has anyone done this? How hard was it to drill into it?

~Mike

 

It was a piece of cake on the stock one. Doesn't take anything at all. Then I got a real bumper.

 

is the stock bumper strong enough to hold a pair of lights like Hella 550's or KC Dylighters up? It seems so flimsy...

 

I have a set of Hella 500's mounted on my 2nd Gen. Just make sure you have a sharp bit when you start drilling. It really wasn't hard at all, and the bumper seems to hold them with no problems. Take a look if you like:

http://community.webshots.com/photo/...65480657RkwCIM

 

There is a thin layer of metal under the plastic if you have the color keyed bumpers as opposed to chrome. I'm not sure if the chrome ones would be a bit more stable or not if the top layer is a metal. Regardless, I'm sure it will hold the lights no problem. If you use them off-road though, be prepared for the beams to bounce like crazy. Also, make sure they remain tight after a run. Those lights are going to be a little heavier than the PIAAs I'm running I would think. I don't know if one could mount an extra strip of metal underneath to give it better support or not.

No movement at all now with the TJM. Much better off-road performance.

 

I do have a chrome bumper, but was wondering how you got the lights to stay. they have a bolt, with a nut right? so how did you get under the bumper to tighten the nut?

 

Yes, the lights should come with a bolt, nut and washer. Just lie down on your back and reach up in there. Plenty of room to do so on mine even with my big ham hocks.

 

Very easy.
I use to have the stock bumper, but not for over a year now.
http://pnw4runners.net/tando/mod5c.jpg

I had to go to the store and buy a long 10" extension for my socket set.
You place the light on top of the bumper with the bolt going down through the hole.

Then you get from underneath and reach way up inside with the extension on your socket, and tighten up the lock washer and nut.

Not sure if the 3rd gen bumpers like yours have the room under there or not, but it was pretty easy with the 2nd gen bumper.

 

Piece of cake

 

Sidebar - How about mounting lights on a 2002 Tacoma front bumper? My intial thought is not much room or a strudy surface to mount.

Martin