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Leer Top? Active's 2020 TSS SR5 Cav Blue Build

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by activereality, Sep 22, 2022.

  1. Sep 22, 2022 at 7:06 AM
    #1
    activereality

    activereality [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2022
    Member:
    #83403
    Messages:
    23
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2020 Tundra SR5 TSS Cavalry Blue
    MillerCats installed!
    Received and installed the MillerCats (front plate and rear add-ons yesterday). Pretty easy install overall - I used a creeper for me and a 4 caster dolly to hold the main plate. I just propped the plate on my legs and got the front bolts started and then flipped around and got the rears up. A little finagling and got it all lined up.

    After I got it all up in place - then went back through and got it all tq'd up.

    My only 'real' complaint is the passenger addon does go 'behind' the main plate - where you put the bolt through into the rear of the cross member. - I also had some plastic pass-throughs (maybe called a bracket but idk) where the addons bolted to the inside of the frame rails.
     
  2. Sep 23, 2022 at 6:26 AM
    #2
    activereality

    activereality [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2022
    Member:
    #83403
    Messages:
    23
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2020 Tundra SR5 TSS Cavalry Blue
    MillerCats installed!
    What are your peeps thoughts for putting up the 'Cat shield' related stickers? I am typically not someone who puts stickers on vehicles.
     
  3. Sep 23, 2022 at 6:39 AM
    #3
    Gaston

    Gaston New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2022
    Member:
    #72748
    Messages:
    407
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Gary
    SE MI
    Vehicle:
    2021 White Tundra SR5 CM TRD Sport
    Any pictures of the shields installed? Another member @WarDamnTundra was just mentioning they are considering those shields.

    As for the stickers, I don't see a reason to advertise you have security plates, that just gives thieves a heads up and they might plan for it where otherwise they would be caught off guard, idk, just my thought.
     
  4. Sep 23, 2022 at 6:47 AM
    #4
    WarDamnTundra

    WarDamnTundra New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2022
    Member:
    #82456
    Messages:
    217
    Vehicle:
    2014 Tundra TRD Limited CrewMax
    Icon Stage 2 w/ Icon Mini Leaf Pack - WildPeak A/T3W 35x12.5x20 - 20" Rock Star II - Retrax Bedcover
    I wouldn't put stickers on my truck where thieves can see it. I would put something on the cat for identification purposes. I am considering a miller shield for the front cats and leaving the back exposed but paint them with etching. I am also going to paint and etch the front. I really wish miller had a rear cat shield for the 2014 Tundra. They start those for 2018+. I have seen video of installing Miller rear shield on a 2014. It is doable but you have to drill a hole in the frame to bolt the rear shield to.
     
  5. Sep 23, 2022 at 6:48 AM
    #5
    activereality

    activereality [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2022
    Member:
    #83403
    Messages:
    23
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2020 Tundra SR5 TSS Cavalry Blue
    MillerCats installed!
    I'll catch some pics here a bit and get them added on here.
     
  6. Sep 23, 2022 at 6:55 AM
    #6
    activereality

    activereality [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2022
    Member:
    #83403
    Messages:
    23
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2020 Tundra SR5 TSS Cavalry Blue
    MillerCats installed!
    Yeah, i am scheduled with my local dealership to get the cats etched at the end of next month (the earliest I could find anywhere locally). will also be painting them a bright orange or something as well afterward.

    Yeah the millercats seem to be nice and high quality. For the main plate, it is super sturdy. the 'Addon rear' is a bit thinner. As small a section as this is, you might be able to get some locally sourced sheet metal and do some homemade bends to fab up a rear - and just have the 'wings' long enough to bolt to some factory locations ( i may or may not try and do something like this in the future - cause the rear of the rear cats are still totally exposed. If not - i think adding a hole into the frame - i guess the biggest stopping factor there is to maybe have a right angle drill attachment to fit the drill in there to make the hole.
     
  7. Sep 23, 2022 at 9:41 AM
    #7
    activereality

    activereality [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2022
    Member:
    #83403
    Messages:
    23
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2020 Tundra SR5 TSS Cavalry Blue
    MillerCats installed!
    Here are some quick pics (how are others attaching photos from a mac? couldnt upload via the 'album' creator on here).

    As you can see the front and sides are pretty good at covering everything but the rear cats are still exposed for the rear part of the cat. I can get my hand to the front of them, but doubt a tool can make it.

    43DFE7EA-9DCC-4B75-87AC-253CA6080D9B.jpg
    E18C4AE4-E4F1-4F19-8749-794F5DBC483D.jpg
    39513C50-D682-4446-A68D-99B0E4D3C24D.jpg
     
  8. Sep 26, 2022 at 9:06 PM
    #8
    activereality

    activereality [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2022
    Member:
    #83403
    Messages:
    23
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2020 Tundra SR5 TSS Cavalry Blue
    MillerCats installed!
    Alright, Tundraski's! I was able to snag a Leer 100XQ!. After driving for 2 hours to get there - I found that it was a 55TT and that is for the 5'5" beds and i have a 5'6" (or 7" depending on website i am looking at sometimes for the year model lol). So it doesn't quite fit perfectly.

    Problems:

    This is a take-off from a wrecked/totaled truck bought at auction. So Driver side glass is broken and some scratches into the paint. Possible damage to window frame area near rear. At the worst - i dont mind getting glass that is hard mounted vs factory-style glass.

    It looks like I can modify the 'rear' of the topper - to allow it to sit at end of the bed - and allow the tailgate to close fully and then close the rear glass fully. This would be just trimming off the flat area that the Tailgate normally meets up against.

    I'll also need to notch the 'front' edges of the topper - so it can sit flat on the bed top 'rails' (my bed has a flat-ish top, no rails).
    The problem with this is there will be a 1.5-2" gap at the front of the bed(topper will be too far back and won't cover the front of the bed). So would need to make some sort of 'flashing' to make sure to cover that gap and water is driven to the sides/kept from sneaking into the bed (i do want it to mostly be waterproof.


    I am going to take it to a local Leer dealer (line x store) and see how much it might be to repair the window and possibly paint match to truck (possible to keep it black if it is mucho cheaper).

    Depending on that will make the needed alterations for my truck and then take it in.

    Another option is to repair it to reasonable standards and try and sell - but it is rough trying to find pricing for the Leer toppers online. I've seen new prices from $1k-3.5. So no clue what a fair price/value might be - or if it might be better to just sell it before any repair.

    Note: i got it for free - so anything gained (over 4 hours of driving haha) is profit. So could maybe _almost_ get a tonneau cover of some sort if I can clean 800-1k off of it(leaning more towards something retractable)?

    I'll grab som pics tomorrow for better reference.

    What are your thoughts?

    repair and modify for use?

    repair and sell for funding other upgrades?

    don't repair and sell for funding (hopefully enough for a retractable cover or something similar)?

    Thanks for any thoughts, ideas, or advice.
     

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