Frame Flex & Fiberglass Canopy

[Dusty T.]

I've been seeing threads out there on the Tacoma's tendency to have excessive frame flex- enough to cause the bed of the truck to hit the back of the cab. I'm wondering if having a fiberglass canopy could result in the front of the canopy also colliding with the rear of the cab and causing even more damage. Is this ever an issue to be concerned with? I got to thinking about this and realized that my ARE canopy is practically molded to the shape of the cab, with maybe an inch or so of space in between the two. I'd hate to be unpleasantly surprised by the cab being smacked by the canopy when articulating over difficult terrain one day.

Then again, is this more of an issue on Tacos with lifted suspension and longer travel? BTW, my '02 Taco is stock.

 

[juicebox]

I don't think it matters if it's lifted or not. My shell rubbed the back of my cab on a dirt road with a few bumps, I just moved it back a little more. There is about 1"-1.5" gap now.

It happens, it's ok with me, although I want to avoid it as much as possible. I think reinforcing the frame helps with flex in the frame. I have been thinking about getting some frame reinforcement plates.

I think you would only really have trouble when you jump your truck, then the bed/shell smacks the back of the cab enough to dent it. A couple years ago when I was looking for my tacoma I knew about this issue and saw a couple trucks that had quarter sized dents on each side where the front of the bed hit the back of the cab. I stayed away from those trucks. :sombrero:

 

[Martinjmpr]

Never had any issues with mine, even though both of my shells fit pretty close to the cab. I can't help but think that if the vehicle is flexing so hard that the shell is coming into contact with the cab then either (a) the shell is mounted too close to the cab or (b) the vehicle is going to have much more serious problems to worry about than a little body damage.

 

[Dusty T.]

Thanks for the replies. I measured the distance between the canopy sliding window and cab sliding window, and they're only about 5/8" apart. Also, there's about a 1/2" space between top portion of the canopy and the third brakelight. Seems like a tight fit, though I can probably shift it back about 1/4" or so. There's no sign of it ever touching the cab, but I don't think the previous owner took it off the pavement too often.

I don't do jumps or anything- though I do a little wheeling every now and again. I was reading up on how flexible the frames on these trucks sometimes are and got to thinking about whether a canopy poses much of an issue.

 

[OldSven]

I never had any issues with mine hitting the cab, I also used to have a lot of frame flex back there due to so much weight but a good set of FRAME REINFORCING PLATES will solve that

 

[Willman]

No issues here too!

 

[dustboy]

My shell is a Leer that was built for a different truck (not sure what), and I had to cut away and reshape the fiberglass that was hitting the 3rd brakelight. Even so, it's a tight fit, and in some places there's just enough room to slide a finger through. I have had it bump the cab on rough trails, but the only resulting damage was a little scuffing on the paint. I can't slide it back or the lift gate won't close.

Someday I'll have a proper shell, but this one was dirt cheap, and I don't cry when I cut holes in it!

 

[Dusty T.]

Hey, thanks for the input.

I ended backing up the shell about a quarter inch, so now there's about a 1" between the top of the shell and third brakelight. Tight, but should be okay from what I hear.

Frame reinforcement plates may be in order somewhere down the road- if I find I'm carrying alot of extra weight.

 

[DaveInDenver]

One thing that has not been mentioned is fiberglass can crack with excessive flex. I have to repair little micro cracks in WilderNests because of this. Usually develop around the back door in the corners. Some of this is unique to the WilderNest because of the way it works, but the twist and shock of driving off highway definitely takes a toll on the fiberglass.