Cheap mods you are proud of

Mind taking a photo? Just trying to understand placement. Thanks!

 

Would you mind revealing how much you paid? My wife wants a full size key... Is this something only a locksmith can do? Naively, I was hoping an ACE Hardware could do it.

 

Not who you asked, but wanted to share my pertinent experience...

I tried ACE and it failed. When the guy was cutting the key he warned me straight away that only about one-in-twenty of the Toyota keys work. He said other vehicle makes were no problem at all, but Toyota was extremely sensitive to even the smallest variation. He walked out to the truck with me to try the newly cut key and promptly refunded my money when it didn't work. (I did not ask for the refund. $4 each, I think.) He let me keep the keys to try to fine tune the cuts. I have not succeeded yet.

I then went to a local Toyota dealership; bought the non-chip version of the key, had to provide truck registration & I.D., and they cut the key. Works perfect for cab door and tailgate (both of the new keys). They also work in the ignition switch in that they will turn the engine over but will not start the engine. The cost for key & cut was $6.32 each.
Part number is #

$11 90999-00185 Blank Key

90999-00185 for my 2017 "no-fob" model.

The dealership did tell me that a chipped key would cost $32.50 --- plus $100.00 to program it.

 

Nice, thank you. Seems super reasonable. I have aFOB, so my tailgate key is not chipped. I will ask Toyota to do this when I bring truck in for first oil change.

 

Chip is for ignition only.
I don't think any tailgate has a lock requiring a chip. Maybe, but I have never seen one.

 

Is this kit worth the $60? Scratched the piss out of my 2020 Corolla cluster (same plastic as the Tacoma) and would like to prevent this, steep price for some film though. Pretty easy install? I've watched videos and it looks easy but also read that people get small bubbles...

 

The key blank I wanted and bought was for the locking tailgate only. Does not work in driver's door or ignition. That one is different. I could only find a blank on line after trying all 4 dealers here and several locksmith shops. Found one on Ebay. Had to pay big shipping fee to Canada. Make sure you use a highly qualified locksmith to have the blank cut to match original. My locksmith had to work on it quite a bit to get it to fit after trying initial cut using his machine. It was on Ebay, US $34.99 , Item ID: 325155324966.
Looks like this:

 

Sorry I was on a ban.

Pretty easy just drill a hole in the little piece that pops off the bottom of the mirror and they slide in. I ran the wire through the door grommet and attached it to the a pillar wiring so they come on when I unlock the truck. Mines been in place and working 2 years

 

Painting the pinch weld to make it disappear is the first cheap mod/big impact that comes to mind.

 

To hide existing & prevent new scratches on the instrument cluster alone it was worth the $60 to me. Total install time for the instrument cluster, infotainment screen, and shifter trim was about an hour...and a lot of that is down to my OCD when it comes to lining things up millimeter perfect. Overall, pretty easy though...watch the install video, and it's pretty straightforward. I've had zero issues with bubbles.

 

Anybody know if this has been done in a short bed? I’m wondering if the rear tire was in the holder and the front wheel turned it might let me close the gate. Going through life with a shorty presents challenges.

 

We bought a blank online cheap years ago and no local locksmith would do it. Finally the guy at Lowe’s said he would but didn’t charge as he couldn’t guarantee it would work. And it didn’t. It was not for our Tacoma, it was either our Sienna or Yarris.

 

Thought about doing this also.

 

Absolutely love this seat delete. Costs me less than $20 and it’s been amazing for my fridge and the dog loves the extra space.

 

Anyone comment on a "Gashole" yet? $20 well spent.

 

No chance with the tire on. Mine barely fits with the tailgate closed and the tire off while mounted to a Rocky Mounts Driveshaft track mount. Even with that I have to have the bike angled. I run large 29er fs frames though. Easy to measure the bike and the bed to check for clearance in your specific application. You might be better off with a tailgate pad if you don't want to remove a wheel.

 

I know someone else responded, but a second vote yes from me. Very much worth it. I paid the extra $15 for a second set just in case I ever need it.

 

Not needed, the plastic attachment tie threads nicely into the clip that holds the door shut. $20 wasted IMO.

 

I have one. Only paid $10 for mine on offer up though. Eitherway, I like it!

 

It's hard, [impossible?] to get the cap inside it. imho. I got one, and I'll be modifying it one day by removing some of the upper 'teeth' to see if it becomes usable to me.