Canadian 3rd Gen Thread

The plastic oem running boards worked great on my truck, to protect it from other peoples doors in a parking lot. But not so good at protecting my rockers. Ripped the front mounting bracket right off the plastic and rocker of truck on a rock on a trip up Chehalis. They have since been replaced by a beautiful, functional set of sliders from Jason at Cruisin Offroad in Chilliwack. Lots of proper metal prep, sand blasting and Zinc coating before being powder coated.

 

Sounds awesome. Post some pics!

 

Luverne (luvernetruck.com) makes powder coated stainless nerf bars and steps. A little pricey though, but you get what you pay for I guess. I considered their Baja set before I found the used Toyota aluminum Predator steps.

 

Those n-Fab nerf bars clearly came with that finish from the factory. Not designed with Canadian or Northern USA road conditions in mind. The corrosion in the picture is not due to the coating being abraded by running over rocks, that is just salt/gravel spray. For sure you can just flapwheel/sand the affected area and repaint with rustoleum or similar, but ain't nobody got time to do that every year.

If your application is sliding on rocks, you should 100% get painted steel and touch them up with a rattle can when you get home. Powder coat chips off, and all your protection is gone at that point. You will never be able to match a powder coat finish with a rattle can.

The OEM Predator bars are not available in Canada through dealers. There might be a reason for that. As far as I know they are aluminum, so I am not sure why they are not considered fit for service here.

My "real world" conditions are normal winter conditions, my nerf bars will be used as steps and parking lot body protection only.

It is possible to powder coat stainless steel, but the prep is a specialty process and you might struggle to find a shop that can do it.

 

Thanks, I will check that out for sure. Have you gone through a full winter with the Predators? I am wondering what the reason is, that Toyota does not sell them up here.

 

Yes - have gone through a full winter in southern Ontario - no issues. Check out Predator step pricing from a Minnesota Toyota dealer, and drive across the border. They literally install in 15 minutes. There are plastic plugs in the threaded female mounting holes under the truck. Pull the plugs and thread the mounting bolts in. If they are good enough for Minnesota, ND, SD etc. winters, they should work here.

If you are more concerned about parking lot protection, you are better to get a set of running boards. They are wider and prevent door dings better, but to me, they are harder to use as steps, unless you are tall.

These ones are plastic over aluminum - and available in Canada (https://tacomatownonline.com/collections/tacoma-3rd-gen-exterior-accessories/products/running-boards). Some other CAD members have them. Pretty reasonable price too. I think they came out with the Gen 2 trucks, but they fit the Gen 3's. I believe @over60 has them, and can chime in.

Toyota US also sells the Cast Aluminum running boards (https://www.toyota.com/tacoma/accessories/exterior) - sometimes referred to as Shark boards. I think these were released for Gen 3. Not sure if these are available in Canada.

 

I'm going to have to disagree with the statements that powdercoating helps. My Westin SS nerf bars had powdercoated hangers, most all of it was chipped off in a few months. Luckily you can't really see the hangers but they are looking pretty rough. I tried spraying with rockguard but that doesn't help either.

 

You are right Dave.... I had those aluminum OEM boards on my 2006 for 10 yrs.... still in great shape when I traded....Dealer thru on a new set on my 2016 as well...! Good for door ding protection.... A little high as a step though... Ole lady uses them as a step but has to grab the Oh Shit handle and pull herself up..!

I mainly like the road crap protection they give the bottom edge of paint.....

 

I've had the chrome OEM ones on my Gen2 and now the Gen3, they've beeen great, no rust. But I'm in BC, so can't compare to a Ontario winter, a lot less salt. They are a little close to the body for an actual step, but they do help on the door ding side.

 

Got them too. Trying to figure out how to extend them out a little

 

I doubt it, but will take a shot..
Any guys here in Halton Hills or more specifically, Georgetown?

 

Saw this CL ad in Vancouver if anyone is trying to find a TRD Pro on the lot, 6spd Manual

https://vancouver.craigslist.ca/bnc/ctd/d/rare-2018-toyota-tacoma-trd/6424416105.html

 

Do you know where someone could get these decals?

 

The 80's?

Seriously though, I would go to a pinstripe shop if they even exist any more.

 

Is that you man...?? Nice tux and Mullet..!!

 

anyone in the Vancouver area want a set of OEM all-weather and fabric floor mats for a Double Cab?

 

Anyone in the Okanagan looking for a light bar for a 2016-18 Tacoma, I have a 30” CaliRaised light bar and everything needed to install it for sale, works great, wanting to sell because I’m installing a different light bar.

 

I see you have a MT... What did you replace them with?

 

With some husky tub style liners. They’ve been awesome so far

 

Part # and where'd you find them? Husky's site doesn't even have the manual transmission front ones anymore