in the ass getting it back on. Took longer doing that then the actual front and rear diff oil change.

I originally had it on my chest and contorted my body somehow and got it on. This time I couldn’t do it that way for some reason, used paint cans to assist me lol. Felt like an upper body workout when I was done.

 

Does this work for all intakes? I guess I'll have to check mine out when I get home. My Injen came in today.

 

Well I'm excited to participate finally. Purchased my first taco about 1.5 weeks ago. I've put in husky liners floor mats, a leftover window American flag decal from my f150, and the coolest mod I did today which was custom TRD decal for my biggest passion which is canoeing... Especially in the BWCA
And here's a pic of it with my boat (before decals) just because

 

Welcome to the club

 

Sweet canoe. She's a beaut.I have several Wenonah's but never a Kevlar.

 

Added the 2nd gen bulk head rail - it's metal.

 

Does anyone have a idea on the best hard top bed cover minus the diamond back series? Those are really expensive and I want the best one possible. Looking around the $700-$900 range

 

If you want the best, you gotta pay to play

 

A used DiamondBack tonneau cover? Maybe, someone selling a SE to change to the HD. ...or selling to get a camper shell or a canopy camper like the alu-cab ones.

It seems the Tacoma ones are rare for a used one, but it might be worth checking this site out every now and then...
https://diamondbackcovers.com/collections/diamondback-outlet/used

 

I do want the best but those diamondback covers are around $1500. I cant do that. Unless I find a used one.