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

Look, here's the reality, and we saw this recently with groceries during the national egg shortage - prices still haven't come down, the shortage was over long ago, and Cal-Maine is still rolling in record profits, knowing people will still pay 5x as much for eggs. We see the same play out all the time with oil, during disasters, international incidents, etc. It's always the same formula big business uses, without fail, they're geniuses at playing the masses:

• Highlight some [event/policy/person's actions] that could potentially translate into an added cost (or supply/demand impact) in your market sector by way of added production cost, transportation cost, or whatever.
• Start a social media campaign linking that [event/policy/person's actions], to some scapegoat: Typically a national/international level event, or a political figure a large swath of the population loves to hate, b/c political targets are so convenient, everyone hates 'em, and won't bother to question if they're actually at fault
• When your campaign is trending, jack your prices up ... lo and behold, nobody blames you ... they're too distracted foaming at the mouth blaming your scapegoat, as the angry mod sits around mindlessly parroting talking points about why [event/policy/person's actions] is f'n horrible. All the while, side hustles from opportunistic vultures are in full swing: Businesses are out there selling T-shirts to further spread the ruse to the poor suckers who are buying into the fake-out, and influencers and cable news networks are making oodles of cash from upvotes, advertising, and subscribers who are so pissed off they need to consume more anger...
• Big business just smiles all the way to the bank as their next fiscal quarter/half/year numbers show record profits from the successful heist you just pulled off thanks to all those sheeple who can't be bothered to look deeper and realize they've been totally duped, both into believing, and being a tool of big business
• Keep prices just high enough, and if people complain too much and start to act like they may turn on you because the price seems gougey, find a reason to drop the price a little, until that subsides.
• Jack the price up again at the next potential excuse you find, never let the numbers drop back down to "actual" level they should be
• Laugh when people blame your scapegoat for causing inflation, when it's actually your big business practices causing artificial inflation, due to your artificial pricing, market manipulation

This is what happens. ALMOST EVERY TIME. It could cause an actual tangible loss of 1¢ per unit. Big business will actually raise the price $1, and reap 99x the profit on every penny lost because they know they're not getting blamed.

And people fall for it. ALMOST EVERY TIME. And even worse yet, they become sheeple, continuing to spread the ruse around. Put stickers up to support big business' scapegoating. And somehow, when those record-setting earnings numbers roll out, people don't put 2 + 2 together to realize they've been duped.

It's a joke. And the blame never falls on the right source. It's infuriating for a lot of us who don't buy into the game. Capitalist economics 101, brought to you by way of social media.

 

I went back and looked. Discount Tire automatically applied their certificates to my cart for the Micky Thompson's. So after removing those it brings the total to $1,638.

Honestly I was more shocked by the rest of my statement. KO2's have gone from $180/tire in 2019 to now $305.

And you are spot on about corporate greed. I checked out the financials for BFG's parent company(Michelin). Their gross profit is up substantially from 2019 and they just beat their latest revenue goal by over $100M.

We are being bent over by corporate overlords while we're busy arguing about politics.

 

I was wrong about em being cheaper in mexico.
Looks like texas is the place to be.

 

Nah man. Egypt is the place to be (EGYPT, EGYPT!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjFs9CPGhts​

 

Looks like the LT tires in both the Boss A/T and the Legend EXP is up, but still about the same as what the shop I'm using charges.

​

 

Those certs are worth the money IMHO. I've popped two tires and fucked the side wall on another off-roading, two different incidents within a month of each other. $40/ tire got me three brand new tires. My spare was already brand new, so I just swapped it on for the only remaining tire from my original set as the spare now.

No grief.

Always buy the certs.

I think the certs are like $60/tire, so basically I paid a total of $300 in two separate payments for 3 tires.

Free mount and balance at DT free rotations for life of tires. Plus they often run deals on holidays and you get even better deals
If you use your DT credit card.

 

If you destroy tires often then yes, buy the certs. I've destroyed 1 tire in 20 years. I never buy the certs. They still patch tires for free without the certs.

