Basic Mods on Sharpie's Sport

So, I've about got all my basic 'must have' stuff done... well, ordered at least. This thread shall be for my pictures as the parts go on. First, as it was stock off the lot (with the 6x10 trailer it's got to haul around). I'm a little in love with the color, the color matching and the wheels.


I had the Leer canopy put on today, will take pictures tomorrow. Now I'm just waiting on the step sliders and light bar from AVID and the bug guard and window visors from Weathertech. I'd LIKE to do a small lift somewhere down the line, but it's going to have to wait a few months until I get settled in my new place and for me to figure out what will work best with towing. Oh, and some seat covers, at some point, type still TBD.

The only other thing still up in the air is that I want/need to get the TSB done on the rear leaf, but haven't had the time to plan out how to get a load so that I can bottom it out and get the bumpstops to mark up and show that yes, they really need to do it for me. Doesn't help when it's crap weather and I don't feel like loading anything.

 

Looks good Felt Pen

 

Where in eastern WA are you from?

 

It's actually pretty easy to bottom out the truck.....

Put 5 adults (larger the better) in the truck and find yourself a shopping center or school with speed bumps. Go over the speed bumps at what you consider a "regular speed" and you should bottom out. If not, repeat and go a little fast. Repeat as necessary until you get the desired effect. It should not take long.

 

Rofl, where should I put them? Access cab for the very reason that I don't like hauling people. For better or worst, most of the people I know are tiny women- it's an occupational hazard.

 

Alright, excuse the dust, this is only a week of driving the streets and highways around here this time of year. Makes washing it a little depressing when it gets so bad so fast.

 

Looks good!

 

Depends on when. I've spent several years each in Walla Walla and Pullman. I like Walla Walla better though.

I've got a plan now since I don't have many large friends. I do, however, have many boxes of books (4-5 book cases full) packed and ready to move. I think I'll load those in tomorrow and go down to the local Ace hardware- their speed bumps are pretty hellish. I'd like to get the fourth leaf on there before I have to drive 2000 miles with a loaded rig and a full tongue weight riding on the suspension... that long on the bumpstops sounds like misery to me.

We'll see what the dealership has to say early this week.

I forgot how much I HATE waiting though, I want my other stuff now.

 

I recently made a trip to walla walla to pick up some tires off of CL. Im from the tri-cites and the dust is horrible here too.

BTW what toyota are you going to have the tsb done?

 

Well, having an Access Cab does make it a bit more of a challenge, just put as many folks in there as you can fit and go for the speed bumps. If you need more weight, go to your local home center and pick up a couple bags of mulch, at least that way, when you are done you can have some fresh mulch in your flower beds.

 

Likely Toyota of Pullman, depends on how they want to play it though.

Well, I've got the bumpstop marks on the frame now. Hopefully that will be enough for the dealership folks. They were all "We pride ourselves on our customer service" when I bought it three weeks ago, we'll see how that carries through. Sad/funny thing is, I only put about 600lbs in it, and I went over the speed bumps slow, like I normally would even empty. It's not like was was off-roading with an ATV back there, which it should handle anyway. I know the canopy and I count towards payload too, but that's still only about 900lbs... can't imagine what it would do with another 400lbs! I was hoping I'd be one of those going, "Oh yeah, I put 700lbs in it all the time, doesn't bottom you, you all are idiots." Too bad that's not the case.

Before


After boxes and picking up 100lbs of bark for the yard


Marked up, looks more dramatic in person


I figure I'll call them tomorrow (closed Sundays), ask if they want me to bring it in loaded or empty. See how it goes from there.

ETA: Saw this Taco while getting the bark, made me do a double-take, then say hi to the owner who was wondering why I was taking a pic of her truck, lol! Nice lady though. First pyrite taco I've seen in person other than mine.

 

See, told ya it wouldn't take much.

My dealership gave me no push back at all about getting the TSB done, but they totally screwed up in getting prepared to do the work.

I made an appointment to get the suspension TSB work done, and that was the only reason I was putting the truck in the shop. They did not order any parts until AFTER I dropped off my truck and they wound up having it for 3 days.....

The sales people at my local dealership (Koons of Westminster, MD) were top notch and a pleasure to deal with, but EVERY time I've had it in there for any type of service, there have been issues. The work that has been done is not the issue, it's all problems with communication.

 

I called the service manager, he told me there was a TSB about this and to drop it off at my convenience so he could have a tech look at it. Then he'd order the parts, 2-3 days until they come in, and they could take care of it. He said it's two new leaves (leafs?) and four shocks? Is that true? I though the new shocks was only on the base and SR5, but not the TRDs because the TRDs already come with the good ones? Then re-alignment of course. I'll be dropping it off early tomorrow, but want to be sure to ask about the shocks and know what SHOULD be going on/done to my rig.

And my weathertech window visors and bug guard shipped today.

ETA: Saw ANOTHER pyrite taco today at the gym, it was a DC SR5 or base model though. Who'd have known they were so popular here in the middle of nowhere?

 

Everything they told you sounds right. The TSB will add 1 new leaf spring to each side. If you have a TRD you already have the correct shocks.

 

TSB all done, and the window visors came and are on. Still waiting on the bug guard though, pictures to come when that arrives and is put on. I got an email from AVID that my order from them is in progress.

 

post pics once the avid goes on, i wanna see it all come together... nice truck btw

 

Here's with the rear leaf TSB, window visors, and bug guard added. Now just waiting on the AVID stuff to get here. I'm still torn between just black rattlecan and some spray on bedliner for those. I might not decide until I'm standing in walmart looking at the cans... Maybe 1/2" lift? Barely noticeable at any rate.


They washed it when they did the TSB too. Not as detailed as I would have, but enough to get most of the dust and mud off.


Not sure I LOVE the bug guard look, but I do love not getting the front of my hood chipped up.

 

Hurrah! My AVID things arrived today, so now I can paint this weekend and then install next week. My plan is to do an alcohol wipe-down and then some spray on primer, probably Krylon. I still don't know if I'm gonna go just with the black rattle can or the spray on bed liner... I keep going back and forth. On the one hand, the bed liner would be more grippy, and on the other, it would be a pain to clean and clash with all the semi-shiny black on the truck already. The black rattle can might not look right either though, but would be easier to paint over if I don't like it. Ugh. I think this is harder than deciding which pickup I wanted.

 

Well that shouldve been easy taco above all others haha

 

Rough up the top of you bump stop. It will make it look like you bottom out alot.