Boxing the frame?

Just wondering...I’m (probably) not going to do this (any time soon), but wondering about boxing in my frame and what benefits or drawbacks that might have. As many of you know, my 82, 85, and 91 Toyota trucks had boxed frames. And they “felt” significantly more solid and I don’t ever recall there being the kind of chassis flex my third gen has - which is perhaps part of a grander engineering scheme of this truck, which I’m hesitant to mess with.

But, thoughts?

 

Boxed frame is significantly greater than non-boxed frame. The bean counters over-ruled the engineers.

 

Maybe. But also CAFE standards. Nothing that can’t be changed though...

 

What are you trying to solve by boxing the frame?

Metal alloys have come a long way in the last 2 decades. The newer Tacos are a good bit bigger than the old ones, which may contribute some to the different feel. They have crumple zones too, but that doesn't contribute to a massive amount of frame flex. Either way, I really doubt boxing in the frame would do anything for you.

The only situation boxing or reinforcing the frame makes sense to me is with a long travel setup and plans to drive offroad at high speed. Otherwise, I think the difference you're noticing is something other than flex. Or placebo effect. Maybe both.

 

Good point re: metallurgical advancements.

Mainly what got me thinking about this is the interior creaks I have after 30k miles - significantly more, iirc, than my 91 4Runner had at 140k mi. And seeing that at least one 3rd gen that I’ve seen where the cab rack dented the rear of the cab bc the frame flexed so much coming of a ledge.

 

But your 4 runner was built in Japan with quality parts. Your Tacoma was not and by mostly machines.

 

Put down the welder, go straight to archive garage, order a set of their hammer leaf hangers. Or go to BAMF, they also make a set just as good.

The feelings of frame inadequacy are mostly caused by the stock leaf shackles, which allow a lot of flex even unloaded. This is what contributes to a large portion of the truck feeling not as solid as it should.


It's a pain to install- easier than boxing though- and a night and day difference.

 

I am pretty sure those things were built in Fremont or Union City.

 

Only built in Japan now. Tacomas were built in freemont, not sure about 4runners. Even so.... quality of parts from then to now is a giant difference. Computers are to fragile now.

 

Nope. Tahara Plant where LC and Lexus are built.

Also, if it were up to "bean counters" they would still build the old boxed frame out of mild steel. Much cheaper than the ultra high strength steel being used today.

 

That’s right. The 1st gen 4runner was the workaroubd to import rules on pickups.

 

It is also cheaper to not have to replace a shit-ton of frames that rusted to shit.

 

Definitely box away, post pictures.

 

I actually considered it briefly a while back and since forgot about that. What’s it cost? What’s the hardest thing about the install?

 

Looks like you lose your spare tire location too?

 

I haven’t done this install, but I’ve taken off the oem bump plates from the frame.
If I had to guess, getting the old spring hangers off is the hardest part. Think they are bolt on otherwise.

Frame boxing kits like DMZ, and new shackle hangers like bamf or Archive, should allow you to keep the oem spare location. Provided you don’t add a cross bar between the shackle hangars

 

Boxing your frame will create a rust nightmare. Unless you take your frame completely off your truck, and dip it in a galvanizing tank, like they do at the factory, you’ll just burn all the coating off the frame in areas you’ll never be able to properly paint.

Without knowing the engineering goals it’s impossible to judge one frame against another. A high strength steel c-channel frame may be superior to a soft metal boxed frame etc.

So far, the frame doesn’t seem to be an issue on third gens. With the number they sold, there’s bound to be a few looney-tunes that didn’t properly fasten down their shell or bed rack and claim the frame flexed and it contacted their cab, but in general, the frame is complaint free.

 

I hadn’t thought of that. That is exactly the kind of thing I would do and then realize “oh shit, how am I going to paint the inside of the frame rails?”.

 

What is "boxing the frame"? Is it (for the sake of simplicity) adding a 4th "side" to the c-style frame rails?

 

Yessir