What Have You Done To Your 2nd Gen Tacoma Today?

No. Your hubs without centering rings still would maintain brake contact in the same area of the rotor. That would only affect the wheels rotating out of round to the spindle and not affect the brakes themselves. Without centering rings, if the wheel bore is too big, would be a similar feel as if the wheels were slightly shaped like an egg. The wheel studs and lug nuts would still maintain something close to being centric.

 

Ok thanks. I wasn’t sure if I did damage. I’ll take it in and have the rotors looked at.

 

No . Has to be 0000 steel wool only .Finest available meaning made with thinnest strands of steel wool .

 

Just ordered a new Mountain Hatch tailgate to replace my V1 original model I bought in 2019. I went out today and with the tailgate down in the sun the MH buckled and two of the lower attachment points actually snapped through the cover as it buckled. It's taken a bunch of abuse and never had a problem with it until now. New one on the way and the old one will be cut into cutting boards for continued use.

https://mountainhatch.org/collections/dodge/products/mountain-hatch-for-2005-2022-toyota-tacoma

 

I have been toying with the idea of doing this also. It was the first mod I bought for my truck back in 2018. 2 of the bolt holes on the sides have cracked and broken off but I haven't had any buckling issues. I have a topper though so it isn't in the sun very much. I also have a piece of carpet from my drawers I cut to fit the space then just put some Velcro on the tailgate to make an even softer place to sit. I love my Mountain Hatch and will for sure get another one when I need it.

 

They may've been broken already as I have a RSI topper on mine and I had the back open for some time while drying out the bed after a wash. The sun up here in Maine usually isn't that harsh, but it's been open before in Florida summer heat without that happening. After it had cooled it settled back down to be flush/flat. Crazy Maine weather. I blame lobsters.

 

After 7 years and 95k miles the KO2s are finally getting changed. New tires are Hercules terra trac x venture
275/70/17

 

Got a few things done today.

Got my Trasheroo mounted on the tailgate.



And polished my headlights with a Cerakote product I discovered from a YouTube video.

$17 CERAKOTE® Ceramic Trim Coat Kit - Quick Plastic Trim Restorer - Ceramic Coating Black Trim Restoration to Last Over 200 Washes – A Ceramic Coating, Not a Dressing

https://www.amazon.com/CERAKOTE-Cer...eadlight+restoration+kit,automotive,57&sr=1-3

 

I finally installed her rock sliders.

 

I think we all know this thread will never end because we all keep adding more and more lol

I finally finished the interior frame for my camper shell, installed the upTop alpha rack, reinstalled my RTT, and replaced the screens on the camper shell windows. Oh and I hosed mr Burgundy down too!

 

Two comment about your set up. If you wheel hard or do lots of dirt roads… the camper shell will be fine with the tent on it, even without the bracing. The issue will be the bedsides.

First go buy or make some high quality bed stiffeners. Otherwise you will start seeing bed separation near the tailgate

Also from personal experience, I ran my RTT on the camper shell for a while. What I found was that the camper shell was fine. No issues at all. But the weight of the two ended up starting to crush the bed sides. I have multiple sheet metal tears on my bed sides now. I finally took of the shell and mounted the RTT to a bed rack that ties to the frame vía the bed bolts. I would consider tying those shell supports to the frame.

Over time with that weight up there, your bed sides will start separating the bed sides and/or crushing them.

 

I’ve actually already got some bed stiffeners! My picture doesn’t show them I’m just now realizing. See below.
I had an upTop bed rack for a while and read about the issue with carrying weight up high. Realistically, I don’t wheel aggressively. It’s mostly trails and some easy obstacles. My wife and toddler can’t handle much more lol
With the decked drawer system, it’s hard to reach the bed bolts. I thought about that but just couldn’t figure a realistic configuration that removed pressure from the bedsides. I suppose there could be some way to reach the stiffeners themselves, but the front presents a much more difficult issue.

 

Picked up some coolant, gonna add it in the morning. Overflow tank seems to be leaking from the hose going to the tank. Can’t get a replacement hose for a few days.
My overflow tank is a little below the low mark, anybody know how much I should fill it back up?

 

The minimum line is sufficient normally. If you know it is leaking fill it in between min and max lines. Just check it before and after driving to keep to the min line. Make sure the coolant you see is coming from that hose and not being sprayed from the radiator, the radiator cap or somewhere else.

 

Considering the weight of my truck and the silliness I like to pursue it's a small miracle I never bent my factory spindles.

That said I finally got around to installing long over due TC gusseted spindles with JDFab double shear steering kit thanks again @m00seNUckLEz last time I tag you for a while I promise!



Had to cut out a 1" ish square to clear the bottom bulge of the JD Fab plates, no biggie, the TC gussets Ryan did were perfectly placed everything cleared and nothing is rubbing with the brakes. (I am running 2014 TRD Pro 4Runner backers, rotors, calipers and pads though, YMMV)







Those heims are SICK!!









You can really tell what's new because it isn't covered in exploded CV boot grease, which brings me to the other part of today's adventure, hubs from @05Taco4x4 , last tag for you for a while too I promise.




I ended up using a cut off wheel to take about a half inch off the ARP extended studs, still longer and stronger than stock.

I didn't realize how bad my original front wheel bearings and hubs were, I'm very fortunate I came across a thread that said something to the effective of "if it sounds like you have mud tires in the cab and you don't change your wheel bearings."

I really thought my tires were just getting louder as they aged but the strange pulse in the gas pedal seems to be gone and it's almost eerily quiet in the cab now extremely smooth and much tighter when steering, though part of that is the heims and double shear steer I'm sure.


Incredibly happy with everything from both guys, would 100% repeat business and I definitely recommend them to anyone in similar need, excellent quality products, great communication, with fast turn around and shipping times.


I can't wait to go play hard in the dirt!



Final check before the wheels went on, looks great!

 

Where did you get that frame inside your topper?

 

My bed rack attaches only to the rear most bed bolts. That’s where the real issues are anyways. And it works with the decked drawers. so maybe you could tie it in the the rear most bed bolts.

 

That kink in your shock hose looks like it would severely affect your shock performance.

 

Crap. I'd really like to have something like that.