Cheap bumper on 3rd gen!

What about that cheap bumper that you can pull off with one hand? If you tug on the chrome by the corner, you can break the plastic screws holding it in place. Can't believe Toyota is putting out a product like this.

 

you are a mad taco owner

 

You mean the bumper cover?

 

A cover? I'm referring to the rear bumper. It feels flimsy from the corners and it's held by plastic screws..

 

there is metal behind it

 

Those chrome side pieces are plastic covers with chrome plating. They aren't structural.

Yes, it would be nice to have an old-school bumper, but apparently we can't have nice things. I dragged my receiver last weekend and when I heard it hit I thought "I hope that wasn't the corner of the bumper" because it probably would have torn the cover off.

 

Lol at OP.

Please, feel free to complain about everything. We all care deeply.

 

Some members here must work or have invested into Toyota, they get upset if you criticize the brand.

 

Nope just new members shooting from the hip without doing any research as to why Toyota used the materials they did and why it's a 3 piece bumper instead of 1. There's a reason for it. Research it with the many topics that have been discussed on this site using the search function. People that sign up only to complain won't generate any helpful responses. Makes you look like a troll. Be a part of the solution, not the problem.

 

I'm aware of the reason for this new three piece bumper, that's no excuse to use cheap materials to hold in place. So you don't want people to vent their issues? I thought this was the place to point out the problems. So we're just supposed to talk about how great Toyota is like they're doing us a favor by selling us their vehicles. Dude get back to work at the plant!

 

You're confusing a bumper with a plastic cover. That's exactly what that is -- a plastic cover OVER the bumper.

It's designed to be removable and easily replaced. Seems most rear bumper injuries to trucks happens to careless parkers who nick and scrape the corner of a bumper when turning into a spot.

With the previous (not modular design) the whole bumper would need to be removed and painted. (on the sport model at least)

In this new design, you just pop out that cover, and buy a new one from Toyota and be on your way.

The bumper structure underneath is unharmed.

 

Can chrome bumpers on the sr5 be swapped for color keyed bumper easily enough? Anyone know a cost to this?

 

That's fine and dandy, but the damn thing is still being held together by plastic screws that fall right off if you tug on it. This is Toyota not Honda.

 

This is by design - it's designed to pop off under a certain amount of load. Notice how most bumpers covers on modern cars are basically held on by clips? It's so the bumper cover has the ability to shear off and not damage metal hood/fenders.

 

All plastic parts are for cosmetics and never intended for structural integrity. Grill, fenders, bumpers and now rear corners on the 2016 Tacoma. To get the MPG to meet federal requirements plastic is used to keep the vehicle as light as possible. If everything was metal it would be a tank. Enjoy the ride and Lets Go Places. $.02

 

I get what you're saying though.. Those bumper covers held on by plastic clips don't exactly scream 'good build quality'.

Hell, I had an X runner where the whole body kit was held on by clips of different sizes and configurations. Most folks would go over a speed bump and rip those clips right off.

Then I start thinking... What if the body kit wasn't held on by clips? If I went through a speed bump, it would rip the kit off and probably shear it in half. Those clips are chosen for a reason.

 

Why did you buy this truck OP?

 

I would much rather replace a plastic cover on this truck, vs going through the hassle of having a rental for a week while my new bumper cover was painted and installed for just shy of $1300 (insurance covered it) on the old Chevy Equinox.

 

Lol! "Let's go places", you sound like a Toyota salesman..