X-Trek - Grille Insert Option

That’s basically the same one I got as well, I thought about leaving the center post on it, drilling a hole in the grille so in case the 3M failed a screw would keep it in place. BUT, I didn’t want to drill a hole in the front of my new grille so I just sheered them all off

 

I have both the larger Lamd Cruiser emblem and the individual letters. I ended up using individual letters as I thought in my application it looked cleaner and the color was a better match. But the letters are curved so I’m expecting them to depart at some point as the 2 sided tape isn’t making 100% contact. I was going to be proactive and drill them and add screws as RockLobster did, but then I got lazy lol.

 

Are those the letters from the Pro Grille?

 

I first used the 4Runner letters, which are peel/stick but definitely slightly curved on the back:




Then after I left the carwash driving a TO OTA, I decided to "upgrade" to the land cruiser badge.



There are things I like better, and things I don't like better about the LC. But overall, it is nicer.


... And I did drill the grill, and added a threaded rod (just happened to have one that fit) to better secure it to the steel mesh.




It's kind of nice. Not that there was anything wrong with it before, but the whole grille is less flexible/ more rigid now.

 

Used the same curved letters as Rock Lobster. I got the cheap chinese ones I think they were $12 for the set. They're holding for now but only about 30% of the 2 sided tape is making contact so we'll see. I have the same LC badge also, sitting with my spare parts patiently waiting for the cheap letters to commit suicide. I made my own mesh insert from a blank piece of grill mash from Amazon.

 

Long time coming--my bad Travis. Purchased this grille with the mesh insert back in 2021 and put the curved 3M lettering Travis recommended the same day. I thought for sure the lettering would eventually fall off, yet here we are! Love this thing way more than the Off-Road grille that came with the 2018s.

 

looks great! The LC badge just fits it to me. So you kept the posts from the badge? I thought about doing that, but didn’t want to drill into a brand new grille! I do like the idea of making it more secure. Link to the threaded rods you used?

 

I rummaged around my toolbox and happened across a piece of hardware that was correctly threaded. Who knows what leftover Ikea assembly it came from. But I'm sure that a local hardware will have something similar.




Just the single rod into the threaded back, then lock-nutted against the mesh. Completely unnecessary, but it's an extra reinforcement of the adhesive.

 

Installed. Love it.

Was getting TSS error using recommended mounting points for the sensor. Needed to move the sensor up by flipping the bracket and using the upper mounting holes. This might be because the TRD Pros have an OEM lift in the front of 1.5"? Maybe.

 

Lastly, black grille letters on.

Gently removed 3M tape with a little heat, then sanded the backside of the letters flat so they sit flush > reapplied 3M. Its not perfect by any means but we'll see how long the letters hold up.

 

How is the camera mounted? Any chance of a pic to see how you mounted it to the grill?

 

I did what was shown here in this thread.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...amera-mounting-solution.730109/#post-26269972

 

THX - one more question: what brand of camera did you go with

 

I'm still using the OEM front camera. Haven't decided if I really need a better front camera....yet. If I did, will likely do the anytime front camera mod, and use the nitika(?) camera that everyone else on here uses.

 

THX - I really would like a front camera - I just dread the installation.

 

From the youtube videos i've seen about the install, doesn't look too difficult. Just time consuming.

 

so, I repositioned my tss sensor. Added some washers behind it as shims. Drove around getting the dreaded light. Then I drove a bunch of miles. Like 500? and I think it’s reset itself.

 

Yeah somebody else had the same experience - I wondering if it just wasn't installed a bit "off" to begin with. Maybe tighten down the mounting bolts unevenly or too tight on top or something - just wild guesses. Now if you are lifted then I guess you would have to adjust it somehow but if not lifted then you shouldn't have to do the washer and shims thing. I never had any issues with the TSS except in heavy rain when it turned off. It happened a few days ago on a 1 hour drive on the Interstate it was raining pretty hard and it went off but as the rain slacked off and the sun came out it was fine and came on again. Since I changed my grill a few weeks after I got the truck I can't really say if that happens with a stock grill and TSS.

 

I think mine was just flopping around. It did take a while to adjust itself though. I have had both the pro/heritage and off-road grills and switched them back and forth with no issue.

 

My new 2023 Sport with Travis's grill. I had it on my 2018 MGM SR5 but swapped the stock grill back on before I traded it in. Thanks Travis for a great looking grill, I like it a lot!