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New member checking in from VA Beach

Discussion in 'New Members' started by ardrummer292, Feb 27, 2020.

  1. Feb 27, 2020 at 3:03 AM
    #1
    ardrummer292

    #1
    ardrummer292 [OP] 500k or bust

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2020
    Member:
    #320484
    Messages:
    1,144
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    Male
    First Name:
    Austin
    Virginia Beach, VA
    Vehicle:
    2015 DCLB V6 A/T 4x4 1D6
    Overbuilt daily driver
    Hey all, just got my first Taco a couple weeks ago. I've wanted one ever since I saw the SF bubbas tooling around in them when I was in Iraq in 2010. Found a CPO 2015 TRD Sport and talked the dealer down to about 26k, which is a killer deal considering it only had 30k miles on the odometer.

    Now a question for you guys. It came with a few accessories, including a BakFlip G2, a Black Horse Off Road grill/brush guard, and some bolt-on step bars. I'm really glad I got such a nice tonneau cover, and I have no problem with the (honestly pointless) step bars. My concerns lie solely with the "damage multiplier" mounted up front.

    Should I remove the brush guard? I do like the look, but I like cheap(er) repair bills more.

    Alternately, does anyone make a brush guard that ISN'T a "damage multiplier"? In my mind, that could mean a few different things:

    1. Something that bolts to the bumper (and therefore moves with it). Should protect the bumper from scratches, dings, and very low-speed impacts.
    2. Something that mounts properly to the frame via full-length supports and/or welding. I know the ARB exists, but I'm not interested in turning a road-trip-mobile into something that it isn't.
    3. Something that mounts like most brush guards do, but is low-profile enough to impact a minimal number of critical/expensive components if bent. Think of a bull bar, but make it shorter and wider so it only covers the front bumper.

    I look forward to your replies!
     
    ardrummer292, Feb 27, 2020
    #1
    EdgemanVA, Bigdaddy4760, buckhuntin-tacoma and 2 others like this.
  2. Feb 27, 2020 at 4:47 AM
    #2
    Black DOG Lila

    #2
    Black DOG Lila Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2019
    Member:
    #296344
    Messages:
    9,116
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2003 Tacoma SR5 2.7 5 speed 4WD
    Stock. EZ pass.Dump pass.Inspection sticker.Convict printed lic.plates.FG cap.
    Welcome aboard. Heavy front bumpers multiply damage to vehicles hit by said front plow.
     
    Black DOG Lila, Feb 27, 2020
    #2
    FishnTx, Bigdaddy4760, buckhuntin-tacoma and 1 other person like this.
  3. Feb 27, 2020 at 6:43 AM
    #3
    buckhuntin-tacoma

    #3
    buckhuntin-tacoma Shed hunter

    Joined:
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    Dennis
    Quincy IL
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    4 inch lift - complete blackout, n-fab step bars, Black Horse bull bar, 20 inch light bar, anytime fog lights, added led day running lights, Fuel wheels and Falken Wildpeak tires ,custom fit seat covers, Gatorback mud gaurds
    Welcome to TW!
     
    buckhuntin-tacoma, Feb 27, 2020
    #3
    lynyrd3, FishnTx, Bigdaddy4760 and 1 other person like this.
  4. Feb 27, 2020 at 8:50 AM
    #4
    Bigdaddy4760

    #4
    Bigdaddy4760 Well traveled Older Than Dirt

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    Poolville Texas
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    Welcome to TW
    :hattip: :cheers:
     
    Bigdaddy4760, Feb 27, 2020
    #4
    lynyrd3, FishnTx and Taco critter like this.
  5. Feb 27, 2020 at 9:36 AM
    #5
    ardrummer292

    #5
    ardrummer292 [OP] 500k or bust

    Joined:
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    #320484
    Messages:
    1,144
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    Male
    First Name:
    Austin
    Virginia Beach, VA
    Vehicle:
    2015 DCLB V6 A/T 4x4 1D6
    Overbuilt daily driver
    Aye, I got that part. The "damage multiplier" moniker comes from the damage brush/grill guards do to YOUR vehicle during a collision. They tend to bend backwards, taking out your headlights, grill, and/or hood in addition to the expected bumper damage.

    My thinking is this: either find a brush guard that's effectively part of the bumper (option 1), find a no-sh*t push bumper that doesn't cost as much as an ARB or similar (option 2), or find a low-profile brush guard that isn't tall enough to cause extensive damage when bent (option 3).

