Helloooo..Got my new T4R & have some ?

[Shogun]

Took a while and some haggling but finally pulled the trigger on my first foray into the land of Japanese trucks. I came out of a 2005 GMC Duramax 4x4 crewcab (Black Betty as I used to call it)...I used it more like a car than a truck except for the occasional towing of a 21' bass boat that I am selling anyway. This will finance the mods I want to do after drooling all over what some of you guys have done.

I purchased a 2013 MGM LE AWD. It's pretty basic other than the Nav and the slide out cargo tray. I have put 400 miles on it this week trying to get her broke in according to the manual.

On to my ?'s. I tried searching some of this but didn't really find what I was looking for after the search return a bajillion threads and I guess I didn't put in the correct search terms.

Going after the low hanging fruit that I can afford to do right away.. First Mod was a BMW Z4 antenna. Worked and looks great.

1) The chrome has to go.... Plasti dip or Di-noc vinyl. I have worked with plasti dip before but the di-noc seems faster. I think I would need to remove the chrome strip pieces from the rockers and front and rear bumper to cover them with plasti dip. Not sure I want to do this and this is why thinking about the Di-noc.

2) TE Headlight swap. Can I order TE Headlights and just plug and play them in the LE or is there any kind of mods needed?

3) The cargo roof rack. Will a roof rack off a TE plug and play into the LE? This would be easier than spraying. Eventually I plan to go with a Gobi or Baja but want to get spacer lift and wheels and tires next.

Thanks for all replies in advance. I have enjoyed reading all the mods and tips and tricks I could find on 5th gen's and now I hope to have many years of fun out of the new T4r and contributing to the forum.
:hello:

 

[Antman]

Took a while and some haggling but finally pulled the trigger on my first foray into the land of Japanese trucks. I came out of a 2005 GMC Duramax 4x4 crewcab (Black Betty as I used to call it)...I used it more like a car than a truck except for the occasional towing of a 21' bass boat that I am selling anyway. This will finance the mods I want to do after drooling all over what some of you guys have done.

I purchased a 2013 MGM LE AWD. It's pretty basic other than the Nav and the slide out cargo tray. I have put 400 miles on it this week trying to get her broke in according to the manual.

On to my ?'s. I tried searching some of this but didn't really find what I was looking for after the search return a bajillion threads and I guess I didn't put in the correct search terms.

Going after the low hanging fruit that I can afford to do right away.. First Mod was a BMW Z4 antenna. Worked and looks great.

1) The chrome has to go.... Plasti dip or Di-noc vinyl. I have worked with plasti dip before but the di-noc seems faster. I think I would need to remove the chrome strip pieces from the rockers and front and rear bumper to cover them with plasti dip. Not sure I want to do this and this is why thinking about the Di-noc.

2) TE Headlight swap. Can I order TE Headlights and just plug and play them in the LE or is there any kind of mods needed?

3) The cargo roof rack. Will a roof rack off a TE plug and play into the LE? This would be easier than spraying. Eventually I plan to go with a Gobi or Baja but want to get spacer lift and wheels and tires next.

Thanks for all replies in advance. I have enjoyed reading all the mods and tips and tricks I could find on 5th gen's and now I hope to have many years of fun out of the new T4r and contributing to the forum.
:hello:

Welcome to T4r!

1- Either way has good and bad points. I think plastidip is easier (you can do it without removing the strips), but the Dinoc is more permanent and durable- and costs more.

2- Yes. Plug and play.

3- Yes. Plug and play, but just bite the bullet and wait for the rack you like IMO. It'll be worth the wait.

This forum will cost you tons of money so get ready...:lmao:

 

[BobsTrail]

Antenna

I was tempted to go with a short antenna too, but changed my mind after pulling into a low parking garage and the long antenna made noise. This kept me from hitting the roof rack.

Short looks better, but the long one stays. Scary to look up the moon roof and see a ceiling way close.

