Just bought my 08 on Halloween.

I am going to be building up a whole audio system and CarPC like i had in my accord.
I have ordered my trailer hitch already also to pull my jetski.
And tomorrow my custom leather will be installed, ill post pics of that in a few days.
So stay tuned.
Here are some pics of it. I got all the windows tinted the same day i bought it.
Put a second layer of %15 for all the back and 5% for front and 40% for the whole windshield. I like it dark.

 

Congrats!

 

Welcome aboard

 

looks nice. legally, how can you drive with such dark tint?

 

You can mount a hitch? I though I read in the manual that you shouldn't install any hitch to this car. But this is the second time I've read otherwise...

I'd like to install a 1.25" hitch so I can mount my bike rack to it when I need it. Roof-mounted bikes always scare me.

 

Toyota is naturally very cautious about advertising their vehicle tow capacity unless it has a tow package available. There are many things that can be done to wreck a car when trying to tow. The transmission takes a lot of abuse when you significantly increase the weight it's trying to move. And most people will lie to the dealer to get it fixed under warranty. This way, any towing related failures are not covered.

The xB has a sturdy set of rails behind the bumper and there are several hitches available. Just like most 4 cylinder cars (RAV4, CR-V, Element, etc.), 1500 lbs max gross with 200 lbs tongue weight, is probably the limit. For what you're looking to do, it'd be fine. just don't put on one of those luggage platforms or motorcycle carriers.

I'm thinking a hidden hitch would be best since I wouldn't need anything more than what you're thinking about.

 

I just mounted up the hitch. Simple 6 bolts.

Yea most any car or truck or xB can handle light towing.
With my srt-4 and accord coupe i towed my jetski's with never a problem.

Tongue weight is only like 50lbs and total weight of ski is only 1000 lbs...i just took it around the block and the xB handled it very well. Better than i was expecting actually.
here is the Ebay auction i bought from.. FAST shipping...http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...173519367&rd=1

 

Hey that'a pretty good! I might have to get one of those. Did it mount up to factory bolt locations? Where'd you get it and may I ask how much?

...when you're not towing anythhing you can use the hitch to mount another back-up light!

 

I put the ebay link in above the pics. It was a very solid and smooth loking piece.

Just had to unbolt the tow hook from underneath the frame then YES using stock bolt holes it bolted up solid with 6 bolts.
The one i had for my accord i had to drill..he sells a quality product..

BTW the tint is easy to drive with. I have all my cars tinted the same way.

And yes actually another backup light to mount to the hitch would be nice..but i am installing a backup camera soon with my carPC so i can see at ngith backing up no problem..

 

i figured since its really dark and illegal that you'd get pulled over frequently for it. i'm worried about the 20% on the back of my civic.

 

hmm is that the Scion cargo net?? I have one too but I didn't know you can put it sideways like that...

 

No its the net from my 07 accord actualy and i zip tied it to the tie down spots works great.

Nah never been pulled over for tint or ticketed <knock on wood>

 

You're lucky you can tint like that in FL, if I did that in CA (I'd like to, on all windows EXCEPT the front windshield), I'd be pulled over every time I left the house. We're in a budget crunch, so they ticket for EVERYTHING now.

 

I second that Eric...I used to have the blacked out windows all around on my Eclipse GSX, but that didn't work out too well...The little piggies had me peel the front windows off soon after I moved here to CA

 

I was going to order that hitch, but Im scared its not going to work with my 5Ax kit and I dont want to cut my kit up

 

Looking at the pictures, this is one of the most straight forward hitches there is. Many other vehicles require working around the exhaust with cuts and bends. This one also looks like it could be mounted as far back as necessary to clear the bumper. I want to create a removable panel that can be removed (or flipped up/down) to allow the access to the receiver. Thanks of the link.

 

It fits tight against the lower section of the stock bumper. if you have a body kit im sure you would have to cut it out.

It is designed to fit very snug around the exhaust and bumber covers very well.

 

Here are pics of my leather they installed over the past 2 days.






Its not exactly how i was picturing it but it is nice and brightens up the all black inside.
With the windows down the white in and out looks nice IMO.
The white stiching is a bit much IMO also, i should of chosen black stiching maybe..
oh well its done now..
what ya think? seriously..

 

Seriously, I could do without the 2-tone but that's a personal opinion. I think overall it looks pretty good. I'm sure it looks better in person. It looks as if the camera flash shows some rippling that probably is less noticeable in person. I would condition the leather to help it break into the shape of the seats. I think I could live with the stitching if the leather itself was all black. I like the look of the headrests! I like the dark look.

Was the factory upholstery replaced or did the leather go on top of the upholstery? I completely replaced the cloth upholstery myself on my old Xterra with a leather kit and some special tools I had to buy. It turned out really nice and only cost me $420. If something like this comes out for the xB I might go for it although I like the cloth just fine.

 

I like it a lot.

I just got my white '08 last Sat. Had rims, spoiler, and lighted door stills installed today. I'm lovin' it.