Rear spoiler installation?

[spud72]

I've been more of a lurker than a poster here as I don't own a 4R yet, but I am narrowing down my choices and the 4R is still in the lead.

I am almost certainly going to get a Sport V6 (black). I don't need it until June, so I am going to order it through the dealer in a month or so. I went to school with the Manager at the dealership and he said he would do it no problem.

Question I have is this: I like the rear spoiler, but the Sport Pkg does not include it from the factory and it would have to be a dealer installed item. How are they installed? Would the dealership have to drill holes in the sheet metal to bolt it through? Or, is it some other way?

In case anyone is curious, the other finalists so far in my shopping are:

Pathfinder - likely not going this way because they all come with 3rd row seats std and I'm not a big fan of the interior materials and finish.

Touareg - Really nice, but way worse fuel economy than the 4R and substantially more $$$

 

[toto]

Yes, there would be drilling involved to add a spoiler. It's held on by a combination of bolts and rivets. It pops on to two rivets, and then two bolts finish the job. This thread talks about it in more detail.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23813

The spoiler is not standard equipment on any trim level, though it is a very common option. I believe the spoiler is actually what they call a port-installed option (PIO). That means that it would not be installed at the factory, but at the Toyota distribution point at the port of entry into the U.S. So you would order the unit with a spoiler, and the dealer would put that detail on the order. It would then arrive at the dealership with the spoiler already installed.

 

[spud72]

Thanks for the reply. In Canada, they list the spoiler as a "dealer" installed item... only the Ltd comes with it off the truck. Interesting that it isn't installed at the plant though!

 

[spud72]

Question I meant to ask but forgot:

Since it does require holes through the hatch - how about water getting into the hatch through the holes? I presume there are drains at the bottom of the hatch, but what about corrosion around the hole itself? Any issue? I assume not since there are tons of them around, but I'm still curious.

Thanks

 

[spud72]

Anybody with info/feedback on water getting through the mounting holes? Does it happen?

 

[boston_kevin]

The spoiler comes with a gasket that seals the spoiler to the painted surface. Also, you can use silicon to fill the holes from the inside. There are drain holes in the bottom of the tail gate (some water can get in through the window opening) as there are in every door.

 

[ProMed]

My understanding is that there are both port installed spoilers and factory installed spoilers. The factory spoilers only have the 3rd brake light in the spoiler itself, while the port installed spoiler has a third light in both the spoiler and behind the spoiler on the truck itself. If I understand correctly, the spoilers themselves are a little different as well.

Hopefully someone correct me if I am mistaken. There is actually a thread somewhere on this board that compares the two different spoilers.

 

[boston_kevin]

Not sure about different spoilers between factory and port mounted, but the spoiler definitely changed between '05 and '06 model years. '06+ have a pronounced hump supposedly to improve downforce of the wind passing over the vehicle to keep the back window cleaner. The '03-'05 spoilers have lines that flow better with the shape of the vehicle.

 

[Uneek]

2003-04 OEM spoilers are flat at the top, it's flush with the roof line. 2005+ OEM spoilers have a hump that comes up higher than the roof line. Both versions of the OEM spoiler have the third brake light on the face (vertical surface) of the spoiler.

The aftermarket spoiler does not have the hump and it looks like the 2003-04 spoiler. The third brake light is mounted underneath the spoiler (the ceiling, for the lack of a better description). Picture here.

 

[BassMiesterNJ]

I have yet to see a Sport without the spoiler, in New Jersey anyway... I guess it's one of those "commonly installed" options...

It's funny tho, when I first started looking at 4runners as a possible next truck, I really didn't care for the spoiler.. now I want it, no matter which trim I go with.

I also had the Pathfinder and Touareg on my shopping list, Pathfinder is no longer considered and the Touareg is runner up to the 4runner right now... by the way a base Touareg $38k is actually MSRP lower than a Limited $40k with "commonly installed" options in my area... I'm just concerned about Touareg reliability and it's lack of ruggedness and small cargo area.

That said, I'm really tired of looking at and analizing car deals !!!