TFL just broke their new Tacoma

I thought the lawyer paid for it.

 

It also could be that Toyota asked if they could take the Drive Line for inspection and TFL said OK. It's not like it's their daily driver. We also don't know that it's not back. Lord knows this ADD failure probably paid for the Truck in views. I'm of the opinion that this was an MTS failure. If you watch the video, you can hear him revving the heck out of that engine and see the wheels not turning. I think MTS jackhammered and bound the diff with the brakes. In which case, the ADD did exactly what it was supposed to - snap the fork before something worse happens. It's not a new diff or add. It's a carryover from the 3rd Gen. I feel like a software update will fix this.

 

The lawyer sponsors the channel. Who directly or indirectly paid for it, in whole or in part, we'll never know. I suspect TFL will keep all the proceeds when they sell the truck in year or two.

 

So with all the extra torque and power they are using 3rd gen diffs ?

 

Steel skid plates are always an option/premium.

 

And they give you a Corolla for a loaner.

 

They pay for all of their long term test vehicles.

 

The fork isn't loaded with driveline torque. It just moves over the collar connecting the diff to the intermediate axle shaft in the torque tube. It wouldn't make sense to make the fork a mechanical fuse. Likely the intermediate axle shaft is the fuse. That part is a known weak point in 2nd/3rd gens.

Mechanical fuses are vulnerable to mfg defect. A groove machined too sharp, or heat treatment slightly off, and the part will fail below the designed failure load.

I suspect Toyota will correct the mfg defect in production and maybe issue a TSB. Any truck that has this part fail during warranty get an upgraded part.

 

Depends on the dealer. Some make it a point of offering a "similar" loaner vehicle, as an incentive to buy from them vs. another dealer. At this point in time they may well give you a 3rd gen for a loaner.

 

You missed the point.
We’re getting less but paying more.

 

^Gain and loss in different areas. SR5 loses the front skid plate, but gains A-Trac. No damped tailgate, but gains LED tail lights.

 

It's hard to agree with this when 3rd gen guys have been bouncing off rocks with big heavy E load tires for years. I don't think I've ever seen a thread on the ADD failure.

 

I suspect their YT revenue would easily pay for the Tacoma, probably before they posted the broke video. The broke video is bonus views and more $$. A channel with their amount of views and watch time will yield some decent revenue with all the adds YT and the influencer puts in, there's quite a few out there making a decent living off YT.

 

This one did not seem to have a problem.

 

I am always curious about that business model. A couple of years ago, TFL purchased that "ranch" land for truck testing, and I am pretty sure they purchase long term vehicles outright, along with getting loaners for influencing opps. They have four or five people on their channels who probably get some level of income from the channel. How much do they actually clear? Per person. I do not know each person's financial background, but it is also possible that this is just extra income in some form or semi-retirement done for fun. Taxes must be a bitch! Maybe they have a video explaining some of this? Now I have to look.

 

Toyota engineer talking to Toyota bean counter: "If we use a composite skid plate we can lower the MSRP by $100". Bean counter: "Or we can make an extra $100 profit."

Then the strategy guys have to decide whether a lower price for not including a part/feature that 65% (only 45% go offroad) of people don't care about will result in more sales = more profit. Even some of the 45% don't use or care about the skid plate.

 

The nail has been squarely hit on the head with TF's post. Case closed.

 

Yeah, no other newish toyota has ever been repaired under warranty

 

^By $100 you mean $10 right? That skid doesn't cost Toyota anywhere near $100 to make. But yes the marketing and option planning folks will make decisions separate from engineering. You know that tie rod feature that looks like a mechanical fuse? That feature is valuable only if Toyota offered inner tie rods as spares...