If you have a tacoma, preferably an early one (95-97), and an ARB, maybe you can help me....

Its been a while since I slammed on my ARB bullbar, and I've done pretty much nothing but work since then (and post a pic or two). I didn't bother putting my skids back on when I was done :pat: , since I wanted to paint 'em.

Painted 'em, and then they rattled around in the back of the truck until a few weeks ago when I had a minute to put them back on. Problem: I had removed the crosspiece that (goes between the frame ends and under the radiator) that the front skid bolts to to install the bullbar. Further problem, I was in Baltimore MD and the cross piece was back in Ohio.
I finally made it back this weekend, and grabbed the piece out of my gf's garage. Next Problem: When I crawled under the truck this evening to look at re-attaching it, well, It doesn't look like it wants to work with the bullbar all bolted on. It looks like if I pulled all of the bullbar and its mountings off, put the cross piece in, and then somehow but the frame extenders and the bumper back on, aside from being weak in terms of attachment, I would be creating like 1 1/2" gap between the bumper and the truck body.

I know this really should have pics, but the camera seems to have wandered off for the moment, so.....('ll try to get some up)

Anyone with a truck and bumper like mine, PLEASE tell my dumb-ass whats up. I'm sure if I took enough time and sweat I could work it out on my own, but I'm busy (3 commericalis between now and next tuesday) and that sucker is heavy.

Thanks,
Ian

 

Since you have an ARB bumper, i think you should just ditch the crappy stock skid and get an aftermarket... www.budbuilt.com

 

That aftermarket bolts to that crosspeice though, so that won't do you much good.

 

Intrepid is right, I think pretty much any skid is going to need that crosspiece. My dumb ass just needs to figure where it slips in with everything else.....

Oh! Since I don't have a pic, does anyone have a close up of their successfully mounted arb with cross piece in place (detail of the mounting please) so I can see what exactly i didn't do?

 

 

On the pre 98 Tacomas the crossmember for the front skid plate bolts to the end of the frame rails, not in between the frame rails like in Filthy's pic.

I just made one this weekend for the stock skid plate. I removed my stock crossmember when I build my custom skid plates and when I removed em to sell the truck, I couldn't find it anymore so.....I wacked one out in like 30 minutes. It's just a piece of 3x2x3/16" angle iron. It was the last piece I had of scrap that size or I'd offer to make you one. I'm sure it would fit the bill and not require additional clearance.


No pics but it's REAL simular to this one (under the brush gaurd) but without the hinges.

 

If you happen to need a new crossmember, I've got one..brand new. Free!

 

I believe slo poke is right, tho I do thank Filthy for getting those pics for me.

So I guess I'm still looking for a pic from the early model tacomas such as mine, any love out there? If its not possible do bol the stock cross-member back on with the arb, then what have others done?

I almost bought a budbuilt skid when they were on sale last week, but missed it. I let it slide by becuase I figured I'd encounter the same mounting confusion and wanted to get it sorted out.

Thanks everyone,
Ian