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This page contains informal gear reviews written by YotaTech forum members. 
This will include not only hardware (lights, gauges, stereos, etc.) but also car care products and so on. 
Also camping gear you have ran across that you feel is worthy and that you would recommend to viewers here.
If you have had an especially positive (or negative) result from a certain product drop me a line and tell me about it!
To submit a review, contact me.
 

Corey Tando (1 6 2004) Logitech Z680 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers  Logitech's Site Logitech Z680 Link This is not just a Toyota review section, but we review many items here that we think our membership may be interested in. Most of you access YotaTech from a PC. Whether it be a Windows, Linux, or a Macintosh based PC. If you use your PC primarily for office stuff or 'Net surfing, these speakers may not be right for you. But if you are into your PC as much as I am into mine for gaming, music, and other multimedia, then these speakers will simply rock your world. Since building my new PC awhile back, I have been slowly modding it more and more. I had a very nice 2.1 speaker setup on it, but my new PC utilizes a newer sound card that has 5.1 surround sound. I decided it was high time to upgrade to a 5.1 speaker system and take advantage of my sound cards capabilities. I scoured the 'Net in search of a good system, and finalized it down to the Logitech Z680s, or the Klipsch 5.1 Ultras. Both are considered the two best systems in the world right now, but after reading numerous reviews, the Logitech Z680s have a slight edge over the Klipsch's, plus they are around $100 less. One advantage being the control module has a built in Dolby decoder, and you can hook up to 4 items at once. A PC, gaming station platform, television, DVD player, and a portable CD or MP3 player via a jack input in the front of the module. Yes, these also make a great addition to your TV set or DVD player to give you a true home theater setup. The bass is a lot tighter on the Z680s, and also the output is a little more too. I'll include links here to many reviews so you can decide for yourself if these speakers are right for you. A word of warning...These speakers can get very loud, and the bass can rattle your windows or anything in the room for that matter if you have the bass up. You can turn down the bass volume if you want to, just like on a fine home theater setup, or car setup. Besides the control module, a remote control is provided, and all settings can be done via the remote. A very nice touch indeed. I only wish the buttons on it has a glow in the dark feature, and so did one of the reviewers in one of the links. Playing games on here is really cool, and a real upgrade from a 2.1 system like I ran before. They just sound better in games that support the surround sound effect. Playing a game of Battle Field 1942 will literally blow you away either using a machine gun, or firing a ground based turret gun, or one that is in a tank. You feel the recoil of the weapon, and the explosions of the shells. Music whether it's MP3s or CD sound great, and so do DVD movies. That's where they really rock to take advantage of the surround sound encoding in the movies. Don't just take my word for it, here are some excellent links. From Logitech's site IGN Insider Extreme Tech Maximum 3D Those who bought them from NewEgg (huge list) Update: Most people will find that even when your master volume on the control module and remote is turned down, you will still have plenty of bass which can be annoying. By default the sub woofers volume is set at 50% on the control module. If you turn it all the way off and then up one notch, it can still be very bassy. I found that it's very easy to knock stuff off your shelves and rattle file cabinets. Playing Battle Field 1942 for example I'd have the master volume down so as to not disturb others, but the bass would still be loud. You have to go into your sound mixer properties and turn your bass down. I had mine set at 75%, and I keep my treble at about 85%. I also run the master volume on there at about 75%. Try turning your bass in there down to between 20% & 50%, and that should fix it. I'm running mine at 50% now. I can now run a game at low volume, or even higher, and the bass is not overpowering when the Logitech's sub woofer volume is up a few notches. I can still get powerful wall shaking bass by turning it up past 5 notches or so.

 

Woody Huff Surefire Lights, E2 Executive, C2 Centurion SUREFIRE I wanted to provide a review of a GREAT product and excellent customer service. They are Surefire LLC maker of premium grade personal and weapon lights. Surefire personal lights are the brightest, whitest flashlights I have ever seen in an extremely compact design. Powered by lithium batteries, the have long runtime, and depending on the model, you can also get conversion lenses which provide extremely long running LED lights. So far I have two personal lights from them. One is the E2 Executive, which produces 60 lumens of light for 75 minutes with a High Pressure Xenon lamp assembly with a Lexan scratch resistant lens. The other personal light I bought was the C2 Centurion. It produces 65 lumens for 60 minutes, again with a Xenon lamp assembly. I upgraded to the P61 Lamp assembly for an amazing 120 lumens of light for 20 minutes. Surefire’s customer service is outstanding. I ordered from their web site the P61 Lamp assembly and a spares carrier for extra batteries and a spare lens. They shipped the order to my FPO AP (military) address for FREE and also gave me a 25% discount for Military/Law Enforcement personnel! And the order arrived in less than a week, packed nicely, insured, with a return receipt. They sent me the email notifying me of the 25% discount. I didn’t even know such a discount existed until they notified me. So any YotaTech members who are military or law enforcement get the discount as well. Now that is supporting the troops and law enforcement. I highly recommend them, especially for military and law enforcement, but for anyone else who demands the highest quality materials and the best damn flashlights I have ever seen. Here are the pictures of the two models I have.

 

Corey Tando Logitech Elite keyboard, MX 700 wireless mouse  Logitech You may not pay much attention to your computers keyboard or mouse, but if you use a computer as much as I do, having comfortable input devises can make your time on the computer seem more fun and productive. For years I have used a Microsoft LED Intellimouse with a cord on it. Very nice mouse indeed, as I have owned 3 of them. However member Drew on the forum turned me onto the Logitech MX 700 mouse, and I saw it in action over at his home. I was hesitant about a wireless mouse as my youngest son has the Microsoft one, and he no longer uses it due to major lag, especially when gaming with it. The Logitech one is touted as having zero lag, and that is correct. This mouse works great for gaming, or working with the computer. It's heavier due to it's guts inside, but you get use to the extra weight right away. It's equipped with two rechargeable batteries inside, and when you need to charge it, you set it on the receiver docking unit as seen in the picture. The keyboard is a joy to use too. I am use to a split style on that I have had since about '96. This new one has buttons on it for opening up your email, and other various application. It's a very nice keyboard, and also color coordinated to match the MX 700 mouse. Rather than me going into a long review on these two items, I have a few links here on reviews of these two items. Keyboard Mouse If you are in the market for either a new keyboard or mouse, give these a shot. The keyboard is also available as a wireless set that comes with the MX 700 mouse, but I choose to go with the keyboard that connects to the computer.

 

Corey Tando REI Big Cat 20 degree down bag  REI The REI Big Cat goose down 20 degree bag is an ideal bag whether for backpacking, car camping, or anywhere you want a nice warm down bag. The bag can be had with either a right or left side zipper, thus allowing two bags to be zipped together. Each bag also has a zipper on the opposite side that can be zipped down about a foot for on a warm night. Besides the normal drawstring around the hood part to contour it to your head for cold nights, the bag also has another drawstring on the top part of the bag to cinch it around your body. What I like about this bag is that it has room! I have owned a few mummy bags before for backpacking and camping (still have an REI Volcano 15 degree bag) and there is not always a lot of room in them to twist around for a light sleeper like me. Not so with the Big Cat. Most normal mummy bags have a 60" girth or less at the shoulder area, while the Big Cat has 70". Much more room to twist in the bag and also sleep with your arms out to the side. The bag is also cut longer allowing your feet to not feel squished up at the end. I'm about 5'10" tall, and have plenty of room at the bottom. The bag is a green color, REI calls it pesto, and also with gray and black colors inside. It may not be bright colored like some of the more expensive bags out there, but I'll take functionality over pretty colors any day. The bag can also be had in a 0 degree model. The 20 degree bag weighs in at 3 lbs. 7 oz., not bad at all, even for backpacking. I highly recommend this bag and give it a two thumbs up.

 

Corey Tando Fox Hill Corporation Camping Oven  Fox Hill This is a neat little item that makes car/truck/SUV camping much more pleasant when you can cook items where you might need an oven. This is not a cheesy Easy Bake oven now, but a very nice unit complete with a temperature gauge on it so you can gauge your cooking. I bought mine back around '92 or so to use with my tent trailer I had at the time. It fits perfect on an RV stove, and also on a Coleman type white gas or propane stove, and also on a backpacking stove. I use mine for everything from morning sausage for breakfast too French bread for dinner. On their site they have some pretty easy recipes also to give you an idea of how versatile the oven can be. They also have a double unit out now as seen in the first picture here for those who need to cook more amounts or two different things at the same time. It's a very handy gadget to have along when you are out camping. Bon appetite!

