What Have You Done To Your 3rd Gen Today?

I should be getting my 11” Alpine next week. I’ll probably do the install myself and I can take pics. My only concern is running the mic wire up the driver A pillar since I have the KTJO driver side grab handle and getting that bolt aligned isn’t easy. I may run it up the passenger A pillar.

 

I wonder if wrapping the backside of the mic with some Tesa tape, like they do in this video, would help sound quality: https://youtu.be/_GO2Zyr7Ecg?si=u-0jJqFV0O3k9Cp8

 

That is a good idea. I've tried a few fixes, but moving the mic was the ultimate solution for me. The Tacoma has a much quieter cab stock than the other cars I've tried it in so might be less of an issue. In the past it was an issue with both sound getting to the mic and the other person also getting some feedback.

 

looks good, Does the bed lined material cover the front of the topper? What about the top? I have an AG with a leer and I'm trying to decide if I want to break up all that green with some bed liner similar to the overland series. Thanks

 

Thank you for that explanation. I do mostly use my truck as a commuter but haul stuff with it on occasion so I’ll look into ordering some to help the little guy out

 

Think about it from this aspect. The typical pick-up truck bed has been of double wall steel for decades. Since the 2nd gen, Toyota has opted for a heavy composite bed which won't rust, combined with a steel shell (the outer fender). Which combination do you think is going to withstand stresses from loads pressing out against the bed walls, or being loaded up along the rails?
Every design makes choices, and being as how the Tacoma is marketed as a light truck, they chose the long term no rust option. The beds are fine for light use, but the extras that a lot of us choose to add or do with our Yotas mean that it's cheap insurance to use bed stiffeners to keep things square, and, incidentally, maintain the value of our investments.

 

I am an engineer, and have designed and built furniture I need, not just the designs others came up with that are "compromises". Truck bedsides are panels that are secured only the bottom where they meet the truck bed bottom and at the cab, when you think about it. You can cut up some cardboard and make a mock-up of the truckbed, then flex the most remote and unsecured parts of that mockup, then tape in some triangles at the far end to stabilize those flexing remote portions.

I give you this long explanation and suggestion so you can learn the engineering of braces, as anything you do in the truckbed will be subject to these same rules. As an example, here is a picture of reinforcement I put on the legs of a table because I wanted an open front of the table BUT the front legs would be subject to breaking off (well, under enough pressure).

I hope the picture and the experiment you try will show how a tine bit of creative bracing saves the day.

 

No just the stripe you see, It stops at the track on top.

 

Excellent.

 

If you have weight on the bed, equipment, RTT, racks, bikes, Kayaks and or anything else the truck was not specifically designed to support they are in fact a great idea.
My truck has less than 7k in it when I got it, and the bed was definitely out of square.
I also have a large rack on the bed (actually two) a full hard side aluminum tanaue cover, a shovel, axe, 4 gallons of extra gas, two gallons of extra water, two kayaks and two cargo containers full of recovery gear.
If you don't have anything on the bed or never go off road then it probably doesn't make as much difference.

 

The more I think about it, the more I think I should just do it. I plan to keep the truck well into the age that accumulated stresses on the truckbed will matter, even if just light stress for those years.

 

If I was putting weight on the sides with a topper or camper or rtt, I would buy bed stiffeners.
The tonneau holds my sides in place.

 

I was hesitant too as it required drilling holes in a new truck. To me, the long term possible cracking from not having them was a bigger deal than having a couple extra small holes in the bed. I have already used the added tie down spots that I gained from adding them.

 

What have I done to my third gen today? Paid it off. Feel's good to be financially free. My wife and I are young and newly married and now will start saving for a house!

 

Good move. Not having a car payment of any of kind is a great feeling.

 

This looks so good! I've been looking at this option for my AG (short bed). Thanks for sharing.

 

Thanks, turned out better than I expected.

 

Picked up my truck from the shop. Toyota had it for about 2 weeks fixing the damage from the accident. New front and rear bumpers, tailgate, and the plastic covers on the bed rails. Force of the hit shifted my cap back breaking the tabs that hold the cover to the bed rail. Total cost, just over $10,000, $900 of which was for recalibrating the sensors.
Need to go through the Smartcap and retorque the bolts. I'm hoping it wasn't bent somewhere and now leaks. Only had it on for a week before the accident. Lady at the Toyota place said if it does, and can't fix it, to bring it back and they will replace it.

On another note, my RCI rocksliders are coming in Monday. Tuesday they will be put on the truck.

 

No flares = SR... even on gen 1 tacos

It's the most attractive and unique trim. Bare bones, no frills, throwback style pickup truck.

Embrace the SR. It's beautiful.


If you really wanna trick folks get some flares... I would probably have bought an SR with the SX package if I had known it existed... my son got one ..

The SR SX.... the best bang for your buck

 

Any prep required to address those new holes that have to be drilled to prevent future rust issues? Thanks