Alibaba First Gen Access Cab Grill review and install

Hey guys, so I know there is alot of talk about the new grill options for both the A/C and D/C from different companies.

I'm a bit skeptical about other companies having the same lead time but charging a lot more for what seems to be the same product from the eyes of a novice consumer.

So I decided to get the Alibaba one and talk to them to get the cheapest option that I could find to see if it was really worth it...

Long story short, IT WAS!!!!!

Now, I think they all come from the same place, just by seeing what others have posted.
Looks like this company does bulk orders through freight and then ships them out, so the timing of your order to their shipment stock is different.
Also for copyright reasons the letter inserts are shipped separately.

So the lead times that bulk orders are done makes the most sense to me.
Unless you order by air then I think they are directly shipped from the US stock they have here.
that way they can keep the extra shipping...
At least this is my humble opinion from my 25+ years in this business...

Here are the links to the A/c and D/c grill since I know someone will want to check it out.

A/C :
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Auto-Parts-New-Design-ABS-Black_1600484464531.html

D/C:
https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...324.html?spm=a2700.details.0.0.2b0332e34HPQi5

If the links don't work just use the search...

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Placed the order online on May 2nd and received the grill on June 8th and the letters on the 10th.
Again the grill and letters are shipped separately.

So my grill came out to a total of $144.20

That's with the cheapest oversea shipping they offered and I ordered them without the light for a $10 discount since I already have a set.

So $70 for the grill, and everything else was $74.20

I talked to them for the discount but I have seen others get shipping and grills with lights for the same price.

Talk to them first before ordering if you have questions.
They have been great at responding other than the time zone difference.

Not sure why even I could have sworn that I get an order quote shipped by air for $70...

Not thinking about that too much...

Now the grill comes with the center letters, they are shipped separately from Compton, CA.

And most importantly, I can confirm that they are the exact same size as the OEM TRD Pro grill version.
I have an OEM broken one and compared them on the grills and the T letter...
(See pictures)
So they are interchangeable.

So this means, that lights or anything else that you want to order for the TRD Pro grills should fit this, even if it's from a different company.

I also should note that I have a Hannemann fiberglass hood.

Hood Link here:https://hannemannfiberglass.com/pro...d-with-air-scoop-bolts-to-hinges-uses-2-pins/

My stock grill fits perfectly and though I need to still adjust my hood to fit better, I still think the comparison is great.

Everything fits like the stock grill and is at least a few pounds lighter which I don't mind either.

There is more room for adjustment on the stock hood than mine but I think it looks great!

Still need to paint and add clear but I'll do that all at once with the rest of my bumpers... eventually! LOL!

It looks like a stock option to me, updates the look without being too obviously aftermarket.

I park in the sun, so if it warps, I'll update this review.

Feel free to ask any questions.

"Pictures speak a thousand words"

 

Dang. this is really cool!

Did you wire up the lights too?

and I got a little lost... where do I get the letters from?

 

Nice improvement. Looks good!

 

If you talk to them they will confirm that the Letters, AKA TRD Pro Insert will come with the grill as well as the lights if you ordered them...

So YES, they come with the center letters.

They are shipped separately for copyright customs reasons I think...


The lights, I have not installed, I have them and will wire them up along with the rest of the setup I have in mind.

I will wire them to my corner lights.

 

so this is a direct replacement for the stock gen 1 tundra grill? You didn't have cut out the center of the old grill and cut the new grill to fit into the original grill like i have seen some do via YouTube video?

 

No cutting or molding is needed, This is a direct bolt-on replacement for the stock grill.

You just gotta know the difference between years you need.

Standard cab and Access Cab on 00-02, or All cabs on 03-06.

 

UPDATE:

Credit to the FB FGT group but to solve the gap issue just reuse your stock grill bolts and it should get rid of any gaps with the hold.

No additional molding is needed.

Hope this helps!

 

The TRD aftermarket grill from China replaces the entire OEM grill. Take the original grill off and replace it with the aftermarket TRD grill. No modifications or trimming the aftermarket grill is necessary. Keep and put all original nuts/bolts in a marked baggie in case you need them. And all that's left is show a pic of your good work.
By the way, don't be shy to ask the Chinese customer service rep about anything. You will save big time cash and time with them. Lights and Toyota emblem are included with no additional cost to you. Just ask them to confirm what I wrote.
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Auto-Parts-New-Design-ABS-Black_1600484464531.html

 

The Chinese include the Toyota center logo and 3 lights with the grill at no extra cost to you. One of the Chinese manufacturer/supplier customers in this forum commented "they will paint the grill for an extra $10 bucks if you want." All of grill, only outer rim or only inside of the grill rim wanted painted wasn't mentioned by the forum member who I think had his done. Just message a customer service representative about anything your not clear about.
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Auto-Parts-New-Design-ABS-Black_1600484464531.html