mokai

Just installed, quite happy

http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewkumler/6804664550/http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewkumler/6804664550/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/andrewkumler/, on Flickr

FogRunner

Did you reenforce the end caps of the frame rail before mounting the bumper? I can't remeber if its a issue with the Tacoma but I know the 4runners needed the "end cap" mod to keep the bumper from tearing the frame rail when doing some hard winching.


FOG

mokai

No I didn't. Wasn't aware there was an issue ?
But there were new supports and frame extensions in the kit that I had to fit onto the frame.

FogRunner

The problem is where the ARB bumper brackets mounts bolt the trucks frame. The design of the mount has one bolt going through the frame and on that goes into the front end of the frame rail.

On the 4runner you have to cut the tip of the rail off to mount the bumper and because of that you have to get a thick piece of metal and fit it in the end of the rail and weld it in.

On the Tacoma the end cap is already there but very weak and under heavy winching can pull loose and cause the bolt that goes through the frame to tear the frame rail in half.


(Tacoma end caps)

The factory end caps on the Tacoma were not designed for pull the weight of the vehicle or another if your trying to winch someone out.


(Broken end cap)

The way to fix this is using a piece of thick steel as shown on http://www.nwtoys.com/content/123-fr...ification.html


(End cap mod)

With end reenforced with the above mod you can perform some HEAVY winching without the issue of frame damage.


FOG

waskillywabbit

iTrader: (-1)

Yep. You want to cap the frame like the pics above if you are going to use that winch.

I miss my 3rd gen

:wabbit2:

mokai

Well that was nice of ARB to tell me. What a crock

Thanks for the info though

Although there is more than one mounting bolt on mine. I had to drill a hole up through the bottom of the frame and a bolt and metal sleeve fit up through connecting the mounting brackets . I wonder if that is a newer addition for that problem

MKtaco_98

Looks good really want to get a M8000 installed in my ARB someday

as far as end caps go I would get in done just for peace of mind.

End Cap Mod

mokai

For anyone interested, I contacted ARB and they said that they modified the mount design last year(2011) to incorporate a double pinning into the frame. This means there is no modification to the frame needed for rigs that will be doing hard winching.

ThatGuy1295

Thats caraboo!! I didn't know that either.

ThatGuy1295

Luckelly I arc welded the ---- out of mine just in case.

FogRunner

I've seen the new design and its still not going to prevent the problems. The double pinning still uses bolts THOUGH the frame to transfer the load from the mouth to the frame.

Think of a paper towel roll and sticking bolts through the top and sides of it to transfer a pulling force. Whats going to happen is the bolts are going to slowly rip through the tube because of the little surface area the bolts are transferring force to.

The proper way is to put the majority of load on the end of the tube (end cap mod) because it is able to put the load on every inch of the top, bottom and both sides of the frame tube.

What ARB is trying to do is keep their bumper a "no welding just bolt on" bumper because welding makes allot of people queasy. But the bottom line is Toyota never intended for a winch bumper to go on them so welding is a necessary evil IMHO.


FOG

mokai

Well I'm going to trust ARB and leave mine alone. Time will tell.

Swimmerboy2112

iTrader: (2)

Nice looking bumper. I want an ARB for my Taco...

I have an ARB on my 4Runner with a Warn M8000. It's a good set-up.

aowRS

Your 'bumperettes' are upside down. I believe that reduces your winching capability by 20-30%.





Andreas

ThatGuy1295

Niice Ya noticed that after I put it on, just never got around to it. Hope nobody else noticed.

terminator

iTrader: (1)

Looks sick! Need that winch on my TJM T15.

CodyX36

This is what my truck looked like before I put my ARB on, notice there are end caps there, which I did have to trim the lip on a few sides to get the bumper to slide on, but no bolt that goes through, as listed here; http://www.nwtoys.com/content/123-fr...ification.html

What does that do? Why don't I have one?

FogRunner

The ARB bumper was not "designed" for the 4runner only the Tacoma and if you notice on ARB's web page and catalog they don't spec a bumper for the 4runner 3rd gen.

The reason is the Tacoma has a "end cap" with a bolt hole. The end cap isn't very strong but it has one. The 4runner doesn't have a end cap like the Tacoma does so you can't use it to mount the bumper.

What you have to do is get a grinder with a cut off wheel and cut the welds that hold the cap on the end of the frame rail off. Then you will have a open frame rail and you can build a end cap as per the "end cap mod" link you show above. Then you can bolt the bumper on and it will be strong as a OX.


FOG

ThatGuy1295

Ya or just weld the ----er on their.

Its a bumper. People build them. Cant be that hard to mount one to the frame.

Good alternative to trying to find a taco in the junk yard. Just get some plate steel and make a mount.

watkin5

got my ARB off a buddies truck that he rolled and totaled. A few late nights at work with the torch and hammer had it straightened back out then had it re-powdercoated. AS far as mounts I made my own from 4in channel iron and heavy angle. ( the ones from the wrecked truck weren't salvageable) Gunna just weld mine solid to the frame tho that way I shouldn't have any worries