Dash Trim Kits.

Has anyone ever put one of the wood or carbon fiber dash kits on their 2nd Gen? I have seen a couple really nice ones on line, and I'm just wondering how much of an issue they are to install.

 

Dude you and I need to become besties because I feel like we are the only guys around here that actually want to change the interior dramatically in our Tacos.

I really like the looks of this kit:


I have seen on here where people I guess can get their dash pieces hydro-dipped. I think you can do wood-looking designs if you wanted. I think that is a better route only because dash kits from like CarID are very expensive and come with like a million different pieces. I really just want to use 4-5 of them so it's not cost effective.

As far as ease of install I have heard that they are fairly easy. You just need to use a hair dryer or heat gun to more easily manipulate the pieces.

 

Actually, the ones from CarID were the ones I was looking at. Not horribly expensive, and I think I might use at least MOST of the kit. I'd just have to decide between one of the wood grains, plain Carbon, or red Carbon since the truck is Radiant Red.
Besties? What would your husband say? I know my late partner would not mind, he was really open minded...

 

My husband is so open minded his brain can sometimes fall out. So he wouldn't care lol

The hydro dip option at least means you can keep your current pieces so they'd snap back into their normal place. Wonder if it'd cost more though.

 

From what I have been able to find out about the dipping, if you want to do it yourself, it's expensive to get the gear to set up to do it. Not sure what a professional shop would charge, but I bet it's a LOT!!
I think I'd stick with the wood or Carbon dash kits.
Besides, with the dash kit, you don't have to take your dash apart to install it.

 

I installed a wood dash kit in my Tacoma and the two dealers where I had it serviced both asked if it came this way. The brand escapes me right now but it was one of the better quality kits.

 

Was it a Remin kit?

 

Pics or it didn't happen.

 

I'm very busy today, will take and post pictures tomorrow.

 

The Tacoma XSP-X comes with a carbon fiber dash. Not sure if you can get it that way with OEM order or if the dealer installs an overlay kit. I've seen a lot of kits. Check the thickness of the material. Some are way too thick and look strange around components. I'm looking into it myself, at some point. There's a guy on you tube that shows an install.

 

DIY hydrodipping is much less expensive than paying someone to do it - the films can be purchased online, after that all you need is a water basin large enough to dip your part (say, 2x the size of the piece you're dipping), clear coat, sand paper, and good technique.

Not having good technique will blow the budget aspect away pretty quickly. Spraying clear on the part after dipping and then wet sanding the clear isn't to be forgotten.

 

I think that might be a little bit of an oversimplification of what goes into doing hydrographics.

 

Sure is.

The main point was it's worth paying for someone to do it for you.

 

Here are pictures of my dash kit as promised. Woodworking is a hobby thus a wood kit

 

Looks nice! What's the brand?

 

My kit was by B&I. I remember reading prior to my purchase B&I was one of the two top manufactures. I'm sure this statement is subjective but at the time I did research the kits before deciding on B&I. As I stated the two dealerships that serviced my Tacoma both asked if it came this way. Most importantly is I am happy with the kit as I see it every time I'm in my Tacoma. In my opinion it was a great upgrade to my interior as I really didn't care for look of the stock dash.

 

GTOJim, that looks very good. I installed a kit in my Honda Ridgeline. I was not super happy with the results, as there were so many tiny little spots that had to done perfect or it was 100% obvious that it was a dash kit. The Tacoma dash seems much simpler.

 

I can't comment on other kits or installation in different vehicles as this is the first and only dash kit I've installed.

I started my install process in areas where I felt a mistake would be the least noticeable. This way I got some practice/experience before moving to the center of the dash where a mistake would be in the most noticeable area.

Everyone has different skill sets but I feel most people if they take their time will do a very nice install. Impatient people always in a rush who want to be finished in 5 minutes or less might find a better use for their time, unless they don't give a hoot about the end result.

I would think the best advice is to allow plenty of time, especially important is do not rush, mistakes are much more frequent when in a hurry, and read the instructions.

Other than that it was fairly easy with the kit I used. Use the provided wipes, with the protective backing removed sticking/pressing each piece in place being very careful it was aligned properly.


No offense meant to anyone, just speaking in general terms. As for me on my next birthday I will be 70 years young. My fine motor skills have declined due to medications and age is probably a factor. So I don't have exceptional skills for installing the kit I used.