What Have You Done To Your 3rd Gen Today?

I appreciate the info, I'm leaning that direction. Any chance you have a pic of how they look?

 

Washed this morning.

 

Too dark for a photograph, but first time I had to scrape the windshield. Always fun finding the scrapers in the garage every year.

 

Have any of you used InstaGram vendors to buy parts? If so, good or bad experience?

 

Quick blackout upgrade seeing as its so nice out today.

 

I block every single one that follows my truck account. Each one is sketchy as hell, I really wouldn't trust them. They just steal photos from Marketplace or Craigslist and scam folks into believing they're legit.

 

Copy that. That’s enough info for me… TY

 

Not a bad idea, but I figured I'd sell off the Rigid lights and bezels to off-set the cost of the upgrade.

 

OEM Homelink is pnp on all 3g's.

$279 Gentex GENK45AMB5 Plug & Play for 2016-2018 Toyota Tacoma with Auto-Dimming, Compass, HomeLink5 & Blue Backlit Buttons

Gentex GENK45AMB5. The buttons and compass also match the dash lighting. The homelink buttons are always hot with the factory setup, but I believe Bobs Mirror's makes a pnp harness that bypasses it so it's only hot when the truck is on. Here's a bad (old) photo of mine but it's the only one I have that has the mirror in it:

Only other person I've seen that has restitched the knob. Looks great.

 

I just paid mine off last week . It's awesome!

 

Aside from paying off my truck last week, between yesterday and today I change the oil (I have

$50 ValvoMax Oil Drain Valve - Quick Twist Oil Drain Plug for DIY Oil Changes At Home in 10 Minutes - No Tools, No Mess, No Cleanup - M12-1.25 Thread Size - Made in USA

quick change valve) I recommend the valve highly and I'd ng aluminum foil under the filter for a basically measles oil change.....also gave the girl a nice wash and ceramic wax.

I also learned I should not let leaves and rain stay on my hood for a week.... it leaves orangeish stains that requires a stripping of whatever wax you have on it and one of those bug tar sponge things to remove.... That and about an hour or two of time.

 

New sunshade!

 

I just finished installing my non-OEM skid plate I got on Amazon for like 165 bucks. It would have been a faster install had I figured a couple things out. 1st, buy it. It's fine. 2nd remember the bolt pattern:

Front of truck gets medium bolts and smaller spacers
Middle gets large bolts and large spacers
Rear gets small bolts and no spacers.

NOTE: Mine came with 3 long spacers (instead of 2). I used that one to pound down the lock washers. I doubt that's why they included it but I'll take the win.

Go to the hardware store and bring one of the allen screws with you for the oil filter door. It doesn't ship with an allen wrench. Buy said allen wrench so you can change your oil like a boss.

Remove the OEM TWO skid plates.

Next remove 4 bolts per this picture. The instructions are B&W photocopies and you can't see the arrows:



Now for your new skid plate.

When you put the lock washers on over the spacers, knock them down about 1/2 way down the threads. I smashed mine all the way to the bottom, making the bolts nearly impossible to screw in because there was no slack. If you knock them half way down you'll be set. Seriously, this made my install suck. I'm still a little angry about it to be honest.

Use a floor jack to hold it.

When you go to mount the skid plate, finger tighten the front bolts first, JUST enough to catch a few threads. Move to the middle and finger tighten those. I would leave the rears off at this point.

GRADUALLY screw in each bolt a little and move to the next one. You want the plate to go straight up and level. When the plate gets closer to the frame, finger tighten the rear bolts. Once all bolts are in, keep tightening each bolt a little and move on to the next bolt. Keep doing this all the way around. Eventually you'll have it on.

I'd say the install took me an hour and half or so by myself and I did it while working from home so I would do a little, go in the house and check my email, do some work and come back to it. I also did it in the rain.

This is the one I ordered. When I placed the order a few days ago they were running a 10% off sale on it so it was $172 with tax and free shipping.

ECOTRIC Aluminum Front Skid Plate Protection Compatible with 2016-2023 Toyota Tacoma Off-Road Pro Sport SR5 Replacement for PTR60-35190, PTR60-35160

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LKQ6FVW?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

The instructions that come with it are B&W photocopies of the OEM skid plate. They are fine with the exception of the picture I posted above.



ANYWAY, I got the knock off skid plate installed today. Hard Tonneau Cover arrives tomorrow and I'll do it when I get home from work.

 

Thank you soooooo munch for that detailed explanation. I’m going to order mine tomorrow. Really appreciate the help and the time you took explaining the pitfalls!

 

My pleasure.

When I thought I was done I stood back to admire my handy work and the skid plate wasn't level. It hung down too far to the right in the front. And I cranked down all the bolts so that was weird. I had to unscrew all the bolts until the thing was hanging loose and retighten. My bolt heads are a little rounded from how much I tightened and loosened them but it seems to be good now. I'll check them in a month or so as the truck gets driven a little and everything settles.

Hit me up if you have any questions but it's seriously a good kit and a pretty easy install. It's not fast, but it's not difficult.

 

I like that TRD down in the lower corner. Nice touch.

 

I feel your pain. Had the same issues this time of year with my white 2004...maddening.

 

I use these flexible funnels for the 2.7 filter i have a front trd skid so the 2 pack works great with no mess i also have that valvomax drain i love it

Nayciiy Silica Gel Flexible Funnel Flexible Draining Oil Funnel Tool Foldable Form a Funnel Free Oil Filter Reusable General Funnel Tool - Flexible Funnel for Oil Change (Green-1)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BW8ZBF58?smid=A1O43JZ4KHHA37&th=1

 

Awesome, thanks brother. Nice looking truck. Are those DuraTacs?