1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Westin step bars install not going well

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by robo (sebring1970), Jan 5, 2008.

  1. Jan 5, 2008 at 12:33 PM
    #1
    robo (sebring1970)

    robo (sebring1970) [OP] robo (sebring1970)

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2007
    Member:
    #3933
    Messages:
    46
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2011 Tacoma SR5 2.7L Auto 4WD Access Cab
    OEM hood protector, OEM black step bars, ScanGaugeII computer,
    the instructions that came with my Westin 25-0830 step bars show the truck frame rails to be 3-sided. My frame rails are boxed, 4-sided, so the mounting bolts are not long enough to reach thru the frame rails. Has anyone else run into this problem?

    The instructions that came with my step bars are for '95-'99 Tacomas, even though I ordered a set that would supposedly fit my '04.

    Do the '95-'99 Tacomas even have 3-sided frame rails? I guess it doesn't matter since I'll have to be sending these back :mad:. Does anyone even know what I mean? Crap, I was really looking forward to installing these step bars this weekend.

    Does anyone have a set of step bars on their '04 XTRACAB 4WD they really like and can recommend? A lot of the vendors list step bars for Tacomas up to '03, then skip to '05. What's up with that?
     
  2. Jan 5, 2008 at 2:38 PM
    #2
    Jester234

    Jester234 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2007
    Member:
    #4034
    Messages:
    12
    Mesa, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2007 Toyota Tacoma, Prerunner, Sport, 4.0 L
    AFE Air Intake, Serius Sat. radio install, magnaflow exhaust, westin nerf bars, much more to come
    they just screwed up and sent you the wrong ones my 07 ones went right on. no probs. call em and see what they can work out for your wasted time and money to send back they might surprise you?
     
  3. Jan 7, 2008 at 5:40 PM
    #3
    robo (sebring1970)

    robo (sebring1970) [OP] robo (sebring1970)

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2007
    Member:
    #3933
    Messages:
    46
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2011 Tacoma SR5 2.7L Auto 4WD Access Cab
    OEM hood protector, OEM black step bars, ScanGaugeII computer,
    I called Westin tech support (very friendly and helpful). They assured me that the step bars would fit my '04 even though the instructions indicated they were for '95-'99.

    I crawled under my truck with tech support on the phone. He explained to me the front mount tab assembly went THRU the hole in the frame rail from the OUTSIDE. I mistakenly thought the mounting bolt had to go all the way thru both sides of the frame rail from the inside, and it was way too short for that. The little plastic square is what kept the assembly from falling into the box frame.

    Once that light bulb went off, install went fairly smooth. An extra set of hands would've helped but a few hand cramps later and the bar was on tight.

    insrt frnt  mnt tab assmbly.jpg
    frnt mnt in situ.jpg
     
  4. Jan 8, 2008 at 7:24 PM
    #4
    350TacoZilla

    350TacoZilla Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2007
    Member:
    #2767
    Messages:
    1,119
    Gender:
    Male
    Hancock MD
    Vehicle:
    1997 3RZ 5spd 4x4 Reg Cab
    2.7L 3RZ,K&N filter, 4" deck plate mod,flowmaster 40 series,3" suspension lift, hybrid 52"chevy/toyota rear springs.
    yeah installed a set on ex's truck and thought it was kinda odd install...did yours also tie into the transmission crossmember?.... hers also kinda sit out at the back...kinda like the fronts are closer to door than the rears are
     
  5. Jan 8, 2008 at 9:33 PM
    #5
    robo (sebring1970)

    robo (sebring1970) [OP] robo (sebring1970)

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2007
    Member:
    #3933
    Messages:
    46
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2011 Tacoma SR5 2.7L Auto 4WD Access Cab
    OEM hood protector, OEM black step bars, ScanGaugeII computer,
    the front mounts use the crossmember, if that's what you meant, lower silver bolt in pic. The bolt is thru the last available hole in the mounting bracket. Clearly, Westin made some compromises in the mounting hardware to get the bars to fit as many diff trucks as possible. my bars are even and level.

    frnt~mnt.jpg
     
  6. Jan 9, 2008 at 10:16 AM
    #6
    350TacoZilla

    350TacoZilla Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2007
    Member:
    #2767
    Messages:
    1,119
    Gender:
    Male
    Hancock MD
    Vehicle:
    1997 3RZ 5spd 4x4 Reg Cab
    2.7L 3RZ,K&N filter, 4" deck plate mod,flowmaster 40 series,3" suspension lift, hybrid 52"chevy/toyota rear springs.
    yeah thats the one I was thinking...hers was reg cab so that might be the reason for bars sitting kinda funny...they are level but if you are looking striaght down on them the rear is out farther from body... hard to explain lol
     
  7. Jan 9, 2008 at 1:16 PM
    #7
    robo (sebring1970)

    robo (sebring1970) [OP] robo (sebring1970)

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2007
    Member:
    #3933
    Messages:
    46
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2011 Tacoma SR5 2.7L Auto 4WD Access Cab
    OEM hood protector, OEM black step bars, ScanGaugeII computer,
    the really isn't any adjustment for that on my bars. but since you said she was an "ex," who cares? lol

    step bar.jpg
     
  8. Sep 2, 2013 at 5:00 PM
    #8
    ysayers

    ysayers New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2013
    Member:
    #111708
    Messages:
    2
    Gender:
    Male
    Bonney lake,wa
    Vehicle:
    2004 toyota tacoma v6 4x4 trd extended cab
    How did you get your bars to mount? I have an 04 tacoma v6 4x4?
     

Products Discussed in

To Top