C4 Ladder fitment off, gouged out area behind tabs

[Jebsmith2112]

Walked out to look at my C4 ladder this morning... the top plate sits flat end-to-end. Even after use it has not budged (as far as I can tell). Bought/installed mine a few months ago... back on February? This could very well be a bad batch.

This is very concerning, though.

During installation, I left all attachment bolts somewhat loose, then tightened them at the end. Also used the cardboard as instructed.

I did the same as you. However the angel is very wrong on my top plate.

 

[aelarson]

Walked out to look at my C4 ladder this morning... the top plate sits flat end-to-end. Even after use it has not budged (as far as I can tell). Bought/installed mine a few months ago... back on February? This could very well be a bad batch.

This is very concerning, though.

During installation, I left all attachment bolts somewhat loose, then tightened them at the end. Also used the cardboard as instructed.

I also tried to keep every fitting loose (hand tight, every fitting could move easily). No luck.

Are you talking about where the top plate mounts to the actually ladder? because I went full front and full aft and it was the same.

Yes, there is a lot of play in there. I felt like I tried every position, but who knows.

I did the same as you. However the angel is very wrong on my top plate.

Yours is worse than mine was, but I didn't stick mine down. Given that yours is stuck down, have you tried loosening all of the fasteners and tried playing with it?

 

[Jebsmith2112]

I have tried completely removing everything, including the plate, got different tape and reapplied. Same results.

 

[Jebsmith2112]

Just got off the phone with Caleb from C4. They actually did change the bend angle in the top plate on this recent batch due to the exact opposite happening to other people previously. On older top plates, the backside was pulling up, and after they changed the angle, now the front of the top plate is pulling up. He said to tell you guys with this issue to call and ask for him to discuss the issue. He is working on getting me a top plate with the original bend angle. Even offered to compensate me for the gouges in the paint. I said the gouges were fine since it is inside a hinge. So far, pretty happy with the customer service.

 

[aelarson]

Just got off the phone with Caleb from C4. They actually did change the bend angle in the top plate on this recent batch due to the exact opposite happening to other people previously. On older top plates, the backside was pulling up, and after they changed the angle, now the front of the top plate is pulling up. He said to tell you guys with this issue to call and ask for him to discuss the issue. He is working on getting me a top plate with the original bend angle. Even offered to compensate me for the gouges in the paint. I said the gouges were fine since it is inside a hinge. So far, pretty happy with the customer service.

Well, I just got off the phone with them as well. Front desk told me that Caleb is working on a solution right now.

 

[KNorm92]

Yep...I just recently installed my [MENTION=131444]C4 Fabrication[/MENTION] ladder. Same issue - mine is not sitting flush with the top of my hatch (had my dad and brother pulling it down to try and get the angle right)...its scratching the living hell out of my paint and I'm terrified to take it off to see what other damage it's causing. Also - the bolts that fasten to the bottom of the hatch have made big divots in my plastic bumper from when it's closed.

Love the way it looks but I'm hoping they can make this right for us as it clearly was not tested and is causing some significant damage to a truck with 16,000 miles on it and in perfect condition besides that.

:hurt:

 

[Jebsmith2112]

Yep...I just recently installed my [MENTION=131444]C4 Fabrication[/MENTION] ladder. Same issue - mine is not sitting flush with the top of my hatch (had my dad and brother pulling it down to try and get the angle right)...its scratching the living hell out of my paint and I'm terrified to take it off to see what other damage it's causing. Also - the bolts that fasten to the bottom of the hatch have made big divots in my plastic bumper from when it's closed.

Love the way it looks but I'm hoping they can make this right for us as it clearly was not tested and is causing some significant damage to a truck with 16,000 miles on it and in perfect condition besides that.

:hurt:

Yup. My truck has 2k miles on it with same damage. Lol

 

[MaddoxPics]

Just got off the phone with Caleb from C4. They actually did change the bend angle in the top plate on this recent batch due to the exact opposite happening to other people previously. On older top plates, the backside was pulling up, and after they changed the angle, now the front of the top plate is pulling up. He said to tell you guys with this issue to call and ask for him to discuss the issue. He is working on getting me a top plate with the original bend angle. Even offered to compensate me for the gouges in the paint. I said the gouges were fine since it is inside a hinge. So far, pretty happy with the customer service.

Yup. Sounds like C4/Caleb. Good people and won't put it on the customer if it was their mistake. Didn't expect anything less, but always good to see them sticking by what they've always done.

Sucks for the wait of course, but at least you'll get the fix. Wonder why some are having these issues and others aren't. IE; is it an install thing or is Toyota not consistent in that area.

 

[Jebsmith2112]

Yup. Sounds like C4/Caleb. Good people and won't put it on the customer if it was their mistake. Didn't expect anything less, but always good to see them sticking by what they've always done.

Sucks for the wait of course, but at least you'll get the fix. Wonder why some are having these issues and others aren't. IE; is it an install thing or is Toyota not consistent in that area.

I was worried I installed it wrong, but after seeing all the other stories and getting confirmation they changed the angle, I'm confident I need the old style.

 

[mrblah]

I have the first gen and if I remember correctly, the chance of messing up n scratching your roof was pretty high. I think I gouged the roof in a small section when I installed it. So it looks like c4 tried to address that and probably made the possibility of scratching the shit out of your hatch worse.

Basically, point of my post is if c4 is going to address this, I don’t think you want to go back to the first rendition either. It wasn’t a risk free install.

 

[YellowSnow]

Wow...from a ladder that can run well over $500 with added steps, attachments this is completely unsat. Is C4 even test fitting these things?

 

[Jebsmith2112]

Wow...from a ladder that can run well over $500 with added steps, attachments this is completely unsat. Is C4 even test fitting these things?

I'm sure they test them on 4runners they have there. I'm not sure however that all 4 runners have the exact same angle of attack where these are messing up. I just know that the one I received has the wrone angle.

 

[aelarson]

Yup. Sounds like C4/Caleb. Good people and won't put it on the customer if it was their mistake. Didn't expect anything less, but always good to see them sticking by what they've always done.

Sucks for the wait of course, but at least you'll get the fix. Wonder why some are having these issues and others aren't. IE; is it an install thing or is Toyota not consistent in that area.

It sounds like the customer service is there. Just a matter of time before we hear what will be done to fix it. They apparently changed the angle of the top plate that connects to the uprights on the ladder. Whether they tested it or not is the question.

I have the first gen and if I remember correctly, the chance of messing up n scratching your roof was pretty high. I think I gouged the roof in a small section when I installed it. So it looks like c4 tried to address that and probably made the possibility of scratching the shit out of your hatch worse.

Basically, point of my post is if c4 is going to address this, I don’t think you want to go back to the first rendition either. It wasn’t a risk free install.

I can see how it could be tricky even if the top plate is correct. Having the incorrect part certainly didn't help. It is bulky, and needs to sit in a very precise spot. It sounds like they need to find a bend angle in between the first rendition and the latest rendition so the top plate sits flat.

Wow...from a ladder that can run well over $500 with added steps, attachments this is completely unsat. Is C4 even test fitting these things?

That's a good question I would like to know. It's unfortunate for sure, but it sounds like they are going to make it right. In the end, that's all that matters.

 

[KNorm92]

Yup. Sounds like C4/Caleb. Good people and won't put it on the customer if it was their mistake. Didn't expect anything less, but always good to see them sticking by what they've always done.

Sucks for the wait of course, but at least you'll get the fix. Wonder why some are having these issues and others aren't. IE; is it an install thing or is Toyota not consistent in that area.

Mine is not the newest rendition - mine is one of the ones that will not seat properly on the rear side of my hatch but still sticks out far enough to scratch inside the hinge itself. I bought it a few months ago but just recently got it on thanks to the lovely MN weather. C4 was super responsive back when I was ordering it. Guess I'll have to get in touch with them.

 

[Jebsmith2112]

Are other companies ladders like this? Anyone care to chime in with a non C4 ladder?

 

[Gone2vegas]

I got mine on Tuesday and installed it that night without any issues. Maybe it's the camera angle, but it looks like you don't have any adhesive near the part that hooks around the lip of the hatch. Also, I mounted that top plate by itself then attached the ladder. Seemed like it would be much easier to control than with the ladder attached to it.

I'll go out a little later and confirm that it's still mounted flat

 

[Jebsmith2112]

I got mine on Tuesday and installed it that night without any issues. Maybe it's the camera angle, but it looks like you don't have any adhesive near the part that hooks around the lip of the hatch. Also, I mounted that top plate by itself then attached the ladder. Seemed like it would be much easier to control than with the ladder attached to it.

I'll go out a little later and confirm that it's still mounted flat

There is adhesive over the entire plate, however, the angle was so bad that no amount of adhesive could hold it down. I can't even physically push it down into place.

 

[aelarson]

I got mine on Tuesday and installed it that night without any issues. Maybe it's the camera angle, but it looks like you don't have any adhesive near the part that hooks around the lip of the hatch. Also, I mounted that top plate by itself then attached the ladder. Seemed like it would be much easier to control than with the ladder attached to it.

I'll go out a little later and confirm that it's still mounted flat

The instructions state to only use adhesive on the flat portion of the plate. It does look like it may be a little short in the pictures, but that amount of adhesive wouldn't hold the plate down anyway.

I thought about mounting the top plate first/separate myself, but I figured that it will eventually pull up. Let us know in a couple of days if the leading edge of your plate pulls up.

 

[llDemonll]

That's a good question I would like to know. It's unfortunate for sure, but it sounds like they are going to make it right. In the end, that's all that matters.

Unfortunately good CS won't fix body damage. Can't really "make it right" totally if it's an after-the-fact design change

 

[macscac]

I have had mine for 6 months? No issue on my side. I did install it by myself
This photo is from that day

Either the plate has changed from c4 or something is diff on the truck
Mine is an 18

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