The Chinese Special TRD Grille... on the cheap!
- Thread starter Justhere4aday
- Start date
YellowSnow
Banned
Several youtube vids on installation...it’s very easy and shouldn’t take more than an hour. Lining up the letters is probably the most time consuming part.
Texas_Ranger
New member
I'd rather buy from an American company to be honest. We buy enough from China as is. I'm extremely happy with my TSO kit and I recommend the product and the company. Completely happy with my purchase from them.
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yardsale
New member
Yes but TSO sells an aftermarket top grill piece. Who knows where it was made, but I’m guessing not in the USA.
Texas_Ranger
New member
It's the actual Toyota Part, I received mine in the part box with info on it. No not USA but at least its Toyota quality and they're a US company. Merry Christmas..
YellowSnow
Banned
As opposed to the multitude of chinese parts found littered throughout said $40,000 truck. And I’m sure you’re aware, that the OEM Trd Pro grill is most certainly made in China as well.
YellowSnow
Banned
Whatever you need to tell yourself, that helps you sleep at night.
The 4x4 Overland scene is the new import car scene. I've seen it, a ton of the OG import dude's from back in the 90's/early 00's grew up and got trucks 
We're gonna get knock off parts up the yin yang eventually, just a matter of time. People will get mad, call it rice, others will embrace. In the end it's your truck and your money, build it how you want, who gives a rats ass what anyone else thinks.
We're gonna get knock off parts up the yin yang eventually, just a matter of time. People will get mad, call it rice, others will embrace. In the end it's your truck and your money, build it how you want, who gives a rats ass what anyone else thinks.
yardsale
New member
Maybe when you bought it...
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2016 4Runner SR5
Senior Member
Not sure why hes banned.
But if anyone from Hawaii buys the "real" one I'd be more than willing to meet up to compare before I install. Mine is still on the slow boat from China.
YellowSnow
Banned
Looks proper as f%*k brother! Any tips on aligning the letters? Did you just tape off the straigt lines?
Ultraphage
New member
Weird, I have the same couch, rug and adidas you’re wearing in that picture, even the same dip in the top cushion where the dog sits to look out the window.
At first I thought my wife was posting a Christmas present for me and I’d have to tell her I have a 4th gen!
At first I thought my wife was posting a Christmas present for me and I’d have to tell her I have a 4th gen!
2016 4Runner SR5
Senior Member
No tape just lined up the pins carefully one at a time. I can tell you the 2 "T" and "O" letters are not the same. They are pinned differently for some reason. If you mix them up, you will not be able to apply them straight. Test fit them all and then apply them one at a time. That's all I did and it came out perfect. Ah and I applied the letters sitting on my couch, not after installing the grill. I think that may have helped also, just easier to see and more comfortable than kneeling in front of the truck.
2016 4Runner SR5
Senior Member
There can't be any less gap on the sides. The plastic bumper is curved. If the grill was any wider, it would sit up on the curve and not fit. I would challenge you so walk past my 4Runner in a parking lot and notice it's not an OEM grill. I wouldn't be surprised if this is the same grill body shops are using to repair a damaged grill. Wouldn't be surprised if the OEM grill is made in China either lol. All in all, the OEM grill is by no means worth $600 plus. The $170 I paid for this is pushing it for 2 pieces of plastic but I wanted it so whatever. No way in hell I would have ever bought an OEM grill though.
Ballsidaho
New member
Packaging looked just like the first post. Looks good to me. Just thought I would share. It comes with a roll of the sticky tape but the solid piece comes pre lined with the red strips and so do the letters. When I originally saw pictures of this i thought i would have to use the roll and position the tape myself. Not the case.
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2016 4Runner SR5
Senior Member
Mine didn't come with the spare tape. All tape was preinstalled, just had to peal the red backing off. Having the spare tape is never a bad thing though. I agree on the packaging. Each piece was in a thick plastic bag and then put inside a good quality bubble wrap bag.
dot_tom
New member
I have the OEM TRD PRO grille and installed it a couple of weeks ago. A friend picked up the cheap Chinese replica and brought it over for me to install. I have also seen the TSO grille in person. Here is my feedback.
- Chinese grille is a bit wavier from the mold. In the sunlight, you can tell it's not as smooth as OEM.
- The letters look better than the TSO letters. The edges are softer than the OEM letters and seem to be slightly smaller than the OEM letters. Color is a good match, maybe a little darker than OEM.
- The gaps are better than TSO. The gap is slightly bigger than the OEM gap but not really noticeable if you do a good job splitting the gaps on each side.
- The stick-on letters were easy. Just lightly stick them, step back, make slight adjustments and you're good to go.
- The upper honey cone grill piece is perfect to the OEM one. Color, shape, and mounting holes were perfect.
- There has seemed to be some fading issues from the TSO grille so I painted the Chinese grille with SEM Trim Black which replicates the finish of the OEM pro grille perfect and won't fade.
Here are some pictures of the OEM vs the Chinese. In the pictures, you'd never know. I own the OEM version and I'll argue my money was well spent on the superior quality parts, haha. Seriously though, this kit is much better than TSO and so cheap!
OEM
China
You be the judge. Spend your money how you wish
- Chinese grille is a bit wavier from the mold. In the sunlight, you can tell it's not as smooth as OEM.
- The letters look better than the TSO letters. The edges are softer than the OEM letters and seem to be slightly smaller than the OEM letters. Color is a good match, maybe a little darker than OEM.
- The gaps are better than TSO. The gap is slightly bigger than the OEM gap but not really noticeable if you do a good job splitting the gaps on each side.
- The stick-on letters were easy. Just lightly stick them, step back, make slight adjustments and you're good to go.
- The upper honey cone grill piece is perfect to the OEM one. Color, shape, and mounting holes were perfect.
- There has seemed to be some fading issues from the TSO grille so I painted the Chinese grille with SEM Trim Black which replicates the finish of the OEM pro grille perfect and won't fade.
Here are some pictures of the OEM vs the Chinese. In the pictures, you'd never know. I own the OEM version and I'll argue my money was well spent on the superior quality parts, haha. Seriously though, this kit is much better than TSO and so cheap!
OEM
China
You be the judge. Spend your money how you wish
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