Can you put a 3rd gen grill guard on a 2nd gen Tacoma

Can you put a 3rd gen grill guard on a 2nd gen Tacoma? The guard and the mounts look the same.
https://www.westinautomotive.com/sportsman-grille-guard/2009/toyota/tacoma

https://www.westinautomotive.com/sportsman-grille-guard/2021/toyota/tacoma

 

Can you mount it? Probably. 2nd and 3rd gen have same mounting points on the chassis. So theoretically you probably can get it mounted.

Should you mount it? Probably not. They are not the same part, notice how the headlight bars are different shapes. Not only will it look silly and fit sloppy, but you will probably block some of your headlights meaing it will be less safe.

2nd gen:



3rd gen:

 

They are really not much different. Only think that is different is mounting brackets to the truck, and the cut out on the ends. Plus I get it for free.

 

It might bolt up to the same holes, but it will be very obvious that it's wrong, and there's no guarantee that it won't crack the headlights

 

How is it going to crack the headlights?

 

So take it for free, sell it on marketplace, and use the cash to get something that's a bit more useful.

 

Because the guards are shaped differently to fit a completely different body panel. The frame might be the same, but the skin is different, and the thing hovering over the skin even more so.

I don't know what's real anymore. What a surreally odd discussion to be having on a work night.

 

Nope, you can't at all. I have the exact gen2 guard you sent and let me tell you the gen3 guard would NOT fit no sir-ee. Just take it and sell it on marketplace to a goober like me whos willing to buy it, there's a lot of them out there.

 

If I buy the 2nd gen mounts I don’t see why it would not?

 

Possibly if the lower and upper bracket mounting spots on the guard are the exact same. (Which I don’t think they are but they might be).
But the real reason it might not be worth for you is because it won’t look right. I assume you want to put it on for looks like I did, and the headlight slots won’t look right and fit around your gen2.
Aswell as that it won’t protect against brush as effectively as it won’t cover the whole headlight housing, because the guard is shaped differently.

 

You're right. Go ahead and mount it up. I'm sure it will be awesome. After all it's free, worth a shot right? Why are you even here asking us? Go turn some wrenches! Post back pictures of the results!

 

Really wanted to see if anyone else has done it.

 

Most people take "the parts very obviously don't match or even look the same" at face value and move on. But if you really are unsatisfied with that answer, its your truck: bolt it up and find out.

 

It look nearly identical. I am student and can work on it in a metals shop.

 

Don't sweat the disgruntled folks OP. I'd give it a shot with the knowledge of knowing it might not look right but worse thing that happens is you waste some wrenching time. I always look for opportunity to get in the garage though. Another scenario is to crack out the welder but that's a whole different story. Good luck to you!

 

So then try it and prove me wrong. I'll admit I was wrong if you post a photo of the install.

It will be a first on the forum. It might be useful knowledge. Give it a shot.

 

Aw man, I never wanted to be seen as disgruntled. Just trying to help answer the question he asked

 

Gee . . . I wonder why the engineers at WESTiN made one for the 2gen and a different one for the 3gen ? Just a thought.

 

Sorry brother that was pointed at Wi_Taco haha.

 

My disgruntle is knowing from the get-go that I'm being fucked with, and trying to give helpful answer anyway because there's a 10% chance that this is sincere.