What Have You Done To Your 3rd Gen Today?

Where did you get the pouch?

 

Wish I saw these 4 days ago. Before I re-soldered the connections after reattaching my grill... may still be worth getting.

 

Army Navy surplus store. Condor sidekick pouch.

 

How well does it fit? Any gaps between the rack and roof top? Decent quality? I want one but don't like the price of an OEM rack.

 

Need to use your brain a little on this. Worth it especially if your HD radio reception sucks you might like this!


Background:
The “shark fin” antenna is pretty but frankly is a piece of crap. This is because for an antenna to work it needs to capture the electromagnetic waves being transmitted and those radio waves have different wave lengths corresponding to their frequency. What this means is the length of the antenna makes a difference in how well it works, neither too short nor too long. If you live very close to the transmitter or it is very powerful the length of the antenna is not as important, but as you travel (drive around) or if there are hills in the way it does.

Ok back to the shark fin...it is at least 2 feet too short, indeed if your favorite radio station is 90MHz FM you want about a 2-1/2 foot antenna (quarter wave for the geeks). A shark fin is 2 inches with some coil magic to make it “think” it is longer. However the trickery makes anything but really strong signals even worse.

I am 18 miles from my favorite stations and while they broadcast in HD I only get HD intermittently. This is worse than not at all as I get a tease of great uncompromising sound and then slammed back into low def on and off. Toyota suggests “shut off HD!”

No no no, fix the antenna.


Fix:
I am experimenting with a true quarter wave FM antenna.

I mounted a temporary Real FM antenna:


Before, on the factory shark fin the radio does not pick up the HD, nor the data:

After Full HD glory!!!


I’m driving around to test it all out then plan to mount a power retracted true antenna. Will post it all to my build thread when done.

 

If you are thinking about it..... DO NOT take this set up Off road! Your "steps" will fold up the first time you come to a rock or dip! REALLY.

 

I put some black TPO bumper shellz on, I really like the way it blacks out the truck even more!

 

No good deed "GOES UNPUNISHED". Works every time. Ask me? I am not saying not to be good and do the right thing. But, you might be takin advantage of! Just say'n.

 

Welcome to TW.

 

replaced the front diff needle bearing with ECGS bushing today. What an amazing difference.!!! Interesting that the oil that was caught in the drain pan didn’t match the near 3/4 of a liter that was put back in? I purchased the oil from the dealership which was $23 When I called $46 when I went to pick it up then when I questioned it it was dropped to $30 which according to the parts guy the “best” he could do.
Had I of known that the factory screwed me out of at least 1/2 a liter I would have told the parts guy that it seems to me I have already paid for the oil when I bought the truck.
I think I have seen on here that others have thought the diffs are not full from the factory? Has anyone else seen this?

 

Lots of 3rd gen folks!

 

Seem ridiculous, I’m sure if I took it in for diff service they would put 1.6 quarts in it and charge accordingly.

 

SCS SR8 17X8.5 in gun mental and watching the sunset after a day at the beach.

 

Someone said something about Hurricane Survival Supplies... I think I’m ok.

 

You know, they have meetings and programs for that...

 

SCS F5

 

I had it regeared to Nitro 4.88. I didn't have any problems with the needle bearing after the lift, but since they were already in there, they replaced it with the ECGS bushing.

The regearing makes a big difference. I like it a lot. So far after 70 miles, there is no noise from the diff, no whining.

Great job by Martin mobile gears in SoCal.

 

I bypassed the meetings and called on the Almighty Jesus. That was 15 SEP 2000.

 

Looking good! Welcome to TW!