Crack in sheet metal driver side wheel well

is crack as developed in my 2014 Tacoma TRD Offroad 4x4 in front of the driver side wheel below the headlight. The picture was taken looking through the fog light cut out in my lower front bumper and then from the side looking in. Has anyone experienced this? I do some rough off roading (like Dishpan east of Los Angeles) but there's no obvious damage from a boulder or something). The passenger side looks fine. Going to weld it but thought maybe someone else had this happen and could enlighten me how they fixed it.

Hanakido Mike

 

Mine was just as bad as that. I had a plate rewelded over top to stiffen it up. Lots of work.

 

That sucks Hanakiddo. Good luck with the repair.

 

Aren't the body mount bushings the usual cause of this?

 

This was the first place mine cracked. I used a small plate and bolted on either side of the crack. That area didn't crack any further. The rest of the fender liner, radiator support, etc are now all the way cracked thru. I've replaced the radiator support once but plated the new one wherever the old one cracked. 5 years and no cracks (knock on wood). It's not that I play with my truck hard, it's the long Baja and Nevada roads.

 

Mine are cracked on both sides....haven’t seen a Tacoma that off-roading not have theirs crack.

 

I also made a support to go from the two bolts to the other side of the crack. Simple angle iron on both ends with a 1/2" tube between, it bolted on.

 

Well, it's a comfort of sorts knowing this isn't uncommon to Tacoma's. Think I'll go with front and back plates bolted through and then likely spot welded or bead welded all around, depends on how ambitious my welder is. Thanks all for responding.

 

Cheap China steel

 

Found this on my truck yesterday... I do have the Radiator Support Bushings (fatter bushing between the support and the frame) and a Group 31 Battery...

 

What! I'm inspecting mine for cracks tommorow.