Inflation Running Hot - Gather Parts Now?

Anybody else worried about parts availability for maintenance items ... like timing belts and water pumps?

Wondering if it'd be worth ordering this stuff now for our Tundra & 4Runner to have on hand when the time comes. My truck isn't even at 75k yet, but wife's 4Runner is approaching 90k.

I feel like even if/when inflation gets under control, we're not going to see prices of goods and services follow suit so maybe now is a good time to be accumulating things that could become scarce and/or spendy.

Thoughts?

 

I did that last year Xmas with a lift kit. Wasn't planning on getting a lift until later but saw the writing on the wall. So far it has paid off according to recent prices of the same kit. Kit is still in boxes.

Could be a good idea with spare parts on a vehicle that will need it in the next year or so.

 

It could go either way. It would be nice to have, but could also take away from someone who really needs one at the time. I could see parts such as filters, but not so much the bigger parts IMO.

 

If its a substantial amount of money , suspension kit , offroad bumper , topper shell id say yes. Anything else , meh

 

What's the shelf life for gasoline? I'm kidding.

Kinda.

 

Fed rate right now should be pegged around 11% to control inflation. We’re scheduled to be at 3% by end of year. Make no mistake, the Fed is not going to control it, they knew their monetary policy was not transitory last year.

I agree with the above posts, big parts, yes. Little things, meh. Supply side is a completely different story. If the administration tries putting price controls on goods, buy everything you can within reason. Because price controls never work, and companies just stop producing. Refiners stop refining, all the way down the chain.

 

Another thing to factor in is supply chain.

I recently placed an order with Sparks and asked them about the state of parts availability. Their rep told me that all through covid parts were pretty much available but in the last few months they have started seeing a lot more "backordered, no ETA" from Toyota.

Tracks with what I am seeing in my own industry (electronics). What was 3 days in normal times went to 2 weeks early on in covid then became 2-3 months and now we are being quoted 42 weeks (yes, almost a year) on certain things. The suppliers are multi billion dollar companies, not some mom and pops.

Right as covid hit I replaced tires on several of my vehicles (they were due), bought belts, hoses, brake pads, spark plugs and squirreled away some extra oil and filters (oil, air, cabin).

 

I been buying alot of medium to large items this year before shit hits the fan. If I see a sale or discount or group by or something, its getting snatched up. Everything from camping stuff to lawn equipment, furniture, a Sienna lol what's about to come is going to be bad. Also have a fat stack of cash from uncle sams free giveaways waiting to swoop on some foreclosures. I plan to come out ahead.

 

I did just this and have a serpentine belt, water pump, plugs, brake pads, 6 air filters, 10 oil filters, holder assembly (alternator brushes).......

This shit show has years to go.

 

Oil filters 15, Timing belt 1, Spark plugs 8, oil 10gal / need to get air filters, tires well not yet.

 

big stuff yeah if you can swing it.
rims, tires, suspension for sure.

 

I can only see one downside to this approach. The warranty starts as soon as a purchase is made. If a person were to buy say a set of shocks and put them on a year later and they leaked the warranty could already be expired. Other than that it's a good idea.

 

What are these timing belts for?

I didn't think Toyota offered the 2nd gen Tundra with the 2uz for more than a couple years.

 

Ooops. My bad. Serpentine belt.

 

Well, the UZ WILL probably want an accessory belt from time to time.

Any idea what brand Toyota supplies with the vehicle/sells at the dealer?

Gates still a good choice?

 

I say panic buy everything.

 

I’ve been loading up on ammunition and food cause ‘Murica

 

I am the reason your beer shelves are sparse.

...Unfortunately Ive not been able to actually hoard any of it away