3rd party vendors including standard hardware instead of metric

As a new 3rd gen Tacoma owner I'm loving all the places you can get mods for your Tacoma!

After having perused the internet for various mods and finally deciding to buy a few myself, I noticed that vendors seem to supply standard hardware for an metric truck. If some drilling is required the directions usually also call for a standard bit.

What gives? Isn't the truck entirely metric? Is it normal to provide standard (SAE) hardware instead of metric?

Obviously, I could go buy my own hardware which is an additional cost in time and money or carry SAE and metric tools.

It just struck me as an odd choice given how passionate people are about overlanding their trucks. (I overland on a motorcycle where space and weight are a real problem. Maybe truck overlanders don't care because space is plentiful?)

If the trend I've notice does in fact apply to more than just my experience: I'd love to see 3rd party vendors switch to providing metric hardware exclusively.

 

If you like wrenching on trucks and motorcycles then it's probably a good idea for you to have all sorts of assorted tools.

 

Metric hardware remains somewhat hard to source here in the United States of Freedom. I suspect cost plays a big factor in these decisions by vendors. I agree with you. I’d prefer to see application specific hardware for metric vehicles actually be metric.

 

So I had the same initial impression...UNTIL I went to the hardware store to pick up some spare hardware for a project...

I can find a 1/4 in bolt in 8 different sizes and 3 different grade/types at the Lowes by my place. I can find maybe 4 sizes of M6. For domestic truck use in the USA which most of these mods are marketed to, imperial makes some sense.

 

'Murica, that's what.

I hate non-metric hardware with a passion.

 

What items specific to the Tacoma have you bought that included standard hardware?

 

Exactly.

I'd like straight up metric, but it was said by one vendor that getting high grade metric fasteners was a big cost factor compared to similar strength SAE.

I suppose what would be nice is to stick to the few fasteners that can use the same sockets in both systems?

 

What I do like is how most of my mods that use imperial hardware are common at least (by total accident). My prinsu uses 1/4 hardware, and all my BD lights I have mounted on my truck, and most quick fists will work with 1/4 hardware. So I have plenty of interchangeable spares.

 

Prinsu for one uses all 1/4, with the exception of the m6 or m8 cab mount bolts. BD's chase bar and I think the S2s use 1/4 hardware mounting sizes, granted that's not a taco specific product.

 

you can go on mcmaster-carr's site and see metric hardware is easily available. it's not any different than standard, just based on the preference of the engineer or designer.

personally, i like my hardware to be in metric but everything else standard. ymmv.

 

For me:

Bed stiffies
DMM
Cam locks for the cubbies (not a big deal, but. . .)
Lund tonneau (I think? But, metric allens worked)
Scuba tank mount (Quick Fists, but got SAE fasteners for reasons posted above)

Accessory rail T nuts were going to be SAE until there was an outcry.

 

Agreed there. Or, that most of my mods with SAE parts shouldn't need tools out on the road.

 

Of course, you're probably right! If you order in bulk it can't be that expensive to provide metric hardware, can it? Though, I'm completely naive to how much such things cost.

 

looking at Mcmaster it appears metric hardware is close to double the cost of SAE

 

In bulk sure. But for the little guy like us, what happens if I lose some semi hard to find metric fastener while on a road trip?

There's a conversation going down in the long travel BS thread about a guy that broke one of his LCA bolts, and it's this relatively custom 12 point airframe bolt you will never ever find at HD.

 

That's what safety wire, duct tape, and zip ties are for?

Send it some moar!

 

I'd agree that it is convenient to be able to stop into HD to pick spare hardware, though using that logic you should buy a vehicle for which HD supplies the most hardware. I'm realize I took your argument to an extreme and that's probably not what you meant.

Agreed, maybe even some spare nuts and bolts if you want to be thorough.

 

LCA bolts replaced by zipties...

 

most of the stock metric fasteners you find on a tacoma can be found at HD though. Pretty much the whole truck is M8 except for the big stuff like the crossmember bolts, etc.

But then you look at the bolts for the fake beadlocks on SCS Ray-10s which are M6x8mm. That is a unicorn to find for when I was looking at a project for those wheels.