Wisconsin Tacomas and bad financial advice

Anybody need something from RockAuto anytime soon? Just got new pads and rotors. If I planned this right, they'll be here just in time for next week's heat wave.

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Shoulda said something I have a code that expires the 19th.

 

We completely support everyone's recovery here!

 

Getting used to the cold, out for a snowshoe today.

 

This code I got is the only reason I took the bait lol I wasn't planning on buying new ones til spring. Appreciate it though!

 

How low are your pads?

 

Don't you work at a dealership? Where is the love? Do they hate you or something? A student of mine from years past works at the local dealership and is car of the month guy...

 

Found this video on alignment on our truck.
A good explanation on how the adjustment cams work.

https://youtu.be/oH7x7d83TQc?si=naa_RuaXSsQh2P5K

Please note, this is not about what are good numbers to look for.

 

This was roughly 6 months before I started at the dealership. It was one of the final things that got me so pissed off about the industry as a whole. I decided to get in and do something about it. At least for me. It's tired of supposed experts had Firestone and Plaza and certain other dealerships f****** everything up. They touch. All of the name of trying to make an extra dollar. Turns out if you're just honest with people, they'll come back to you and you'll make all the money you'll ever need. But far be it for me to try and still that in other people. So I can only do it between myself and my own customers. And my own vehicles of course lol

 

It's too bad that more businesses don't take that same approach.

 

That's why my brother went on his own as a mechanic. He hated seeing people being screwed.

 

So I need some bad financial advice...

I'm getting more serious about upgrading a thing or three on the truck.
I need sliders. I thought there was a place in WI that makes them, which would save a bundle on shipping, but last I recall, they don't sell bolt ons for trail limos. Any thoughts?

Since I have a couple nice Dobinson front springs, I'm thinking of finishing out that setup with Dobinson IMS. I have no idea where to even start with that. I'm thinking 2" lift.

Kinda thinking of a rear bumper and one of those mini front bumpers like James has.

Thoughts on how to spend?




Oh, and I'm thinking of upgrading to a bigger camper...
(indoor shower is appealing to the wife unit)

The Pleasure Palace, while great for what I needed, may be available.

 

Even when I'm not looking to buy a Tacoma or a 4Runner, I have notifications going on CarMax and Cars.com. I think it took me 6 months to get my Tacoma, and even then I had to put money down sight unseen (it was listed as "blue" and "good condition" and I did not want Calvary Blue). The 4Runner was a fluke. I had been watching for about three months and was looking to have one shipped from Denver when I got a notification while I was on the website. Instead I had that new notification one shipped to Kenosha and the rest is history.

I should start a side hustle locating Toyotas for interested parties.

 

Totally this. I've bought my last 4 cars from CarMax. No salesperson bullshit, no price haggling or extended warranty arguments, and if I don't like the vehicle I can actually return it. Granted, their prices and trade-ins aren't exactly Kelly Blue Book, but there's also no $10k dealer markup for a few decals and mudflaps.

EDIT: This reminds me. I had a friend working at a Lexus dealership always trying to get me a "deal". He had nothing but good things to say about Lexus, his job, and the people he worked for. A year later he quit and took a job with Acura, then slammed everything Lexus/Toyota and the business. I just asked my wife what dealership he moved to and she said "Oh, he's back at Lexus".

So yeah, not about to trust any dealership any time soon. I'm sure there are exceptions...

 

FWIW.
I went 2.5"F - 1.5" spacers.
It left me with .5" rake.
When I upgrade the front coilovers I'm dropping it down to 2".
That extra 1/2" isn't gaining anything. Hurting more, really, and I'd like a little more rake.

 

2" of lift is a good target. Wouldn't go bigger, that's when the headaches start to really get serious.

Don't know what Dobinsons springs you have but the IMS kit is hard to beat. I'd do it. Probably go with their suggestion on one size up for the rear leaves on long bed and that would also give you less squat when towing (depending how big your new camper is going to be). Factor in getting upper control arms too.

Did a quick search on sliders for the trail limo, several good options. Demello, RCI, BAMF, CBI. I don't have time to deep dive on details today at work but suggest reading carefully on instructions for mounting. Some may require drilling the frame even for the bolt-on versions, depends how you feel on that.

Lots of options for rear bumpers so I won't go too much into that other than I really like mine from At The Helm. If you want a "mini" style front bumper I just added one myself from Relentless but they only come on group buy and it takes 1+ years to get them. There aren't many options left any more for the mini models. I know SSO made one (possibly still do) but they also just transitioned owners and lots of delays. I don't recall other options because none suited my style tastes but there are a couple more out there if you search.

 

What I like about our small dealership is that it's literally just us. We're not part of a larger chain or one of those mob dealerships that own 10 different places. Plus most of the sales people are totally cooled Brian customers out into the garage so we can actually show them what they want to see on a vehicle they might buy. And I have no problem telling people if they're looking elsewhere. Look wherever you want but bring it in here so I can show you what they did or did not do to it.

Spacers are definitely bad financial advice

 

@Crikeymike at Exitoffroad.com

He can set you up with the remaining parts you need and instructions. They're a couple of people on here with spring compressors.

 

@Crikeymike is legit

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