Hawaii Recon Information, Q&A Thread

Just like to say that this was great advice. I also took @raycie's recommendation and ended up buying flexy flares instead of the garden edging (from Ron's) so it would look decent when I went down to the inspection. I had a different guy from the first time and asked if he would pass me without the extended flexy flares. He told me to take the passenger side off (I guess they all know the notorious taco lean) so he could inspect. Passed me without the flares! Although I had to spend $$ on the flares, it was worth it and the inspector appreciated that I was pre-emptive in having them on just in case. I guess I have the flares in the event I move to 285's or something similar.

 

Any of you 3rd gen owners pass without mud flaps? Wanted to run 285’s with 16x8 +0 offset rim, wanted to know if I should invest in some mudflaps, but if anyone passed with the same specs it’d make me feel a little better, this recon is a PITA

 

If you changed your suspension, Recon is required. And Recon requires rear mud flaps. Same for PMVI (aka “Safety Inspection”).

 

Fak, I gotta move back Kauai lol. Thanks for the quick answer. Didn’t know if they required mudflaps for recon since 3rd gen didn’t come stock with them.

 

Yeah. Sucks.

From what I’m told, the third gens don’t require them as long as they remain stock. Once you lift, the requirement comes into play.

 

Ah okay thats good to know, thanks for the info!

Also clearing up some misunderstandings of mine, mudflaps for any lift are required, even when running stock tires/wheels? And the contact patch of the tires has to be covered by the flare? I think it was in this thread where someone drew that diagram with the red lines that extend up from the outside edges of the tires? I was always told/interpreted that you could use extended flares OR mudflaps, but for recon you have to have both of them to pass?

 

The best thing to do is call the Recon office with your specific questions. They are the ones that will be inspecting your truck. They will provide you the answers you need.

FWIW:

Yes, mud flaps are required if you lift your truck no matter of stock tires/wheels. The issue is the coverage of wheel/tire of the body or mud flaps. From what I was told and read (can't find the source at the moment), the body or flap has to cover more than half the height of the wheel/tire and only for the rear.

Yes, the fender flares have to "cover" the contact patch (part of the tread that touches the ground) of the tires. But, again, this inspection is subjective and at the mercy of the inspector's discretion of what constitutes "covers" and how much of the contact patch is required to be covered by the mud flaps and/or fenders.

But, again...best is to call the office and speak to them for direct guidance and references.

 

Yeah true, I think I got enough info from this thread and from you to answer all my questions, but will give them a call if I think of anything else. Thanks for all the help!

 

Good luck! It's a pain in the rear...but, once you get it, you're golden. ...until you make other modifications. LOL!

 

Hey guys! I passed recon! I had to roll my softtopper down... guess you can’t block the third brake light. Now I got to do some wiring to add a LED strip on the softopper

 

Nice! Sounds like you did your research before you went through!

 

Yeah. Was rolling the dice with tire size. I made it. Nothing too crazy

 

Nice!

 

Anybody know the rules on amber side markers? I was gonna bhlm my headlights and was wondering if I could smoke over the amber side markers without raising eyebrows at recon or safety in the future.

 

Anything you do to the lights in regards to light output or reflectors shouldn't pass either safety or recon as far as I know, even changing to a different bulb like LED or HID. Personally, if you got the extra kala then get an extra set of lights so you can take your time doing the BHLM and not worry about Fn them up cause you need to get them back on the truck and it's also nice to have an extra set of stock lights to swap out for the yearly safety check ritual.

 

I am getting ready to put a lift on my truck and wider tires as well. I am looking at about a 3" lift with LR UCA's and all-pro leafs in the rear for the lift with Wildpeak AT3W in 285/75/R16's. Should the

$550 Bushwacker 31928-02 Pocket Style Fender Flares 4pc. Set fits 2012-2015 Toyota Tacoma (5' Truck Bed)

Bushwacker 31928-02 fender flares stick out enough to cover this setup on a 2014?

 

What are the specs of your wheels you’ll be on with the Wildpeak AT3W? 16x8, 16x8.5, or wider? Backspacing? Offset?

You might not need Bushwackers.

 

Ill be running the factory TRD Off Road wheels.

 

I think you’ll be alright without Bushwackers. Aren’t the TRD OR wheels 16x7 or 16x7.5?

Do you like the look of Bushwackers or you just want to play it safe?

I think you’ll be alright without Bushwackers, but to each their own. Plus, you never know which inspector you get and what they define as approved or not.

I’m actually not a fan of Bushwackers but had to get them because I went up to Toyo RT 35x12.5” and 17x8.5 wheels with 4.3” backspacing and -10mm offset.

 

Honestly, if I could get away with nothing would be my preference, but just looking to play it safe and would rather run bushwackers over doing garden edging. Im not sure on the width of the wheels off the top of my head unfortunately. I'm looking to LT when I get back to the mainland, but want to get some lift and bigger tires until then so looking to try to not spend a ton on what I don't have to while still keeping it legal.