1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Light bar in lower grill?

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by cowboyup_again, Dec 16, 2017.

  1. Dec 16, 2017 at 6:40 PM
    #1
    cowboyup_again

    cowboyup_again [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2015
    Member:
    #166958
    Messages:
    72
    Gender:
    Male
    So I am planning my mod lists and I want to add a light bar for trails and all around shenanigans. In the lower grill area where many mounts theirs is one option that I am leaning towards but it concerns me. Isn’t this area created for ventilation and cooling of the transmission cooler? By mounting light bars here are we encouraging overheating of our transmissions by blocking that airflow?
     
  2. Dec 16, 2017 at 6:45 PM
    #2
    JoeCOVA

    JoeCOVA Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2016
    Member:
    #202463
    Messages:
    9,652
    First Name:
    Joe
    Colorado Springs
    Vehicle:
    Ford F350, Lexus RX450h, FZJ80, Jeep YJ
    Shouldn’t be a problem. Many of us have winches tucked behind the grill blocking the radiators without issues.
     
  3. Dec 16, 2017 at 6:49 PM
    #3
    ICU1

    ICU1 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2016
    Member:
    #196340
    Messages:
    4,547
    Gender:
    Male
    Caliraised for me. After six months, No issues so far.
    9E5D7A07-18DE-49B5-BE9A-4A68E5D42999.jpg
     
  4. Dec 16, 2017 at 8:02 PM
    #4
    cowboyup_again

    cowboyup_again [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2015
    Member:
    #166958
    Messages:
    72
    Gender:
    Male
    When we say it shouldn’t cause harm why would Toyota put the cut out there if it wasn’t important. Does anyone tow and have a light bar in that slot? If so, does the tranny temp ever go higher than it should?
     
  5. Dec 16, 2017 at 8:20 PM
    #5
    JoeCOVA

    JoeCOVA Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2016
    Member:
    #202463
    Messages:
    9,652
    First Name:
    Joe
    Colorado Springs
    Vehicle:
    Ford F350, Lexus RX450h, FZJ80, Jeep YJ
    Then why bother modding at all....

    I mean if man was meant to fly, we would have been born with wings right?
     
  6. Dec 16, 2017 at 8:33 PM
    #6
    2016Tacoman

    2016Tacoman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2016
    Member:
    #190389
    Messages:
    3,398
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    J
    Vehicle:
    2016 Tacoma 4x4 V6 Metallic
    I like those individual lights in the main grill but don't see them on Caliraised.
    Did you get them there ? Are they an integral part with the grill purchase maybe ?
    Thks.
     
  7. Dec 16, 2017 at 8:57 PM
    #7
    ICU1

    ICU1 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2016
    Member:
    #196340
    Messages:
    4,547
    Gender:
    Male
    I modified the grill.
     
    2016Tacoman[QUOTED] likes this.
  8. Dec 16, 2017 at 9:05 PM
    #8
    Doomsday

    Doomsday Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2010
    Member:
    #29290
    Messages:
    637
    Gender:
    Male
    Cypress, TX
    Vehicle:
    2017 TRD Sport 4x4 DCSB MGM
    Lights, Tires, Wheels,...more to come!
    Not that I noticed. I’m running an BD S8 30” setup in that slot. Also, got a Scangauge II and didn’t notice any difference in temps either driving or towing.
     
  9. Dec 16, 2017 at 9:50 PM
    #9
    JoeCOVA

    JoeCOVA Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2016
    Member:
    #202463
    Messages:
    9,652
    First Name:
    Joe
    Colorado Springs
    Vehicle:
    Ford F350, Lexus RX450h, FZJ80, Jeep YJ
    Oh this is curious. Havent really seen one mounted there before.
     
