TFL just broke their new Tacoma

The composite skids debuted on a Tundra. They're probably stronger than the tinfoil steel skids on 1st/2nd/3rd gens (which can bend on the trail and interfere with steering), while being rust proof.

 

I hope we aren't getting into that Alta California and Baja California debate again

 

What a shit storm Toyota USA’s greed started!

 

The skidplate on my 250lb dirt bike is thicker than the stock one on my truck

but I’m supposed to worship metal over composite lmao

 

90% of the job of a skid plate on a Tacoma is to protect the undercarriage from rocks and other debris on the road because 90% of owners will never take them off the road.

Anyone who doesn't shoot archery won't understand this, but this reminds me of many years ago when the cables on compound bows were metal.Then Hoyt came out with string cables and everyone's head exploded. That'll never work people said. Now every bow on the market has string cables.

 

If a supplier provides a substandard part or an employee installs it incorrectly is it Toyota greed?

If you don't make a profit, where does the capital for R&D come from to make the next gen?

Shit happens, we don't know who's to blame.

 

Toyota should be doing a better job at quality control and supervision. It’s their product and reputation on the line not the supplier or the single employee.
The excuse for the Tundra engine failures being one bad employee is also inexcusable.

 

Those are rookie Ridgeline numbers. According to Sweers, 45% of Tacoma owners do in fact go off road.

 

I'm sure a lot of the people that answered yes to the "Do you drive off road? question were thinking of that one time they had to go down a gravel driveway.

 

Composite skids suck, the Durango came out with them in 2000. Big, thick and reduced ground clearance by an inch or more and cracked easily. I made my own after lifting it and welded it up. You could jack the entire truck up with just one jack in the middle of it.

 

Even if 45% do, how many have ever used a skidplate? I never have

 

Thanks big guy!

 

I have the aluminum TRD skid plat on my Sport that is now well dented and scratched up. The stock one barley came off, what a useless "skid". Overall, I should go steel, but so far it works for me. So I "use" my skid

 

Just so we're talking apples to apples, the vast majority of trims on the 3rd gen came with a steel splash guard, the OR came with the steel baby skid, the Pro with the aluminum.

Looks like on the 4th gen the splash guard gets replaced with a fabric card, the OR baby skid is going composite, and the Pro keeps the aluminum.


To be honest I agree, I'm not seeing a huge loss in function on any trim level there.

 

From a buyer's standpoint, If I was in the market for a new mid-size, this TFL video who steer me away from the Tacoma until more real-world testing occurs and this can be proven to just be a random failure.

 

It is a random failure until proven otherwise.

 

It could also be a big defect until proven otherwise. There is more than one way to look at it. There simply isn't enough real word feedback yet to draw a conclusion.

I'm not a big 4 wheeler but I do enjoy messing around in the woods sometimes and cruising power line trails. I would be nervous if I had a 4th gen right now.

 

Yep, that's all I meant. But I wouldn't be nervous one bit buying a 4th gen at all.

 

Based on the information presented in the TFL video, it appears to be a manufacturing defect. That means any 4th gen on the lot today may contain this defect. 2024 4Runners may also contain this defect.

If I were to purchase a 4th gen today, I'd beat on it consistently to shake out any mfg defects of such nature before the powertrain warranty expires.

 

I've never rubbed anything on my skids, but the front skid makes for a perfect jack point. Although they definitely have paid for themselves protecting me from road debris. Don't know exactly what it was, even went back on dashcam to try and figure out, but I had something bouncing around on the interstate that made its way up under my truck and hit my front skid. Sounded like a bomb went off underneath the truck. Would've been an oil pan replacement and left me stranded had I not had a thick steel skid. Whatever it was, it was loud enough for me to pull over to inspect and the person behind me pull over to check on me after swerving to miss it.