 

Joey Myers Wet Okole Seat Covers  Wet Okole                                                                      I purchased my Wet Okole's direct from them. I called the factory to guarantee I got what I wanted. When you call they will barrage you with questions about your seats. Make sure you know if you seats are “Sport” seats are not. If you do not have the knobs for lumbar support (this is for a 2nd Gen BTW) then you DO NOT have sport seats.  The staff was friendly and I even found out I would receive a 10% discount for being in the military! On their site you can also pick from numerous custom things to have embroidered into the seat. The install is much easier with the seats out and the quality is awesome. They truly do fit like a glove. After some careful fitting the seats were ready to go back in. I couldn’t wait to sit in them. Once I bolted the seats in I flopped down in the drivers seat was absolutely blown away by how comfortable they were!!! My seats felt literally brand new. They were much firmer and had the shape of a seat again instead of my butt! The covers are easy to clean and will take a lot of abuse. Overall I give them a two thumbs up. Definitely a must have MOD!

 

Joey Myers Sylvania Silverstar Headlamps Sylvania I purchased my Sylvania Silverstars online for my 2nd Gen Runner and am very happy with them. Driving over here in the UK during dark and rainy nights is nerve racking and more light was a must. I did some research about what was available and didn’t want to pay the price for the PIAA’s and someone mentioned Sylvania so that’s why I went with them.  As you can see in the pic they are a lot whiter light than stock, which helps a lot during them rainy nights. You can definitely tell a difference with them. I’ve also followed friends at night and they commented on how bright my headlights were in their mirror. If your looking at something better than stock for a fair price these just might be for you. I think I paid about $30 for the pair. I have had them about 6 months now with no problems.

 

David Bradley Wolf Cargo Cover I wanted to keep prying eyes off the stuff I keep in the back of my 4Runner. After much searching around and working on a design of my own I found a cargo cover made to fit the 1st generation 4Runner made by Wolf.  The cover is waterproof and the coating on it makes it a breeze to clean, even if it gets covered in mud (been there done that) The cover also has plastic strips in it to give it some extra rigidity. 8 elastic cords attach to clips that screw in to the sides of the cargo area and hold the cover rigid. I have tested the cover out and even with the hard top off and cruising at highway speeds the cover holds and doesn't flap.

 

Mark Rael PIAA 520 Fog Lights KC HiLites / 46 Series PIAA KC HiLites Adding fog lights to my 4Runner never seemed important to me until the year after I first bought it. That winter I was driving home at night in a heavy snow and I experienced something like a 'whiteout' condition. It was all could do to drive 5mph, and these were roads that I know very well! I decided then and there that I would soon have foglights. I didn't realize at the time just how specialized a beam pattern a foglight has, and that placement is also very important.  So ok, I got the PIAA's partly because of the way they look (guilty as charged) but they also are designed specifically as foglights and they work really well. Like all true fog lights they are designed to be mounted low and in front of the vehicle; the beam they give off is not very tall at all, and therefore you need to have them set low. After doing this I realized what a useful tool a foglight can be. In a similar winter whiteout condition I just turn the main headlights off and drive with fogs. Visibility is drastically improved. The PIAA's seem strong and rugged. I like 'em.  The KC's were added further down, underneath the bumper. They weren't as expensive or designed as specifically for fog light use as the PIAA's but they work well and don't give me any problems. They have a built in cover that needs to be opened before you turn the lights on, and the lens is plastic (not the glass of the PIAA's.) They seem to be holding up well and I have no complaints.

 

