What Have You Done To Your 3rd Gen Today?

They did. It’s called sport mode!
Half joking.

 

Got some new shows for the truck. I think I got one hell of a deal. I had to source the rims and tires separately, but I'm happy with the purchase, with a total install of $2200. The pics do not do the rims justice. I think they are sick in person.

 

That’s good price tag for wheels and rims.

 

Installed and modified bed stiffeners.

 

Retired my ball hitch for the D ring pictured here ^^^^^^

 

Semantics, but that is a bow shackle. Not a D-ring. Just me being a know-it-all. They actually do work differently though.

 

I’ll make a D ring out it.
Hold my beer. Lol

 

Do like @roadie . Bow shackles are better at side loading.

 

I have the two up front. But I know virtually only one bolt holds them in place, nothing welded to the frame. So when pulling stumps I used the tie down that comes with the vehicle. I pulled mostly in reverse. Game of friction when pulling stumps. 8 inch was the biggest one but that smaller 7 inch sumbiotch was a stubborn one.

 

10/10 would do again.

 

Good eye there sir,
Yes the D-shackle is designed for straight line pulling, like at the corner of a trailer box being lifted by a crane etc.. Where as a Bow shackle is designed to take up to a 45* angled load and or multiple straps (V angled)...

This from Keble's Trading:
Bow shackles are commonly employed in rigging systems where multiple ropes, slings, or chains need to be hooked up. Conversely, D shackles are frequently used in towing operations, industrial lifting, and anywhere a robust, single-direction force is the order of the day.
https://www.keblestrading.com.au/blog/bow-shackles-vs-d-shackles-understanding-difference/#:~:text=Bow shackles are commonly employed,the order of the day.

 

Yea magnets front and rear

 

Went with Black mirror caps today.

 

Finally modded my rear diff breather. Ended up putting a filter on it and zip tieing it to the gas filler. It is hidden behind the gas fill trim.


Also swapped out my front diff and transfer case fluids and swapped the diff plugs for the Lexus versions. There was a lot of sludge on the diff magnet and both fluids looked a bit dirty. 36,000 miles on the truck so I assume it's mostly initial break in gunk.

 

yes. surprised you are waiting that long to do the diffs. regular use diff fluid interval is 30k. towing interval is 15k.

 

Installed this tire mount a few weeks ago for my 285/75/17 spare and it is well designed and easy to install. Only negative was I had to remove the camper shell mount bracket to slide the tire mount into the channel and had to make sure I had the right size socket for tbe lug nuts the kit comes with.

 

Black TRD skid plate!

 

Few fun and not so fun ones this week:

start with the not so fun: front body mount bushings were destroyed, truck has 29k miles on it, 99.9% of that has been on road so no reason for these to be decimated already. Replaced with Energy Suspension setup 9.4102G. Riding way smoother and no clunking over small potholes in the front end. If you look close at the OEM metal bushing sleeve, you can see either the frame or the body was grinding a divot out of the sleeve itself, pretty crazy for a measly under 30k miles.






fun! Pulled the trigger on a set of 295/70/17 tires, Milestar Patagonia XTs, they are SO quiet compared to the AT4Ws and have been great in the rain so far, highly recommend. Looks speak for themselves, definitely need a brake pad and rotor upgrade with the extra heft lol.

 

Love the Arizona Green Tea looking thing @K9tacoma

 

That is nuts. From the looks of it I would guess they weren't properly tightened down. The off-roads even have beefier bushings than the other trims.