Just remember, they would not offer the certs if it was a bad deal for them. They make money on it. It's no different than Amazon trying to get you to buy an extended warranty at checkout. They know the math and it works in their favor.

 

Around my neck of the woods, I almost feel like you have to. But the last dozen or so flats we've gotten were nearly all in the tread (knock on wood), so I've just gotten in the habit of plugging them all with vulcanizing plugs.

Which reminds me, I don't think I went back and ugga dugga'd my lug nuts with a crossbar after my shakedown on Monday. I guess I should do that.

 

Well if you ever get stupid like I do, you might pop em more often

Besides I'm talking brand new tires not patches. Basically I paid for one tire and got two free at the end of the day.

Of course they're making money and they saved me $600

 

I get it. If you destroy a tire it's worth it. I'm just saying that for a repairable patch they do that for free anyways. No certificat needed.

Sounds like my KO2's are tougher than whatever you're buying

 

Could be... Or maybe you just baby em too much.

 

As long as it's not within 1" of the sidewall, at least.

 

no. this 98 stays as it is. just getting TRD parts and a haltech. its even on new 4600 bilsteins on new oem springs

 

Heres some shots of the camper that im building. And also a shot of the goodies from Archive Garage!

 

Is there an upper level inside the tent or is that for standing room?
I think it would dope if it were both. Either stand to rear and a sleeping platform to the front of the top part or a shelf to the front of the top.

 

The plan is just to have the pop up for standing room and being able to sit up on a bench and have head room as well. Probably wont make the top a sleeping area like so many other of these wedge campers are. But I can always add an upper level if i end up wanting to try that out too.

 

I am gonna work on it tomorrow, I hope I can get the stud out of the manifold

 

Oooo that's pretty neat, so many questions. What did you use for the frame structure? Did you use aluminum composte sheets for your panels or something else? I love the idea of a DIY wedge vs spending $8k plus for a GFC that still needs work. Really dig what you have there

 

Installed oem fogs. Super easy. Too tired to see hoe straight they are. But happy with fitment.

 

Great job, and on the cobbles no less!

 

Thanks man, a lot of the build is taking ideas from @OverlandUnderbudget on instagram. He built a pretty amazing flatbed and pop up camper for his tacoma.

The frame is 3/4" square steel tubing welded up, and with Aluminum Composite panels for the outer walls. Feel free to ask any questions youve got, its definitely been a lot of learning and watching other peoples builds on youtube to get ideas.

I was in the same boat, would love a new camper but not gonna spend 8-10k especially when you start adding things like windows and stuff to most of those manufactured campers. This one is gonna be around 2k when its all done. Glad I decided to finally make my own, its been a lot of fun building it myself.

Edit: If you do decide to build your own, I found a great supplier for the Aluminum Composite panels that was about half the price of other stores and delivered the panels within 50 mile radius for free. I see youre in HB so youd be in their free delivery range as well.

 

That's one of my favorite upgrades

 

Yes my back hurts! Lol.

But much nice than the faded plastic inserts. Ill update post with the hardware , i think it was a #10 M bolt but had to dig through the hardware jar for a while to find best fit. Nice little easter egg finding harness tied in fender (thznks Shifty). Whole upgrade under $85 , using illuminated old 4-runner swith.

 

Replaced the rheostat.

 

I'm following this to see what that 4runner switch looks like in there. I have the lights and relay installed and tested them with a jumper wire. Still haven't decided on how to tackle the switch.

 

Ground the stripped bolt out, I will try to drill it out and nut and bolt it

 

I also like overlandunderbudget's setup. Funny enough I was reallyyy thinking about doing something similar to his setup with my 1st gen taco 4dr before I ended up with the tundra.
Hell yea, thanks for the info. It's been a busy day but I'll definitely PM you with some questions in a few days.

 

Yea his setup is pretty awesome, i watched a bunch of his clips to get ideas and see how he did some of what he did.

Id be happy to try to answer any questions you got, send them my way!

 

Having a good morning

 

Wish i was out there or anywhere other than this cubicle right now lol