Matt Hinkley Rockstomper plasma fiber winch line with a Warn M8000 winch Rockstomper I am using a Rockstomper plasma fiber winch line with my Warn M8000 winch. I'm very happy with it. When I bought it Scott from Rockstomper braided the loop right there in the lobby as I watched. He was very thorough and ran it 2 feet back through itself so there is no chance of it coming apart. It works kind of like a Chinese finger trap, it squeezes down on itself as tension is applied. It comes with a 10 foot length of nylon sleeve that allows the line to slide over rocks and trees without snagging the line and damaging it. 10 feet is enough to cover the line under the length of the truck for the worst case scenario of having to winch the truck backwards.  The sleeve also fits nice and snug around the line so when you spool it in through the fairlead it doesn't bunch up, it just rolls right in with the line. Now I will compare it to steel cable and point out its advantages. You don't have to tension it before use, you don't have to wear gloves to handle it, it floats, it won't ever rust, and if it kinks you simply straighten it out and apply some tension to un-kink it.  I do recommend wearing gloves to avoid rope burns but it won't develop little wire "fish hooks" that will cut your hand to the bone in less than an instant. It weighs 1/3 the weight of steel line so whoever has to climb a hill to an attachment point will have a much easer time. This lower weight and mass means that there is less static energy stored in the line. This means that there is much less of a "snap back" effect if part of the attachment fails. People have been killed or seriously injured as a result of broken steel cable or the hook slicing through them at the nearly speed of sound.  If you are in the market for a replacement winch line, or if you are looking into a new winch for your rig I strongly recommend the Rockstomper fiber line. You won't regret spending the extra coin when you have to use it.

 

Mark Rael Overland Sheepskin Co. seat covers Overland My stock seats aren't even in bad condition, but I wanted something that felt really nice. They say sheepskin seat covers are warm in winter and cool in summer and that sounded good to me, so I went to the local Overland Sheepskin store and checked out what they had.  For about $125 each they have a nice fabric backed sheepskin cover that comes in a few available colors so I bought a pair. The fit is good, as I think you can tell from the photo, and they wear very very well. Its been a few years now and I cant detect any wear patterns on the seats at all. Durable things those sheep. Anyway I'm very satisfied with them and recommend them.

 

Mark Rael Bushwacker fender flares Bushwacker One of the things that make Bushwacker flares look so good is the rubber gasket piece that goes between the flare and the fender. I was leery that this piece might fall out or come unstuck, but its hung right in there after years of exposure. Installing these flares is pretty easy especially if you have a friend hold them in place while you fasten them in place with the supplied self tapping screws.  I like it that I don't get as much mud on the sides of the 4runner since putting the flares on, and I'm pretty sure the rock ding count is down too. Adding mudflaps to the bottom of the flares gave me nearly total freedom from muddy doors since the flares all by themselves still let a fair amount of mud get by. Bushwacker makes a good fender flare and its not technical to install them. They even sent me some replacement gasket strip for free when I requested some.

 

Corey Tando Rock Sliderz Badland Bumpers I had Smittybilt nerfs on my rig for quite awhile and liked them. But for some of the trails I plan on doing with my rig I'm afraid they would end up getting bent out of shape if I come down on them pretty hard. They already are scraped up a bit on the bottom from one of our last runs.  I ran across this guy who is into making custom bumpers, rock sliders, and flatbed kits for Toyota 4x4's. I got in touch with him and explained what I wanted. I had seen some sliders on the Internet last year that welded on to the frame, but were also removable for times when you want to do some paint touchup work on them. They are attached via welding to the frame, but the tube part that is welded on to the frame is just a short section of smaller diameter tubing than the legs on the sliders themselves. The sliders legs slip into the welded on tubes and secure with grade 8 hardware with 3 bolts per slider. This makes it very easy to take off when the time calls for it.  The quality on these sliders is top notch. The welds are clean, and the tubes are straight looking. Jeff the owner pays a lot of attention to detail on all of his work, and looking at the sliders close up reveals this. His wife does the painting on all of his creations, and it also is very high quality. I would not hesitate for one minute to recommend his work to anyone. It is very high quality work.

 

Mark Rael Smittybilt Nerf Bars Smittybilt I don't make a lot of demands on my 4runner (as in rock crawling) although it seems like a fun thing to do. I do like the idea of body armor though, for a variety of reasons. Smittybilt makes a well known product that is also well known for not being designed for serious offroaders or for situations where the trucks weight might need to be supported by the nerfs. Still, I knew the limitations of the Smitty's before I bought them and they have been fine for me. They support my weight when I stand on them to deal with the Can-Back or the Load Warrior, and they make it easier to get into the cab. They also offer a certain amount of protection from idiots in parking lots. Overall the Smittybilt nerfs are a good thing to have as long as you don't expect too much from them. I also added some 3M grip tape to the tops of mine to make them less slippery when they get wet with rain or snow.