Hey guys,
I have had my 4x4 Labs bumper for 2 years now, and unfortunately I have been pretty unlucky with mine.
Within 8 months my bumper was rusting pretty badly. The powdercoat finish was failing all over and large panels were peeling off. I contacted Luke and he was willing to work with me a bit on it - and requested I shipped the bumper back to have it refinished and such in his shop. For me, that wouldn't work. The cost in shipping both ways and giving back to the shop that provided the original finish seemed like a silly solution and a lot of cost out of my pocket. Luke and I discussed an arrangement of me taking care of it locally and receiving a bit of money from him to have it done, although the amount was not sufficient to come close to covering my costs.
I am yet to take care of the issue as I have been driving the truck around as my daily as I work as a Project Manager in Construction and its a great work truck.
The most frustrating thing about the bumper is the noise that it makes. There is an incredible amount of rattle, from the side panels flexing under the weight of my 5th wheel being hooked on the back.
*SEE BELOW UPDATE*
The noise is generated from the tension of the bumper being pressed underneath my rear quarter panels. When I go over a bump, the rear wheel shakes and flexes the entirety of the quarter rear panels of the bumper, causing the rear quarter panel protectors to flex off and then slam back into my rear quarter panels due to the sprung tension. Its really frustrating that the bumper seems to be under-engineered/under-constructed for the size/weight of the wheel and tire. I have VOLK Rays wheels which weight 16 lbs and a 33" tire.
I am not sure I will purchase again from 4x4 Labs. Luke was great to work in our correspondence, but it was very delayed in production, and I feel that I could've gotten a better final product for the $2700 that the bumper cost with my options. Sharing my experience so that others can use my experience when making their decision.
I am not sure I will purchase again from 4x4 Labs. Luke was great to work in our correspondence, but it was very delayed in production, and I feel that I could've gotten a better final product for the $2700 that the bumper cost with my options. Sharing my experience so that others can use my experience when making their decision.
I will say it seems like many folks are extremely pleased with the outcome of their bumpers, and I may have just gotten really unlucky with my experience.
so its not like I have an anchor strapped on back there.
*UPDATE:
My bumper was shipped prebuilt, and did not come with the Z clips. I have reached out to Luke at 4x4 Labs to get the correct piece from him.
Can't post pictures from my work computer. I'll get them up tonight.
I have had my 4x4 Labs bumper for 2 years now, and unfortunately I have been pretty unlucky with mine.
Within 8 months my bumper was rusting pretty badly. The powdercoat finish was failing all over and large panels were peeling off. I contacted Luke and he was willing to work with me a bit on it - and requested I shipped the bumper back to have it refinished and such in his shop. For me, that wouldn't work. The cost in shipping both ways and giving back to the shop that provided the original finish seemed like a silly solution and a lot of cost out of my pocket. Luke and I discussed an arrangement of me taking care of it locally and receiving a bit of money from him to have it done, although the amount was not sufficient to come close to covering my costs.
I am yet to take care of the issue as I have been driving the truck around as my daily as I work as a Project Manager in Construction and its a great work truck.
The most frustrating thing about the bumper is the noise that it makes. There is an incredible amount of rattle, from the side panels flexing under the weight of my 5th wheel being hooked on the back.
*SEE BELOW UPDATE*
The noise is generated from the tension of the bumper being pressed underneath my rear quarter panels. When I go over a bump, the rear wheel shakes and flexes the entirety of the quarter rear panels of the bumper, causing the rear quarter panel protectors to flex off and then slam back into my rear quarter panels due to the sprung tension. Its really frustrating that the bumper seems to be under-engineered/under-constructed for the size/weight of the wheel and tire. I have VOLK Rays wheels which weight 16 lbs and a 33" tire.
I am not sure I will purchase again from 4x4 Labs. Luke was great to work in our correspondence, but it was very delayed in production, and I feel that I could've gotten a better final product for the $2700 that the bumper cost with my options. Sharing my experience so that others can use my experience when making their decision.
I am not sure I will purchase again from 4x4 Labs. Luke was great to work in our correspondence, but it was very delayed in production, and I feel that I could've gotten a better final product for the $2700 that the bumper cost with my options. Sharing my experience so that others can use my experience when making their decision.
I will say it seems like many folks are extremely pleased with the outcome of their bumpers, and I may have just gotten really unlucky with my experience.
so its not like I have an anchor strapped on back there.
*UPDATE:
My bumper was shipped prebuilt, and did not come with the Z clips. I have reached out to Luke at 4x4 Labs to get the correct piece from him.
Can't post pictures from my work computer. I'll get them up tonight.
Last edited:
