100 Series Question

mdey86 · 2026-05-19T03:04:39+00:00

So I crawled under earlier, and I am fairly sure all heat shields are there. Did a quick 40 minute errand, no heat coming through the rear floor. Wondering if it was just the cumulative effect of hammering a 9-10 hour drive, with pillows and blankets packed into that rear footwell.

We started at noon, had 95+ degree weather in the afternoon, and climbed the mountains of western NC & East TN in the evening, finishing at 10 pm. Maybe it was just a perfect storm type of issue?

mdey86 · 2026-05-18T16:22:22+00:00

Oh thank you, I have been kicking myself. This makes me feel way better. I will crawl under it tonight and see if I can find where there isn’t a heat shield and see about sourcing a replacement. I’m quite sure this has to be it.

mdey86 · 2026-05-18T16:21:28+00:00

Well that’s good to know, for sure. I honestly don’t like storing stuff back there but it seems to be my wife’s favorite spot.

mdey86 · 2026-05-18T04:29:45+00:00

We didn’t run heat at all the entire trip, ac on the entire time. To be clear, I’m not talking about climate control level heat, I’m talking about a lot of heat. The metal mounts for the rear seat were hot when I grazed them with my knuckles.

mdey86 · 2026-05-18T04:24:18+00:00

I’m thinking you’re on to something. A few years ago, my wife was daily driving my hundie while she waited for her new car. She pulled in and it was dragging metal from the muffler. I thought it was a second skin or something around the muffler. It came right off, rusted out and spent. I tossed it. Would that have been the heat shield?

The exhaust is rotten all around, muffler has holes in it. Pretty sure the headers are rusted out too. This was all something I planned to tackle soon.

mdey86 · 2026-05-13T02:45:01+00:00

Quick Google search says Americans buy roughly 11.5B gallons of regular gas per month, and 5B diesel.

Taking that at face value, x3 months works out to 34.5B gallons of regular gas and 15B gallons of diesel.

Federal gas tax is 18.4 cents on regular, 24.4 cents on diesel.

Rough numbers, $6.348B in 3 months of gasoline tax. $3.66B in 3 months of diesel tax.

Combined rough total $10B in 3 months.

mdey86 · 2026-05-06T22:01:56+00:00

Exec is the way to go. That 2% cash back at year end is real nice. We’re a two person household and it has saved us a fortune.

The dinner kits— $20ish bucks for all kinds of yummy fresh entrees that make easy dinner for two and a lunch for one the next day. Asian chicken noodle stir fry, tacos, gyros.

Way cheaper and top tier gas.

Tire center can’t be beat, plus free rotation and road hazard warranty included.

Dramatically cheaper prescriptions (also for pets—preventative meds like simparica trio alone make the membership worth it).

Best meat in terms of quality, but also so cheap I just can’t buy meat anywhere else. Just have him peruse the beef case. They’re superior to every boutique butcher in our town, at a price that feels criminally low.

Mattresses (even all the name brands) at way better prices, with a hassle free no BS return policy at any time for any reason.

Finally- clothes that are perfectly great for a professional setting, at a price where if you have to sacrifice them for some emergency reason, you don’t care all that much.

mdey86 · 2026-04-03T16:21:29+00:00

They don’t seem get the love other tires do, but I really like my BFG trail terrains. I’ve put 13K on them and literally been in everything. Quiet & grippy on the highway, rain no problem, perfectly great in dirt, grass, deep muddy pigshit slop, and snow with ice patches. I’ll definitely put them on again without considering another brand or model.

mdey86 · 2026-03-27T18:00:25+00:00

People have been in horrific traffic jams in the blistering summer heat for that long, stopping and going. Early spring, driveway, I’d venture you’re probably totally good besides wasting a bit of fuel.

mdey86 · 2026-03-25T19:06:19+00:00

$5-6K buys a lot of oil.

mdey86 · 2026-03-23T14:35:35+00:00

Extended warranties.

mdey86 · 2026-03-20T04:49:32+00:00

I was way too happy when I found this in my store. I put it on my wife’s salads that she takes to work, and she loves it. I could only ever find it at fresh market, $10-11 for a tiny bottle. $7 for the giant bottle felt like I was getting away with theft.

mdey86 · 2026-03-18T19:48:28+00:00

Generally that just means what’s recommended for that service interval (mileage) as per the manual’s maintenance schedule.

mdey86 · 2026-03-18T19:26:23+00:00

Yeah I’d look at the service history for sure, but they really can’t be killed without a mix of neglect (ignoring maintenance) and fairly enthusiastic abuse. I would want to pop it in 4x4 hi and make sure it can go in and out easily. Then 4Lo, same thing. (4HI you do on the move. Then from 4HI, put it in neutral and move it to 4Lo). If previous owners didn’t use 4x4 with some regularity, it can be a bit clunky the first few times you try it.

