I'm trying to figure out what to do with my rear bumper. I have a steel bracket/aluminum shell bumper from RLC on there currently. I cut too much bumper cover when I was installing it, so it doesn't look great. I like that it's really light and out of the way. I'm not impressed with the wing brackets, but I guess it's good enough because it protected my sheet metal a few times now.
The Dobinsons rear is appealing because:
- it's a full replacement, so I won't need to buy a new bumper cover. The victory 4x4 rear bumper goes up high enough that that I can reuse my bumper cover, but I've heard they're a little flimsy. I haven't installed the "good driver mod" yet, so I need something that can take some whacks.
- Comes with fuel can carrier for a reasonable price. I did two weeks or overlanding and range was always a concern.
- the aussies seem to have the best offroad stuff
- it's heavy, so it'll help the truck ride better (stupid I know). My truck isn't very heavy, and I think that the springs that came with my BP51 are too stiff for my current setup. I'd hate to add weight to the truck because I did a poor job setting up my suspension.
So that's where I'm at, and that's why I'm interested in this chunky son-of-a-gun rear bumper.
Let me get the side wings on and I will take pics. I just checked fed ex and it looks like it’s been delayed at least a day.
Couple things to consider:
1) you mentioned it already but it’s heavy. I have stock suspension and I am going to need to go with heavier springs.
2) the instructions suck, if you are a diy kind of person you’ll figure it out. But I had some brackets missing. The instructions reference hardware was hat didn’t come in the bag, but the hardware bag had extra hardware. Theres not instructions, just a pets breakout diagram of the rear bumper. The swing out arms, jerrycan and spare tire I had to figure out what went where.
3) I thought it was a complete replacement. It is, but it isn’t. If you looks at the above pic there is a plastic trim piece that goes right under the rear taillight. Mine came warped and I am figuring out out to fix that. I am thinking heat gun.
4) I had to find wiring break down from a rando website. Came with no instructions on what wire did what.
5) I hadn’t thought about this till after installing the bumper, but the tolerance is very tight between the metal side wings and the rear quarter panels. It definitely seems strong and spout, but a big enough hit and the bumper has potentially become a damage multiplier. Maybe it’s not really a concern? If the hit is that bad your car is probably totaled anyways? Idk. Well hopefully never have to find out.
6) there are two holes that need to be drilled. I didn’t know that. I skipped it as there are about 7 (per side) other connection points over the stock set up
7) I am working this with the dealer right now. I’m the bumper is advertised as compatible from 2008-2021. It’s not 100%. The parking sensors size changed with the 2013 face lift. I have a 2011. He sensor size went from big to small. So I have the big sensors and it’s sized for the small. They claimed they were unaware.
. My option at this point is probably return or wallow out hole with a die grinder. I feel like I shouldn’t have to do that on a $2400 bumper.
8) the powder coating seems to be of poor quality. Just wrenching the bolts made some chip off in some places.
Overall, I like the concept. It’s heavy, and chunky. I feel better thought that my family will be protected daily driving it because of that. I just wish the support was better and more here was more info out there one the small things pointed out above.
I was in a similar situation to yours. My rear bumper was toast due to a fender bender. The damage was too high to get the other bumpers that require cutting the stock one. So I went with this due to the “full” replacement, parking sensor compatibility, and both swing outs.
