Strongly considering hood latches

In search of alternatives for unsightly and ugly looking hood pins I ran into the next best thing. Adjustable hood latches made by Aerocatch. I have been dealing with some hood flutter for a long time, and apparently it seems to be a common issue amongst Taco owners. These would be a great alternative because they use an adjustable pin which locks in like a set screw, which also has optional stops you could run right at the bottom of the pins. I could use them right in place of the stock hood rubber stoppers, not to mention they would correct the warped gaps from my hood to my fender line by allowing the hood to latch itself onto 3 zones instead of just one central zone alone. They look really nice too.

I know a member Torspd is running them. Anyone else here running them? Maybe this thread will coerce someone into buying a pair as well. They seem like a great mod for offroaders!

 

I've never heard of hood flutter on here before?

Looks like a good product however.

 

Neither have I. Maybe a better idea on glass hoods. That would keep them a bit tighter than hood pins.

 

It might be a 2nd gen exclusive thing. A quick Google search of the site found me several immediate hits.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/346826-there-fix-loose-wobbly-hood.html

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/66541-hood-flutter-high-speeds.html

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/258690-hood-problem.html

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/108522-hood-pins.html

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/346826-there-fix-loose-wobbly-hood.html

 

I've seen my hood flutter a few times but only out on the highway at high speeds and moderate to strong winds. I'm not worried about it but seems like this would be a good product.

 

I have had it various times as well, but with all that flutter it really makes me wonder if it would in the long run affect the integrity of the latch on the hood itself. That is a lot of stress to handle and the design is not exactly what I would call a very good design for keeping the hood buckled down during driving. I think the extra aid would do it well.

 

That looks pretty solid, but I don't know if I would like the looks of it. On a black truck it might blend in enough, but on a light colored truck it will stick out like a sore thumb. Or like black versions of the Pep Boys chrome stick-on badges.
If there is however a concern about the hood latch or flutter issues it looks like a sturdy product.

Fortunately I have a 1st gen so none of these 2nd gen problems

 

Hahaha, yeah they sure don't build them like they used to do they?!

LOL, stick on badges! Well the good news about these is if you want to have them blasted to color match your paint profile on your truck that is something that is doable apparently.

I ordered a set of them last night, they will be replacing the stock hood rubber stoppers. I am still debating on whether or not I want to have them painted to match.

 

Over half of those links posted are for 1st gen. Just sayin...

 

I experience hood flutter alot, especially on back country highways(one lane both ways). When I am going 85-90 and an 18-wheeler passes me going the opposite direction, my hood looks as if it is going to open up......scary

 

Odd you have hood flutter...I've never encountered it at any speed. All your bolts tight? Hood seals not beat to crap? Hood bumpers adjusted to see if it fixes it?

FWIW I drove an 04 that had a bug deflector installed....whoever installed it removed the weather seal and threw it away I guess...caused a good bit of hood bobbling.

I just find it weird. I even was messing with my hood the other week with my hood hinge antenna and forgot to completely tighten a bolt so I opened the hood the other day and one of the botls was just laying on the windshield cowl...still never gave me any flutter lol.

 

To all that have experienced the hood flutter...do you all
have the hood scoop?

might be a turbulence thing at higher speeds...that air has
to go somewhere to equalize??

I don't have the scoop and have never experienced this.

 

I've read that the scoop is in a low pressure zone so the air actually passes over it. Otherwise, the scoop could be opened to make it functional.

 

ya'll are driving too fast!

 

Buddy has these on his tacoma because of his glass and grill the hood didnt stay latched right and they work great

 

Lol. It appears Toyota starting cheaping out on building the hoods correctly after their "truck" models.

I have had 18 wheelers pass by me, I have never seen the hood give me that much of a scare, but I do notice it as i drive down the road, I can see the deflection in the shine of the paint. During harder roads and bumps it becomes more pronounced. It sounds like you could use a set of these yourself to keep the left and ride side of the hood tight.

My truck is a 12 with less then 50K. All bolts are indefinitely tight, including the hood latch on the body itself, rubber stoppers on the left and right side are actually maxed out and I get a nice solid pop when I open the hood. So there are no issues as far as that's concerned. It's just an issue of poor hood design.

Call it what you want, but it is not ricer if it's actually functional and used for an intended purpose.

In my case, offroading pre runner style.

I have a hood scoop on mine, I'm almost starting to wonder if the model affected by it most IS the Sport models.

I am pretty sure up until the rear of the hood, the rest of it is low pressure for sure.

It's not that we are driving too fast, it's that wind can be turbulent and cause the hood to wiggle as you drive, at normal highway speeds.

This is great to know right here! I'm glad to know this will keep it shut nice and tight.

 

Link to that quote: Post #6

The hood latch CAN be a problem if these trucks are wheeled hard enough, for a longer period of ownership then not. These latches would alleviate the central latch from having to hold so much grunt work on that large piece of sheet metal.

 

This seems like you're creating a problem that isn't one. Then again my hood is solid.

 

I do have a problem that probably wouldn't be there if I didn't wheel, but I do, so it appears as if something like this is necessary.

Also, it's not just me, it seems like it's a semi common problem amongst some of the other 2nd gen owners as well. Whether or not they wheel, that I cannot say. Either way. I'm pretty sure Toyota assembled and bonded the upper layer to the lower layer using glue, similar to the crap ass glue that they used to bond our tailgates, and the only real area that is spot welded on is in the rear of the assembly.

 

It sounds more that maybe the latch system, not the hood "loop" has a problem. It works off of a 2 step system when opening it. Maybe that needs adjustment.