Alternative To The Flimsy Plastic Grill

[WanderlostOverland]

We just got our '17 TRD Offroad and the first thing we noticed is how flimsy the plastic grill is. Have any of you replaced it with something more substantial? I'm thinking about a panel of expanded steel. That'll look similar to the stock one but hold up much better to rocks and birds.
Any do-it-yourselfers out there with photos of your creations, or is there any aftermarket models that don't cost an arm and a leg?

 

[LandCruiser]

The grill is flimsy so it doesn't get pushed into the condenser/radiator and destroy it when you hit something.

 

[adio3x]

I've hacked up (satoshi grille mod) almost 100 10-13 grilles, and a handful of 14-17 grilles, and I agree, they are not flimsy. Even cutting into them with snips and a dremel is hard. The alternative grilles are flimsy compared to the stock plastic.

 

[rayofsi]

what are you doing to it, for it to feel flimsy?

these front grills are seriously hard plastic

 

[Toffees]

I recommend replacing it with a solid concrete panel. Might take a while to get the forms right, but should take you less than 3 bags of quickrete. Probably comes in at less than 200lbs.

Not sure how it'd hold up to jarring potholes though. You may want to consider adding rebar, but then you'll definitely need stiffer front springs because that will be a lot of added weight.

 

[Toffees]

We just got our '17 TRD Offroad and the first thing we noticed is how flimsy the plastic grill is. Have any of you replaced it with something more substantial? I'm thinking about a panel of expanded steel. That'll look similar to the stock one but hold up much better to rocks and birds.
Any do-it-yourselfers out there with photos of your creations, or is there any aftermarket models that don't cost an arm and a leg?

Seriously though, there are a few people here with aftermarket grill stuff, but I don't know that anyone replaced theirs on structural grounds. Just cosmetic. The grill isn't cheap, as anyone who's made the TRD conversion has discovered, but it's relatively cheap to replace if it breaks, but I've not seen that here (in my short time).

Satoshi mod:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/75082-satoshi-grill-mod-5th-gen.html

 

[1jzgte]

another ANTI-OEMer

 

[83Mule]

I have a Stainless Steel overlay...but just for the look really.http://www.toyota-4runner.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=273424&stc=1&d=1509488567

 

[WanderlostOverland]

I have a Stainless Steel overlay...but just for the look really.http://www.toyota-4runner.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=273424&stc=1&d=1509488567

Thanks for the response to our thread! That's kind of what we're looking for, but with much smaller openings to help keep kicked up rocks and such from doing damage. And powder coated black.

 

[WanderlostOverland]

I've hacked up (satoshi grille mod) almost 100 10-13 grilles, and a handful of 14-17 grilles, and I agree, they are not flimsy. Even cutting into them with snips and a dremel is hard. The alternative grilles are flimsy compared to the stock plastic.

What the heck is a sushi grill? If it's grilled it can't be called sushi!

(Saw pics, no likey)

 

[WanderlostOverland]

The grill is flimsy so it doesn't get pushed into the condenser/radiator and destroy it when you hit something.

Wouldn't the thing you hit to cause the grill to implode do some damage?
Just sayin'.

 

[WanderlostOverland]

what are you doing to it, for it to feel flimsy?

these front grills are seriously hard plastic

If all you're worried about is the wayward shopping cart at the mall then yes, the stock grill is sturdy.

 

[Carolina4runner10]

Those grills are very flimsy


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Carolina4runner10]

Mine broke so easy


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk