What the hell ''flexy frame'' means????

im curious what do you mean its not a true 4x4?

 

Forget what i said. I don't know 100%.

Just a question. Do you engage your 4x4? Or does it engage for you when it decides you need it?

 

Taco frame is C-channel. My old early 90's truck/4runner was fully boxed. so Yes I also find the late model frames "FLEXY". Proof? Get on a articulation ramp. Look at the bed from behind.... flexy frame! My late model F250 was even worse. 1st trip offroad I could barely open the doors if parked on a hill. F150 has a stiff frame, most late model 1/2 tons do for that matter... GM, Nissan etc. So yes it's a valid complaint. If it's not a huge deal, then why do the FJ cruisers get fully boxed frames? Old skewl yoters had mean frames dude, fully boxed beast frames. I loved it, I could weld whatever I wanted to it. That truck had zero frame flex.

 

That was a Ford Propganda video and they specifically found the exact speed to get the Tundra to produce that box hop.

 

I think you're confusing the Frontier with the Ridgeline.

 

I admit i am a little disappointed by all of this. I don't think it will bother me, i don't do much extreme off-road where bending could happen. I think we should wait for some real tests on the frame. I would like to know if i can open the doors if i am all crooked

I wonder if welding a steel bar between the two sides would help.

 

The frame is already reinforced in a similar way, it's not just two steel beams running along side each other. FWIW from the front of the frame to where the transmission mounts is fully boxed.

 

I found this thread that helped me a lot to understand couple things:
http://yotatech.com/f123/fully-boxed-frame-122717/

There were some 05 and 06 Tacoma's fully boxed frames that cracked. You can see a picture in the link, at the bottom of the page.


Interesting quote there to: ''the new Tacoma has a fully boxed frame under the engine up until about the middle of the front seats roughly. Then I believe it's reinforced C-channel until somewhere past the arches and then C-channel towards the bumper''
Edit: Asgard said that, i posted after him

I know that big rigs have c-channel frames, my dad drives one. I also know that frames come in different qualities. Like the frame of my dad's 88 (i think it was 88) bronco, it started falling apart. We were all surprised, since we always see trucks completely rusted away with only the frame remaining intact. We expected that the frame of the bronco would go last, but it went first.

 

In the 2009 model Toyota made some improvements to the frame. For your convenience I'll post it here. Enjoy.

Some of the frame structures on the ’09 Toyota Tacoma have been changed to meet MDB* tests for rear collision safety regulations.

• The cross sections of the upper and lower reinforcements on the kick-up portion of the rear side rail have been formed into a C-shape that prevents deformation of the rear kick-up portion, thus helping prevent deformation of the fuel tank and cabin during a rear collision.

• A closed section structure is used for the No. 6 cross member, which prevents deformation of the crossmember, thus helping prevent forward displacement of the fuel tank during a rear collision. (B-B crosssection)

• Stoppers have been added to the upper surface of the sides rail of the long wheelbase on Double Cab to reduce the relative displacement between the vehicle body and the frame, thus helping prevent deformation of the fuel tank.

* : Moving Deformation Barrier
​

Here is a diagram of a 2009 frame. You can see the front where it's boxed.

 

I have been reading a lot of forum threads about this subject. The only real conclusion is that nobody really knows. Rigidity doesn't = strength. I'll keep reading This is fascinating!

 

x2 caused alot of problems on 1st gen tacomas and late 80s early 90s fords.

Tacoma is much lighter then the tundra but still quite a bit of frame flex. My reg cab does not flex near as much as larger trucks. Demello makes frame reenforcement plates that are welded to the frame. Looks like they will cut down on alot of flex. Also, looks like some of the flex could be caused by less than adequate cross members. My reg cab frame is way shorter than other tacomas and has the same number and size of cross members. Im building my Reg cab to be a little beast...

I still have 2 isuzu amigos...super capable little vehicles

No rust on the frame but youd probably be scared to see the inside of the frame...

 

What I find fascinating is that when someone builds a truck to take on the impossible trails they will box the rear of the frame.

Look at Wyatt's rock crawler... He would not have done that unless he wanted to make it strong as f***!

Before boxing the rear

After boxing the rear


All images link to Wyatt's truck build thread.

 

But maybe that is overkill. Did anybody bother trying out extreme off-road without boxing in. What would actually happen if he went with a c-channel.

 

Wyatt also is in SOcal no worries about rust. A rusty boxed frame < Not rusty C frame.

Oh and thats not over kill... look at the full truck

 

I think that for the average off-roader our frames are great! I know I wheel mine in some pretty crazy terrain and I couldn't be happier with mine. Our Tacoma's are a great truck. Wheel them in the rocks, mud, sand, water crossings, and whatever else you can throw at them, then hit the pavement and they roll as smooth as glass.

 

I hate to keep beating this into the ground, but does this source mention anything about resolving potential rust issues? I had also heard that changes were made to the '09 frames, and one would think that if Toyota/DANA had made some changes and if it was suspected there would be rust issues in the 2nd gen., they would have tackled those as well?

 

What I posted came from the "Toyota Tacoma - New Features" frame document (2009). I posted it in its entirety--so no. There may be other sources out there...

 

The F150 Frame is very nice. Other 1500 full size trucks have nice rigid frames also, like GM and Nissan's Titan. Stiff frames are the best thing you can get. You can flush the fully boxed frames out and not have any issues with rust, it's what I did with my early 90's 4runner after wheelings. Trust me, a fully boxed, stiff frame is the best platform.


As for the F150 Propoganda with the Tundra... think not buddy. That Tundra has a lot of frame flex from the ones I've seen wheeling with me. Even our beloved tacomas have it. It all stems down to saving money from the manufactures point of view. Toyota over-built most of their vehicles in the 80's. and in the mid 90's they starting trimming away the extra toughness. Now we have a product that is built per use & design, not a global, overbuilt product like in the 80's. The frame is the Tacomas weak spot. Only complaint with me really.

 

Has anyone ever had trouble with their frames that off-roads? Or any trouble period? (besides the potential rust)

 

I should have kept it, was paid for...