Expedition One willing to make 200 series bumpers! Looking for a Utah volunteer...

[Markuson]

Attached with something like U-Bolts? Wild stuff. The market for "show not go" off road armor seems to be raking in the cash. Stuff like "Iron Cross" and "Fab Fours" are all over the place around here on bro-dozers. Winch bumpers without winches are so sad.

Not saying Expedition One falls into this category but proper mounting to the frame is beyond essential.

What's frustrating is that you really can't tell AT ALL by outward appearance or price, and most of us don't have local access to these aftermarket shops where we can see it first hand. Even seeing one in person can be deceiving at times, because it's hard to really see what's going on in there until you see it take a hit, or take it apart. Sorta like what was posted a few weeks ago about very COOL looking sliders a guy ordered adn had installed...only to discover they were attached to the BODY and not the frame!?! What the bleeeeep?

 

[TonyP]

Being an educated buyer and doing the research is the best route. Now that I think of it, I vaguely remember a Tundra guy with the Expo One bumper who had an issues winching due to lack of bracing. I could be mistaken though.

Either way, compromises with off-the-shelf bumpers/armor is one of the many reasons I went with a one-off custom.

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

Attached with something like U-Bolts? Wild stuff. The market for "show not go" off road armor seems to be raking in the cash. Stuff like "Iron Cross" and "Fab Fours" are all over the place around here on bro-dozers. Winch bumpers without winches are so sad.

Not saying Expedition One falls into this category but proper mounting to the frame is beyond essential.

no , not u-bolts. image like a c-channel on the inside of the bumper. that c-channel that was welded to the shell of the bumper went around the rear crossmember, and then past it. Then you put in a metal block in the open part of the c-channel and bolt that block to the c-channel bracket. there were 4 bolts on the bottom, but without another angle to provide rigidity, you could grab onto the bumper wings and move it up and down a bit over and inch. That was with just me and my arms!

a u-bolt could of at least pull the frame in tight to the bumper, their design was like the bumper would just "hug" the crossmember. and since the bolt holes ever elongated to ensure fit, those blocks would just slide more open. It was just junk.

They left the center area open to use the stock hitch, but at the sacrifice of strength. And the tire carrier swing with the rear door was a joke.

This is about the best picture i have with the right lighting. that whole center portion of the bumper was open, i welded in the open area, then built a mounting surface to put those two bolts you see in the middle to the frame. Then built a 6 more mounts on the inside. Then when the tire carrier was open, 3 of us could hang on the carrier and it only moved 1mm.

 

[40Man]

I can appreciate that, and I don't mean to argue. It just that you have to multiply that time by x50 or x60 to get to time taken to come up with the rear bumper I'm still waiting for...and that's in a shop that owns, drives and wheels the vehicle in question, with it available 24/7. Just gives me major pause.

No worries. Can't blame you for wanting the TJM, it looks great. I will say I researched Tundra bumpers for quite a while, and from what I saw they are built very well, and were largely selected over the ARB alternative. I tested the bumper and the bud built sliders and both held up amazingly.