Why no hybrid rear bumpers?

Why do rear bumper option suck so bad on the 5th gen? Unless i'm missing something, we get hitch mounts and million pound gravel scoops. Where is the clean minimalist bumper?

 

The bumper options suck because of the sensors for the RCTA and Blind Spot monitoring system. If you go with a full steel bumper you have to rip all that stuff out and manually disable it. Most people don't want to give those features up.

 

Don't think i have that nanny stuff on a 2018.

 

Check out Nguyen Works, they make the cleanest minimalist rear bumpers out there.

 

Yes. Nguyen and 80% off-road have minimalist designs. And yes on an '18 you don't have monitors to worry about.
The 80% would require welding/assembly at your end. It is my preference.

https://80percentoffroad.com/products/5th-gen-4runner-bash-bar-diy-kit

https://nguyenworksusa.com/shop/ols...nner-single-swingout-steel-plated-rear-bumper

 

5th gen’s production started like a decade before they started to get the driver assist stuff, that’s definitely not the reason.

 

I did miss something, the 80% is awesome!

 

Nguyen Works def is in the 'thin' department, another is the Welded Hybrid by Extreme Terrain. While the majority of the other bumper designs are thick for ultimate bash protection I tend to think of it more as rear collision protection.

As far as the BSM sensor is concerned, Victory 4X4 makes a relocation bracket kit.

 

Glad to help. I had not heard of them either and stumbled across them somewhere here on the site.

 

Has anybody viewed a similar minimalist front bumper product that ony needs slight trimming of factory front bumper? Winch mount not necessary.

 

Keep in mind that the focus on front bumpers has been on improving approach clearance, adding bash protection and winch mount capabilities. These full width designs pretty much chop the lower half of the plastic bumper cover area. The least obtrusive front bumper designs revolve around the 'Covert' style that only requires cutting of the center valence area. Optionally folks perform the 'Viper' cut with these bumper types in order to open up clearance to the front tires.

 

Agree with Photon Chaser. Depends on how you define "slight trimming".
I like hybrids but there is still a good bit of cutting. I like the hybrids from C4 and Bay Area Metal Fabrication (BAMF)
Or go the "covert" route.

https://c4fabrication.com/products/4runner-hybrid-front-bumper-5th-gen-2014

https://www.bayareametalfab.com/5th-Gen-2014-plus-4runner-Hybrid-bumper-_p_165.html

 

So true, you would think they would design them a bit more thoughtfully for the amount of money they go for.

I liked that “bumper” a lot. But I don’t like that you have to weld it to the frame/rear crossmember, and I really don’t like the interface of the bumper/crossmember weld either. Just tubes welded to the middle of the flat face of the crossmember. A properly done weld will hold, but it will probably hold enough to tin-can the flats and cause permanent misalignment.

Although, technically, once you’ve crossed over into welding…nothing is truly permanent if you’re willing to cut steel and re-fabricate new crossmembers…it’s just a lot of time and money to do so.

 

Check out outgearlsolutions in Santa Ana Joe the owner just came out with a bumper that works with bsm

 

My desired front metal bumper is for protecting my truck's front end & wheels from suburban parking & crazy drivers, driving through brush, pushing a disabled vehicle out of my way. A front 2" receiver for utility platforms, and receiver mounted winch base, Since I do not plan difficult Rock crawling.

 

I am very happy with 80%. Cutting the cross member was not an option or losing factory receiver hitch. If ever needed to remove cutting/grinding it off is feasible. Mine was installed by a great welder which shows.

C4 low profile for the front. Both I tried to keep weight down and keep factory lines of vehicle.

 

Thank you for the note about the relo kit for the BSM. Added link if needed. Also I see a lightweight and gorgeous bumper by Victory 4x4 that I now need. It's on sale and damn near half the price of others I have seen like it. It's also got a hitch which I need and even though I see they say it's not SAE tested it's the best "non guarantee" manufacturers note I've seen. I'm not pulling an Airstream, but at times may pull a small lightweight trailer from time to time.

Edit: I can rig up relocated prox mounts easily with this and buy the swing outs later. Nice.

 

80% is the way.

 

What about the previous 12 years of 4runner production that didn't have any of those features?

Most 4runners do not have RCTA or BSM

 

there is the Ironman rear bumper, somewhere between the minimalist 80% and a C4 like bumper.

https://ironman4x4america.com/exterior/raid-rear-bumper-kit-suited-for-2010-toyota-4runner/

 

Here's the Nyguyen Lo-Pro. I bought it raw metal, then painted to match. The aux lights are in factory holes that were hogged out. There is a nice flat spot on the frame to weld recovery points. There is a rear X-member delete option, but you will lose the trailer hitch forever. The x-member gets sawz-alled. Pics in the link show the delete option, but here's my ALF.

https://nguyenworksusa.com/shop/ols/products/5th-gen-4runner-plated-low-rear-bumper

 

Something caught my eye checking on couple on rear bumpers...

Bumper 1 -


Bumper 2 -




Also -
I've seen posts owners having problems with insurance having winches. I wonder if any trouble with insurance having rear bumper.


Just a thought....

 

Thanks for that. Does this have both maintain and delete X member options for installation or did you have to cobble something to keep it.

 

I didn't think about that. I was wrong.

 

I believe that's because manufacturers that I know of offhand do not perform crash safety testing and/or testing of the hitch conforming to SAE J684, NHTSA and DOT standards. Competent weldment and stress design can meet certain criteria and or reasonable stress loads but in order to certify means a great deal of effort is necessary to prove a single manufactured article meets the above standards. So for weldments alone a manufacture would need to have on staff a Welder, Welding Inspector and a Welding Engineer...the latter two should be certified.

 

You keep the hitch if the factory x-member isn't cut off. The hitch skid set-up is pretty obvious in my pic. The part that has the aux lights is the factory frame of the 4Runner. I unbolt the hitch and put the spare on the roof when I hit the trails. The bumper is held on by 10 bolts and 3 brackets.

Here's an install video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkbTZ3LK7NM