What Have You Done To Your 3rd Gen Today?

What did you use as your "plunger"? My bakflip cover has dozens of small dimples in it from various storms and I'd like to take the time one day and get them out. The heat won't be a problem for me, as I live in AL and our current weather is a few degrees shy of hell's front porch

 

I didn't use a plunger at all; the heat just expanded the aluminum panels and the dimples were gone....
Until I parked in the garage and they came back. Ugh.

 

I think we may have different definitions of "dimples" then. Your cover must have come with a smooth finish. My Bakflip G2 has a dimpled finished, but also has a lot of dents in it from falling acorns, sticks, hail, etc. from my backyard. I think that's the problem that the OP was trying to address.

 

The MX4 has a matte textured finish, so it will hide small things but not these hail dents.
BTW, I'm the OP.

 

What have I done?

Even with all the cameras and the 360 view I hit the shelving in the garage while I was backing the truck in. I know, I know...

 

Ok that looks like the same finish that mine has, may be slightly different. But we're in the same boat regardless. However, I've never seen those dents disappear with only heat. Here's a pic of mine that shows a few of them

 

Fixed my harsh rear end bottom-out issue by replacing the Wheelers flip kit & Superbumps with the Archive Garage Stealth HD flip kit & Yellow Speed Bumps bump stops. I fkn love Archive Garage products, they're so well designed. More info on them here: Gained uptravel and I can't feel the rear bump stops at all anymore. <3

Wheelers vs Archive setup:



ADS + Archive + Deaver happiness:

 

I'll soon have a set of 4V6 bumper covers (pass side has no major scratches) you can have for shipping cost if your interested....

 

Very, very, very nice of you to offer and...it's tempting. But you know, I have a "it's just a truck" attitude toward this kind of crap. I have some minor brush scratches all over it and don't really mind (we call it Arizona pin striping here). Besides, if it gets really banged up I will just go with an aftermarket bumper of some kind.

I mostly posted because I'm an idiot and it's really funny!

 

Here's some good info on the air intake resonator:

https://itstillruns.com/air-intake-resonator-do-12156112.html

“Thus, the resonator helps to make the engine paradoxically quieter and more powerful.”

So based on that article, removing the resonator could actually have a negative impact on performance. YMMV of course.

 

TRD slightly bigger box(thinner plastic), no "ice cream scooper.
Resonator also absorbs any backflow. These straight a.m tubes do not. Makes me think having the resonator chamber is better than not.
Thinner walls of the TRD filter box will allow heat to pass through more easily.
My solution. Chopped off the "ice cream scooper" and called it a day.

 

This cheapie Bulldog works well (I think I got it at Academy Sports):

 

I have a couple pieces from RCI. Quality work, but you might not have seen how I received the skid plate. Shipper had a hand in it too, but packaging was no bueno.

 

Mind me asking where you got your rear tailgate antenna mount at? Looking to relocate my GMRS antenna to the rear but haven't been able to find a suitable mount for it.

 

He recently told me he wasn't doing installs.

 

Had a discussion at the Toyota dealer about my front tires rubbing the lower valance. Their proposed solutions are to either take it off, or trim it so that it does not rub. I have already pulled it off last weekend to see how I thought it looked, and honestly I thought it looked weird so I put it back on. It would be ok with a TRD skid plate maybe. Trimming the corners to me is kinda meh. They say they are trying to work with me on a solution, but I cant get them to cut me a deal on the TRD skidplate no matter what I say lol. Least they could do is give me a discount? They are not budging though and keep saying to just buy it if I want it. I find that annoying as they made their money off me already selling me the truck and insisting on a warranty. Least they could do is knock a few bucks off that $400 plus pricetag. I dont want the lower valance off if I don't have the TRD skidplate to mount up. Im also not going to give them another $400 plus for something that should not be over $150.

 

Welds aren't that great on the trd skid. Shop around online or go with something aftermarket like RCI or others.

 

I believe it’s a caliraisedled one. It has worn through the paint where it contacts the tailgate big bummer but to be expected. Can probably find it on Amazon

I’m likely going to switch it out with a Rago fab on for the driver side cause the taillight covers make it a tight fit and the Rago one has better mounting supports

 

Yep, I am looking around. My main deal is how it exposes the hardware directly behind the valance. I would like something that has a finished look to it.

 

I saw footage of the bad DIY on @drtfabrication IG story... they looked gnar as hell! Nice upgrade though. Derik is a badass. Also, want a set of DRT hammers badly.