3rd Gen Mods & Tips

That's awesome

 

Saw this on the way to the airport this morning. Had to quickly grab a pic while there was a break in traffic.

Sir, surrender the plasti-dip and nobody gets hurt.

 

Oh no

 

Sweet!!

 

I think I am finished with stereo upgrade, in 2020 Tacoma Access cab, non-JBL, and want to post my experience.

Bottom line, suggest install Kicker Key amp with any speaker upgrade, and I am happy with Key amp and speakers, no need for Hideaway sub.

I installed Rockford Fosgate 6" component speakers up front and 6 in in rear doors. I think they are rated about 75 w and I installed sound deadening stage two (Butyl sheets to inside of 80% of the backside of all sheet metal, plus custom cut 1/8 in EDPM rubber, behind the door panels). Changing the 6 speakers with sound deadening, did not provide the outcome that I was hoping for. The bass was a bit better, the tweeters were WAY OVERPOWERING, such that I found it painful to listen to, and it did not appear to me to add any volume (except the screaming tweeters), nor did it noticeably improve quality of sound; to me it sounded worse, again because of the tweeters. I had not planned on installing an amp, but this was not acceptable.

Next step, I added a Kicker key amp, installed in the dash with using factory wiring and TT adapter harness, and powered the key amp directly off the radio power, makes install simple and clean, and is supported by amny before me on various TW threads. After fully setting up the Key amp, with the auto fader; WOW!! This setup dialed back the tweeters, and balanced out the speakers, I now have the gain for the front speakers at its lowest setting, and the gain for the rears at about 1/3 up, and the improvement to sound quality cannot be overstated.

I also prefer music from behind me, not just front; with adjusting the gain for the rears till they matched the front volume, and then using the head unit fader to go one click rear emphasis. the Bass tones are now more pronounced from the rear, and the sound is crisp, full, and surrounding. The quality of sound is so improved, that i have deleted several low res. songs from my music list; it is that much better.

I highly recommend the key amp with any speaker upgrade. There is something funky about this head unit, that changing speakers (maybe the sound deadening?) did not improve sound. The key amp electronic fader setup makes such a great improvement, it would be interesting to know what the amp might have done with factory speakers (as a budget upgrade).

Also note, that from reading many threads here, I had purchased the kicker hideaway powered sub and new speakers first, with plans to install sub under seat; but with disliking the speakers alone and adding the Key amp, I am not in any hurry to install that sub. I just can't imagine it will make the sound any better, with the bass currently plentiful, and clean. Even though I already purchased the sub, installed wiring plugs behind the dash to feed the sub, and cannot return the sub, I do not think it will be worth the effort to install it.

If anyone is wondering what upgrade to install first, I suggest that a Key amp should be experienced before a Hideaway sub, and caution if you plan to change tweeters without adding an amp (stick precisely to speakers that others recommend; which i did not do). NOT to be confused with installing a legitimate Boxed Sub, which would likely be an impressive upgrade, if you like bass and can spare the space.

 

Question regarding keeping a second battery for incidentals while camping.

Would it be a good plan to use the 100watt 120V plug in the bed while driving with a "spare" 12v LiFePo battery connected to a battery charger/maintainer.

I'm not interested in the complication of fitting a second battery permanently. And I also don't want to get up in the morning to find the vehicle battery spent.

Uses would be 55w heated blanket, and a light or two.

 

Am I seeing an entire truck covered in Plasti-dip ? If so, why do that ? I mean to each his own but …. why ?

 

So many good ideas!

 

Instead of going down that rabbit hole I'd just get a jackery or bluetti and charge it via your car charger.
I got the 1800w one and it stores ~1200watt hours, plenty for what you would need and can be recharged during the day.

 

Has anyone installed R4T front bumper caps, instead of cutting their bumper, during an install of a high-clearance bumper?

if so any issues with the grill becoming loose, specifically when going off road?

 

Might wrap the truck... protect the paint for the long haul.

 

Guess it depends on your definition of “long haul”

 

I have them on mine.. for some reason the driver's side one has never locked in well.. at some point (when its warmer and the plastics isn't as brittle) I probably need to pull the grill, pull back the fender flare and look deeper- but I think its popping loose because the grill is not well attached without the bottom mounting holes.

The passenger side seems perfectly fine.