I went to Dissent Off-Road (Colfax, California) yesterday to get their aluminum / steel front bumper installed on my 2020 Heritage Edition. Been slowly but surely upgrading the Cruiser. It already had step sliders and roof rack from Dissent, which I really like for its looks, function, and craftsmanship. Arrived about 0820 hours and was met by the owner, Ben Calhoon. Been bugging Ben weekly since November with questions about upgrades and order status of the parts I ordered from him 
)
To my surprise, Ben asked about my schedule, and said that the rear bumper I ordered was ready as well. I said “Let’s do it!” since I was on vacation and came prepared this time. Maybe Ben wanted me to bug him less by giving me one less item to bug him about haha. To those who have never been to the shop, Ben has manufacturing and installation all in one building. There’s a waiting area with comfortable chairs and a tv with the Samsung tv service. There’s a kids area as well. The last time I was there I didn’t bring a phone charger and restaurants were a bit far away. This time I brought chargers, a book, lunch, and dinner. It was actually a nice place to be if one wants to enjoy peace and quiet. The shop was busy with humming and crackles coming from the machines and welding in the manufacturing area. But I digress.
The fit and finish of the bumpers were excellent, and so was the welding done to put them together. The bumpers definitely provided a lot more function and increased approach and departure angles quite a lot. The powder coating was also top notch. I was surprised at how heavy the steel factory bumper was behind all that plastic.
It was a treat to have Ben himself do the installation. Since I’ve known him, his business has grown and he has been quite busy with running things, so I must say I was lucky he had the time to do the install. Time went by fast. Whenever I got bored I walked around and admired the 40 series Cruiser from Brazil he had at the shop (I think it was fit with 39” tires), the 1990 LC 60 he just got, and the Ford F-250 Tremor that he built a custom aluminum flatbed for.
At 1720 hours, Ben had both bumpers installed, including the Comeup winch and Rigid Fog lights. That’s pretty impressive considering he did it by himself and indicates he’s done quite a few installations. After some instructions on how to use some of the accessories, I was on my merry way back home.
I noticed a little bit more wind noise coming at freeway speeds, but other than that the cruiser drove as smooth as it always has. I expected a MPG drop from added weight and the less aerodynamic bumper, but to my surprise it actually stayed the same. So other than a bit more wind noise, I gained a lot more functionality and clearance with the bumpers. I have a feeling that even with the winch the overall weight may have been the same or a bit less than the factory bumper. In terms of looks, it definitely looks meaner and less of a typical SUV look. I am definitely happy with them and look forward to trying them out in the trails.
Here are some photos of the install and the finished product. The light bar and fog lights are Rigid Industries products. The roof rack, slider steps, and bumpers are all Dissent Off Road.
The parts weren’t cheap, but you get what you pay for. Giving business to someone local is a plus in my book. If I have any issues with the product or install, it’s just a drive away.
Next in my list will be Dissent skid plates, tire swing out, camp kitchen, awning system, and BP-51 suspension. Time to work more overtime : / to pay for them.
)To my surprise, Ben asked about my schedule, and said that the rear bumper I ordered was ready as well. I said “Let’s do it!” since I was on vacation and came prepared this time. Maybe Ben wanted me to bug him less by giving me one less item to bug him about haha. To those who have never been to the shop, Ben has manufacturing and installation all in one building. There’s a waiting area with comfortable chairs and a tv with the Samsung tv service. There’s a kids area as well. The last time I was there I didn’t bring a phone charger and restaurants were a bit far away. This time I brought chargers, a book, lunch, and dinner. It was actually a nice place to be if one wants to enjoy peace and quiet. The shop was busy with humming and crackles coming from the machines and welding in the manufacturing area. But I digress.
The fit and finish of the bumpers were excellent, and so was the welding done to put them together. The bumpers definitely provided a lot more function and increased approach and departure angles quite a lot. The powder coating was also top notch. I was surprised at how heavy the steel factory bumper was behind all that plastic.
It was a treat to have Ben himself do the installation. Since I’ve known him, his business has grown and he has been quite busy with running things, so I must say I was lucky he had the time to do the install. Time went by fast. Whenever I got bored I walked around and admired the 40 series Cruiser from Brazil he had at the shop (I think it was fit with 39” tires), the 1990 LC 60 he just got, and the Ford F-250 Tremor that he built a custom aluminum flatbed for.
At 1720 hours, Ben had both bumpers installed, including the Comeup winch and Rigid Fog lights. That’s pretty impressive considering he did it by himself and indicates he’s done quite a few installations. After some instructions on how to use some of the accessories, I was on my merry way back home.
I noticed a little bit more wind noise coming at freeway speeds, but other than that the cruiser drove as smooth as it always has. I expected a MPG drop from added weight and the less aerodynamic bumper, but to my surprise it actually stayed the same. So other than a bit more wind noise, I gained a lot more functionality and clearance with the bumpers. I have a feeling that even with the winch the overall weight may have been the same or a bit less than the factory bumper. In terms of looks, it definitely looks meaner and less of a typical SUV look. I am definitely happy with them and look forward to trying them out in the trails.
Here are some photos of the install and the finished product. The light bar and fog lights are Rigid Industries products. The roof rack, slider steps, and bumpers are all Dissent Off Road.
The parts weren’t cheap, but you get what you pay for. Giving business to someone local is a plus in my book. If I have any issues with the product or install, it’s just a drive away.
Next in my list will be Dissent skid plates, tire swing out, camp kitchen, awning system, and BP-51 suspension. Time to work more overtime : / to pay for them.
Last edited:
