C4 Ladder fitment off, gouged out area behind tabs

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

Nope customer service wont, but financial compensation can fix body damage. And they can send a new plate if need be.

macscac said:
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


bad51d121f0dae0ccc300710bcb3c832.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Sounds like the top plate is different, confirmed by the OP.
 
The new batch of ladders that have shipped it is DIFFERENT. They changed the angle of the top plate due to some customers saying that the rear of the top plate was lifting. Now the front lifts. Caleb told me this on the phone during our first phone call.
 
Last edited:
Mine shipped today. I called and was told there are new plates that will be shipped out. Not sure why they sent the ladder with a plate that is not right. No idea how they determine who gets a new plate. Is there a serial number anywhere on them for production dates?

Anyway, sounds like a solution has been found. I guess my suggestion would be don’t force it, don’t risk damage if it seems wrong and give them a call and make sure you are on the new plate list.

As far as the bolt heads on the bottom gouging the black plastic on the bumper, I would cut off as many threads as possible, and/or buy some stainless button head cap screws from McMaster Carr for a lower profile and smoother contact
 
Last edited:
Looks from the pics that they did more than change the bend angle. It appears that they increased the radius on the bend, creating a gap that causes the bracket to rotate under load.
 
Looks like all the ladders are having their share of problems....the baja for example, gouges the top groove because the edges are too sharp. Baja was supposed to be updating the design with rounded corners on the top plate. I might still go baja, because i like the price, design, and stability. I think one issue is that there are different tolerances among all 4runners, and there is no one size fits all.
 
SnowYeti said:
Mine shipped today. I called and was told there are new plates that will be shipped out. Not sure why they sent the ladder with a plate that is not right. No idea how they determine who gets a new plate. Is there a serial number anywhere on them for production dates?

Anyway, sounds like a solution has been found. I guess my suggestion would be don’t force it, don’t risk damage if it seems wrong and give them a call and make sure you are on the new plate list.

As far as the bolt heads on the bottom gouging the black plastic on the bumper, I would cut off as many threads as possible, and/or buy some stainless button head cap screws from McMaster Carr for a lower profile and smoother contact
Click to expand...

They shipped it because now you are committed...better to ship a messed up ladder that needs an order mod, than not selling a ladder at all.
 
Same thing happened to me as well. Tried everything I could reseat the top plate. No luck. Still lifts up and causes the "hook" to lift just enough to hit the roof edge. The plate gouged the heck out of inside of the hatch hinge. :(

Left a message for C4.


oc8sX6G.jpg
 
Last edited:
Terrapod said:
Same thing happened to me as well. Tried everything I could reseat the top plate. No luck. Still lifts up and causes the "hook" to lift just enough to hit the roof edge. The plate gouged the heck out of inside of the hatch hinge. :(

Left a message for C4.


oc8sX6G.jpg
Click to expand...

Yup. Same problem. This isn't looking good for this batch of ladders.
 
Hey everyone, we are very sorry for the fitment issues a few of you are having and we will get it resolved. There are new top mounting plates that have been formed with a new bend angle to resolve the issue. The plates should be shipping to us next week then we have to send them to powder coat. We will gladly replace the top mounting plates that have been giving issues.

Its a strange situation because the first batch of 75 ladders we made and shipped fit excellent. We made another batch of 75 that were exactly the same with zero changes. We verified that the bend angles were correct on the second batch and sent them out. Some people from that batch were having issues getting the rear portion of the top mounting plate to stay flat against the sticky foam. We weren't sure if this was user install error or what so we test fit one of those plates on our company 4runner and it gave us the same issue. To resolve that issue we increased the bend angle a bit on the top plate to help it sit down flat on the hatch. Now its causing the other end of the plate to lift up which is what a few of you are experiencing now.
We have only sent out about 20 of these with the increased bend angle. The new batch will have less bend than they do now, but slightly more than the second batch so we should be hitting that sweet spot where they fit great.
The thing that we just don't understand is how the first batch of 75 fit perfectly and the second batch didn't all fit perfectly even though the parts were verified to be exactly the same.
There have been some customers over the past few months who have trouble getting the top plate to sit correctly, but once we talk to them on the phone and explain to them a few things to try with adjustment, they always get it worked out.
Anyways point is that the new top plate should resolve any issues and we will send them out to you guys as soon as they are powder coated.
Again we are sorry for the fitment issue, but it will get resolved.
 
C4 Fabrication said:
Hey everyone, we are very sorry for the fitment issues a few of you are having and we will get it resolved. There are new top mounting plates that have been formed with a new bend angle to resolve the issue. The plates should be shipping to us next week then we have to send them to powder coat. We will gladly replace the top mounting plates that have been giving issues.

Its a strange situation because the first batch of 75 ladders we made and shipped fit excellent. We made another batch of 75 that were exactly the same with zero changes. We verified that the bend angles were correct on the second batch and sent them out. Some people from that batch were having issues getting the rear portion of the top mounting plate to stay flat against the sticky foam. We weren't sure if this was user install error or what so we test fit one of those plates on our company 4runner and it gave us the same issue. To resolve that issue we increased the bend angle a bit on the top plate to help it sit down flat on the hatch. Now its causing the other end of the plate to lift up which is what a few of you are experiencing now.
We have only sent out about 20 of these with the increased bend angle. The new batch will have less bend than they do now, but slightly more than the second batch so we should be hitting that sweet spot where they fit great.
The thing that we just don't understand is how the first batch of 75 fit perfectly and the second batch didn't all fit perfectly even though the parts were verified to be exactly the same.
There have been some customers over the past few months who have trouble getting the top plate to sit correctly, but once we talk to them on the phone and explain to them a few things to try with adjustment, they always get it worked out.
Anyways point is that the new top plate should resolve any issues and we will send them out to you guys as soon as they are powder coated.
Again we are sorry for the fitment issue, but it will get resolved.
Click to expand...

This is why I will continue to buy your products even after this. you acknowledged the issue, put a fix in place, and are shipping new parts to your customers. There was no run around about me doing things wrong, or perhaps I messed something up. Thank you.
 
I just got mine installed last week and I have the same issue as well. Glad I read here that I thought I installed and re tried it incorrectly. I am going to contact C4 about it.

One more thing, the ladder is little off. The top is 3 inch and the bottom is 10 1/2. Will that cause the paint scratching?
 
Last edited:
young said:
I just got mine installed last week and I have the same issue as well. Glad I read here that I thought I installed and re tried it incorrectly. I am going to contact C4 about it.

One more thing, the ladder is little off. The top is 3 inch and the bottom is 10 1/2. Will that cause the paint scratching?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what that will do. The only thing I paid attention to was the top plate lifting in the front.
 
Received yesterday - installed this morning. Please note - I decided to use some nasty 3M VHB tape instead. It was a little thinner and a lot more sticky than the tape that came with it. It is now on there permanently.

JPIqo0g.jpg



FDQhIvo.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

psyloki
Lasfit Turn Signal LED Bulbs - Review/Install & Before/After
Replies
8
Views
18K
mrblah
mrblah
D
1999 4WD rear driveshaft replacement Tom Woods
Replies
5
Views
3K
Ponce11
P
sleepydad
ridies.com Leather Replacement Seat Covers
2
Replies
30
Views
15K
clk8895
C
chrisbagnell
03-05 Grille Swap to 06-09
Replies
3
Views
3K
aemravan
A
Epic Ed
Off-Road Lighting Project
Replies
15
Views
3K
Epic Ed
Epic Ed

Members online

Total: 3,314 (members: 2, guests: 3,312)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,317
Messages
3,554,129
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top