What Have You Done To Your 3rd Gen Today?

Finished the auxbeam install just need the dash piece to come in to put the switch in. Also started bumper build but waiting until tomorrow to take my time cutting the stock bumper off.

 

New Falcons on with Icon AAL.


Rear done, now to start on the front.

 

I just changed out the grille. Other than fog lights and new wheels, this is the only cosmetic change that I wanted to do. I was going to hold off for a '24 PreRunner, but the wait, dealership markups, missing rear doors and price tag on the 4th Gen made this mgm '23 SR V6 irresistible.

Last weekend I did the VLEDs VTails V6 Triton tail light conversion. Awesome! This is how Tacomas should come from the factory. I love the amber turn signals and "don't hit me" brake lights, and the backup lamps are pretty good for switchback bulbs. I also did a simple LED 3rd brake light and wired in a brake controller module.


BTW, the oil stains are from a previous tenant.

 

yep. Took it out to a trail in the back yard and works great. Going to see how long they will last

 

trail limo

 

I hope it's a god upgrade and not just TRD hype. My understanding is the newer FOX models have 1.5" lift vs 1" on the earlier models. The Eibach gave me 2" so I'm ok with the chg, can also add the Westcott later.

 

Asking for a friend, how did you bend it back, it looks like it would take a lot to bend it in the first place. Like if you tried to pull a basketball post out of the ground.

 

I know they are on the 4Runners, but unsure about the Taco's. They definitely could be. I know I'm about 1.7" lifted up front with my ADS coilovers and my Pro buddy has the Westcott lift on his and we're about the same height. The specifics don't really matter tho as long as it looks good and rides/handles well.

 

This.

 

Nice! I love that setup! One of my favorites I’ve seen so far… I’m still running ridge grapplers and love them but damn those are so badass

 

Thanks. Yeah these are really great not only in mud but getting over obstacles they’re super sticky when aired down. Plus they look good doing it.



Took this for reference of the improved articulation with the sway bar delete.

 

I have been using Rain-X windshield washer fluid for about 4-5 years now. Really sheds water. I can drive at highway speeds in moderate rain and not use my wipers. Also in the past I just added Rain-X to existing washer fluid with the same results.

 

Added some eye liner to seal up the engine bay further. I cannot stand a messy engine.

 

I learned a lesson when I was a kid. My dad told me, “never lend anyone your truck.”

 

Ric…Rabbit: Here’s a quote for your signature. That could be the theme of this “blog"

 

Awesome idea! I feel the same way about engine bay cleanliness. Got more info on materials and how you attached? Thx!

 

Still don’t really know why I wanted to do this, but for a purist approach I guess. Also because I wanted to go down in tire size but maintain a somewhat meaty rubber look, which 16’s help with.

So with that, I swapped the 20+ Sport wheels and LT255/75R17C Toyo ATIIIs for a set of stock brand new off-road wheels removed from a 2023 before it left the lot. I was tired of the bigger tire slight performance hit, so I went with P265/70R16 SL. Toyos again, which I really like. One thing is for certain, the smaller tires provide back some decent additional acceleration. It’s not a huge difference in weight or leverage, but I guess it’s more than I realized because there is significantly more get-up-and-go. 5.29s and stock tires with a manual is a blast.

Overall I think it turned out well!

Truck is filthy, I promise to give it a bath soon…

 

New tires and wheels on the truck; Falken Wildpeak AT3W 265/75/16 on Method 703s

 

thats what its supposed to do

 

Normally I carry two 6 foot long 2x8s in the bed for recovery if stuck.

Problem is I sometimes forget to take them like I did a few days ago, and I got stuck in 2 foot snow up a trail and 15 miles from the forest service road. Dug myself out, but a cleaner exit would have been nice.

So I bought a set of Maxtrax and temporarily mounted them today through my toolbox lid using 3 inch long 1/2 galvanized carriage bolts. Nut on the inside so anyone wanting them has to break into my double locked toolbox. Two more holes to drill through the lid. Going to seal the topside holes with removal rubber washers.

I have two 15 x 5 inch pieces of 5/8 plywood that I primed and painted and double drilled today. So they will be held in place by 4 of those large bolts through the plywood templates and into my toolbox lid. Tomorrow those will replace the white shims seen in these photos. The plywood templates are needed as shims so that the ends of the Maxtrax’s don’t bend when the nuts are torqued.

So some extra piece of mind for the getting stuck situations.

Edit - finished the job today. The Maxtrax are now bolted via 4 of the 3-inch long carriage bolts through a plywood template and into my toolbox. Pretty safe from casual theft attempts.