mt_goat

I have been looking a rear bumper designs for a few years now and the one I liked the best was All Pro's new design for the Tacoma. http://allprooffroad.com/9504tacomat...504rearbumpers

Problem is they don't make that design for the earlier trucks. I called All Pro and they didn't know if it would even come close to fitting or not. They were telling me the Taco is wider so it probably wouldn't work. Well since I just happen to have a 2001 Taco as well as a 93 pickup I measured the fender width and the frame width of both trucks and remeasured 3 or 4 times. And after studying the two I couldn't find much difference between them so I decided to take the risk and order one. I figured if nothing else I'd cut it and reweld it to force it to fit.

Well I got the bumper delivered and here is the initial test fitting:






The main difference is our older trucks have this sheet metal under the tailgate that is open on the Tacos, so that needs to be cut for the brackets to fit through to the frame:


After getting those slots cut it is just a matter of drilling a few new mounting holes in the frame or the bumper bracket. The frame and body are almost exacty the same width!

I'll post more pics after I get it bolted on and painted.

norcalsvx

nice, looks good

Marc P

I like that one a lot more than the old style they had. Looks like a good fit. Maybe a little low on the sides, but you can probably make it work.

04 Rocko Taco

looks good dale!! Can't wait to see it finished on there.

jasond

Very cool, I might have to try that also

snap-on

but why is it they arnt parrall? are they not on a taco? on our older trucks it just looks like the fabractor messed up.

mt_goat

That's probably because of my 1" BL, I was able to raise it up a little more. Getting ready to drill the holes after lunch.

mt_goat

Are you talking about what wraps around the sides?

mt_goat

Here's the same design on the new 2006 Taco:

Intrepid

The tacoma's lower quarter panel is angled down more. It lines up nicely with the taco.

mt_goat

Yeah you're right, I just went and looked at my 2001 Taco. I never noticed that before. Well ok, it's not perfect.

mt_goat

I've been playing with the angle and height before I drill the holes. Does this look better or worse?

jasond

I like it like those last pics......

mt_goat

Hey thanks Jason, that's more like the one you guys installed isn't it.

91_4x4runner

Ditto, the last pics look good. Do you have full tailgate open/close access without rubbing?

mt_goat

Great thanks. Yeah the tailgate has about 1/2 inch clearance up and down. The only thing with clearance problems is the spare tire lowering hole gets real tight with it up high like that but I can open that up some with a grinder.

91_4x4runner

Just wouldn't want you to miss anything that would be a pain later on.

jasond

Yeah, one thing that I thought of....before you paint it, consider putting some diamond plate on the bumper just below where the tailgate is between the two tubes for when you use it for a step

mt_goat

Ok thanks, I'll look at that. I was already planning to weld a piece of square tube from the frame mount plate to the reciever hitch to help with the tow rating.

mt_goat

I got the holes drilled for the bumper mounting bracket and welded in some beefy 3/16" thick square tubing to help boost the tow capacity:







All Pro makes this bumper to use the stock Tacoma license plate lights. I found a pair from the "wanted" section for $10 and after trying them out I noticed the lights didn't actually shine any light on the plate. I decided AllPro's design on that sucks. Fearing a possible hassle from the Cops I cut out the mounting plate for the lights and angled it out so the light will now actually hit the plate:




I did one more final test fit before the sandblasting and painting: