What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

I’ve been eyeing the same one but go between it and the relentless fab bumper. I just have to decide whether I’ll eventually flatbed my tacoma with a canopy like I really want to, or if I should just stay with my bed and do a swing out bumper.

 

He’s referring to welding on frame reinforcements, adding all that weight in the rear can cause frame damage.

 

i would want to box in the c channel section of the frame at the least.

 

That works too, this is just a little less work.

 

Or... you could do the outside frame plates AND box the frame

 

I will probably do this eventually when I take my bed off at some point.

 

I did the same to mine!

 

My concern with doing that is that you might introduce a stress point further down the frame to crack. The frame has to flex somewhere, so if it flexes before the reinforcement, but doesn’t flex at all where the reinforcement is (relatively) you’ve created a stress point that should be susceptible to metal fatigue and cracking. I think one or the other is probably on par with the rest of the frame, but both makes me think you might run into problems with it cracking. Am I wrong? Serious question, not mocking.

 

Man, that use of the cherry picker makes me think I could do this without taking my canopy off!

 

I like how you did your turn signals. I used trailer lights and trilled mounting holes in the bumper to hold them.

 

I think you're over thinking it brotha. The frame is boxed, in the front, all the way back to where the new box plates were added.

 

Very good possibility. Aviation has taught me to be skeptical of all structural modifications! Especially reinforcement.

 

The forces seen in aviation are much different than a truck will see. lol

 

Thanks, I’ll definitely be ordering some reinforcement brackets!

 

Metal fatigue is metal fatigue. Flew something back and forth enough times, it will crack and break. The defining factor on longevity is how sharp the transition is between flex and lesser or no flex.

 

Don't buy cheap shit ladies and gents. And carry spares.

Some beck & arnley bullshit

 

Ah shit, happen on your biking trip?

 

Ouch. Hope my 555 ones hold up, one part I didn't go OEM on. Been a little over a year so far

 

What did you do?!?

 

I understand fatigue life, cycle life, material properties and fracture mechanics just fine, as I am a mechanical engineer by education and by trade. Just saying it’s not a Apples to Apples comparison. External forces seen by an aircraft are not the same external forces seen by a truck. There are many factors you look at when addressing fatigue.