What Have You Done To Your 3rd Gen Today?

I have yet to see a truck that those wheels don't look good on.

I am a little biased in that opinion though...

 

Not a good day for my Tacoma yesterday. Driving home from work and took an alternate route to avoid a wreck on the interstate. Sitting at a stop sign and the guy behind me was on his phone not paying attention and got me in the left rear. He apologized several times but "sorry" doesn't make it okay that you weren't looking where you should have been, nor does it fix my truck. Of course, it didn't do as much damage to his vehicle. As far as I can tell, I would need a part (or all) of a new rear bumper, tail light assembly, and the fender is creased in a little, so that might can be fixed and repainted. I don't think the frame was damaged but I'm really not sure. Gosh I sure hope it's not bent because I absolutely love this truck. We'll see what happens with repairs now that insurance is involved. I checked the tailgate and to my eyes it seems to be fine and not misaligned.

 

Got a link for those?

 

If that concerns you then you should be doing regular maintenance for her without her having to ask. Especially in cabin and engine air filters. Most are simple.

 

Had Husky xact contour on a few vehicles. They are good+. Way better than weather tech and oem I've had.

 

Installed a fuse block. I have a few more accessories to install so figured I should get this done.

I have a plan for the relays. Just need to get some hardware.

 

What I ordered, fits a 2.5" spring.

https://a.co/d/2SuGcBa

 

I am researching rubber hinge replacements for my 2023 factory tri-fold Tonneau cover. Although I am unsure of its history, it seems to have failed sooner than expected at just 2.5 years old. One hinge is definitely leaking, I'm still testing the other two.

 

This guy gets it

 

I don't entirely disagree but:

1. I said it happened. I didn't say it concerned me.
2. I let her fail sometimes because she learns from her failures and grows.
3. Now she knows to be more specific up front and check the receipt before leaving because changing her own engine air filter is something she does.
4. She's a grown adult woman with a career and a job and she makes her own money - good money. Better than I did when she was born adjusted for inflation.
5. She lives 150 miles away.

I have shown her how to do it, and she has helped me with other vehicles when she was growing up, but she figured that she was in for an oil change any way so she'd ask for the filter then too.

 

Well let's see, what does moisture held next to metal cause?

 

Simmer down sally. If you meant that not washing a vehicle makes it rust, you could just say that instead of making vague references to aging and claims of dirt holding moisture…
If you like washing your car, then own that. You don’t need to justify it. You just like it to be pretty and that’s fine.
To me age=mileage. Function and reliability are way more important to me than sparkles

 

I think…no scientific proof…clean paint will last longer. I personally don’t wash my Tacoma very often maybe 2 times a year as I choose to spend my time elsewhere. To me, a truck is a truck and mine doesn’t need to be shiny to do what I need it to do. If I have paint issues, I’ll deal with them. Would the truck possibly last longer with cleaner paint finishes and not have issues…maybe but that’s a future me issue.

I agree with you that nice cars should be shiny and clean. I feel like when you buy that kind of vehicle you sign up for that. Maybe a truck is the same. If you want it to be a rough truck and don’t car how the paint looks then so be it. If you care then keep it clean and waxed! Too each their own.

 

Hundred percent. I make tons of problems for future me! I’d sure hate to be that guy…
It’s always funny to me when people assume everyone has the same priorities. When I was 16, I used to polish the hell out of my AMC eagle that rolled off the line before I was born. I remember being at a self serve and the bay next to me had a rebuilt vintage hot rod dude was cleaning up for a car show

 

I think coming from Subaru I've been traumatized . Drove to the gym last night, we back into our regular spot and get out. As soon as I open the door a strong coolant odor from the ground. Freak out thinking it's the Tacoma so I pop the hood but no smell. My brother raises his eyebrow looking at me like I'm crazy. I ask him "don't you smell that?" He points at the car next to us, coolant dripping Dude driving acting like it's fine, drove off like nothing was was wrong. Funny enough it was an older STI.

 

But most dealerships aren't using ASE Mechanics to do cabin air filters no matter what they charge it's typically an unqualified "helper" some are good some are not, it's a crap shoot. If you can't change your own CAF, maybe you should be riding public transportation, no one is that busy either, make time, or pay the man!

 

I think sarcasm would be a better way to describe my post, maybe humor but it really wasn't that funny. But given the world we live in if some silly post on some internet form made me angry, everything else would have made my head explode by now.

 

Yeah my wife’s 2023 4runner gets washed at least bi-weekly due to it being a pavement princess. It will see some dirt roads from time to time but it’s never going to see any serious time off pavement. When it gets washed I also do all the door jams and a quick vacuum. Granted it’s a brown bear wash so it’s quick…but helping the paint and her car last a little longer. My truck I’m just not that concerned with. I will put a sprinkler under my taco from time to time just getting road grime and dirt off of it. I’d rather spend time doing mechanical things to my truck or driving it than detailing it. A good wash every so often with a vacuuming and wiping interior panels seems to work ok. One of the last trucks I traded in the salesman looked at it and said “this thing looks like it’s been driven through the woods” I replied with a quick “that’s because it has”. I use my trucks as trucks

 

Absolutely correct.
In most dealerships and shops people start as a laborer sweeping up and taking out garbage, then next to vehicle washing, then doing oil changes including all filters and same level is doing tire work. Most don't last a year or long enough to get promoted to where they start apprenticing to 1st year tech level.

 

Well…a little update on my Bilstein setup.
It has been 4 days since installing these, and the suspension has fully settled. Even got my rake back. I will say that I can no longer classify these coilovers as stiff in anyway. They ride awsome! Very glad I didn’t go 9/11 on the circlip and max out the preload.
These things soak up bumps so well, no matter the size. Here is a after installation and now pic (4days later)