If you had the choice to buy a rear bumper again, would you?

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BBQ BOY

BBQ BOY

10 Year 15 Year
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Charleston, SC
I am debating wether to buy a rear Slee bumper or not. I am wanting to know from all of y'all if you would do it again, knowing what you know now. The reason why I ask is because there are a few things I would have done differently or not have done it at all. Before I drop $2,500 I want to hear from everyone.
If I do buy one, I just plan on getting the tire carrier and the ladder down the road, which I'd rather get everything now but that is a lot of mula.
 
My only complaint is it's heavy as hell. I really noticed the difference when I put it on.

That said it's well designed and the quality is great. Fit was excellent.

I wheel my rig so I felt I needed it since it was only a matter of time till I ripped the stock one off. I was hitting it constantly.

If I could have gotten by with the stock one I would rather have kept it to save the weight.
 
I absolutely would do it again. It is a very well thought out piece of work.

I am looking at a 200 and I wish he produced bumpers for that series as well ... that fact would seal the deal.

If you do not get both carriers, get the plates and pads that have to be installed with the bumper off the truck when you buy the bumper. It'll save you the headache of removing the bumper to install at a later time.
 
I don't have a rear bumper, but I'm in the market for one right now. I've had an up close look of form and function on the Slee and a "similar" bumper. Got to open/close the swing outs, shake the tire carrier, see the spindle design and so on.

Like you, I've decided to spend a little more on the Slee bumper. All the little things add up to what I believe is a better overall product. I like the catch pins, spindles, ease of spindle bearing service, extra support gussets on the swing out, and thicker tubing on Slee's bumper.

I plan on doing the same thing, tire carrier only. I don't even like the idea of swinging a tire open everytime I want access to the back. I go back there a lot. That's what has kept me from doing this for so long. But, I have to get my tire out from underneath my truck.

I think the ladder is just a nice spot to hold stuff. Very useful as a holder, but who uses it as a ladder? We should call it a "stuff holder". Good advice from UZJ100elkhntr, get everything just in case you decide later on to add the "stuff holder"

Looking forward to what you decide, and why.
 
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I have the BOIR bumper... But, manufacturer aside, I would absolutely do a bumper again. The added clearance, and ability to carry gas on the rear are huge for me. There are some nice looking bumpers out there. Just take your time and make the right choice for you.

If I were buying again... I would think harder about the Slee. But, that is purely a cosmetic decision for me.
 
As you know michael, i dont have the Slee....but yes I would buy a well made aftermarket bumper all over again....I have no regrets. I would personally rather the tire be on driver side and can carrier be on passenger side with tire more towards side of vehicle....but no regrets. I would even cut out my rear cross member again for the bumper.....
 
Brock said:
As you know michael, i dont have the Slee....but yes I would buy a well made aftermarket bumper all over again....I have no regrets. I would personally rather the tire be on driver side and can carrier be on passenger side with tire more towards side of vehicle....but no regrets. I would even cut out my rear cross member again for the bumper.....
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I have never understood why they don't put the tire carrier on the driver side.
 
I have the ARB rear and love it. I chose it over the Slee bumper because of the swing out mechanism on the ARB. It is slick and works wonderfully. My wife drives our 100 and she couldn't open Slee swing out very easily. The ARB Is amazingly well designed - I'd put it on my truck again in a heart beat. I wish I would have added it much earlier.
 
Utahfj62 said:
I have the ARB rear and love it. I chose it over the Slee bumper because of the swing out mechanism on the ARB. It is slick and works wonderfully. My wife drives our 100 and she couldn't open Slee swing out very easily. The ARB Is amazingly well designed - I'd put it on my truck again in a heart beat. I wish I would have added it much earlier.
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I completely forgot about the ARB. I am going to consider it and like the fact that you can have the tire carrier on the driver side but I do not like the can design. Slee nailed it in regards to that. Thanks for mentioning it.
 
I would say the bumper is well worth it as long as you plan to keep your cruiser for a long time. It takes your rig to the next level of cool, but don't expect to get your money back if you sell the cruiser later.
 
Depends on how you use your truck. If it's just camping, fire roads, the occasional obstacle, then every other day it's work, shopping, and soccer practice, then a rear bumper (particularly with spare tire swing-out) is a big heavy expensive pain in the a$$. Only speaking from experience here, YMMV.

