Looking for honest opinions about this CF hood

I love it and hate it.

I think the main reason for CF is to shed weight for better performance gains. The Tacoma is not in that category. It’s tensile strength is superior to steel but also way more expensive.

This seems like dropping money that’s burning a hole in a pocket for something strictly for aesthetic purposes.

Who am I to judge though. Some people will tell you my truck is mimicking a rally car since it’s blue with yellow fogs and bronze wheels.

I say go for it. Be different.

 

If you’re doing it just for looks then it’s coo.

If you’re doing it to “shave weight” cause your stock hood weighs that extra 2 pounds but your carrying over 1k pounds of overland gear in the back then

 

I’m not a fan. But I don't even like fog lights on my vehicles so what do know.

 

I don’t usually feed the trolls, but here a little cracker for you.

 

I guess. It would be cool if it was a drag truck

 

Looks good. Dont worry about the haters. This is a heavy ass truck. Any weight you can shave is a positive. The only thing I would recommend is painting the hood. Clear carbon weave looks cool and all but it hates the sun. The sun will reduce the strength and make the hood look like crap over time. IMO the best way to rock carbon fiber is stealth, so's no one knows u have it.

 

Not feeling it

 

I think it would look great if it was color matched, minus the louvers and scoop. Those I'd leave raw (clear coated) carbon. I think it would be a cool contrast.

 

Carbon fiber on non-race vehicles seems like a wast of time even before thinking about the money spent.

 

If you want to contrast the hood spend $70 and get a piece of flat vinyl installed. If you don't like it you can remove it later.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/trd-offroad-hood-vinyl.530256/

I put one on a few years ago, very happy with it.



It even cuts down the glare when mall crawlin'.

 

Interesting option... Looks good on your rig!

 

Thanks, plenty of vendors here have them for sale or you could commission a vinyl shop to come up with your own design.

Honestly it's become one of my favorite mods and something you don't see on many Offroads.

 

On a separate note, I have the OEM roof rack as well and hate the look of it when the crossbars are folded vertically. Reminds of the friar tuck look lol



I keep the bars in the horizontal position all the time, even with the additional wind noise.

 

I like them in the stowed position to give me a grab handle when I climb up the sliders. It also gives my longbed a higher profile.

Can't stand the wind noise when I have them "deployed" to carry stuff like my SUPs.

To each his own....



Back to topic... since your profile says you live in Palm Springs, I'd guess you want less dust in your engine bay so louvers and additional vents on the hood might be a bad idea. Surprised you haven't sprung for a desert air intake / snorkel.

FWIW a snorkel on a truck with a scoop looks stupid.... it draws attention to either the scoop or the dorkle as being the fake intake.

 

I'm in the "its your truck, whatever makes you happy" camp. I kinda like it

 

Actually I haven't noticed dust as a problem in the engine bay (at least with my current setup). I believe those Seibon hoods also come with covers under the scoop/louvers to cover up the holes so you don't ingest a bunch of dirt.

What really gets everything filthy inside is high speed through puddles. Soaks the entire lower engine and winch, light bars, etc with mud and gunk that is hard to take off if when it dries. I actually just put in the extended rubber fender covers so hopefully that should help a bit.

Sorry but I think the snorkels look ridiculous. My plans don't have me doing any river crossings in the near future, so not for me.

 

Snorkels are designed to reduce dust intrusion, not for water immersion. That's why they're called a desert air intake.

They're not water tight at all.

 

Any idea why Toyota discontinued that package?

 

I think there were a lot of PROs with snorkels sitting in dealerships, especially in regions where there are no deserts.

The aftermarket is also filling the need.

 

Id get it, but get it painted or vinyl'd to match the paint.