What Have You Done To Your 3rd Gen Today?

They came with the Truck when New. They are Toyota OEM Not sure what they are called I like them better than I thought I would

 

No, that's just the way the picture makes it look. The wheel tucks in under compression, doesn't come anywhere near the bumper. I only needed to trim the fender at the firewall but it would have looked hacked so I did the whole thing. I still might have the bumper trimmed or use the extra space to add aussie style brush guards.

 

Installed the DD SS3's last night. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! This mod earns the rating of F*ck YES! I'm convinced this mod should have been completed on day #1. Fairly easy installation after figuring out how to peel back fender well. The amber back-lights remain to be connected, I ran out of daylight so I'll leave that to the weekend.

Here some shots with fogs on/off, with and without headlights.

DRL:

DRL & SS3 on:

JUST HEADLIGHTS:

LIGHTS & SS3 FOGS:


I will say, on the road while driving and unlit Street this is a world of difference I feel much safer knowing what's on the road. With the original OEM lights it was always a guess what was coming at me. So I put new halogens and ss3 fogs on it's just wonderful.

As a matter of fact it was so bright last night while I was testing I was amazed. So while sleeping, I had a little nightmare; I was driving this vehicle and I'm parked at a light behind a guy and these lights are so bright that he jumped out of his car and put 100 lb bag of Vidalia onions on my hood because the lights were so bright in his rear view. I had to get out of the vehicle and explain to him that I just installed these and I need to adjust them per instructions. So here is my question to you guys with the fogs on I don't see it clear height of shine on the garage door I'm not really sure I'll be able to adjust them precisely 4" below the installed height per instructions. When I secured the ss3's into the housing I basically set them straight away; how close do you think I am to the recommended adjusted height? Obviously when it's adjustment time I'll be moving them around a little bit to see what the difference is but if you have any comment on this would be good thanks.

 

this seems to be the go to for aiming headlights and fogs

https://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/aim/aim.html

and you cant beet crash's threads on lighting

here's the fog light one if you havent seen it

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-led-sae-j583-fog-pod-fog-light-review.554813/

would also say from what i read throughout all the stuff on TW, driving with fogs on should be saved for bad weather. I think it's bechase with too much fore ground lighting, you tend to keep your eyes in the foreground vs looking down road - but that is just my humble arm chair online QB stuff FWIW

 

Added to the pile of need to install

 

Finally got to use my recovery gear again thanks to a nice snow storm.
2 neighbors got stuck trying to pull out of their driveways, just used my traction boards to get them going, ez pz.
Then I went to get my truck washed to blast off the snow. Another car was stuck at the end of my block, I had to shovel to get the traction boards under the tire for them.
After I got a car wash an older lady was stuck on the main road turning onto a side street. She was actually hung up on the snow drift. Lots of digging, both traction boards and pushing to get her free. I should have used the recovery strap for her.
Then when I was done helping her another guy was stuck on the other end of the same block. But at least he was in a truck with a trailer hitch so I could pull him out easily with my recovery strap.

 

Just gonna bookmark this for later as I plan on putting some Diode Dynamic SS5 pods in the same place using the same mount in the future. A few of the concerns I have are impeding airflow to the radiator and the Toyota emblem on the TRD OR grill blocking some of the light output. By pushing the lights forward, I think some of my concerns may be lessened if not alleviated altogether.

Thanks for posting the hardware you used and please let us know if you see any problems.

 

The snow is up to my knees and we still got 24 more hours of it coming.
*I plowed the driveway last night before bed, this is just the overnight snow on the truck.

 

I was originally going to use ss5 pods as well but those Prowlr lights were on sale for $125 each and was too good of a deal to pass up. Plus I was worried about the grill blocking a lot of the light so I figured get the biggest lights possible lol.
This summer I am putting on a stealth bumper with a bull bar on it so I will be switching my grill back to a standard OR style grill so the TSS doesn't get blocked by the hoop on the bumper.
So once I get everything wired I will take before and after photos with the lights on behind both grills.

All the hardware I got on Amazon

M6 x 80mm Hex Head Screw Bolts, Fully Threaded, Stainless Steel 18-8, Plain Finish, Quantity 10

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CXFDM8J?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

$16 Aluminum Spacer 3/4" OD x 5/16" ID x Choose Your Length, Round Spacer Unthreaded Standoff Bushing Plain Finish, Fits Screws Bolts 5/16" or M8 by Metal Spacers Online (1-1/2" Length, 5 Pack)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NXV6LY5?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

$17 Glarks 175Pcs 304 Stainless Steel Large Penny Fender Washers Assortment Set-M3, M4, M5, M6, M8, M10, M12

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FR2L33J?ie=UTF8&th=1 (I actually had the fender washer set for years already)

 

Told yah! Lol

 

LoL

 

Got my BJ70 emblem in the mail and got it attached … perfect fit

 

You would make an awesome neighbor

Does anyone know why it is that newer cars have no tow hooks or even places to connect a tow rope? I'm not expecting recovery points; just something basic to give a little tug. A friend got stuck last year in a MX5 and there was literally a flat plastic sheet under the whole engine compartment; absolutely no place to connect a basic strap. Just curious so that I can be helpful but not be stopping for situations I can't help with.

 

Most modern cars have little square panels in the bumpers that pop off to access a threaded hole which you can screw a tow hook into but you then have to hope your car came supplied with that threaded tow hook.
The hooks are usually stored with the spare tire and jack in the truck of cars.
I believe they do it this way because the cars are so low to the ground you would probably damage the bumpers if you were to tie off to the underside of them.
My wife's Mazda 3 didn't have the hook from the factory so I bought one for her incase I have to pull her out.

$34 Mazda Tow Hook - KD53-50-EJ1B

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MTK1SXB?ie=UTF8

I found it easier just to use the traction boards because you just toss them under the wheel and off you go. No need to dig through peoples trunks.

 

@tacotrdyota

Get to it!

Those look like the "smoked" ambers!

You may not have to take off the whole grill like I did to swap out.

 

Vendor?

 

Ooohhh my dogs hair would love those

 

That's a great-looking grill...

 

Lol quote of the year thus far

 

Finally got around to getting wheels and tires after my lift. Looks so much better now