 

[Kinnick]

Shogun, welcome to t4r.org and congrats on your first Toyota. Oh, and pics or it didn't happen.:thumb3:

 

[Kotah]

Welcome to T4r!

This forum will cost you tons of money so get ready...:lmao:

because of this forum I:

1) had an 2011 sr5, now i have a 2012 Trail
2) had to order a icon stage 5

its never going to end.

 

[20034RunnerV84x2]

:worthless :biggrin2:

 

[Shogun]

Here you go

:worthless :biggrin2:

Here she is in all her glory...

I will probably go the plasti dip route. Just trying to figure out if I need to remove the thin strips of chrome.

Any suggestions on where to buy the TE headlights ? I have seen some aftermarket but kind of leary about not getting OEM equipment.

Oh Yeah, I'm going to take off the running boards and sell them most likely.

I have a saying "give a man a fish he will eat for a day" ...Teach a man to fish he will go broke and hungry" I guess the same could be said about the T4R.org forum.

 

[Shogun]

Here's what I sold

Had driven Guberment Motors vehicles for the past 30 years

1975 Cadillac Calais
1984 Camaro Z28
1991 Chevy 350 SS
1997 Chevy Z71
2005 GMC SLT Duramax crew 4x4 in carbon metallic. Photo below..with a few goodies added.
S&B CAI. 5" MBRP turbo back exhaust, 285/18/65 Nitto's, Moto Metal 951's, Retrax bed cover just to name a few. I had removed all of the badging and the chrome door guard strip about a year ago.

 

[Shogun]

Selling this

to finance all the goodies I want to add on to the T4R. Kind of having 2nd thoughts though because I think the whole package is gonna look good once I hitch it up. Gotta do the proper break in procedures first though.

 

[G8RB8_12SR5]

Shogun,

Welcome to the forum! It will definitely find ways to spend money you didn't know you had :boink:

Here is a quick link on blacking out the chrome that gives a good how-to without taking off the chrome strips.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/63476-blacking-out-runners-chrome.html

Check out the Mods/Write ups sticky and Antman's Thread. Tons of how-tos with some awesome pictures (especially in Antmans) :jk: You may end up finding new mods you wouldn't think of. The tailgate cupholder mod being my favorite by far.

Have fun and happy modding!

 

[philsey]

Speaking of spending money, if'n you're going to the trouble of swapping out the headlights, perhaps consider a mod to HID projectors?

 

[Shogun]

projectors

Speaking of spending money, if'n you're going to the trouble of swapping out the headlights, perhaps consider a mod to HID projectors?

Thought about this but I think it might be cost prohibitive. Plus not sure about the wiring and all. I am fairly comfortable doing some things but cutting into the wiring really makes me nervous. I really like the way your lights look in your avatar. I will search on it and maybe go that route.

Was getting all ready to do some plasti dip today but I think the humidity is just to high right now to do any kind of quality paint job.

I think I have my next mod lined up though. Dropped some not so subtle hints to my wife about some weathertech digital fits. They didn't have 2013's listed on their site yet but I figure it should be the same as 2012's.

Thanks

 

[harper7]

Thought about this but I think it might be cost prohibitive. Plus not sure about the wiring and all. I am fairly comfortable doing some things but cutting into the wiring really makes me nervous. I really like the way your lights look in your avatar. I will search on it and maybe go that route.

Was getting all ready to do some plasti dip today but I think the humidity is just to high right now to do any kind of quality paint job.

I think I have my next mod lined up though. Dropped some not so subtle hints to my wife about some weathertech digital fits. They didn't have 2013's listed on their site yet but I figure it should be the same as 2012's.

Thanks

You can also just plasti dip or paint the trim piece inside the headlights black . That is the only difference between TE and SR5/LE headlights and there are screws that hold it on once you get the lens off.The lens and buckets are exactly the same and not tinted.You can see it in the pics from 9Hooker when he did his and many have followed his lead............. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/75617-plastidip-losing-chrome.html#post645727

You can see him holding it in his hand in the 8th pic down!