When I built up my 80 to wheel having a solid rear bumper was priceless- I drug its butt off ledges all over the place, I'm sure it paid for itself over and over.. But my 100 has a different life altogether, and there's no way I'd want a swing-out tire right now. It's in the way when pulling my camper, in the way at the store, in the way of my motorcycle carrier, in the way at the mall, at soccer practice, school, the amusement park, the swimming pool, and at grandma's house. A couple times a year it would be nice on that ledge in Moab, :meh: I'm ok with a little plasti-dip touch up when I get home.

The only benefit, IMO, is the added crash protection. Beyond that the answer is how are you really using your vehicle. If I do anything it'll most likely be a Slee w/o any type of tire carrier. hth! :popcorn:
 
nakman said:
Depends on how you use your truck. If it's just camping, fire roads, the occasional obstacle, then every other day it's work, shopping, and soccer practice, then a rear bumper (particularly with spare tire swing-out) is a big heavy expensive pain in the a$$. Only speaking from experience here, YMMV.

When I built up my 80 to wheel having a solid rear bumper was priceless- I drug its butt off ledges all over the place, I'm sure it paid for itself over and over.. But my 100 has a different life altogether, and there's no way I'd want a swing-out tire right now. It's in the way when pulling my camper, in the way at the store, in the way of my motorcycle carrier, in the way at the mall, at soccer practice, school, the amusement park, the swimming pool, and at grandma's house. A couple times a year it would be nice on that ledge in Moab, :meh: I'm ok with a little plasti-dip touch up when I get home.

The only benefit, IMO, is the added crash protection. Beyond that the answer is how are you really using your vehicle. If I do anything it'll most likely be a Slee w/o any type of tire carrier. hth! :popcorn:
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This is a very valid point. Agree 100%, and this is from a guy who has a Slee W/ tire carrier and loves it!
When my wife drives it to haul around our daughter I wish we didn't have it for her sake. But she handles it pretty darn well. When I'm with her/driving it's not that big of a deal. Just something to think about.

This is the reason I'm waiting on the ladder. 2 swing outs is more than I'm willing to deal with right now. When my daughter is a few years old will be when I pull the trigger on the ladder....

My 2 Cents
 
I hit my rear bumper all the time on ledges. It hits as much, sometimes more than my sliders and waaaaay more often than the front. I would do it again the same way. Also I have a thread somewhere that i feel illustrates the advantages of the bumper in a rear impact :hillbilly:. My bumper probably saved my truck. At least that's what the insurance and body shop guys said. :meh:
 
jasonbraswell said:
I would say the bumper is well worth it as long as you plan to keep your cruiser for a long time. It takes your rig to the next level of cool, but don't expect to get your money back if you sell the cruiser later.
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Save your old bumper. If you had to, you could sell the Slee/BIOR rear bumper for a little less than new and have people standing in line to buy it.

Buy one and call me if you want to sell it for a little under new cost.
 
nakman said:
Depends on how you use your truck. If it's just camping, fire roads, the occasional obstacle, then every other day it's work, shopping, and soccer practice, then a rear bumper (particularly with spare tire swing-out) is a big heavy expensive pain in the a$$. Only speaking from experience here, YMMV.

When I built up my 80 to wheel having a solid rear bumper was priceless- I drug its butt off ledges all over the place, I'm sure it paid for itself over and over.. But my 100 has a different life altogether, and there's no way I'd want a swing-out tire right now. It's in the way when pulling my camper, in the way at the store, in the way of my motorcycle carrier, in the way at the mall, at soccer practice, school, the amusement park, the swimming pool, and at grandma's house. A couple times a year it would be nice on that ledge in Moab, :meh: I'm ok with a little plasti-dip touch up when I get home.

The only benefit, IMO, is the added crash protection. Beyond that the answer is how are you really using your vehicle. If I do anything it'll most likely be a Slee w/o any type of tire carrier. hth! :popcorn:
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Excellent questions and points. It's my every day driver and gets wheeled about 4-6 times a year in the mountain where there are rocks and ledges. I haul my kids every single day but honestly, I rarely open the back up.
 
jemsec said:
Save your old bumper. If you had to, you could sell the Slee/BIOR rear bumper for a little less than new and have people standing in line to buy it.

Buy one and call me if you want to sell it for a little under new cost.
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Not a bad thought. However there's a guy in CO trying to get rid of a Kaymar right now, can't seem to give it away... Kaymar for an 80, anyone? http://www.risingsun4x4club.org/forum2/showthread.php?t=16968 no it won't fit your 100.
 
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