Spiker Engineering High lift hood struts for the 3rd Gen Tacoma

The loads are in the noise compared to the capability of the mounting hardware. We're talking loads well below 50 lbs per rivet. The rivets we use are high strength multi grip rivets that are rated to about 400 lbs in shear, each. So you're looking at a safety factor of 8X.

As for vibration and what not, that is precisely why we like rivets - they are basically immune to vibration. Check out how an airplane is put together next time you climb into one .

 

I just installed these last week. Seems to close pretty smooth so far. I would think that if it was stressing the metal it would feel like it binding a little? But I am not a structural engineer so......I do know I like them a lot.

Edit- I also cleaned out the engine bay the other day and the room and not having the factory hood prop in the way was refreshing!!

 

I always feel lucky, blessed more like. I say “Wheel more worry less”!!

 

It’s a mad world out there.....especially right now!!

 

I can close the hood against these two struts with my little finger. The hood is latched when shut, the forces exerted on the hood in the compressed position really isn't that strong. Seriously, you can compress these pistons easily with one hand pushing against them. You put more stress on the one small hole in the hood with a stock prop rod, which is off-center as it is. I understand your concerns, but I think you may be over-thinking it. I'll post up the minute my Spiker struts fail, though.

For what it's worth, I've had them on since February.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...e-3rd-gen-tacoma.642445/page-14#post-22719742

 

One piece of advice, with the type of rivet gun I have (see pic) you will have to lift the hood as far as it will possibly go in order to do the bottom bracket. Even then I could not open the riveter all the way with each motion. This type is handy for lots of things but made this install harder.

 

Great, now you've stumbled onto another unnecessary mod: hood stiffeners. Like bed stiffeners but even more useless!

 

I understand your concern and it is valid. But IMO you are overthinking this. The other brand has the same install procedure and has been around several years with no problems (that I know of at least) that are similar to your concerns. Now if the struts ran like a piston and opened and closed hundreds of times per minute, then I’d be worried as well. With you opening your hood a couple times a week or several times at most if your wrenching, it really shouldn’t be a problem and also IMO, I see these struts lasting the life of the truck or at least most of it. I think the struts would fail long before the mounting area or brackets. I’m no expert by any means but did lots of research on all brands before I bought and have never heard of your concerns being a problem Visually when installed and when opening and closing it doesn’t appear much stress is put on the hood mounting points, no bulging, bending, pinching or anything that seems worrisome. Use some touch up paint on your drill holes and you shouldn’t have to worry about corrosion. I’ve had mine on for six+ months and just went t to inspect and they look and act new. I say buy em and enjoy and quit worrying

 

You've made 9 posts since joining and 7 of them are in a vendor product post where you question the engineering. Then you basically call them shady for not providing an installation warranty. I hope you spend as much time on the other hood strut suppliers' threads doing the same. You'll have a lifetime of fun trolling the Buy/Sell area ripping on other vendors who help support the forum.

Great start here on TW.

 

Also if your doing 65, and the brackets come loose or break, Then your hood is still latched so no worries there. And it wouldn’t fly open, just the opposite actually, it wouldn’t open and you’d just use your prop like you already do. Very very minimal damage may be done internally. These things aren’t weapons
If you ask for thoughts, that’s exactly what you’ll get, shouldn’t be amazed by what you asked for

Agreed this is a “enthusiast “ forum, not a bitching, dissing and complaining forum about hypothetical and unknown problems and circumstances

 

So do you believe that the 4-runner and Tundra and Lexus hoods are made better to withstand the factory struts and that Toyota makes less quality hoods on the Tacoma and that’s why they don’t put struts on Tacoma’s from the factory?

 

There is another similar device by a company called Skokietec or something like that. The name escapes me. If there were going to be any catastrophic hood failures, that's the setup that would cause them. I haven't heard about any such failures, but if there were it would be all over these forums. When someone posts the proper name and a picture or two of that alternative setup, I think it will be enough to send you on your merry way.

EDIT: I found it. It's Sokietech . . .

 

I thought he offered valid criticism and disagree with your assertions. Not a very nice welcome to TW.

 

And you have every right to your opinion.

He didn't offer valid criticism, he offered unsupported conjecture. If he wants to challenge the engineering he has the ability to discuss it via PM all he wants. But, to have 8 or 10 posts here in one thread as a new member seems fishy to me. Will he seek out the other strut threads and make the same assertions? Other mods?

In one post he asserts that failure of the strut brackets - what are the odds that both would fail at the same time - would lead to the brackets potentially falling into the engine compartment while driving and damage it. That's a pretty damning...and unsupported assertion. Even IF that would happen, or even if one failed, the struts are located at the edges of the engine compartment and far away from any moving component. Throwing out conjecture and unsupported terrible consequences isn't helpful, it's just rude.

Then he ends with a long diatribe about the "reaction" he gets to his posting as if he was attacked for stating his opinion - show me where that happened. Most people just offered info and others provided their own thoughts on his opinions...no one attacked him for his ideas.

Sorry, but this just seems a very strange way to start out on a forum. And to do it in a post that was started by the Vendor - someone who supports TW - when all he offers is conjecture is just bad taste.

Again, you're entitled to your opinion and I to mine. I'm comfortable with my "welcome" based on his behavior.

 

You make valid points and I agree in that not all of the criticism was necessarily reasonable. A lot of those what-if scenarios are pretty extreme statistically and mechanilly (or something). The "surprise" post was silly but from that, I was getting a vibe of cool, rational presentation and to see you kinda swoop in like that seemed harsh. But I certainly can now understand why you felt that way so I apologize for swooping in myself.

Sorry for thread jacking. Aside from some nightmares about my ineptitude when it comes to installing rivets, these struts are awesome. Put in good work when I had to diagnose a squeak in the bay over the course of a few months. It is insanely easy to open and close the hood. Thinking about makes me want to find an excuse to do that tomorrow.

 

No need to apologize to me at all!! Life is good.

I'm not a mechanical genius either and struggled with the decision to actually put the struts in my truck. Fortunately, I'd had earlier experience with drilling out my '96 BMW Z3 trunk to install the OEM luggage rack. Drilling that first hoe in the top of my trunk lid was scary!! At least these are inside the engine bay.

I put my Spiker struts in back in February, as well, and have had no issues. I do check them from time to time and have seen no signs of movement or stress.

Enjoy your weekend and thanks for your Service to our Nation!

 

>Asks for product users' experiences
>Receives product users' experiences
>"invested mental capital"


This is shitty concern trolling.

 

Best joke of the month!

 

I have no "vested interest". I don't sell Spiker or any other brand, nor do I have one installed. I was born in 1953, and owned my first Toyota in 1972.
Your initial comments seemed to question whether the Tacoma hood had enough structural integrity to support itself if it was being propped open by the Spiker device that attaches midway up the length of the hood vs. the original Tacoma prop-rod that supports the hood from the very top. My reply to you included a picture of the Sokietech device, which attaches to the hood very near the hinge point. Before retiring, I worked in electrical engineering (not mechanical) but it's pretty obvious to me that the opened hood is under much greater stress with the Sokietech than the Spiker or Redline. But after several years, I have seen no reports of hoods crumpling due to the Sokietech.

Sokietech


Spiker

 

He is absolutely trolling. No doubt now with his comments. Anyone who spends time here - especially in 3rd Gen knows this isn't a Toyota Love Fest.