Help With A Trail Front Bumper

[Maz]

Just picked up a 2013 Trail to replace an 09 Sport Model 4X4 (a great truck I'll be selling soon). Wouldn't you know the best deal came on a vehicle the dealer had drilled out the front bumper for the usual license plate holder advertising.

I don't need a front plate and hate the the beautiful lines of my Trail bumper now having holes in it. Any suggestions....please !

 

[c2one]

I would suggest ordering a replacement bumper valance.

http://parts.camelbacktoyota.com/pa...iteid=214329&vehicleid=388429&diagram=8418012

 

[philsey]

You could try these plastic plugs I used, here:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/76398-fixed-my-cheesy-looking-license-plate.html

Not perfect, but I'm the only one who notices.

 

[eddiebx]

I used something like this:

I got it from Lowes, I just found one that has a center piece big enough to fit the screw hole, yanked it out from the bottom of the clip and plug up the holes with that.

Blends w/ the OE black plastic trail trim well enough to go unnoticed

 

[SigSense]

I had the chrome Toyota emblem leftover from the upper grill cutout portion while doing a Grillcraft install recently. My woodworking skills suck, but I made a mini-front-plate after scuffing/sanding up and painting the emblem. It does not block the lower grill opening.

 

[Maz]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

In a fair world the stupid dealer wouldn't have drilled the front bumper in the first place. They've never heard of an out of state buyer?? Given that they did, paying $109.88 to replace the part isn't a "mod" I want to put in the budget (but thanks for the suggestion and link c2one).

The little plug from Lowes looks like a cheap fix that could be good enough. I have a little lip now that sticks up where I unscrewed the old plate. eddiebx did you have to cut that down a little bit? I'd also really appreciate a picture if you have one.

SigSense your plaque idea is very, very novel. However I'm not too clear what your picture shows...did you remove your grill for some reason?

 

[RasJeff]

+1 for the black plastic plugs. I did have to file down the plastic a bit from unscrewing the plate. After that they fit nice and snug.

 

[KVA]

You could try these plastic plugs I used, here:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/76398-fixed-my-cheesy-looking-license-plate.html

Not perfect, but I'm the only one who notices.

Don't forget you can easily use touch-up paint on the plugs to match!

 

[Keemonrunnin]

Just get one of these you don't have to worry about dimples in the bumper, Done.

 

[Maz]

And here I thought a $200. replacement part was expensive...LOL

P.S.....Love the grill

 

[SigSense]

did you remove your grill for some reason?

Yes, the front grill was removed in order to install a Grillcraft insert. It looks like this: Grillcraft® - Genuine Sport Grilles - Grillcraft - 2011 Toyota 4-Runner

 

[eddiebx]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

In a fair world the stupid dealer wouldn't have drilled the front bumper in the first place. They've never heard of an out of state buyer?? Given that they did, paying $109.88 to replace the part isn't a "mod" I want to put in the budget (but thanks for the suggestion and link c2one).

The little plug from Lowes looks like a cheap fix that could be good enough. I have a little lip now that sticks up where I unscrewed the old plate. eddiebx did you have to cut that down a little bit? I'd also really appreciate a picture if you have one.

SigSense your plaque idea is very, very novel. However I'm not too clear what your picture shows...did you remove your grill for some reason?

Fortunately for me, I was able to catch the guy before he screwed the plate screws in, so I only had the holes drilled and that's it. If you have some plastic material sticking up from it being screwed in, just take a small exacto knife and CAREFULLY trim it flat, no big deal

Below is what it looks like, it sticks up a tiny bit due to the shape of the underside of the head on the plug I used, but you really cannot tell from more than a few feet away.

 

[Maz]

Thanks for the picture eddie, I can live with that. In fact you did such a good job it could pass for factory, with Toyota molding the bumper with holes and plugging them for non-use locations.

 

[patch]

Had the same issue with mine from the dealer.. Whats even better is they drilled the holes where the plate is not level.. So I got 2 holes that are off.. Talk about being annoyed.. A new part will be in my future:rockthrow: