Bars and Toyota...

[nuedo]

I was at a welcome to Toyota meeting the other day. I asked a bunch of questions, one of which was in regards to a full front bar. Well, to my supprize, Toyota does not recommend, does not carry, sell and install them at all. Since it attaches to the frame of the truck, they will not guaratnee your safty, that is your aribags, bumper, sensors etc. It does make sense when you think about it, but you see so many trucks with bars that it doesn't even cross your mind.

As to the welcome sesstion, there were few "elite" technicians and a couple of cars (of course no 4runners). When I asked them more specific questions (about 4wd, hitch etc) they didn't know much. But I did learn a few interesting things such as not using windex on tintet glass becuase it will destory the tint due to amonia content.

Btw is that trailer connection by the hitch already hooked up? What is that trailer plug for that came with the truck (white, with 4 or 5 cables sticking out that attaches under the steering wheel)?

adrian

 

[kglueck]

I was at a welcome to Toyota meeting the other day. I asked a bunch of questions, one of which was in regards to a full front bar. Well, to my supprize, Toyota does not recommend, does not carry, sell and install them at all. Since it attaches to the frame of the truck, they will not guaratnee your safty, that is your aribags, bumper, sensors etc. It does make sense when you think about it, but you see so many trucks with bars that it doesn't even cross your mind.

hehe...at first I was trying to figure out what you meant by bars and what driving to a bar in a toyota had to do! LOL

Btw is that trailer connection by the hitch already hooked up? What is that trailer plug for that came with the truck (white, with 4 or 5 cables sticking out that attaches under the steering wheel)?

yeah, it's hooked up. the connector you had separate is for hooking up an electronic brake to the factory wiring.

Kevin

 

[nuedo]

Sorry I'm a FOB (fresh of the boat)

Do i still have to connect that plug or what?

 

[kglueck]

hehe. no prob!

no, you don't need to connect that up. just keep it in case you decide to start towing a trailer that has electrical brakes on it (AFAIK, most trailers w/ a standard 4-pin trailer hookup plug don't have/need electronic brakes). the "electronic brake controller" that gets put inside the vehicle, in that case, would splice onto the wires on that connector and then the connector would plug into the toyota factory wiring harness. Chances are you prolly won't be using it anytime soon...

 

[nuedo]

Thanks
ppl on the forum know more than those technicians at Toyota.

 

[kglueck]

here's some threads discussing them:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4708&highlight=electr*+brake*
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4513&highlight=electr*+brake*
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3821&highlight=electr*+brake*

hope that helps...

 

[Luxury]

........I asked a bunch of questions, one of which was in regards to a full front bar. Well, to my supprize, Toyota does not recommend, does not carry, sell and install them at all. Since it attaches to the frame of the truck, they will not guaratnee your safty, that is your aribags, bumper, sensors etc. It does make sense when you think about it, but you see so many trucks with bars that it doesn't even cross your mind.

As to the welcome sesstion, there were few "elite" technicians and a couple of cars (of course no 4runners). When I asked them more specific questions (about 4wd, hitch etc) they didn't know much..............

HERE is a thread I started on the airbag/bar issue.

 

[CMiYC]

Well, to my supprize, Toyota does not recommend, does not carry, sell and install them at all. Since it attaches to the frame of the truck, they will not guaratnee your safty, that is your aribags, bumper, sensors etc.

As to the welcome sesstion, there were few "elite" technicians and a couple of cars (of course no 4runners). When I asked them more specific questions (about 4wd, hitch etc) they didn't know much.

Its unfortunate that "elite" technicians know so little about how their vehicles and the technologies used in them work. I was utterly shocked how little dealerships know about the cars they sell. I couldn't find anyone that could answer technical questions. They could, however, show me where every cup holder was.

As I've said in the other threads, brush guards do not affect anything about your airbag sensors. If you understand how they work, someone explaining otherwise is pretty laughable.

 

[Sac State]

I was at a welcome to Toyota meeting the other day. I asked a bunch of questions, one of which was in regards to a full front bar. Well, to my supprize, Toyota does not recommend, does not carry, sell and install them at all. Since it attaches to the frame of the truck, they will not guaratnee your safty, that is your aribags, bumper, sensors etc. It does make sense when you think about it, but you see so many trucks with bars that it doesn't even cross your mind.

This is another reason the 4th generation was dropped 2 inches in clearance and slopes forward to a very pedestrian friendly angle.

The lawyers have more to do with new designs than the 'designers'.

Same with tires bigger than OEM and lifts.

 

[jj8111]

As to the welcome sesstion, there were few "elite" technicians and a couple of cars (of course no 4runners). When I asked them more specific questions (about 4wd, hitch etc) they didn't know much. But I did learn a few interesting things such as not using windex on tintet glass becuase it will destory the tint due to amonia content.

adrian

4runners do not have tinted glass. tint = plastic like film stuck to the inside of the window. The glass on the 4runner is colored glass. So using windex on it should have no negative affect. Unless you added aftermarket tint.

 

[fish]

Re: Re: Bars and Toyota...

4runners do not have tinted glass. tint = plastic like film stuck to the inside of the window. The glass on the 4runner is colored glass. So using windex on it should have no negative affect. Unless you added aftermarket tint.

Is it the tint that is damaged or the hydrophobic coating?

 

[c44me]

If you have a 4th gen, be EXTREMELY careful with Windex. Windex can destroy the plastic dash surface if you get it on the dash. See pics of my damaged dash in the General Discussions thread: '03 dash material ruined by Windex?

 

[jharris2]

If you have a 4th gen, be EXTREMELY careful with Windex. Windex can destroy the plastic dash surface if you get it on the dash. See pics of my damaged dash in the General Discussions thread: '03 dash material ruined by Windex?

Good point.

Best thing I have found to clean the inside of the glass is a dry microfiber cloth. Griot's has one on a pad that makes it very easy to clean the windows -- takes just a couple of minutes to clean the inside of the windows on the 4Runner. But if you don't want to spend the money on the Griot's version, a decent microfiber cloth will do just fine.