What Have You Done To Your 3rd Gen Today?

oh hey there tinkeres design shifter. Had one on my tundra and getting one for my tacoma.

 

I do not have any s***/junk drawer that is organized. But I do not believe that is the point.

 

New backup cam for hitch-mount MTB rack.

Having just installed a new Snugtop Rebel shell, I have to use a hitch rack for my MTB's. That's all fine and well and I picked up a near-new Yakima from Offerup.
The rack now lives permanently on the truck. Welp, whether there are 1 or 2 bikes on the rack; or it's stowed upright while not in use, the rear camera is 90% blocked from seeing anything due to the rack.

Since I've become accustomed to it, I decided to pick up the "tailgatecamera.com" plug-and-play camera to regain my rear vision since the topper and rack and lift are all obstacles to the view. Full cost was $171 shipped to CA.

The kit comes with all hardware needed, a shabby little paper showing the install schematic and a 25' length of cable in case you want to mount it somewhere really far? There are a myriad of videos on how to do the unplug-the-old and plug-in-the-new, just search YT. My post is to show the difference in the view Before and After with the new camera.

Pics show the differences. I tried many spots and landed on the top of the rack itself, as it gave the best overall rear-view with the rack up and down. The guide lines are there by default, and if you don't want the lines, there is a little wire loop to simply snip and they go away.

The resolution is way better with this new camera over stock, and the distance lines are crisper and further out. It is a little more "fish-eye" but I'll get used to it. Also since the camera is not showing the bumper like the factory one does, there's gonna be a learning curve to how close I actually am to the objects behind.

 

Jmneill recently teased me...

"You're wanting the jeep guy to "come out" while you're running around in a truck with pink nipple rings? "

So, I've decided to paint them to kinda match the truck with some FDE bake on finish that I had handy

 

What are you all doing for a recovery point on with the stock front bumper? What are my options?

 

Couple options out there but the ARB is the undisputed king of front recovery points for the 3rd gens rocking the stock front bumper

 

Is that the camburg spindle or just a gusset welded on?

 

ARB is designed to dive back/down in a front collision (like crumple zones) to save additional frame twisting.

 

Bored sitting in my lawyer's office on the 5th floor. Decided to take a pic.

 

You should have centered the picture on your Kia.

 

BTF Fab LCAs, TC cam tab gussets, TC spindle gussets, Bison Fab stop cams, and War Fab fabricated tie rod jam nut.

 

Not exactly how I’d hoped for today to go. Driving back from a work assignment and a bonehead sped thru a red light. I tried to stop once I saw him, but it wasn’t enough in half a second. Clipped the front of my Tacoma and went on to crash into 3 other vehicles, some getting much more damage than I did. Thankfully I am okay, just frustrated if nothing else. Obviously grille/bumper is destroyed, fenders and hood are bent as well. Driver door is crunchy opening against the fender. I don’t think it bothered steering/suspension, as it drove fine coming home. I just hope there’s no frame damage.

 

Finished my DIY deck. Think it came out great.









Cigarette, USB. Right switches: Bottom- drawer lights, Top- upper bed lights.

 

Damn! That sucks! Hope the bonehead at least has insurance, and hopefully no frame damage.

 

Nice view from the office!

 

What a shame for such a good looking vehicle....

 

This is sick dude

 

Dang it. That Sux. Hope everything works out with their insurance for you.

 

Sorry that happened. Ouch. I think I'd cry (after swearing).
My non-expert view from having 2 other people crash my 4Runner is that your frame and suspension will be fine. Start seeking a good bodyshop as they will check that all out and your future satisfaction will be in their hands. You can work through your insurance company not the other person's; they are often more interested in working with you and will collect from the other side.

 

I actually have one of these for sale. Brand new lol