What Have You Done To Your 3rd Gen Today?

Installed my Christmas gift.
THULE Roof Rack.

 

Did you do a polish and wax after? Clay bar can introduce fine scratches into the paint while removing surface contaminants. It's always a good idea to do a polish after then a wax or other sealer to add protection.

4 hours to clay bar the truck? With a good clay bar and lube it shouldn't take more than 15-20 min to clay the whole truck (provided you don't have mobility issues). I'm really partial to the Chemical Guys clay bar products, they work great together. It really doesn't take that long, just do a decent wash first to remove the big stuff and a quick wash after. Then polish (another 25-35 min or so depending on cure time) followed by a top coat.

 

Ooooh… Fancy!

Now you gotta go goose ‘er into the cabbage to test out the new toys!

 

Wow it takes me at least an hour to just wash my truck! Clay bar takes another hour and still another hour to polish and another hour to wax, clearly, I'm doing something wrong!

 

The only time it's taken me that long is before I found the CG clay bar luber which actually stays wet on the paint. The Meguiar's kit is awful in comparison. I also chop the bar into fourths - bar seems to last longer this way and easier to work with. It's about a 10 min process to clay my tC with this, truck takes longer because it's huge, but still not bad at all. I do detailing as a side gig though, so maybe I'm a little faster than most.

 

Got my meso map lights and took a day time photo of my behind the grill lights. I ordered some 1.5" aluminum spacers to push the lights closer to the grill which will also make space for my horns, I had to flip them backwards to make space for the light bracket and they are really close to the radiator.

Edit: Just installed the map lights, I am so glad Meso listened to the customers and gave these lights a memory function to stay red or white.
Super easy install took maybe 15 minutes because I was going slow to make sure I didn't break any plastic parts.

 

I did the clay bar/Ceramic spray back in August for the first time and then applied a 2nd coat of the Turtle wax ceramic in September. It was well worth it. I applied it to everything. I was really happy with the results. Never had used it before. Still holding up after some very crappy winter weather and road salt. The second coat really did wonders. Even applied 3-4 weeks apart.

 

I for one would love to see some pictures of the spacers you used to push the lights closer to the grill.
My concern has been the lights being too close to the grill and losing cooling. I wish someone with a scan
gauge or ultragauge would do a before and after test.

 

Installed Heated Seats. Actually did the elements a few weeks ago. It was just way too cold outside to do the wiring.

 

As they sit right now they are 5" from the back of the grill so I feel 1.5" closer shouldn't hurt anything. My actual concern is putting more stress on the mounting points of the bracket by pushing the weight of the lights out further.
But once I get the hardware I will take more pictures with the grill off and what it looks like finished.

 

Damn, I wish. Started to snow here mid November, and that was my last wash so about 6 weeks ago. Same with my wifes RAV. They are both pretty black.

I actually have not used a brush or mitt on my 2016 Taco in the last year, just a pressure wand to remove the gunk after every off road trip. Been doing this for 4 years so far, and it seems no worse for wear. Still holds it's shine and no rust underneath. I pressure wash for 30 minutes including the entire undercarriage and wheel wells. Found a pressure wash station that is almost as good as a hand wash with bucket and soap.

Roads are still too slushy and messy, so no point doing it yet and the pressure wash station is about 10 miles away. So it's all messed up by the time I get home.

We are supposed to see some temps above freezing soon, so the roads might start to dry up a bit. Maybe sometime in January....

 

Tinted the front windows, bed LEDS and a screen protector are the only new things for a while.

I need to order a Bakflip mx4, but we needed new couches and that ate up some play money today.

I think I'm going to do a small lift at some point. Most likely Bilstein.

 

I really like your wheels.

 

Installed a Trailgate panel (which is great!) and a Pop n Lock tailgate lock (which is not working and is not great).

 

Thanks!

 

Quick cowl intake

 

"Installed" the OEM bed mat. No pics, everyone's seen them in action by now. Also, ran the truck through the touchless shit show, er, car wash. Apparently everyone else in town had the same idea today. You'd think "form two lines" would be a simple concept...

 

great pictures !! great pictures !! great pictures !! great pictures !! great pictures !! great pictures !!
great pictures !! great pictures !! great pictures !! great pictures !! great pictures !! great pictures !!
great pictures !! great pictures !! great pictures !! great pictures !! great pictures !! great pictures !!

 

Huh, I have never heard of the clay bar, spray thing.

I just wax twice per year with a basic Meguiar liquid wax. Just one coat, and no other before or after wax or shine products. Just too lazy to do more. I do put it on heavy, so it takes me 5 hours just for that single wax.

So whats the deal with the clay bar and spray stuff?

Does it replace traditional waxing, or is it used in addition to waxing?

 

Installed the Xtrek grille.. used some cheapo stick on for temp lettering but ordered the BJ70 Land Cruiser emblem that is perfect fit . Will install new emblem once it’s here