What have you done to your 1st gen Tundra today?

Ours has been doing 50% matching up to 8%, but I talked to one of my older coworkers that was a financial advisor and had done really well for himself, he told me to do 10% if I could, and showed some fancy math that showed what that extra 2% would net me in 10, 20, 40 years.

I think I may roll that back to 8% at end of this year; I don't feel lilke there's any gain for me anymore at this point. It's not like that extra 2% is going to get me anything in life this late in the game.

 

I got into 401K at around 28 (31 now) doing 4% with 50% match up to 4%. I plan to up my percentages here soon and are in the talks with getting a fiduciary.

 

Haven’t you figured it out that the year after you retire and stop running around in chaos for work, all the bad stuff in your system settles and you end up dying in no time.

Truthfully, it’s happened to a few people at my work. I didn’t know them personally.

 

Fortunately, haven't seen that in my life with cohorts, framily, acquiantances. It'd probably make me start drinking again

 

My company only matches up to $2,000 annually which is pitiful. I did the IRS max last year for the first time. I do not want to depend on social security.

I know a guy that has been maxing his out since his 20's. That's the guy that will retire with a few million.

 

Constant adjustment. What's that old saying? "What I used to do all night, now takes me all night." Things don't go as fast as they used to but hey, you got the time now. Lastly, make retirement your goal and focus on it. I watch people bounce around from job to job these days and look on in wonderment. I was lucky to be able to stick with the same company for thirty years. There's a lot to be said for "steady as she goes" and enjoy the journey cause "these are, the good old days."

 

I wasted 17 years at mom and pop electric shops with no retirement, nor did I start one. I only got it 2 years ago when I went to the union. So yeah, I'm gonna be working a while.

 

@shifty` Did you not get yours?

 

I hope I didn't sound like Moses speaking from on high, not my intention. I was very lucky to have a good company to be with for 30 years. I've made enough blunders for a couple people, yet inspite of it all here I am. The two things that helped me the most, were luck and a stubborn streak that wouldn't let me quit. Everyone's journey is different and I am the last person to be giving advice.

 

Not at all. I know where I went wrong. I'll probably stay at this company as long as they'll let me. They're already talking about moving me to a supervisor position possibly next year.

 

Got them fooled, good job!

 

Fake it till you make it baby!

 

That has worked well for me!

 

No notification they've shipped yet. They told me they put my order on hold and I had to call. Not sure if maybe that's why. I never told them to take it off hold by phone? They definitely haven't cancelled though.

 

I'll hit 35 years in April with my company. They haven't always had a good 401k match but over the years they were able to get it to a 9% match; pretty sweet!
I got a little late start on mine but have been pounding it for some time now.

Lord willing I'll be out before March 2027 and building on the mountain. I may still work for a few years but I won't be in charge of people or budgets!!!

 

That must be it...I called when they put mine on hold, after which they put it on un-hold (meaning they charged my card and took my money)

 

I paid with PayPal. Damn, I guess I better call them STAT.

 

Meanwhile, what I got done today. Switched rear brake lights to LED, cleaned the shell, its windows (again), tested electrical, and try to dig in and assess what it needs.

Rundown...

First off, my '06 wasn't immune. Melted to hell above the bed/cargo light provisions. Above the brake light bulb was fine. How weird.

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Good thing I bought a full replacement housing assembly during a Toyota Parts big sale. I figured I'd need it for the light-to-cab gasket, since you can't buy separate. Passing on that for now.

LEDs installed, testing before button-up. I got all three the correct polarity. Hot damn. Not happy with the brightness of the red bulb, honestly, but the cap is covering it, I mainly did this for heat reduction.

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All buttoned up again....

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I notice some of my paint was pitted on there. Meh. I'll probably need to do a little touch-up filler if/when I replace the housing. Anyway, I took the truck out and hit it with that new "Dawn Power Wash" product because it had a thick layer of 'honeydew' (aphid piss) regular water wasn't taking off. Went ahead and hit the entire cap with it, and took a semi-soft jumbo detailing brush to scrub every nook and cranny. Still needs a polish, but at least it's free if aphid waste. If anyone's gonna piss on my truck, I'm the guy, dammit. Too bad the paint is the wrong color, it's in really, really great shape.

