Cab Mount Chop - Food for thought?

I was thinking engine and trans cross memebers to beef up that area . I believe you I bet the cab mounts are the same on the tacoma

 

I know some parts of the second gen frame are suprisingly thin and weak like the plates where the crash bar mounts.i would have thought they’d have made that much more stout.

 

I did I welded a 1/2 inch plate to the back of it when i built my bumper

 

Stick around, I'm getting ready to tell this thread why crash testing and the IILS and NHTSA just piss me off.
I'm getting my tin foil hat on...

 

I just went 3/16 basically so I wouldn’t rip it off when get a winch. I cut the plAtes and tied it into the frame as well


And 1/2” grade 8 bolts

 

I've seen that diagram I think, too. A very similar discussion happened here. There was no specific resolution but the discussion was about replacing lost integrity when you try to gain clearance. Not really trying to dissuade from doing a CMC necessarily but doing it with your eyes open that it is not a trivial change to an engineered part of your truck.

One point that was made is that when you do a CMC you also usually have beefier bumpers and may have even reinforced the front of the frame additionally. That may also change the amount of energy that will ultimately end up tearing the front suspension apart, so once you've made any changes the original engineering assumptions are no longer true.

Also should say that not having stock bumpers and having a higher ride height may make the cab mount more important, it's not a foregone conclusion either way. We simply can't know without analysis and crash testing.

 

OP those pics of the frame steel should be in the first post so people can make an educated decision

 

The interesting thing about this 4Runner frame, to me, is the front Cab Mounts have the UHSS, and are made of two kinds of steel, and the rear body mounts are the lower strength steel or mild steel. Even the engine mounts do not contain the UHSS.

 

I'd think they would want the engine cradle to yield and push under the truck with enough force. Also remember the Tacoma frame is not the same as the 4Runner. From the middle of the front doors and back to the rear bumper they are open C-channels and not fully boxed like the 4Runner, Prado and Hilux. So there is only assumption that they are identical in the front.

 

It's all about managing energy. Make it strong where you want it to maintain it's shape and make it weak where you want it to crumple to absorb energy.

 

Yes for sure. I was more just noticing the engineering choices that went into this frame, which I find interesting.

 

It really is impressive. The cab as well!

 

Well, they are a combo of ultra-high-strength steel and high-strength steel on the 4Runner. Maybe they are just plain ol’ boiler plate on the 3rd gen Tacomas, but I kinda doubt it.

 

Don’t worry you’re not the type of person I would be willing to sell one of my vehicles to, you focus too much on trying to keep a vehicle in stock specs when you mod it. Which will never happen

 

I know quite a few fellas find this thread really annoying, but I have really enjoyed some of the stuff thats been unearthed about they way these trucks are put together. There is more going on than meets the eye. I don’t know if this modern complexity is all good or bad, but I would certainly hesitate to drill holes in my A-Pillar to mount a snorkel etc, when you look at the effort Toyota put into designing that one element of the cab.

 

So side topic on this since you guys are all talking about how Toyota reinforced the frame in the 3rd gens. Do you think they reinforced the rear part of the frame? I know 2nd gens are prone to buckling with heavy weight and people gusset/box the frames

 

Probably use the search bar or google.

 

ZING you got me

 

I'm not sure what is on the second gen but I know mine has an extra plate up until the rear tires effectively doubling the frame.

 

Ok brother. Were even!