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

And she's done. I think it came out awesome.

 

Thats a nice looking pup. Mines 3, we should get them together to play, haha.

 

Finally installed my bed lights I received as a Christmas gift a couple years back. Got sick of doing electrical mods around that time. Also added a self destruct switch that may or may not turn the bed lights on and off.

 

Had to do some work at my moms and needed a vise. Built my own hitch mount vise setup. Afterward I found they have them for sale all over the place, oh well.

 

Where'd you get the switch?

 

Link below. Create whatever you want. Used them a couple of times. Incase I ever switch the use of what I power back there, I can keep the same switch.

https://www.ch4x4.com/product-category/custom-switches/

 

Anyone have any recommendations on how and where to mount this 21" light bar?

$66 iJDMTOY 21" 100W Single-Row Slim LED Light Bar Compatible with Jeep Truck Off-Road 4x4 ATV SUV (Spot Beam Pattern)

https://www.amazon.com/iJDMTOY-Single-Row-LED-Bar-Off-Road/dp/B01M7PWMZX#customerReviews

 

Thats awesome! At least you won't have to worry about where it was made and if it will fail on you when you need it the most.

 

Well I did the easier to change the spare upgrade when trying to put the key in. I will kind of make this into a write up to help anyone else out and be as detailed as possible.

Context: Got a nail in the tire and used the experience to teach the GF how to change a tire. Little did I know that getting the key into the socket was harder than any other process I have done on a vehicle before. Another member posted this trick on there and I was impressed so did it myself.

Step 1: Get your tools and lower the spare.







Step 2: Take an 1.5" diameter PVC pipe and cut it 14 long"

Step 3: Drill a hole large enough for a zip tie to fit through about 1.5" from the end on either end BUT NOT BOTH.

Step 4: Put the pipe in the holes as shown with the zip tie hole side towards the rear bumper.

Step 5: Zip tie the tube onto the metal frame hole as shown to prevent it from coming loose



Step 6: Grind down part of the metal key as shown to make it fit down the tube.





Disclaimers: I am not sure if you could get a slightly larger tube to fit and prevent grinding the metal down a little bit. I had it laying around the house so I didn't try anything larger.

No metal was harmed during the making of this post

 

Buttoning up odds and ends before going wheeling this weekend

Got longer bolts so I could add my 1/2” bump stop spacers.




Mounted my maxtrax with my homemade brackets




Put my hi lift back in the bed. I need to rebuild those brackets to push it off the wall a bit but they’ll do for now




Wired in my license plate lights.




And finally remounted my front plate, this time with rivets.

 

Had my dad machine me out some more spacers so I could mount my traction boards up. Not sure how I like them in the back of the bed, it honestly doesn't block much view. I had them mounted on the opposite side of my shovel but they leaned up against the window so I moved them just incase the window would end up breaking. Now I have that side to mount a hi lift or something else.

 

Kuddos to not completely annihilating the plastic around the button when you removed the blank

 

To me, it doesn't seem flimsy at all. It says ABS but it feels like it's probably fiber-reinforced. The mounts feel like standard ABS. Overall Great quality control, I found very little flashing. Good customer service. They answered all my questions. They have a warehouse in New Jersey, so shipping of the grille only took about 1 week. They didn't have the TOYOTA letters in stock so they are shipping those from China.

offroad part ABS plastic black refit grille offroad part for 2005-2011 toyo tacoma trd
https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...detail-ta-bn-b.0.0.afc62fc2Ql16AO&bypass=true

Company: Danyang City Danbei Town Huoqilin Auto Accessories Factory

Here are some close ups to give you a better feel for the quality:

 

I like this grill , especially the center piece I've seen others where they curve never liked that

 

I have been looking for a new grille for a while. I'm glad I finally found something I like. Now let's hope I don't f* up the paint! lol

 

Nice job on this. Will have to work on this one day soon.

 

Thanks man. Looks really clean, even on the back. Good find.

 

Im am so interested in doing this to some LCAs with the whiteline bushings . Are those OEM LCAs?

 

Beat the shit out of it getting up and down Gold Mountain in Big Bear. 265/75 wasn't too bad but 35s just make it look easy.

 

I love that grille! And I want one! Any advice on the shipping cost? Seems a bit excessive...