What Have You Done To Your 2nd Gen Tacoma Today?

Sorry for the photo quality, but I am trying to show one of the reinforcing tubes that now connect the N Fab steps 0to the frame from front well to back.

 

Is it also bolted to the body??

 

That will definitely help but ultimately the tubing of the original steps is just too thin to take much abuse. For minor bumps the added reinforcement will help to keep it from bending the bottom of the sill.

 

Welded.

 

So you have it welded to the frame AND the cab?

 

I believe the 2 bolts showing is one of the original mounting spots

To the frame or to the frame and the body.

 

Sorry, no. they ran them through the body and then welded to the frame. I'll try to get better photos after work.

 

That would be hard to do.

This would be much stronger than the normal way of installing the steps. The problem will be that the tubing in the N-Fab step is thin wall and will bend pretty easily. I would like to see the attachment to the frame have some gussets to help strengthen the connection. Also the "new" tubing that connects the step to the frame could also be thin wall and not as strong as you would like.

That being said if you like them than there is nothing wrong with them at all. Just know that you couldn't beat on these like you could a true slider.

 

Yes, true. I am not a frequent off roader, and need the steps more than a real slider. So the local four wheel shop suggested this as a compromise.

 

I think I understand. What I was getting at is the cab and the frame are two separate entities attached with rubber bushings (cab mounts). If you have it welded to the frame AND bolted to the cab in the stock mounting position, bad things may happen with the cab not being able to flex.

 

Wow this place has some really good deals. This is a great price for a twin compressor. https://www.discountbandit.com/vehi...d-twin-high-performance-air-compressor-1.html

 

Removed the skid plate for repainting since is starting to get surface rust, now this might be a stupid question but do I need to use engine (heat resistant) paint on the skid? Or will normal paint hold up? Also I'm thinking about losing the sway bar... Pros? Cons?

Also it's pretty fucking hot in southern Iowa right now!

 

If your scraping the paint off of the skid than high temp isn't going to help.

Seems like the concensous is that with coil overs removing the swaybar is probably ok. Stock(ish) shocks it probably isn't a good idea.

 

Took me a while to get used to not having it. Steering felt more sensitive and needless to say there is a lot more sway but I have come to like it. Best application is when your vehicle is lifted, don't remember if you lifted yours

 

I leveled the front, no lift...... Yet!

 

Did someone say pointlessly complicated and overkill water tank filler caps? No?... well I did. Finished designing these today for my dual (hot and cold) water tanks, hoping to have them installed soon!

 

No scraping just Iowa salty winter roads, and alright I hadn't seen anyone do it with the stock front coilovers, good to know.

 

If you drive your truck like a truck you probably won't even notice the absence of the sway bar.

 

For a split second there when looking at your first pic I thought you had some kind of huge effing antenna! Lol.

 

Bent my transfer case skid... again. Lol I've really gotta stop doing that Think it's time to reinforce that bit with a welded piece of steel!