RC Pilot Jim
Senior Member
This week After looking in 3 states for 8 months, I gave up trying to locate a good 2006 Toyota Tundra Access Cab 4x4. Results were non-existent. So...after talking with 3 fabricators I decided to purchase a new 2013 Toy Tacoma Access Cab V6 4x4 and took deivery Tuesday Jan 15th. Wow what a difference between my '99 4 cylinder and the 2013 V6 (plus all the neat features the '99 didn't have). Actually my 2012 Eagle was made to fit the new Tacoma or first gen Tundra,so I only had two choices.
Ok, now onto the subject matter. The Eagle is bolted onto my '99 Tacoma. The '05-'13 has a composite bed. Can't bolt it down (as it is). Because of physical limitations my injured back will not allow me to get into the position needed to connect and monitor the turnbuckle/eyebolt method. My choices are 1) Bolt down; 2) Install a Tork Lift System (Pricey-$950.00)
My choice is "Bolt Down". The issue is the method used and whether it will "VOID" the warranty. The CERTIFIED fabricator I decided on will weld 4 "L" brackets on the inside of the frame with the horizontal plate under the composite bed then drill up through the composite bed and the camper and we will secure it with 4 ea "Elevator Bolts" of the proper size. Labor and material cost $400.
Warranty Question:
I checked with Toyota, welding a bracket to the frame will NOT void the warranty.
DRILLING into the frame WILL VOID the warranty (because drilling changes the federally approved specs relating to safety issues).
Toyota said,... "In the event of a failure, if the failure is relative to the welding then I pay. If the water pump fails, failure has nothing to do with the frame then Toyota pays". I asked for written confirmation - They wouldn't give it without consulting with the company attorney(I have the warranty managers name)
I'm going to take a chance and do it this way.
Word of Caution: If you choose to do this make sure you pick a certified welder that won't weaken the frame because any failure will be yours to pay to have fixed.
Pictures
I will post pictures after installion next week.
LuckyDan brought up some good points about to consider: frame and bed Flex.
Bed and Frame Flex
I just consulted my brother the civil engineer. We discussed following facts: Both the '99 and 2013 beds are bolted to the truck frame, though the 2013 composite bed is held down by 6 bolts with large "flat washers" doing the holding. We wondered if "frame flex" would crack the bed material. So if the Elevator through bolt(welded brackets) to FWC was "9/16" and the hole in the composite bed was say "5/8". would that be enough clearnce to allow for bed flex and prevent cracking the composite ??
Any Engineers out there please comment.
Jan 25th - Swap will be done today.
I discussed the frame- flex- bed flex issue with the fabricator. They are familiar with this issue so will drill the hole in the bed and bed mat two sizes larger than the 3/8" bolt hole in the "L" bracket. This company goes way back to the 50's in Hawthorne California. They have a lot of experience with off-road Jeeps, Baja race cars, motorhomes, tow cars and trailers. I feel confident in the job they are doing.
Feb 2nd, 2013
Updated this Post with a new post titled "Bolting FWC Eagle to 2013 Tacoma" with pictures.
Ok, now onto the subject matter. The Eagle is bolted onto my '99 Tacoma. The '05-'13 has a composite bed. Can't bolt it down (as it is). Because of physical limitations my injured back will not allow me to get into the position needed to connect and monitor the turnbuckle/eyebolt method. My choices are 1) Bolt down; 2) Install a Tork Lift System (Pricey-$950.00)
My choice is "Bolt Down". The issue is the method used and whether it will "VOID" the warranty. The CERTIFIED fabricator I decided on will weld 4 "L" brackets on the inside of the frame with the horizontal plate under the composite bed then drill up through the composite bed and the camper and we will secure it with 4 ea "Elevator Bolts" of the proper size. Labor and material cost $400.
Warranty Question:
I checked with Toyota, welding a bracket to the frame will NOT void the warranty.
DRILLING into the frame WILL VOID the warranty (because drilling changes the federally approved specs relating to safety issues).
Toyota said,... "In the event of a failure, if the failure is relative to the welding then I pay. If the water pump fails, failure has nothing to do with the frame then Toyota pays". I asked for written confirmation - They wouldn't give it without consulting with the company attorney(I have the warranty managers name)
I'm going to take a chance and do it this way.
Word of Caution: If you choose to do this make sure you pick a certified welder that won't weaken the frame because any failure will be yours to pay to have fixed.
Pictures
I will post pictures after installion next week.
LuckyDan brought up some good points about to consider: frame and bed Flex.
Bed and Frame Flex
I just consulted my brother the civil engineer. We discussed following facts: Both the '99 and 2013 beds are bolted to the truck frame, though the 2013 composite bed is held down by 6 bolts with large "flat washers" doing the holding. We wondered if "frame flex" would crack the bed material. So if the Elevator through bolt(welded brackets) to FWC was "9/16" and the hole in the composite bed was say "5/8". would that be enough clearnce to allow for bed flex and prevent cracking the composite ??
Any Engineers out there please comment.
Jan 25th - Swap will be done today.
I discussed the frame- flex- bed flex issue with the fabricator. They are familiar with this issue so will drill the hole in the bed and bed mat two sizes larger than the 3/8" bolt hole in the "L" bracket. This company goes way back to the 50's in Hawthorne California. They have a lot of experience with off-road Jeeps, Baja race cars, motorhomes, tow cars and trailers. I feel confident in the job they are doing.
Feb 2nd, 2013
Updated this Post with a new post titled "Bolting FWC Eagle to 2013 Tacoma" with pictures.