BIOR Rear Bumper - Will Factory Hitch Mount Below?

[suprarx7nut]

I'm looking at BIOR rear bumper options and curious how folks deal with towing and armored bumpers. I would like to retain the ability tow the full allowable capacity. I tow my Supra from time to time which is right around 6000 lbs with a full car trailer.

Of course, nearly all armored bumpers are not rated for any towing at all. That doesn't mean they can't tow safely, but it does mean it's hard to say exactly what they can handle and if an incident occurred you could be looking at some serious liability. I spoke with Mike of BIOR (nice guy, BTW) and he was unsure if a regular factory-configured hitch would still install under the BIOR bumper if the integrated hitch option was chosen on the BIOR bumper.

Who out there has experience with towing an armored 100 series near its limit and what do you do? Does a rated hitch install under the bumper?

I've searched and found old threads about Slee, but not BIOR.

Fill me in, what's the deal guys and gals?!

 

[kelly saad]

I have the Bump It Off Road high clearance rear. I towed a Coleman E3 tent trailer from Flagstaff to 100's in the Hills. No problems at all. I think it weighs about 3k lbs. That bumper is so heavy and built from such thick steel, I just wasn't even worried about at all. Also, it was beat continually in Moab for 5 days and Its totally fine, I think its actually a bit happier bumper after Moab.

 

[brando1]

I just got my bumper from them, unfortunately I don't tow anything, but the quality of the bumper is beyond reproach. The techs who installed it were even impressed, as was my powdercoater.
Highly recommend, and worth the wait.

 

[fireball]

I have a BIOR rear with hitch and happily tow my 2200-2500lb trailer with it and would have no qualms towing more.

I would buy the BIOR and tow and not worry about the factory hitch.

 

[suprarx7nut]

Alright, good responses, thanks guys.

I think I could actually do some CAD modeling and stress analysis on the bumper and the factory hitch and compare stresses. That would give me the warm and fuzzies enough to trust it with a high load tow, i think. That also may be a more direct use of my college degree than anything else in the last 8 years, haha.

 

[benc]

Alright, good responses, thanks guys.

I think I could actually do some CAD modeling and stress analysis on the bumper and the factory hitch and compare stresses. That would give me the warm and fuzzies enough to trust it with a high load tow, i think. That also may be a more direct use of my college degree than anything else in the last 8 years, haha.

If you end up load testing make sure you have the drop hitch that will be used when towing in your model as that will change the stress points.
When running some load tests on mine it was crazy how different the results were when a 4-6" drop was added.
With that said there was just about every aftermarket bumper at HIH7 and at least 1 of each had a trailer behind it, some pretty heavy and I don't think and had issues.

 

[mattafact]

My concern would be liability and your insurance not covering you if you were found at fault. The ARB is the only one rated for towing as far as I know.

 

[Lowbudgetlc100]

yes you can put the factory hitch on if you wan just let mike know so he wont put another receiver on

 

[suprarx7nut]

If you end up load testing make sure you have the drop hitch that will be used when towing in your model as that will change the stress points.
When running some load tests on mine it was crazy how different the results were when a 4-6" drop was added.
With that said there was just about every aftermarket bumper at HIH7 and at least 1 of each had a trailer behind it, some pretty heavy and I don't think and had issues.

Good point, Ben. Yeah, those drops are essentially a big lever arm creating a ton of torque.

My concern would be liability and your insurance not covering you if you were found at fault. The ARB is the only one rated for towing as far as I know.

Yeah, but if I can show with some FEA/Simulations that there's less stress in the BIOR I wouldn't sweat it.

yes you can put the factory hitch on if you wan just let mike know so he wont put another receiver on

Yeah, but ideally, I'd want the hitch on the BIOR, haha. I think I'll just get it on there, do some CAD modeling and see where it stands.

 

[Lowbudgetlc100]

i got the rear bumper with the hitch but i have not towed with it.

 

[boostincoupe]

Funny, I also have a 2005 LC that I plan to occasionally tow my Supra with. Interested to see how this pans out!

 

[lingaro]

I'm looking at BIOR rear bumper options and curious how folks deal with towing and armored bumpers. I would like to retain the ability tow the full allowable capacity. I tow my Supra from time to time which is right around 6000 lbs with a full car trailer.

Of course, nearly all armored bumpers are not rated for any towing at all. That doesn't mean they can't tow safely, but it does mean it's hard to say exactly what they can handle and if an incident occurred you could be looking at some serious liability. I spoke with Mike of BIOR (nice guy, BTW) and he was unsure if a regular factory-configured hitch would still install under the BIOR bumper if the integrated hitch option was chosen on the BIOR bumper.

Who out there has experience with towing an armored 100 series near its limit and what do you do? Does a rated hitch install under the bumper?

I've searched and found old threads about Slee, but not BIOR.

Fill me in, what's the deal guys and gals?!

@suprarx7nut

I'm getting ready to get a BIOR rear bumper, but want to leave the existing hitch i recently had installed. I was going to order the BIOR without the receiver hitch. Have you found anything else out first hand during install, etc.?

 

[suprarx7nut]

@suprarx7nut

I'm getting ready to get a BIOR rear bumper, but want to leave the existing hitch i recently had installed. I was going to order the BIOR without the receiver hitch. Have you found anything else out first hand during install, etc.?

I'm still awaiting my bumper so I don't have any updates yet! I told Mike I was in no rush since I don't wheel much now with a newborn in the family. I probably won't get to a trail until next spring. That being said, it should be ready sometime soon so I'll be sure to update here once I get something picture worthy!

 

[Austin Hot Shoe]

I'm still awaiting my bumper so I don't have any updates yet! I told Mike I was in no rush since I don't wheel much now with a newborn in the family. I probably won't get to a trail until next spring. That being said, it should be ready sometime soon so I'll be sure to update here once I get something picture worthy!

well, did you get the bumper installed?

 

[TnTnola]

I would like to know as well. I want a steel tire carrier, but would like to retain my factory hitch for towing trailer/boat.

 

[FxFormat]

Pics of Supra please, make me regret selling mine.

 

[gatormark91]

My concern would be liability and your insurance not covering you if you were found at fault. The ARB is the only one rated for towing as far as I know.

I can go to the local trailer shop and get a custom hitch welded up for anything. If I sold the vehicle with that hitch on it, who would know where it came from?

So I doubt the insurance company would care, and there aren't many lawyers that would know the difference. I can't see it making a difference.

 

[Lowbudgetlc100]

I would like to know as well. I want a steel tire carrier, but would like to retain my factory hitch for towing trailer/boat.

it can be done and seen it done before. someone on here did it just let mike know you want it like that

 

[suprarx7nut]

well, did you get the bumper installed?

I would like to know as well. I want a steel tire carrier, but would like to retain my factory hitch for towing trailer/boat.

Still waiting for it, actually. I told Mike I was in no rush, but I'll have to check in soon.

Pics of Supra please, make me regret selling mine.

Gladly!

 

[mattafact]

I can go to the local trailer shop and get a custom hitch welded up for anything. If I sold the vehicle with that hitch on it, who would know where it came from?

So I doubt the insurance company would care, and there aren't many lawyers that would know the difference. I can't see it making a difference.

Is that trailer shop going to stand behind you? Not a risk I'm willing to take. YMMV.