New to me 2022 Limited - Slow Build Thread - 089 Wind Chill Pearl

Subscribed, very interesting thread

 

Thanks! Unfortunately, I'm out of town for a while for work, so no progress until early December.

 

Life on the road... I work on the road quite a bit. Finished up a 7 week stint in West Virginia, and was able to get home for a few days. Spent the time doing Honey-Do work, and didn't get anything done on the truck except to wash it. Then back on the road.

A few months back I found a deal on a set of black TRD wheels and got them, in anticipation of a lift and running larger tires. I'd seen a couple of threads about the non E-rated Nitto Recon Grapplers, and had decided to go with the 275/65/20's, as they are lighter than most, and the reviews have been great. Unfortunately, they're between $400-440/tire, depending on where you look.

Right as I left for my last job, I found a set that was used for just one day (long story there) and was for sale for $1300 on FB marketplace. I wasn't able to get there before the job, but I kept a watch on them. This week, as I headed out to my next assignment, I realized I was driving past the area, and decided to head over and see them. Walked into the tire shop that had them advertised, and found them quickly. The owner was there, and accepted my $1100 offer on the spot. I was pretty stoked.

Now I'm researching lifts, and will have one put on as soon as I get home, if I don't find a local place to do it here. I'm working in Starkville, MS, if anyone knows a local truck center that they trust.

 

Finally pulled the trigger on new wheels. I had purchased a set of 20" stock TRD wheels that I found for a great price, but wanted something custom. It took me quite a while to actually place the order, as I spent more on one set of wheels than I've ever spent on a set of wheels and tires, but I found the ones that I knew were the ones for me the second I saw them.

It was hard to bring myself to spend the money, but working Thanksgiving with overtime all day Thurs-Sunday (13 hours/day working) helped ease the pain.

Can't wait to get them installed.

 

Super bummed... Real Truck just informed me that they're back ordered nationally. I thought that might have been the case, as every other site had been updated. They sold their last set 2 days before I ordered mine...

 

And we're back in business!! I can't say enough about www.rimzoneonline.com !! I had reached out to a number of places to ask about the availability of the Fuel wheels that every site stated were on national back order. I only received a response from rimzoneonline. They're a Mom and Pop shop out of NC, and do a lot of online business. The owner took the time to reach out directly to Fuel, and was able to snag one of the only two sets left nationwide for me. And... they beat all the major retailers (real truck, custom offsets, etc.) by $248 for the full set. In this day and age where customer service and going above and beyond is seldom seen, I value that kind of effort, and will promote them any chance I get.

 

Not often you find the same color truck with the same dimensions as you're looking to emulate. Found one on Facebook tonight!

This one has the same lift and offset of wheels I'm looking at. Haven't seen that in a Wind Chill Pearl before, and especially the 6 1/2' bed!

Love this look!!

 

I'm super excited!! Just got word today that my wheels will arrive TODAY!

For those that may not understand why I'm so stoked, it's for several reasons. I tend to be the guy that takes 2 months to decide what he wants. When I do finally decide, I'm all over getting it done. I searched every wheel out there for exactly what I had envisioned in my head, and this wheel was it.

So, Fuel jumped the gun with these wheels. They advertised and told their outlets they'd have them out around Thanksgiving, and then couldn't get them done by then. They sent a few sets out to a couple of dealers, just to have images to advertise for their websites, and that was it. They are nationally back ordered for about 3 months.

I reached out to about 6 wheel retailers, and asked about availability. 3 replied. 2 stated that "their website shows they're back ordered". 1 shop actually emailed the Fuel rep responsible for these, learned that 2 sets were arriving via container in early December, and that they weren't spoken for yet. Makes sense, as Real Truck cancelled my original order due to them being backordered in their system. He went ahead and put set on hold for me, without me confirming the purchase, just so I wouldn't miss out. I had told him I was working nightshift, and wouldn't be able to respond during the day.

Chris also discounted the wheels below what any other site had them for, and I was able to get all 4 wheels, new black Gorilla lug nuts, the wrench, 4 new TPMS sensors (will use the originals on the backup TRD wheels I have) for less than what Real Truck had just the wheels for.

He has kept me informed as to the status each time it changes, and informed me yesterday that they had shipped my wheels via 2-Day express to me from California.

I can't say enough about RIMZONEONLINE.COM

For the next few months, I'll be one of the only ones in the country with the new Fuel Catalyst wheels with these colors/bolt pattern.

 

I've been gone from home for 3 months now, with the exception of a few days at the house, and I barely had time to do the required fixes there, before heading out again.

My wheels arrived a couple of weeks ago, and it took me a while to find a place willing to touch them. Too many places were afraid they'd scratch them, and wouldn't even consider it. I did find a place on Friday, and they installed them this morning for me. My pictures aren't the best, and don't do justice to how it looks, in my opinion. They look amazing in person, and came out better than I imagined.

I've got a 2/1 level at the house, ready to go on, when I finally get home. I'm getting a few days home for Christmas, but will be flying and not driving. With all the overtime I'm getting, I'm actually considering ordering the TRD lift for it. I got a great deal on the wheels and tires, but it's hard to pull the trigger on that much money. But... the more I work, the more I'm leaning towards doing it. I've got a month to make that decision, unless I get the Toyota dealer that's about 30 minutes away to give me a killer deal.

 

Added the Beat-Sonic amp to my JBL system. Much clearer and crisper sound, with deeper base. Doesn't add volume, as explained in this easy to follow video. This guy's install and review were spot on about what to expect and how to do it.

The only thing to note is that an 8mm socket is also needed to add the ground wire.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTkHjgSmmEU

 

And I've now got this coming. I haven't suffered from the volume control knob issue as of yet, and bought it for looks. Figured I'd be doing a lot more volume adjusting soon, so I went ahead and ordered one.

 

Those wheels look great!

 

Thanks! I wanted something different, without being too flashy. I fell in love with them as soon as I saw them.

 

Christmas came a day early for me! Cruising Facebook marketplace on the 24th, and saw a post right after it was put up for some Heretic Fog lights and a Shift Power USA Throttle Enhancer for $150. Yeah, I couldn't believe it either, but I messaged the seller right away. He agreed to meet immediately, and I didn't waste time getting down to him. Turns out he purchased the 2022 Tundra that TRD Jon (Youtube) had done a lot of mods to, and had some concerns about the throttle enhancer and driving his kids around, and felt the herectic fogs over-reached his headlights, so he went back to stock on both of them.

While I prefer a non-amber fog light, I'll happily use these, as I just can't seem to be able to justify spending $550 on fog lamps for the type of driving I do.

I've got a TON of stuff to do to my truck once I get it home. Still working out of state (since later Summer) and having no joy not being able to do much.

I've got the following parts ready to go on:
Heretic Fog Lights
Shift Power Throttle Enhancer
RekGen Mudflaps
TRD Grille
RC 20" LED for Grille
Color matching to do on mustache (gonna try to do it myself).
Lift/Level and upgrade shocks and axles

I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting, but that's what I have already in hand. Strongly considering the TRD Lift Kit.