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

We went to a farm show about 7 or 8 years ago in Louisville, KY. You couldn't get close to any equipment because there would be a team of 12-15 surrounding it, all taking pictures. After we figured out what was going on, we would muscle our way through if we wanted to look at something or was interested in it.

 

Here is a prime example of China/Asia undercutting other companies. I spent 20 years working for an Austrian based, world renowned, machine tool manufacturer. Our parent company made machines that milled 20 foot long diesel crankshafts and other machines 2 to 3 stories tall. We, in the US plant, manufactured, from scratch, cnc crankshaft milling, cnc forging and other cnc machines for car, truck and tractor producing companies. We did the fab work, machine work, heat treating, welding, painting and built the cnc computers, with our own logic controls, in house. We assembled everything in house. We did on-site installations. Our machines were considered the Cadillac of the industry. Our plant was in Virginia. Our machines were on nearly every vehicle manufacturers engine production lines. Ours were so good that the machines lasted 20+ years. The only thing required was the replacement cutting tools or software upgrades. We all had a great life working there. At one point we had at least 25 crank mills in test run status in our shop at the same time. That was wall to wall machines with Ford, GM, Caterpillar, etc reps in and out daily doing their quality test runs prior to delivery. Those mills spit out a rough milled crankshaft every minute ready for the final grinding operation. I worked in several capacities from Machinist to Quality Control to Supervising night shift. We had to stop doing contract work, such as building tire press/forming machines for Michelin, because we were so overloaded with our own products. Every machine (35+) in our machine shop was manned and running nearly 24/7. Overtime was abundant including double and triple pay overtime. In the late 1990's we started a production line of machines for GM's new plant in Mexico. We were always concerned that Japan would steal our designs and cut into the market. What finally happened was that other Asian manufacturers started underbidding us. They were selling complete machines cheaper than we could buy materials to make the machines. Long story short that plant is now a virtual ghost town. They went from 20+ new crank mills annually to less than 3. Now they have changed their primary production to ultrasonic machines for the aircraft industry. Your new American made vehicles have engine components made on Chinese, Japanese and Taiwanese machines. Now the plant I worked in has maybe 5 machines running occasional jobs in that machine shop. Free trade works for the other guys and not for workers in the USA.

 

Yeah the Chinese knock off’s are bad but honestly every company tends to do it some extent.
And as far as the Chinese government getting 26% well hell the US government gets about 26% of my paycheck every two weeks so what’s the difference?

 

Those who are not allowed freedom of thought and expression are not often creative.

 

Thank you everyone for the support, it is definitely frustrating when foreign competitors copy your design. I will be sharing this with our engineers so they know. Just based off the pictures they are not using the latest LED technology.
Best,
Brock Brunkhorst

 

Hey Raceface35,
Just curious what ebay store did you get this from. Thanks for sharing
Best,
Brock Brunkhorst

 

It's called re-distribution.

 

Well I like deep body rattling bass and shallow mount subs just wouldn’t have cut it for me. My little bro has a behind the seat box with 2 Memphis 12s and it’s just not for me.

 

Oh yeah I totally understand what you’re saying. That’s how I explain it to people that say “you’re gonna ruin your hearing with that sub”. It the mids and tweets that do that lol. But yeah, the box is tuned to like 32hz so it will get to the low 20s for sure but probably not below that. It’s a Skar VXF btw. To me it’s more of the feeling in the head and chest that you get from low bass, less the sound.

 

My little grocery getter suv has an 8" factory sub, with the factory upgraded Sony system, mounted in the rear cargo space like a 4runner or FJ. My grandkid always gives me grief for the thumpity thump bass. I say any sub mounted anywhere is better than no sub. Then again I am comparing everything else to owning 6 stock head unit Tacomas. Anything is better than that. Really anxious to upgrade to a nice touch screen unit and a good satellite ready antenna. Last 2 Tacos sound like portable radios even with Kicker speakers. Then reception goes to crap when a bumble bee flies near the truck.

 

Freshly powder-coated.

 

So clean

 

Wow can't wait. Your truck has definitely been getting some love this year!

 

Eat your heart out Dakar, lol

 

...and getting ready to explore Cumberland Island, GA. Highly recommend checking it out (before the mosquitos come out of hibernation)!

 

They did an amazing job especially for the price, $180cdn/$140usd.

Wife’s not happy about it lol!

This came in as well…lol!

 

Productive day! Did an oil change, greased the driveshaft, touched up Fluid Film, lubed the door hinges, cleaned the MAF, and discovered I might need some brake lines soon as one spot is starting to get crispy

 

lots going on here, busy couple weeks..

 

Put $75 worth of gas on it

 

Nice SWB X-Runner