Box Rocket - 2003 TRD Doublecab

<3

 

Adam, I notice you are not running a diff diaper, LCA skids, or a gas tank skid....you do some pretty gnarly wheeling, you dont think you need them?

Im just asking because Im not sure if I should spend money on those things if they are not needed. Way I look at it tho, better to have than to not have right?

TIA sir!

 

I'm digging the look of the graphite wheels, also maybe I missed it somewhere, but when did you put the light bar back on?

 

I don't think there is anything wrong with those pieces of protection but I personally don't think the LCA skids or diff diaper are necessary. Are those pieces better protected if you have them? Sure. But how often do you hear about failures resulting from the LCA's dragging on rocks? I can't think of any. LCA's can get tweaked and even crack in spots. The skids don't show any evidence of helping reduce that. When they get tweaked it's typically near the bushings and the LCA skids don't do anything to strengthen that area. When they crack it's usually the shock mount that develops cracks or when the rivets start to pull through the LCA body. There might be minimal benefit from the skids with the rivets area cracking and pulling through but not much if I had to guess. The skids also won't do anything for cracks at the shock mount. So basically the skids are cool, but 90% of people won't need them, and the ones who use their trucks hard enough to actually need extra protection there are probably already running aftermarket LCAs. I think Jerry is the only one making those that I'm aware of and I'm always impressed with Jerry's stuff and it's quality so this isn't a dig at him or his products at all. There are just other things to spend money on before those.

As for the diff skid. I won't argue that there are benefits to protecting the diff. The bottom of the diff is actually pretty stout and rarely gets damaged to a point that it causes issues. They definitely get dragged on the rocks a lot but they hold up pretty well unless your seriously pounding through the rocks. Even then the part that can get damaged is the mating surface where the diff housing attaches to the axle housing. That can sometimes get damaged and develop leaks. But personally I don't this it's that common. The area most prone to damage is the rear cover of the diff. The metal is not as thick as the rest of the axle housing or the cast housing for the diff and it can dent if you back into a rock with some force. So protecting that area can be a good move. Lots of people weld extra plate to that rear cover. The diff diaper will offer some protection of the rear cover too but most of the protection from the diaper is or the bottom of the housing which is one of the stronger areas. The othe drawback to the diaper is a reduction in clearance. It's not a big deal but it is a fact. You can pick and chose what is more important to you. No right or wrong answer IMO.

The gas tank skid is more worthwhile than the diff diaper or LCA skids IMO. The fuel tanks on our trucks are not in a great place if you want to keep them off the rocks and the stock skid on the gas tank is almost useless. Fortunately it's rare that a gas tank gets punctured but dents are common. My gas tank skid has a dent or two. So a gas tanks skid is not a bad idea.

This is all just one guy's opinion. Bottom line is you're not doing any harm by adding any of those things and there is a level of protection for sure, but for me I don't think they're necessary except for the gas tank skid. But if you want to use skids on the LCA and the rear diff, go for it! If I were, I'd buy them from Jerry. His diff skid and LCA skids are sweet.

It's a different lightbar. The TG one wouldn't fit over my 3 lights so that's why I cut it off. Bent a new one a few months ago and welded it on.

 

Awesome Adam! Thank you so much for you're input! I always like asking for advice from you!

 

Nice color on the rims. I've been wanting to do the trail editions bronze but don't know how that would really look on a black truck

 

I think it would look awesome!

 

suggest any brand of paint?

Duplicolor bronze with a clear coat??

 

I've used Rustoleum gloss black, Gold brite coat (on my Evo wheels) in the past, and Duplicolor Anthracite Wheel Paint. I liked the Rustoleum better than the Duplicolor. This graphite color is VHT Wheel Paint that I got at Autozone. I've been really impressed with it and I think it is my new paint of choice for wheels. I don't know if they have bronze or not. Bronze is kinda tricky IMO since it needs to be the right shade or it looks weird. It can easily look to orange (copper colored). A good bronze needs to be pretty gray with just a touch of warmth to the color. If you can find the right shade in the VHT, I'd go for it.

Edit: I usually spray 4-5 light coats of color, followed by 3-4 coats of clear.

 

The Duplicolor bronze is too "copper" in color I think. I actually tried that on my Evo wheels and didn't like it. I changed it to gold after that.

Here's the Duplicolor Bronze on my Evo


Changed them to gold.

 

Thanks adam. I'll let you know if I have any more questions since you've done a lot of wheels

 

This is a better shade for Bronze than the Duplicolor Bronze. If you can find something close to this it would be cool. The TRD wheels would be super unique in that color, I don't think I've seen anyone do them in Bronze.

 

FTFY

 

nice. I agree. that looks way better. Duplicolor looked more goldish.. Side note glass being sent tomorrow.

Any luck on yours?

 

No luck on glass for me. The guy on here that's selling the fiberwerx ones is AWOL. I don't think he's checking the thread and I've been able to text him a few times but he stopped replying. I know he was moving so maybe he's just busy. I'm hoping to hear back from him soon and maybe pick those up.

I like the fiberwerx ones ok but honestly I wish I could get a mixture of the McNeil and Glassworks fenders. I think the lines the best on the 4.5" GW fenders but the fender lip on the McNeils is a much more "finished" look. I wish the GWs had that same lip, then they'd be perfect.

Anxious to see yours when you get them on.

 

Watch for water bottles Mark.

Damn nice Evo Adam.

 

Hope I can get the snorkel looking good. Also been thinking about going to a muffler shop and have them route a tube to the bed.?? not sure

 

Thanks. the Evo was a super fun car. Nothing puts a smile on your face like a good 4-wheel drift. I'd like to get another Evo at some point. That black one got sold to pay for my Taco.

 

http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/inde...flares-4-5-flare-by-glassworks-unlimited.html

Check it out going to text you this also since only one set left

 

Ha, I got the strangest visual of dual Snorkels in the bed like those dual smokestacks peeps through on their gigantic duallys.