  10. Dec 16, 2017 at 11:06 PM
    #10
    elmerfudd0425

    elmerfudd0425 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2017
    Member:
    #238443
    Messages:
    9
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2016 silver Tacoma TRD off road
    Dirt king UCA’s, king mid travel shocks, k&n air intake, AFE exhaust, rigid fog light replacement, and 30” single row rigid light bar,
    B6CF93F5-4163-4C42-9CAF-62F442A03E61.jpg I put a single row led light bar. I’ve towed and hauled a few heavy things I haven’t had a problem with over heating
     
  11. Dec 17, 2017 at 1:50 AM
    #11
    Kremtok

    Kremtok Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2017
    Member:
    #207630
    Messages:
    1,628
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Gary
    Houston, TX
    Vehicle:
    2021 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD
    2018 Triumph Street Triple RS
    Same here. Did a lot of towing since I bought my truck and I’ve had the light bar in the lower grille almost since it was new. My ScanGauge II reports normal transmission temps of about 140-150 no matter what I do to it, even with a load on the trailer through the mountains.

    And while I’m at it - I’ll go ahead and say that I love my CaliRaised LED setup. I drive pretty frequently in remote areas where the darkness sucks the light right out of the stock headlights. Only the light bar makes it so that I can safely drive over 14mph.
     
    cowboyup_again[OP] likes this.
  12. Dec 17, 2017 at 4:18 AM
    #12
    cowboyup_again

    cowboyup_again [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2015
    Member:
    #166958
    Messages:
    72
    Gender:
    Male
    That’s a great point. I believe there are mods that affect our vehicles adversely and those that merely change the aesthetics or basic function. Lifting is one that affects it adversely where as a dball mod only changes the function.
    I am worried that the lightbar in the lower section may adversely affect it in the future. Specifically a warranty claim.
     
  13. Dec 17, 2017 at 4:29 AM
    #13
    OmegaMan73

    OmegaMan73 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2017
    Member:
    #215531
    Messages:
    824
    Gender:
    Male
    Mesa AZ
    Vehicle:
    2017 Tacoma TRD Sport 4x4
    None of us can tell the future but I can tell you that there is plenty of air flow moving through the grilles of our trucks. You don't have to worry about the transmission overheating under normal towing conditions. In fact the factory put an air dam under the chin of our trucks to direct air away from certain areas of the frontal section. Its good to see that you are concerned about your truck and are thinking through the mods you want to make. Better to think twice and spend once. Here's a picture of my truck with the light bar behind the lower part of the grille. I've towed that suburban from the crown king trail to mesa and it did just fine temperature wise. [​IMG]
     
    DubfromGA and cowboyup_again[OP] like this.
  14. Dec 17, 2017 at 9:19 AM
    #14
    JoeCOVA

    JoeCOVA Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2016
    Member:
    #202463
    Messages:
    9,652
    First Name:
    Joe
    Colorado Springs
    Vehicle:
    Ford F350, Lexus RX450h, FZJ80, Jeep YJ
    Totally understand. It would be incredibly hard to prove that a light bar caused a transmission issue. There is so much room for air flow it’s negligable.

    Remember Toyota has to prove it, they can’t just point a finger and walk away.
     
  15. Dec 17, 2017 at 9:36 AM
    #15
    1cleanFG

    1cleanFG DialsGarage

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2016
    Member:
    #175465
    Messages:
    664
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    DialsGarage
    PNW
    Vehicle:
    2023 Sport 4x4 DCLB
    Toytec Alumaseries Coilovers OME El111R Camburg UCAs Scs sr8 17” 285/70/17 KO2
  16. Dec 17, 2017 at 9:45 AM
    #16
    tomgru

    tomgru Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2017
    Member:
    #231939
    Messages:
    742
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Thomas
    PNW
    Vehicle:
    2021 TRD Pro
    What is that you added above your fogs... A "side" additional raptor light? ☺
     
  17. Dec 17, 2017 at 11:17 AM
    #17
    Snakedoctor

    Snakedoctor Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2017
    Member:
    #233188
    Messages:
    493
    First Name:
    Taylor
    Land O Lakes, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Tacoma TRD OR
    Mandatory tint, in-channel visors, and 265/75R16 MT Toyos.
    did you have any issues of the heat sink on the @CaliRaisedLed 32"bar hitting a bar in the center of the grill? I cant tell but it doesnt seem mine is level or sitting low enough in the bracket.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top