List of Dumb(awesome) 3rd Gen DIY Projects.

I know a lot of these projects are floating around but I thought it would be nice to have a list of all of the little projects I've taken on with a simple Mig welder, chop saw, and a grinder. Hopefully these inspire someone else the way other folks' posts inspired me.

Platform:

Welding Pipe was stronger and easier (for me) then cutting out 2x8s to size on the bandsaw. made the whole platform out of 1 sheet of birch 3/4, so that I could access the sides/corners while still laying on top of it. If you are going to carpet your platform, 100% spend the extra 10$ and get some heavy carpet pad to go under. Makes it so much nicer to climb around on. I swapped it out for a Decked, because I wasn't into to making my own drawers due to height clearance issues.

Gun/valuables safe:

No one make a good safe for the Tacoma that doesn't eat up the console and place things in the most obvious location. There are a million drawer safes for other trucks, I took the lowest in height and cheapest in price safe I could find on Amazon built for a CJ, welded on some angle iron for mounting points and drilled 4 holes through the floor. Spraypaint the holes of course to prevent rust. I ended up putting in 1/8 washers to raise the seat a bit in the rear but as long as you stick with a 3" max height safe you should be fine. Definetly could have been done without a welder, or drilling holes in the floor pan, just get creative.

Bed stiffeners:

Not sure if they help but I liked making them and they look cool.

Access cab rack thing:

Didn't want to buy a molle panel so I made my own. I just bent the flat bar to match the curvature of the rear panel. I have another post detailing this in which someone was kind enough to post a picture of the naked cab with out the panel for mounting locations.

Snugtop Light:

Looked on CL for 6 months before I sucked up and dropped 3k on a new shell. If you get it, 100% hardwire the light to the battery so it is always on when needed, versus the way snug wants you to wire it to the running lights.

Paper towel holder:

My pride and DIY joy. 100% my favorite and least necessary mod to my truck.

Bed Mounts for Max/XBulls:

I liked these wacky bolts I made a lot better then the other projects I saw online. Simple ebay bed rail nuts for the female side, though I'd probably just grind down my own nuts to fit the channel next time.

Shovel mount/Hand Sani mount/paracord under the rack mount nuts.

 

There some good stuff there.

 

Excellent mods. The between the rear seat rack is awesome.