    *EDITED TO ADD*
    The Avid front bumper guard looks like a valid option, going by the logic I used for "option 3" above. Am I right, or is the Avid just another "damage multiplier"?

    Unrelated: does anyone have a link to an "UltraGauge setup for dummies" thread or somesuch?
     
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2020
    ardrummer292, Feb 27, 2020
    #5
  6. Feb 28, 2020 at 5:51 AM
    #6
    boogie3478

    #6
    boogie3478 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
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    #140179
    Messages:
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    Vehicle:
    14 TRD Off-Road V6
    All the mods
    Welcome to TW!
     
    boogie3478, Feb 28, 2020
    #6
    lynyrd3 and FishnTx like this.
  7. Feb 28, 2020 at 9:16 AM
    #7
    Rescueninja

    #7
    Rescueninja Active Member

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    Jeremy
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    Welcome to the forum.
     
    Rescueninja, Feb 28, 2020
    #7
  8. Feb 28, 2020 at 9:16 AM
    #8
    FishnTx

    #8
    FishnTx ⚓️rather be feeschin⚓️

    Joined:
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    South East Texas
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    :hattip:
     
    FishnTx, Feb 28, 2020
    #8
  9. Feb 29, 2020 at 3:31 AM
    #9
    ardrummer292

    #9
    ardrummer292 [OP] 500k or bust

    Joined:
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    Messages:
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    Male
    First Name:
    Austin
    Virginia Beach, VA
    Vehicle:
    2015 DCLB V6 A/T 4x4 1D6
    Overbuilt daily driver
    Thanks for the warm welcome!
     
    ardrummer292, Feb 29, 2020
    #9
  10. Feb 29, 2020 at 4:31 AM
    #10
    lynyrd3

    #10
    lynyrd3 STRENGTH DETERMINATION MERCILESS FOREVER

    Joined:
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    East Central Upstate NY
    Vehicle:
    2008 SR5 AC SUPER WHITE V6 4x4 AT / 2020 RAV4 XLE
    Bilstein 6112s top setting ,Total Chaos UCAs ,1/4" top plate spacer driver side ,SS extended brake lines ,Old Man Emu Medium Duty Dakar leaf springs with AAL,OME carrier bearing shim , Bilstein 5125s for 2-3” of lift in rear ,Timbren SES bump stops , SS extended brake lines rear , Toytec dif drop , Hayden high performance transmission fluid cooler,aFe pro dry air filter .Baja amber driving combo ditch lights , Devil horns by Andres ,Weathertecs floor protector, American Racing wheels Baja 17x8,4.5 BS , 285/70 Falken Wildpeaks AT/3W .Body Armor rear bumper . Extra D rings in bed ,Blue sea fuse block and 100amp breaker ,HomerTaco custom grill in Super White , TRD radiator cap ,Birddawg Industries rear view mirror riser bracket ,Coverking NeoSupreme Mossy Oak seat covers , Paranoid Fabrications fuse /relay holder Painted pinch weld.Shorty antenna ,HVAC knob mod ,LED dome and map lights , Tri Fold bed cover ,UltraGauge ,Morimoto XB LED fog lights ,Energy Suspension poly body bushings and sway bar bushings ! Geartech Customs splash guards ,Salex center console organizer . Mobtown tailgate cap ,tailgate anti theft mod .X-Mat sound deadening/insulation cab floor . Mobtown weld on rock sliders 0* with kickout Raptor lined . ,NEW frame courtesy of Toyota !
    Welcome to TW :hattip:
     
    lynyrd3, Feb 29, 2020
    #10
  11. Mar 6, 2020 at 11:12 PM
    #11
    ardrummer292

    #11
    ardrummer292 [OP] 500k or bust

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2020
    Member:
    #320484
    Messages:
    1,144
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Austin
    Virginia Beach, VA
    Vehicle:
    2015 DCLB V6 A/T 4x4 1D6
    Overbuilt daily driver
    Last edited: Mar 6, 2020
    ardrummer292, Mar 6, 2020
    #11
  12. Mar 7, 2020 at 5:08 AM
    #12
    EdgemanVA

    #12
    EdgemanVA Well-Known Member

    Joined:
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    Virginia Beach
    Vehicle:
    2008 X-Runner
    Several
    Welcome! Always good to see more VB Taco owners!
     
    EdgemanVA, Mar 7, 2020
    #12
    ardrummer292[OP] and Casper66 like this.

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Pop & Lock – Power Tailgate Lock for Toyota Tacoma, Fits Models 2005 to 2015 (PL8521)
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