What Have You Done To Your 3rd Gen Today?

Finally got my skid plate installed today, easy install and big improvement over stock skid plate.

 

Just installed 2 sets of Hikari Ultra's (low and highs). It is a bright and sunny day but the difference is dramatic. I will have to wait until tonight for my final judgement. It's looking good. The right side are the Hikari's, the left is stock.

 

Hikari are awesome, you will not be disappointed

 

smittybilt 10k
Not too bad but get some ratcheting wrenches.

 

How's the color match with the plastidip? can you notice a difference?

 

No temp control but I also have a bluetooth thermometer in the cap to make sure the pup is at a good temp

$25 Lasko MyHeat Personal Mini Space Heater for Home with Single Speed, 6"es, Black, 200W, 100

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XDTWN2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Bluetooth thermometer

$15 Govee Bluetooth Hygrometer Thermometer, Wireless Thermometer, Mini Humidity Sensor with Notification Alert, Data Storage and Export, 262 Feet Connecting Range

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R586J3...olid=3OSK4C0XVE4SZ&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

 

Got my race relations wheels in

 

Nice, I looked but didn't see them in your build thread. Did I miss them or care to share the details on them?

 

I went with the Smittybilt X-20 with synthetic line and a wireless remote. The control box needs to be mounted on to the left side per instructions. I used silicon and locktight to re-do the electrical connections. I also used silicon to place the square nuts into the slots for mounting, so they didn't move around. Besides the fairlead, the two bolts closest to the front of the bumper need to be threaded first. For the SSO slimline, you need to stand the bolts up in the holes and rest the winch on-top. You can finger tighten the bolts until they're all in, and then wrench them down.

Link: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...nstall-guide-how-to-article-with-tips.545427/

Video:


Edit, another install video posted here

After watching the above videos on YouTube, he said after mounting the control box in a place, you bend the wires to connect them to the winch, but the wires feel like they come loose in the control box. Sure enough, I tested it and the wires came loose.

So, before I mounted the control box, I opened it up and fixed the connections. I removed one wire at a time, applied silicon grease to the wire connectors, applied locktight to the nuts, and tightened the nuts down.

Then I mounted the control box with a long screwdriver (required to get under the box). I used medium locktight for those little screws because they tend to back out over time.

I also used silicon grease and locktight when connecting the wires to the winch. I should be good to go now!

Don't forget that the rope needs to go through the fairlead and bumper before spooling it onto the drum because of the hook. It also needs to be re-spooled under 1000 lb or so load.

 

And I am not ! Just tried them out in the dark and they are amazing. They have a crisp cut-off and are dramatically better than stock. The headlights don't need adjustment. I am not blinding others and I even passed a cop without being arrested.

 

Thanks. I’ve watched that vid like 3 times. Still not sure I want to do the winch. But I guess now is the time to do it as I have The whole front apart.

 

If I get reincarnated as a dog, I hope that I wind up with a hoo-man like you. ​

 

Pulled the bumper caps off today and painted them.

 

Here is another video for the x-20 winch (install starts at 4 minutes):



Make sure that you turn off both switches (remote and control box) so you don't drain the remote battery (A23 if you need a replacement) GL!

 

How did you color match?

 

I installed the TRD skid plate (not sure if was called a "Pro") on my 2020 TRD OR right after I bought it. Haven't done the first oil change yet (will at 5K) but the TRD unit has a removable panel to get to the oil filter and a hole to drain the oil and it looks good...love the red letters since my Taco is white!

 

How hard was it to remove them? Looks like they turned out great.

 

Are these the best led bulbs to get in the original reflectors? I thought getting led bulbs required a reflector specially made for the leds?

 

Pretty much yes, after reading this thread. I am pleasantly surprised and they are a huge improvement as others that have installed them will confirm.
I do think it might be a bit of a compromise but I just could not stomach spending $2k on OEM led head light units and replacing the almost brand new stock units. And I am not a big fan of the huge "Dodge Charger DRL's".
Alternatively I could have gone for HID lows, but I have not been lucky with aftermarket hid's.

 

Installed a curt front mount hitch to put on this SnowBear snow plow. To anyone who thinks a Tacoma can’t push a plow you are mistaken. This thing can handle 16” of snow with ease.