Bull Bar for a 95-97 1st Gen Tacoma? Can I use one from a 98-2004 Tacoma?

Looking to get a bull bar for my 95 Tacoma. I understand that these are mainly for cosmetic purposes, and won't serve much use beside that. I want to get one mainly to allow for a place to mount a 20in LED light bar up front by the license plate of my truck. Looking online, the only options I see for a bull bar are for 98-04 Tacoma trucks. Would it be possible to use the 98-04 bull bar on my 95 truck? I'm assuming the front frame section of 95-97 trucks are identical to the 98-04 trucks? Correct me if I'm wrong.

** I also have access to an angle grinder and MIG welder, so if the 98 brackets need to be reworked to fit a 95, I can do that.

 

No,the frame sections forward of the bumper on 95-97 are different. The frame horns on 98-00 are further forward, and 01-04 is unique as well. I imagine you can do something to extend it, I’m not quite sure. Keep in mind 95-97 has the most compact front end, as the model revisions went on they got wider and wider - grille and bumper wise.

 

Why not hide that lightbar in the bumper?
Heres mine.

 

They actually made one for the 95-97 front end and there are spots to attach lights. I took mine off as this is an older photo

 

If you're putting an old school push bar on an old school truck, I vote you need some old school 6" KC's. A light bar would look out of place.

 

I know that 98 and later trucks have longer frame rails than 95-97, so wouldn’t that mean if I were to mount a 98 bull bar to the front row hooks on a 95, the bull bar would stick out further since it was designed to fit the longer frame of the 98 and later model year trucks? In that case, the workaround would be to either shorten the bull bar itself; or modify the mounting bracket to have the bar sit closer to the front bumper?

 

I have thought of that, but on my truck the front crash bar near the core support is in the way.

 

Get it cheap enough and modify as needed .

I am sure you can figure things out once you have it in hand.

Have a source for steel make whatever you want to attach your light bar.

 

Yes.