Are Tacoma 2nd gen catalytic converter thefts a thing ?

I was reading that Tundra's were being targeted. Should I worry about my Taco ?

 

Yes, it's a thing with any car or truck with easy access.... trucks a super easier to crawl under and use a sawzall.

 

we had some guys creeping our streets on 4th of July (July 5th morning) peeping my truck and one across the street both Tacomas. tons of converter thefts in the neighborhood too. funny the other car in the drive way is sitting there without one as it was jacked last year. (running a straight pipe untii couldn't register it anymore).

 

I asked my Local dealer. He told me this

The ones on the 4.0 Tacoma are not as easy to get to.
They are part of the manifold.

There are easier ones to steal.
So most thieves that know, will pass it up for an easier steal.

I never even noticed they were part of the manifold.
Sure enough, they are.

 

Having them as part of the manifold is common on somewhat newer vehicles. The closer they are to the engine, the faster they heat up and start working. However there are secondary cats downstream in the Y-pipe too, not just the manifold, you have 4 total. So don't think they won't hack out your secondary cats which are much easier to access.

 

Yes, there a 4. The 2 easiest aren’t worth near as much.
But hey, a thief is a thief.

I don’t put anything past a thief.
I’ve seen them do more work try to steal something, than it would have if they just went to work.

 

got any pictures of the location for all 4 cats on our trucks?

 

2 in the manifolds, 2 in the Y-pipe. I sold my Taco, but here is a google image of what the Y-pipe looks like. Cats will be on either side of the Tcase/Trans.

 

Here are the ones on the manifold(s)

 

T case skid plates.

Makes their job a nightmare and your peace of mind a dream.

 

Thieves in the know will ignore the secondary cats

I'd say there's a chance an inexperienced thief might try to steal them

 

Never overestimate the intelligence of stupid people, especially the desperate drug addicts.

 

I was already thinking about a transmission skid. Anyone have one already? I imagine it covers the transmission pan adequately.. but is it wide enough to cover the secondary cats? They are out by the frame rails

 

Yep. I’m worried about your old cats here in Denver.

The matching aluminum RCI trans skid is not wide enough to provide any theft protection, so I’m not sure of my next move.

 

I believe this guy had a mid skid, and then added a wing.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/catalytic-converter-anti-theft.727322/#post-25908459

 

Parked on the street? Could add some wings like posted below if really concerned. I really liked the Roostfactor's equal length y-pipe, which does remove the rear cats and preemptively solves the problem for you, while tuning the exhaust system for better scavenging performance. Just like the equal length system the Gladiator came with from the factory. Roostfactor does have quiet the wait list though.

 

I replace my whole manifold system with the exhaust in those two small catalytic converter’s brought me $250 when I scrap them