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Sadly, I tested the electrical and found the high-mount brake light has a segment of dead LEDs right in the middle of the bar. But it works, so now I need to do a little reading on best way to tap into the brake light circuit to go hot.

For cool news on the cap front, I found a nice perk. The cab-side window is removable but was stiff as hell. That's what the latches were for (tag @JasonC. @daveeasa @KNABORES @Mr.bee @des2mtn @NickB_01TRD or whoever else). Like ...here are the latches...

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Then I noticed this at the base, which looked strangely like the hinge they use at the top of the rear cap door.

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I was a little concerned because with the latches undone, it felt like there was something still holding it in when I pulled the top edge back more than an inch or two. I think it was just stuck together with gunk, because a little rocking back/forth and ... BOOP ... it flipped forward at the hinge and lifted out.

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Cleaned out the opening really well, then cleaned the glass a little more intently. I'll probably remove it again later so I can really clean up the channels, then try to find some way to lube them that won't collect garbage. Silicone spray, maybe? Dry lube?

This was the confusing part I was talking about earlier. The actual slide is on the outside of the shell, so you can slide it open from the cab, I guess? Weird.

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But yeah, the glass is pretty much outside the left/right panes, faviring the cab. Here's a pic of the pull and how far out the window is. I really need to clean that slide. I'm shocked they didn't use felts on this cap, but ... maybe that makes waterproofing difficult.

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Here's the sticker with maybe the part numbers from the pop-out cabside window:

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And the rear window sticker:

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Yeah I’m glad I did the entire 3rd housing replacement, my gasket was more toasted than me!

 

Yeah, I suspect mine is probably shot also but I'm not currently seeing any water incoming. Yet. I guess you probably don't want to wait until you see water though, eh?

I'm still pissed about this paint swiss-cheesing though... lots of little pinholes. Really deep ones over on the left. Terrible spot for it too.

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I wish I had glass with a slider. Or even without. I am over the boot for sure.

 

That's next; figuring out the boot situation.

 

Cap on my 2019 has this fold down window. Great for if I want to lower the back glass on the truck, full pass through. Used it already to haul some long lumber pieces. You can still get the stick on handle for inside the cap. You're more likely to open the window from inside the truck than inside the cap though.

 

Is anyone running a rechargeable small 12v, low amp-hour battery for lighting in the cap? I was looking at maybe two LED strips for the ceiling. They should be really low dry, wondering if I can't just install a switch and small battery like you'd find in an alarm panel, a dimmable switch (if the strips support it), and throw a small solar grid on the roof to keep it topped off.

 

The rabbit hole gets deeper!
@des2mtn probably has the sweetest set up. But I like your idea of a small battery. I threw a 100ah mini lipo in the back of mine with 200w of solar(thanks to @dittothat)
Might as well binford5k that thing…..

 

Mine is hard wired in the 2019. I've got a 4 flat I'm gonna use to make a plug for the wiring in my FGT. You need one of these switches for the gas strut to activate the lights.

$20 Valterra Diamond Group 52479 Automatic On/Off Switch

https://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Grou...1349488&mcid=cc5ba6fc3c743f2ab977aeb7ed7ce311

 

Dual batteries and TAG is my plan. Solar is cool but PNW != SD on sunshine.

 

190 water, and a strut mounted light switch?!? I’ve learned a lot today

 

One of the benefits of a hive mind. Rising tide lifts all boats.

 

Funny story, when I bought the 2019 the lights inside didn't work. I worked on them for the better part of an afternoon messing with the wiring. Got on the googles and looked for some way to have a door activated light switch for the cap. Found the strut mounted one and figured I'd give it a go. When it came in, I went to install and there was already one on there . Fixed the wiring to it and lived happily ever after. Fast forward to today and I can wire the one I ordered and didn't need up to my cap for the FGT. Yay. The universe speaks.