Tag: gray

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Toyota Hood Protector for 2005 Toyota Tundra Access cab Black.

There are just too many bugs flying around, so after driving in the road, kill hundreds of bugs with hood, and there are lots color on the hood.  A decision has been made, which is get the hood protector, so the hood won’t get scratch and kill bugs.

The Toyota Hood Protector made by Toyota guarantees the fit, and cost about $ 150 from dealers directly.  Which there are other manufacture like LUND offers form fit, and they are directly exactly fit the hood, but they requires drill to the hood, which most owners afraid of, and will have permanently damage on the hood.  The Toyota hood protector comes with giant boxes, and holds items pretty well, there are a manual, bags of parts,  hood protector covered by thin white foam, and a bag.   The manual explained the hood protector for Access cab is also use for Sequoia.  The entire procedure of installing the hood takes about ten to fifteen minutes.  There is a lot missing on the explaining which screw and parts is to what, but once actually started, everything went well.  The unit is very sturdy and won’t have any problem in 100 miles per hour speed, but do need to afraid on some automatic car wash place that will destroy the hood.

It pops out a little, and from the center of drivers window, there is only a little will be seen, and most will be under the hood.

This is the hood protector is formed like the shape of the hood, but Smokey plastic and strong.  There are 2 types of clips included; first type of clips, which clips near the center of the hood, the second type of clips, which clips near the end of hood. The center hood have two clips, which have a thick foam thing between clip and hood to protect hood, near the center is the two clips that snap to the Toyota grill and no drill is needed, right side of the u shape hook to hold shield on.  There is another one on the left side, they are all the way to the ends of the hood, holding by none drilling screws, and there is plastic sheet to protect the paint.

 

Excellent:

No drill

Direct fit

Protect hood

easy installation

strong enough in the high speed

good color for black truck

function as advertised

exact fit

 

Not so Excellent:

Expensive

seems weak

can break if hit large rock

need to retorque after few thousand mile

get dirty easy

could be more close to the hood

Links to other useful sites:

toyota

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A.R.E. MX Campershell for 2005 Tundra Access Cab

Well, the Undercover Tonnueau cover serves very well, but for the functionality of Camping or moving cargo, it just doesn’t hold enough cargo or as a good sleeping quarter function.  There are a lot option on how to increase the volume of the truck bed; soft cover, hard cover, or aluminum camper shell, but at end, the fiberglass camper shell seems to be the best choice.  Then There are choices of manufactures, types of campers shell, and what basic design and function it will be using for.  Since this is a lot bigger purchase than my previous Tonnueau, so there are a list made to find the one camper shell that will do the job.

Companies that was considered:

Leer – Not too interest in the style.  There are reports of shell warp

Snug Top – was really considered due to short distance near factory to get low price, but after some forum user reported that certain Tundra model doesn’t fit, and quality is not up to the par.

Innovation – shell warp, paint matching

A.R.E. – There are some report of paint miss matching and some issue with window fit.

After all those choice, the people mostly recommend A.R.E. due to better quality and better fit, and Therefore there is a decision for the ARE MX Camper shell, and only option that was added in this campers hell is the flip down front window.  So after 3 weeks, the shell was arrived & installed. Everything is great, black cab with gray interior, which fit perfectly with the Bedrug color.  Front windows flip open but there are another windows on the Cab, so to connect camper shell or talk to people inside, would need to open 2 windows.  There are sliding windows on each side with screen  on tailgate half.  The camper shell open by one lock with rod to open both side, and have a instead 2 will simplify the opening set.  The camper lock overtop of the tailgate so won’t have issue of security.  The rise of the MX have a view window to see out so looks great and nice fitting.

The camper shell works great and protect my items perfectly for five year until I sold my truck.  The camper shell is heavy of 250 LBs, and connect with 6 Clamps, and I only need to tighten it up every 6 month to make sure it’s good.  Its perfect camper shell and I do recommend to everyone who want a camper shell and MX model do have additional rise above the cab.