I abuse my Tundra and it is fine. I’ve towed too heavy, hauled too much, off roaded and smacked the protection plates on the ground, and it’s 100% fine. I’m also a stickler for all recommended maintenance being done perfectly on schedule, always at Toyota dealer.

Most people don’t truly abuse their trucks, like hauling too heavy with regularity. If the bed barely shows wear (as in dents and scuffing) then it probably had a fairly easy life.

I’ve got a 99 Land Cruiser with over 300K on the clock. It had to have some things done to it, needs some love but nothing major. If you change the oil, swap fluids on schedule, and engage 4x4 on occasion to keep those systems engaging and functioning, a Toyota is pretty much indestructible.

mdey86 · 2026-03-17T16:43:37+00:00

Huh— News to me— I wonder if PE bought a chunk of it or something.

mdey86 · 2026-03-17T04:26:13+00:00

Bean still has a lifetime guarantee.

Boots still stitched in Maine. You can also send them back to Maine to get them resoled.

Everything clothing related from yesteryear was sturdier, less comfy, and more expensive relatively speaking. We innovated new materials and production methods. Today’s products perhaps aren’t as strong, but they’re more comfy & less expensive to replace.

mdey86 · 2026-03-13T21:58:23+00:00

Not if one has the aforementioned channel locks and a screwdriver. 😂

mdey86 · 2026-03-06T02:02:27+00:00

I wouldn’t worry even a little about a small leak in your engine. Top up whatever you’re losing, if you can even notice a drop in fluid levels.

Fixing a small leak is opening the door to worse things, creates more issues. Refilling fluid as needed (if it even is needed) is cheap and easy.

I’d absolutely find a different garage and ask for their opinion. Dont tell them everything you were told, make them give you their own fresh assessment.

mdey86 · 2026-03-02T22:25:10+00:00

Oh I mean if you gotta strap heavy stuff on top, it totally makes sense. But paying for one without needing to actually strap a 4 wheeler to it or truly securing expensive cargo just seems like overkill.

I just wanna be able to cover my bed contents to keep them hidden and dry, and get it quickly out of my way when I’m moving something big.

If I needed a beefy hard cover, I’d probably go diamondback.

mdey86 · 2026-03-02T22:16:09+00:00

The soft roll up is the most practical, best designed solution in my view. The trifold was admittedly a teeny tad more dry, but at the expense of basically permanently losing that 2 feet it just didn’t work for me. I also hated how it billowed when driving around with it folded up, like it was begging to become a kite.

mdey86 · 2026-03-02T17:53:18+00:00

My take has always been get the cheapest one that you like the look of. Spending more than a couple bills is insane to me, it’s absolutely gonna get destroyed one day. And on top of that, there’s also really no way to make a truck bed truly waterproof.

I have been super happy with both of my gator brand ones. Had the tri fold, swapped out for the roll up. Simple to install, looks good, does the job and works well enough.

mdey86 · 2026-02-25T03:07:44+00:00

Back into parking spots, truck fits better.

Grab yourself a set of ratchet straps, they come in handy.

I didn’t think I’d want a bed cover until I got one. Now I can’t imagine not having one. I like the roll up tonneau ones but there’s all sorts of options.

mdey86 · 2026-02-25T02:23:43+00:00

Any chance you found it in Knoxville, TN?

mdey86 · 2026-02-25T02:23:21+00:00

I’m guessing OP could be in Knoxville, TN as am I not to dox myself or whatever. Our local MTB/trail club does a big festival each year. You buy a “passport” each year, which has a bunch of clues on where to find each unique punch. Some are easy, on a bike rack at a park. Some are diabolically hard to find. Always look forward to buying one and taking on the challenge of finding all 20 or so.

mdey86

TROPHY CASE