Has anybody seen or heard of someone adding armor plating or something akin to a slider to protect the corners of the factory rear bumper on a 3rd gen 4runner? Any thoughts on pros and cons of going this route vs. replacing the rear bumper with a steel unit? It would be nice to get that factory receiver up higher too, but it does a good job protecting the spare. Here's a mock-up (please don't mock my photoshop skills):

 

 

:pat: - link's there now.

 

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Let's try montypics this time!

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testing

it works with anonymizer on your geocities pic

I think Robinhood did something like that and I've seen some other one...I think on 4x4wire.com's bumper roundup.

 

finally

interesting. some have cut away half of their bumper and then added steel underneath. this increases the departure angle and strengthens the rear end.

i assume you could also add a receiver hitch into the steel.

where would you bolt your "rear sliders"?

 

There are good mounting points on the sides of the receiver hitch and on the frame. The rear corner body mount would be a good location for a mount as well. I do not want to chop the stock bumper too much - if I decide to go toward maximum departure angle, then I will go with a steel bumper.

 

I personally like this idea, and have been thinking of something similar. With this design you can take it off when not wheelin' too. I was also considering something similar for the front as well.

 

Dandeman did something along these lines for his front bumper:



http://bellsouthpwp.net/d/a/dandeman...ivermount.html

 

As was said, Robinhood Steve had something similar. Looked like a crime of necessity.

My stock receiver did a good job saving the stock rear bumper on some pretty tough trails at the start of the summer. Not sure if the side pieces would be worth it.

I think it is quite funny that you are going to great lengths to avoid a wholesale appearance change that suggest wheeling while others bend over backwards to make it look tough when they don't need it.

Do a search for pmurf1, or go here to see some pics of the bumper that looks stock but can get hammered.

 

Yeah, kinda funny huh Adrian. I like the sleeper look.

Thats not the only factor for me though, the other is cost. If I can limit the cost of such mods as bumper upgrades so I can do things like lockers I will be a happy boy.

Plus, I like the idea of building things too. I would really like to try and cast a OEM bumper out of aluminum, so it looks totally stock, but is as strong as hell .

 

You need to make a fancy drawing of it first Jim, then you can build it.

The sleeper thing is a good deal, but there is a lot to be said about doing it once and doing it right.

 

Awww, and here I thought nobody noticed.

Here's a couple pictures of my rear sliders. They plug into the opening of my hitch.





I had some more pictures on monypics, but those are long gone now. If I can find more I'll post them.

I KNOW that they saved my stock bumper. I followed a lifted 2nd gen down the stairsteps of Slickrock trail and he bashed his corner pretty good. The whole thing shifted up. Mine came out with a slight scratch on the side from rubbing on the same rock.

 

You should check out Badland Bumpers
http://www.badlandbumpers.com



I'm saving up for the Tacoma bumper

 

Very slick. That is along the same lines as I was thinking. Are there any extra vertical supports that tie it to the frame?

 

Yes, near the tires there's a 1x2 piece of steel that angles up and wedges into a corner of the frame. It's not rigidly attached, but rather, if a rock hits the sliders they'll get pushed up into the frame. You can barely see them in both pictures.

 

Those who cannot do for themselves can only criticize those who can... or pay them to do it for them.

Yes, there is a lot to be said about doing it once and doing it right. That is why you make a "fancy" drawing of it FIRST and get everything worked out so it is RIGHT, before you even bother to start DOING it. Hoping things turn out right the first time without bothering to prepare ahead of time is not only ignorant, but foolish.

P.S. But what would I know, I only passed organic chemistry the first time...



Brian

 

i had thought about something along the same lines also. i liked the idea of some sort of slider under the rear bumper. as of yet, i haven't wanted to take off the rear bumper, i spent the extra $ on the sport package cause i liek the color keyed bumpers & junk. don't want to lose them yet.

i figured that if i woudl do something, i would take of the hitch and use those mounts as a mounting point for the protection. if that point can hold 5,000 lbs+ for towing, it should be able to handle suporting some of the vehicle weight. just need to figure out what type of steel to use to keep it discreet, and still offer protection.

 

What about something like the badlands bumper above on the 1st gen, but built to go out side the OEM bumper??? I wouldn't really stick out any farther than most sliderz do. Any you could build it to match what ever sliderz you have.