Second gen vs. third gen rear bumper comparison

I am planning a trip home to TN around Christmas and was talking to a friend about building me a rear bumper. Due to time, he would have to build it without my truck there and then mount it when I get in.

He does not however have access to a third gen taco so I was wondering if any of you experts out there knew if the second and third gen frames differed at all?

Thanks

 

I was just thinking this same thing. Does anyone know the difference? Is is in the bolt pattern? Frame size? Is it in the tail light fitment?

 

he can use my truck for mock up ...

 

That was a year ago and he’s in TN but thank you for the offer. Maybe this next Christmas

 

Definitely the tail light patterns would be different but if the frame was the same that would be a good head start

 

Oh the thread was revived . Sorry wasn’t paying attention .

 

Well this thought was from a year ago for me but it might help somebody else.

 

Ok my turn for thread revival... as previously said, someone might need to know eventually. Set aside any cosmetic concerns. Do second and third gen rear bumpers can be interchanged as a matter of bolt patterns? Thanks

 

Third and second gen bumpers will bolt up the same. The frame mounts and bolt locations have not changed. However you will run into interference at the corners under the taillights. The radius changed between bodies and a second gen bumper will leave a wide gap between the body and the bumper on a third gen. Conversely, a third gen bumper with a tight reveal won’t fit on a second gen without removing some material at that radius.
Theoretically, this shouldn’t be an issue if you’re cutting all that off for a high clearance bumper (although I haven’t attempted it) or if you’re having a custom bumper built that doesn’t curve under the taillight and around to the side of the truck.

 

Thanks a lot man, you said all I wanted to know! Cheers!

 

Yes, thanks Ghost.

Are you saying a 3rd gen rear bumper will fit and bolt on a 2nd gen truck without making modifications to the bumper? If not, could the 3rd gen bumper radius be slightly modified with a grinder so that it would fit?

I'm looking at a stock, chrome 3rd gen bumper for my 2nd gen truck.

 

Not related to the 2nd & 3rd Gen fit, but you may find this video interesting. The Toyota engineer talks about the 3rd Gen bumper 8 minutes in to the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FutBBbglZvo