Is Snugtop Shell Installed at Port or By Dealer? (05 Tacoma)

[fgs_gofish]

For those who have a snugtop on their 2005 Tacoma or know the answer, could you please tell me where it was installed?

I’m getting ready to purchase one and in talking with a few salesmen, I’m getting the usual confusing info. One said tops aren’t available yet. One has said we have to install after dealer takes delivery. From info I’ve read on some “pricing” sites, I was under impression that top is installed as an option at the “port”. I would like to know which is correct before beginning the purchasing process.

[KAuss]

I'm guessing dealer since there is no port... I can get the snug for my XR but it sure won't be built on it...

[jrb009]

I was told the snugtops were installed at port, not by the dealer. I went in to get one and they told me I had to go directly to snugtop now to get one... toyota wasnt going to be dealing with shipping those big tops to various dealers. Dont know if its true or not, but thats what my dealer told me. Port ONLY. after that, your on your own getting it...

[Sweetwater]

fgs_gofish,

I purchsed a '03 Tundra from Carson Toyota (dealer in southern California). I debated the purchase of the shell you could order with the truck from Toyota. My truck was an order build. I had the clearest of impressions that the Outfitter canopy Toyota advertised was a port installed option. In fact, I remember asking my fleet salesperson, Dianne Whitmire and I hold her in the highest esteem. Maybe something has changed with Snugtop as the preferred shell supplier.

I would be wary a dealer may try to make a few bucks by claiming they do the ordering and installing. I'd rather have the port do it since those folks were likely trained in the correct install.

Let us know what you find out.

Joe

[overkill]

Originally Posted by fgs_gofish

For those who have a snugtop on their 2005 Tacoma or know the answer, could you please tell me where it was installed?

I’m getting ready to purchase one and in talking with a few salesmen, I’m getting the usual confusing info. One said tops aren’t available yet. One has said we have to install after dealer takes delivery. From info I’ve read on some “pricing” sites, I was under impression that top is installed as an option at the “port”. I would like to know which is correct before beginning the purchasing process.

The snugtop is supposed to be a "port" installed option. I guess my salesman was not aware of it and I went ahead and bought the top when I bought the truck. It took almost a month for the top to come in, and when I went to have it installed I was sent over to a campershell dealer where it was installed. I guess the Toyota Dealership did not want anything to do with installing a campershell. One note though, I did get a much better price buying it through Toyota than a campershell dealer. Paid almost $700 less!

[fgs_gofish]

Thanks for the replies!

I'm going to push for the top to be installed at the "port" when I place my order. I suspect that installation results should be better from port (assume they have more experience doing it). Just hope I don't have any leaks - referred to in another recent thread.

Also suspect that dealers saying not available or will have to be installed by dealer are trying to make a quicker sale (i.e. one that's closer to arriving on their lots and past point of port install).

I'll let you know how the order process goes.

[FStephenMasek]

When I ordered a Tacoma today, the parts counter people informed me that teh shell is installed by a vendor or service company which comes to the dealership. There really is no "port," as the Tacomas are built in Fremont, CA.

[Sweetwater]

Port may be the correct word but gives wrong connotations. Vehicles are not shipped directly to the dealer from the factory. There are regional distribution centers of the country that Toyota sends it vehicles to. At that facility (which I called the 'port' since some -used to be all - Toyota vehicles are received on the coast) several factory items that appear on the sticker are installed. For instance, on my windown sticker it lists the Toyota bug shield. That is not installed at the factory in Princeton. It is installed at the 'port' or distribution center, not the dealer (unless you wanted it and it wasn't ordered that way or you were buying off the lot) . I had several options installed at the port so my truck matches what is spec'd on the window sticker. There are many other 'port' installed options as noted at edmunds.com. Another are the door sill protectors.

I might question your dealer a bit more or contact Toyota to validate the answer if you are curious. It sounds like they may not be ordering a vehicle for you but finding something in there allocation that matches but was ordered without the shell. A true order build will come through the port with port options installed only at that location. I would prefer that scenario since there are likely strict instructions on how the wiring is done, what clamps are used, etc. I would imagine the dealer stands behind vendor work but I wouldn't care for it. If you had a problem I imagine the dealer would pawn you off the vendor. You'll know if its a factory option if it appears on your window sticker.

So I picture your shell being shipped to a vendor by SnugTop, then trucked over to the dealer by the vendor and then placed on your truck. That's a lot of fork lift moves. Sounds mighty inefficient for a company like Toyota. Who pays the vendor? Sounds fishy to this jaded nose. Please correct if wrong.