Rear Bumpers Review / Experience Feedback

Folks,
I'm considering a rear bumper on the 4R, but I'm struggling with the prices and choices. I have searched the forum for reviews and opinions on the subject, some very good content out there, thanks for posting and sharing.

I was hoping to hear from other members that have gone thru the decision process as to how they narrowed down their options. So far, I see a tier of companies and I believe the ones out there are as follows:

1. CBI - expensive
2. C4 Fab - expensive
3. Wilco - mid point
4. Victory - mid point
5. Hefty Fab - expensive

Look forward to your opinions and guidance on making the right choice. The picture is from the CBI site - seems like the top of the line choice.

 

I run Brute Force Fab... small company, well priced, long lead time. They can improve on communication but Billy and the crew are great. My main decisions were supporting a local business (relatively local lol), looks, optioned accessories, pricing, and powder cost/installation. I typically install most of my stuff but I couldn’t imagine trying to install this beefy thing solo. I guess the only downside is weight but that’s to expected…I’ve put it to good use over the summer, so no real complaints

 

Best looking bumpers that I see are Nguyen_works. I I'm not sure what their website is, but that's their IG handle. The bumpers seem to fit really tight, and look super clean. Some of the rear bumpers I see from other manufacturers look like monstrosities that must weigh a ton.

 

Ive been looking as well. Quite a few require the rear cross member to be removed, what are your feelings towards that?

 

Their bumper does look good, but I don't see the tube bumper for the 5th gen on their website anymore.

I personally wasn't a fan of this, but they do have an option to keep the rear cross member. Also check out Outgear Solutions, Joe is also in the process of manufacturing a tube bumper with and without removal of the rear cross member.

 

I like the idea of a simple bumper, even with a spare tire carrier. The simpler the better. One of the ones I like the most is coastal fab, if you can find somebody to put it together.

The thing the holds me back on rear bumpers (besides money lol) is the loss of of the factory rated tow receiver. Sure you can make one from kit, but…. I dont even tow, but it’s a hit against overall utility of the vehicle.

The idea of cutting off a huge structural part of the frame to mount a bumper is a bit much in my eyes. Especially since you have pretty much made your vehicle unsellable to 99.9 percent of buyers, and could make registering a problem (Nyugen even says off-road vehicles only…think “farm truck” or side by side).

And the folks that would be willing to buy a vehicle with a hacked frame would remind you that your vehicle is pretty much totaled with the cross member gone, in hopes of getting a better price. At least I would lol

 

https://nguyenworksusa.com/

 

Off topic, but that hybrid front bumper is hot!

 

I know Nguyen Brothers do both with and without crossmember delete.

personally I’m looking at Demello. When I get my front one out on their in the next few weeks I’m gonna chat about their rear swing out as well.

 

I second this

 

Many thanks for all the feedback and views on this. Let's keep it rolling. I do have a dumb question....if you have a new tire carrier in the back, is the space underneath where the spare goes now becomes part of the upgraded bumper? In other words, the metal goes that far in that this space no longer is used for the spare that used to go there?

Just trying to visually imagine this setup.

 

I couldn’t find a rear bumper for the 5th gen on Demello’s website. Is there a link? Or is this a new product?

 

https://www.demello-offroad.com/rear-bumper

 

That’s beautiful and just about perfect!

 

Agreed, I just wanna see it in person. I follow them on Instagram and the videos look great.


Edit- And for those of us that can’t afford to plop down $3k, they allow payments throughout the lead time.

 

I dont have “the gram”…have you seen any pics of the bumper only? Wondering what it looks like with all the bolt holes being unused?

Also, do you think the exhaust is in the stock location? Sometimes 4runners with rear bumpers look kinda janky viewed directly from the side profile because the exhaust pipe can be seen. Not sure if this bumper is still low enough to cover the exit exhaust pipe.

And since you’ve seen the vids…. Are the side wings bolted to the main bumper, or is it all welded together (like a C, if you know what I mean).

 

Let me put these two up.

https://youtube.com/shorts/jgjtub4Z47I?feature=share

https://youtube.com/shorts/WS1uQCb8IHc?feature=share

 

Should beefier leaf springs be considered with a rear bumper mod ? Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

I would say you would need stronger coils springs in the back. Especially if you are doing a spare carrier on it. A tire carrier would have all that weight hanging further back than the normal position. Just shifting that weight backwards would probably noticeable all by itself.

Even if I end up getting a bumper only (with no tire carrier) I’d probably still budget for a set of higher rate springs. (BTW, I’m just dreaming, but I’m blaming @Henry J if I incurred any debt as a result of the videos he posted ).

 

Hahahahaha

 

What you didn't tell us is:

What are you going to do with the bumper? Overland? Camping? Baja? Mall of America?
Just a tire? Two tires? Jerry cans? Rotopax? Maxtrax? CB mount? We Boost mount? Shovel? Ax? Hi-Lift? Canoe extension? Skis? Snowboard?
Aluminum or Steel?
Looking for functionality or HP gainz at the mall?
If looking for a tire and maybe fuel or water, have you considered a Hitch Mount only?

 

Some of the hitch mount options look really good. Whichever way you go it is going to need spring or air bag assistance with the extra weight.

 

I don't have any personal experience with this, but I am an expert in watching YouTube videos. Wanderlost Overland uses the space where the spare tire used to reside as a location for their air tank, and Lifestyle Overland runs a extended-range fuel tank in that location.

I personally know a guy who has one of the Rig'd swing out tire carriers, and he has a matching spare on that, while still running the stock spare underneath.

 

Thanks to all for the great feedback and experience with rear bumpers. @Trail Runnah, I also try to be a youtube mechanic and pretend to have the skills of some of these masters. Today, I sat thru the Victory 4X4 install and how this system is setup. I like it so far, I don't like the price though. They have too many choices for customizing it with different gadgets. Anyone in the thread or the forum running the Victory rear bumper? Great video if you have the time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISvYIII3nf4&t=4s

 

Installed my victory rear bumper just a couple months ago. Straight forward installation. Only using the passenger side swing out tire carrier.

 

I guess I can post a photo.

 

Very nice! How do you like this bumper? Any noise with the tire carrier? How about underneath where the spare used to be? Empty there now as per the picture right?

 

No noise at all. The mounted wheel and tire is stable and secure. I haven’t had a chance to have the exhaust routed 90* to the side. Spare area is empty and I bent the mount for the trailer wiring upwards, so it doesn’t sit lower than the bumper. I’m probably going to mount a water tank down there.

 

That really looks nice and I am seriously thinking of getting one. Did you cut your bumper at the suggested lengths provided by Victory in their video ? It looks perfect to me