Shop Time w/T.W. Friends

Love the 2nd gens! I know the 3.0 gets a bad rap but the rest of the platform is solid. 3.4 swap and some ARB springs for the rear to solve the power and 4runner sag.

 

I have had one on my last 3 trucks. Won’t have another without one unless I had a fifth wheel trailer. Sometimes they are a pain if stuff gets pushed to the front of the bed but not horrible. Just have to be sure to tie stuff to the back. Actually been kicking around the idea of getting a bed slide to make it easier to get all the camping gear loaded and unloaded.

it is always nice when someone asks to move something big and I can just say nope it won’t fit and I’m not taking the shell off.

 

I love my shell on my Tacoma, I doubt I ever take it off but I do have another truck without one. If I take the 4 wheelers somewhere I hook the small trailer (mine's 6 1/2' X 12') to the Tacoma, you can always find you a small trailer for hauling stuff that wouldn't fit in the truck with a shell, if that's an option. I've left the rear window open while driving, no problems as long as you don't get crazy. Also find you one with Windoors on the sides, they are awesome!

 

If lucky a trailer can be bought cheap. The one I have, I was picking up auto part at O'Reilly and mentioned to the young man working there that my next stop was TSC to look at trailers...he said he had one for $250.00 that's the one I use. Had quite a bit of $$ just in aluminum diamond plate. Think that's what it's called. Only thing I've done to it's make the box at front smaller, add sideboards, and put new tires on after a couple years.

 

My brother was doing a grading job for a friend about 20 years ago who was a pipe welder, he told me he wanted to sell a trailer. I went and looked at it, he built it in 1981 with a stick welder and the welds are as pretty as most mig welds I've seen. I put a floor in it, painted it, and added lights and the ramps on the back. I gave $400 for the trailer with a title

It's double axle with 10 ply golf cart tires. He said he built it low so his father in law could load watermelons on it. The man who made it passed away a few years ago.

 

I just put mine in about a month ago, do you have a pic of them?

 

I still cry every time I see the one in "Twister" get smashed...

 

Good morning Shane, Inc.

I’m late to the party on the topper question but I say do it. Like everyone has said the benefits outweigh the bad. Buy a small trailer for hauling if you need it, if it’s only rarely rent one.

A few things to consider, go with a mid rise topper. Some people don’t like the uneven look but the extra 4-6” of headroom is well worth it for hauling or camping in it. Also get windoors they make getting to items at the front of the bed easy. Lastly, get the fold down, sliding front window. Being able to clean the glass makes worth the cost.

 

I forgot about the fold down front window, mine has it and it's as handy as a pocket on a T-shirt.

@DLRIII look for a used one, I found mine on Marketplace on a wrecked truck in a junk yard. I had to drive 2 1/2 hours one way to get it but it saved me close to $3k on a new one.

 

I'll take a pic of them when I get home but the mounting bracket has two set screws on the outer edge and two fins on the interior that are held in place by those two screws. The screw holes line up but the fins do not. Does that sound right?

 

I've always liked those 4runners

 

You’ll only reuse 1 of the 2 self tapping screws from the factory fog lights. I thought I did good by getting them both in only to realize it torqued the light making it uneven and high on one side.

 

That was the light on the passenger side

 

That's all I needed to hear. Either both fins went in but both screws wouldnt or both screws would line up but the fins wouldnt. Thanks for being johnny on the spot today

 

Came in this morning and there are 2 rotors that need to be drilled for a 4 1/2” bolt circle. I drilled them and the hub won’t fit that the customer drilled and installed studs in. Wonder why

 

Does this help any?

 

All I’m doing today is riding the couch being sick. Damn elementary school germs/viruses.

 

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