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

Hit 179,000 miles today. Still running strong! Hope that continues for years to come.

 

Just watched that vid, looked good sir!

 

Got my Alamosa antenna mounted and radio installed

 

I installed 2 1/4" of block at the rear axle. I also installed 2019 Tacoma low mileage rear leaf springs. I then built a seriously heavy duty traction bar. The combination of a stock Tacoma rear leaf spring and lift blocks is a seriously bad combination IMO. The bracketry for my traction bar keeps breaking and I gusseted the crap out of it. I've concluded that for what I use my truck for the stock leaf springs are never going to work well. If I wasn't in the middle of having a new house built and in the middle of moving I'd have bought aftermarket rear leaf springs by now.

What I'd like to add though is whenever I get done re-repairing my traction bar the truck drives a lot better, everything about it is better, and with the stock V6, auto, and rear lsd the tires break traction on pavement very easily. Smoke 'em if you got 'em. LOL

 

https://sherpaequipmentco.com/collections/tacoma

 

Swapped out old and busted for new hotness:

 

I have been using Ram suction mounts for years, but wanted something for light duty use when I'm too lazy to fully clean the suction cup. Bolted a Ram ball onto this from Amazon. With the short arm directly above, its in a great position, and there seems to be less leverage so it holds pretty well. I like the Ram system so wanted to use my X grip.

 

Tried out Back to Black trim restorer on the fenders and bumper and it worked great!

 

I thought about trac bars but couldn’t find anything really (I also don’t have the equipment, time, or resources to build them). So I’m stuck with buying leafs. I know I don’t want to do an AAL but I’m also torn on which leaf sets to go with. Too many choices! I did get recommended Icons but I haven’t done much research on them yet….

 

Why not do the A-Pillar Ram mount mod? Mines great and out of the way, and when I use the phone for GPS its right next to my sight line while driving so I'm not looking away from the road.

 

I did that, and I didn't even do it the right way. I fucked it all the way up from the two ways mentioned, and I ended up just using a helicoil for the M8 bolt the motorcycle ram mount comes with.

Additionally, you can do a yaktrax bar and the spin on RAM mounts if you want to anchor it to your dash.

 

I haven't figured out which leaf springs I'm getting either.

 

Look at these leafs:

 

Changed spark plugs for the first time in the month that I've owned it. At 174k, I was shocked to find what I believe to be the original factory plugs still installed.

Cylinder 1-3-5 had the Denso's and cylinder 2-4-6 had the NGK plugs. Had a hard time removing the coil packs since the mounting bolts were so rusty that they had shrunken in size. Had to use a smaller size socket to remove them. I went ahead and ordered a set of new bolts to replace the rusty bolts.

Here is a look at the plugs I took out compared to the new Dealership bought Denso's. The old plugs were so worn that the gap was near double the recommended gap!





Also picked up this handy parts tray from Harbor Freight. Does an excellent job of holding tools and bolts.

 

Which size mat is that? Medium or small? I bought the large one a month or two ago and I'd say it's a little too large for most things.

 

I have gone back and forth on the a pillar mount, its rock solid, but ultimately I really want it in the center of the dash.

 

Techdeck was what ultimately worked for me. Those CD played ones never worked well for me.
http://www.birddawgindustries.com/tech-deck.html

 

I think the one he had was the medium. I have the large for when Im using a lot of different attachments and sizes but the small one for when i just need to hold a few things especially if im in the engine bay where room is already scarce

 

Deaver U402 Expedition III pack has been pretty good for reducing axle wrap and I love love way it rides. In rare situations I wish I had a trac bar, but a good leaf pack is a world of difference compared to the stock ones with blocks. I used to run an AAL and a small spacer (1" or 1.5") and that was not good.

 

Easy peasy