What Have You Done To Your 3rd Gen Today?

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I appreciate it bud! I’d highly suggest the C rated version of the Ridge Grapplers. I swapped a set of E rated KO2’s for these and the ride is night and day. I won’t make that mistake again.

 

Well, I had some time on a beautiful Saturday...

- I didn't like all the chrome that came with the 2019 OR and have been slowly getting rid of it. I painted the grille molding/surround vs buying a new one ($10 paint vs $100 molding). Reading on the forum here, rather than using Plastidip or Rustoleum, I went with Epoxy (VHT) paint for durability and matte look and it turned out really nice.

$17 VHT SP652 Satin Black Epoxy All Weather Paint Can - 11 oz.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CPIN34/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Installed a new shift knob today after it showed up in the mail. It is definitely is larger than stock and in pretty good shape for an eBay purchase.

 

My RCI 5 degree rock sliders came in yesterday - Whoot!. So, yea. I have read many posts here on the forum and watched the few videos on YouTube for RCI sliders install. These are invaluable. To be honest, I am really surprised there is not an "official" RCI corporate how to video. Really should be. Just sayin'.

A few things on my 2019:

1) I installed these solo so a jack/lift is required. I have a motorcycle jack that worked perfectly.



2) I didn't see mentioned anywhere in forums or videos, may be specific to 2019+, but there is a plastic frame insert that must be removed to get access to bolt down the front of the sliders on both drivers and passenger side.

Passenger side frame insert


Driver's side


3) Brake lines and RCI instructions, Driver's side. On the forums and per the RCI instructions, you are to put the bolt through the frame from the outside and the nut on the inside. If you do that on the Driver's side, you end up with a 3/4" bolt shaft with threads that will stick right between your brake lines. That didn't seem right to me (or safe) so I put the bolt head on the inside and nut on the outside. Seems much safer re brake line rubbing...


I used WoolWax coating on the frame before installing the sliders re rust prevention. Seems like a good add but be aware, Fluid Film/WoolWax make the bolts/nuts SLIPPERY It's all good though.

All in all, I am really happy with how they turned out. Solo install is not too bad - if you have a jack and some patience. Motorcycle jack was perfect. Sliders arrived via FedEx with a few minor powercoat dings, nothing too bad. RCI did a great job packing/wrapping. I was quoted 3-4 weeks for delivery and it was on the tail end of that (4 weeks). Top plate looks really good (request by my wife for a step). These are SOLID! Now I can cruise the mall in overlander style...

 

I have the same sliders. I remember the plastic insert, and I have an 2018. I drilled the frame to add a top bolt. May have been overkill.

 

Very well done! Looks great.

Smart move, if you nut on the inside it can lead to untold expenses for years!

 

It was a busy day.

I spent five hours washing, detailing, and waxing the truck. She looks so good that I might be able to show her off at the state fair.

I also put my Texas OHV sticker on. It should be good for a bunch of torque. I'm also allowed to go to the mall now.



I also took my running boards off. She looks a little taller.

 

How’s your wife doing?

 

Under the hood I knew I’d be making several connections throughout my builds, needing relays and more fuses, but I didn’t really know how many at the start so I put in a watertight junction box and just wired up my up front accessories.

I now have two other branch circuits inside the cab so am tackling cleaning up the under hood connections. Including a fuse/relay box that will fit in the space in front of the master cylinder without having to move the OEM relay.

Here is the jumbled junction box:


Here is the business end of my new in progress watertight relay and fuse box.




Each terminal is double crimped and shrink wrapped.



As you can see below, after my connection test (it all works), I’ve done an absolutely wonderful neat and clean job of cable management and mounting.

ok, ok...it’s late, I‘ll mount and bundle it all up tomorrow...so many pics of these are “done” top views, I thought I’d share the midjob cluster fuck dela extrodinaire!

 

I know, this can go to “cheap mods”. But this is what I did to my 3rd GEN tonight. I finally lost one of the little rubber bumpers on the fuel cover. So I went to ACE and took the other one left before I lose it too so I can compare. I got these for $2.49 ea.
I inserted the top one thru the back really easy but I had to loosen four 10mm/screw bolts on the black fuel filler neck retainer so I can slightly lift from the bottom side and insert it much easier. You can also trim the diameter of the backing if you’d like. The length is perfect and these won’t come off every time you lightly nudged them.

 

Got my Fluid Filming done today... glad that's only a once-a-year job!

 

Link to the knob?

 

I got one pretty high up on my 2014 tailgate. I backed into a damn shopping cart. Doh! It wouldn’t come out like a hail dent. Body shops wanted $700-$800 to fix it. I put a Saints fleur-de-lis badge on top of it and that took care of that for only $20!

 

Nice work!

 

Looks awesome! Sure the dogs will be happy!

 

Looks awesome!

 

What Leveling kit did you go with? Your Truck looks amazing!

 

spyder headlights from Tacomabeast.com

 

Yes it is................our new home in West Virginia!