Susceptible to damage without a crossmember

[Deleted User 1813921]

Difference in price between a sport and an off road is really insignificant. One has the cross member and one doesn’t. Think the difference (if memory when I bought in
Canada) was $500.00 between the two trims with the OR being more.

It’s crazy that they even make any of the models without the crossmember. To think in a 4x4 that you could smash your radiator and intercooler just getting cross rutted is beyond belief. Regardless if you have base model or flagship that lower front bumper valence is going to scrap. The aftermarket can solve all this for particular requirements. If I had went a lil more nerd and looked deeper I would have not bought a SR and went with an off road that after a discount would have been a few thousand more. MT was my only concern and for just using the truck on the property I was cool with just SR and it’s going to rust out fast here in Pennsylvania. Now if I still lived in my beloved California and knew I could keep truck longer in that climate and that type of terrain I would have got the off road knowing I would use rear locker and sway bar disconnect pretending to king of the hammers. I never knew about crossmember till I almost crushed my cooling system. The crossmember should be on every model.

Sponsored

 

[Sner]

It’s crazy that they even make any of the models without the crossmember. To think in a 4x4 that you could smash your radiator and intercooler just getting cross rutted is beyond belief. Regardless if you have base model or flagship that lower front bumper valence is going to scrap. The aftermarket can solve all this for particular requirements. If I had went a lil more nerd and looked deeper I would have not bought a SR and went with an off road that after a discount would have been a few thousand more. MT was my only concern and for just using the truck on the property I was cool with just SR and it’s going to rust out fast here in Pennsylvania. Now if I still lived in my beloved California and knew I could keep truck longer in that climate and that type of terrain I would have got the off road knowing I would use rear locker and sway bar disconnect pretending to king of the hammers. I never knew about crossmember till I almost crushed my cooling system. The crossmember should be on every model.

Agree… sure hope mine doesn’t rust out, I’m not too far from you in Ontario, lots of salt and sand used on the road in this area. I get the sport and off road trims… but in my mind it should just be cosmetic changes between the two. I did my research when buying, prefer the look of the sport, but when I took closer look, the OR had some extras for minimal price increase.

 

[Deleted User 1813921]

I wish for this thread to enlighten other owners of non crossmember Tacoma models.

 

[bresna]

Think you need to do some searches on YouTube. MANY videos of them coming off. Was the basis of my comment, that many people can’t be wrong. It’s VERY well documented 9 screw and off it comes.

I understand that it comes off easily. My concern is that the wheel well felt liner is sandwiched between the chin spoiler and the front fender and that when you take the chin spoiler off, that felt is just flapping in the wind (eventually). I'd love for someone to come up with a larger washer-like piece to allow that felt to stay put at highway speeds.

To be honest, I thought about pushing that flap of felt inside the fender and use a buckle washer on the inside, but I think it might distort the wheel well felt and weaken the ability to block out the snow.

 

[bresna]

I left the bolts that held the felt installed. I do not do any highway driving. Just mostly Grateful Dead put to town. That felt is ridiculous.

I saw where people are doing that but one bolt isn't going to hold that whole edge of felt for too long, especially come winter time.

 

[Deleted User 1813921]

I saw where people are doing that but one bolt isn't going to hold that whole edge of felt for too long, especially come winter time.

I think with some cleverly placed washers or spacers the felt could be secured better then just those bolts. I will look into it. I am not very enthusiastic about the road salts and winter snow with this truck myself. This is the first vehicle I have sacrificed to the rust belt region in 12 years as I have lived in California till recently. I really wish I could keep this truck “Fresh” as they say out there. In the upcoming blizzards this winter I will be California dreaming.

Sponsored