FINALLY! Black Out Kit for Adults.

Meso delete



So, the shift gate trim. I have a pair of wire cutters but they were a bit too big to get the plastic welds off in the smaller spaces. I used a small dremel file to get the heads off. Worked perfect and fast. Only drill the heads off, not all the way down. You need and or want some of the stem to attach the new piece.

 

Jonathan what about the other trim piece around the shifter. That also you drill out and snap the meso in?

 

Hey y’all, thought I’d share a pic of my random combo … this might not be everyone’s preference but it’s my truck so I get to do whatever I want!

Used the MESO trim for the cup holder, great quality and fit. Love the simple look.

Kept the OEM silver outer trim around the gear selector, I like a little contrast and it doesn’t blast my eyes with sun reflections.

Used the AJT pop-in trim around the inner gear selector because it also has a simple design and was very easy to install.

Also, just wanna say that I am grateful that we have both AJT and MESO providing us with options. They both make quality products.

 

Question - could I use the ATJ

You do you. How do the colors match between the two manufacturers?

 

Sorry, yes, I thought that had been covered and didn’t want to repeat.

be careful drilling that piece to not drill the trim that you do see. I think the videos for the ajt Install cover that portion.
Sorry for the late reply.

 

I’m pretty sure back in the day before Meso had a legit business, he had AJT products installed in his Tacoma. Thats where he got a lot of his ideas once he expanded from gassholes & coin holders.

 

I doubt it.

Meso had a second gen before he got a 3rd gen in 2015 and had already made parts for both. He was already making stuff for it (for himself) 3rd gen before ajt had product offering for the 3rd gen.

 

I could be wrong. I haven’t been on tacomaworld in a very long time. But I do remember that when he 1st started making products for the masses they were almost a blatant rip off of AJTs offerings in my opinion.

 

Great match color wise. One thing I forgot to mention is ... the MESO stuff seems to have a bit more "texture" – not a lot, the AJT stuff is more smooth than the MESO stuff.

 

Have the same setup but with all AJT stuff. I don’t really mind the grey plastics so I only covered up the chrome (cup holder, vent rings, steering wheel emblem)

 

@RainMan_PNW might be very interested in your Meso shifter gate trim if you aren’t using it.

 

Through this thread I figured out the direction I wanted to go with console. Finally got it all together today. AJT around shifter, Amazon full cover (was linked earlier in thread), black with red stitch TRD knob, with red heat shrink to cover exposed chrome below it.

 

I’m 42 years old and like the AJT Designs, I’m upset now because I thought I was an adult

 

It's all good. I think it is obvious who is not an adult.

 

it’s okay, maybe in a few years!!

Here’s the meso mixed with ajt shifter ring for guys wondering how they match together. since the ajt is just snap in it’s a lot easier then the meso and I might just leave it. Installing the other two takes 10 minutes probably if you have a drill around to knock out the plastic welds. just don’t go crazy and mess up something on the other side.
I also found their youtube video to install helpful for those wondering since meso didn’t make one

 

That is the way done mine. I painted the cup holder trim and shifter trim and bought the ajt shift gate. These parts come out and I replaced my painted parts, but kept the ajt shift gate.

 

No feelings hurt here. I'm a "grown ass man" and love the utilitarian look of the AJT trim, which is why I bought it. I've seen the Meso trim in a lot of people's Tundras, and it looks great too. However, in your truck, I have the feeling the Meso kit probably looks...

 

Is that Boy George @Cthulhu lol

 

Or some version

 

How do you get smooth when there are bolts everywhere?


Edit: I just looked. I see what you mean, the main surface is smooth minus the bolt locations.

 

Install done. Pretty easy. Go slow with the 1/4 inch bit for the plastic welds. Good fit all around, would recommend.

Tip I would recommend… I was unable to get any of the trim kit tools between the chrome shift trimp piece and the shift column so I popped the whole thing off, flipped it over and pushed the chrome piece out. No damage.

 

Super clean look. I'm please with mine

 

I reached out to Meso mid install of mine and he was slow to reply but I figured it out. When he eventually got back to me he advised some expoy on both the shift gate trim and the larger trim that encompasses the shifter (The one you drill out spot welds). I didn't expoxy the surround in because it clips in pretty securely but I did put some dabs of it on the shift gate trim since it's fighting gravity.

 

You can see why the AJT design one is much easier to install it just pops in. But you still need to take it apart. I emailed meso and the answer was asap for the video and that was about a week ago. Nothing yet. I’m holding off on buying this for now.

 

While the AJT shift gate piece is easier since it's an overlay, I wouldn't say that the meso piece is particularly difficult. The longest part was waiting 20 minutes for the epoxy to dry. Getting the shift piece off of the truck, chrome inlay removed and black piece in took all of 10 minutes. All you've got to do to remove the shift piece is gently pry on these clips (two on each side) and it lifts off.

 

I keep seeing to drill the plastic welds, but I think using some needle nose pliers and gently twisting off the top of the welds is a much better way to do it. You don't risk drilling too deep and it leaves most of the plastic 'post' in place to align the shift gate part.

 

Logically sounds ideal.

Don't think it would work out that way or as clean. But, I wouldn't mind being proven wrong. The welds are pretty flush so it would be hard to get a grip with needle nose pliers, or have a precise pair of pliers for that application.

Also, my dremel worked much faster and cleaner than pliers.

 

I did exactly that using a tool called flush cuts. Fantastic for precisely cutting small wiring (14 gauge and thinner) and cutting zip ties flush so you don’t stab your self. Took less than 30 seconds to cut all the welds off.

Hakko-CHP-170 Micro Cutter - Red

$9 Hakko CHP-170 - Micro Soft Wire Cutter

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FZPDG1K?_encoding=UTF8

 

Thanks for that. I did wonder what you used. I don't have any tools for precise cutting but usually just find a way around it one way or another.

I also liked that I found another use for my dremel other than trimming my dogs toe nails