cheapness?

this is gettin out of hand.. haha It boils down to this. We all drive Toyots whether they are made in Japan, America, Mexico, or the North Pole. We drive them because we simply think that they are the best vehicles on the road. Matter of fact I know this to be true. But... They are considered foreign vehicles unlike the Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge etc... and one more thing.. Toyotas are produced more in the US than any any other country. Hell they'er in the Nascar cicuit! haha thats as American a sport as they come!!

 

Update...after waiting 3 months+...just had my tailgate reinforcement installed today. I haven't taken the tailgate cover off to inspect the reinforcement but definitely appears more beefed up in the center. Ultimately...I guess, time will tell if the reinforcement was worth the effort.

 

A2Mich:

I dont know what you have heard about Canada. but we do have unions here you know and if you look at the US dollar compared to the Canadian dollar right now, I dont think many American vehicles are being made here cheaper. Mexico maybe, but not Canada.

But I do know there are an awful lot of aluminum rims being made in Delta, BC.

 

What is this all about? ANyone have pictures?

 

The tailgate is extremely flimsy in the center. Many have physically damaged their tailgates as a result. Toyota has realized this and has issued a TSB(technical service bulletin) to their service techs which allow for a reinforcement bracket(s) installed in the center of the tailgate to beef it up...

 

What did you pay? Or is it done under warranty?

 

where did you find the information about the tailgate reinforcement? So all the toyota is doing it? Not a offical recall?
I guess you have to ask in order to get the tailgate reinforcement?
thanks!

 

Yes, it's was covered under the factory warranty.

 

I initially heard about the TSB over at Toyota Nation. However, many were were finding out that the dealers would not install the reinforcement kit unless the tailgates were actually bent. I pondered how to present my case to the dealer. I called and advised the service manager that I had loaded a large tree on the top of my tailgate and when I did... the tailgate had bent and flexed significantly in the center. I told the service manager that I was able to flex the tailgate back into shape; however, even though the tailgate doesn't appear damaged, once metal is flexed and pushed back it's weaker and more likely to flex again or worse yet.... break. He agreed and ordered the parts. Even though I believe this probably should constitute an 'official recall'...it is not. If you call your dealer and advise them that you want your tailgate reinforced as a 'proactive measure'.... chances are you will be denied.

 

Reid....things may have changed with the exchange rates, but when the Big 3 began building vehicles in Canada years ago, the Canadian dollar was worth far less to the US dollar than it is today. So when the Canadians began building vehicles, it was far less expensive to build in the Great White North than in the US.....at the time. I do foresee the Big 3 clsosing Canadian assembly plants and moving most assembly to Mexico. I hope it doesn't come to that, but with the Big 3 trying to cut bottom lines and increase profit margins, as well as bonuses, etc for the top execs, things may only get worse....

 

Ya, I dont see things getting much better with the domestic companies.

 

That's for sure! I'm coming off of an '07 Chevy Colorado. One of the main reasons for trading is I couldn't stand the impressive cheapness of the truck -- from it's flimsy & thin body panels, to the cheap K-Mart styled plastic interior and the crappy headliner, etc .... I could go on... About the only things that were NOT cheap were the door handles and the tailgate -- how ironic.

But, one thing in its favor (and the reason I bought it originally) is the way you can get it packaged as a regular cab 4x4. Only option I couldn't get was manual transmission with the I-5.

Anyway, in the end, I missed the quality of craftsmanship, that is definitely better -- though not perfect -- in the Tacoma.

 

So how do you tell if the tailgate is already reinforced without actually putting something heavy on it. Is it obvious just looking at it? Anyone have a picture of a reinforced and non-reinforced tailgate?

I plan to load my motorcycle in the back some day.

 

When I was having a tailgate ding removed paintlessly, we used a torx screwdriver to remove the black bedliner part of the tailgate. It pops off easily at that point. Simple visual inspection was all I needed to see that there was next-to-NOTHING supporting the metal part of the tailgate. In fact, to my eyes, it appeared that the tailgate gets a lot of its strength from the carbon-fiber (or whatever it is) backing that I removed.

My "ding removal specialist" commented how vulnerable the metal part of the tailgate will be to dents from shifting loads -- not to mention flexing and bending due to motorcycle loading that I plan to do to.

On the ToyotaNation forum, someone explained just how the TSB suggests to reinforce the tailgate. IIRC, it involved bolting in a brace.
Do a search over there -- Toyota Nation -- and you'll find more detail. I think it's a "sticky" post.

PS ... I just looked and it was the TTORA website. Here's the link: Look at Post #18 for some scary pics!

 

Put alot of weight on the tailgate, if it doesn't bend, you're good. If it does bend, take it to toyota and have them fix it, then you'll be good. at least thats what i would do

 

The Tacoma body is made in Freemont California and the beds are assembled in Mexico.

 

Hmm interesting yet another vehicle assembled in Mexico. If I can't find what I want assembled in Fremont, when I'm ready to buy later this year, guess I won't be going with a Toyota. I'm not buying ANY vehicle assembled in Mexico. I know the bed is made there and there are nuts and bolts and parts for it made all over the world but I'll be damned if I will buy something put together in Mexico.

As of now I can't even find the 2009 Tacoma I want anywhere on the western side of the U.S.

I would rather buy a vehicle assembled in Ethiopia than Mexico and that's the truth.

I've heard a couple of times that some people have actually picked up their Tacomas directlly from the Fremont plant after talking to a Fremont dealership. Might need to go that route since Fremont is fairly close to me.

 

well I know my bed liner got scratched right to hell when I had some storage cabinents in it and when sliding it out there were some loose tack nails in it that tore up the liner like a lion was clawing at it, but guess it just adds some character, and no worries soon I'll be getting that tacoma matt anyhow so won't be seen.

 

YEAH! come on everybody! Grab your pitch forks and torches and lets go burn that God-less heathen shit hole to the ground!



gimmie a break