Looks like CBI is in the bumper game...
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indycole
GOLD Star
There's some cool CBI work in this thread (including a custom aux gas tank).
Bear, My 200 Series Newbie Build
Bear, My 200 Series Newbie Build
Markuson
SILVER Star
One of the first items introduced in the video is the set of sliders on the 4Runner.
He says they are aluminum, and weigh 26 pounds...??
That doesn't sound like anything I'd want to slide with...!
CBI makes some good stuff and I don't know a lot about fabrication but aluminum will deform much more easily than a medium-carbon steel which is something that is the opposite of what you want when there's less than a 1/4" between the slider and rocker. That's 1/4" between a boulder and several thousand dollars in rocker repairs. This also means the mounts are aluminum as there aren't any common methods (outside of solid-state welding) to welding steel to aluminum. Which means something will deform. But again, I don't know a ton about fabrication and metal applications.
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Taco2Cruiser
Crazy American Off Road
XOverland did aluminum sliders on their '16 Tacoma that Toyota gave them also. Their reason was that since they don't get into rocks, and mostly need sliders for people to step up on for getting gear and filming off of reasons. Makes since in that case. They even agree if they were using sliders for rocks they would go steel.
The one thing that always bothered me about CBI and how they do their swing outs. I have a wheeling buddy with that design on his 4Runner, since the swing out isn't like other swing outs we see, that is protected on the bottom. CBI makes two brackets and puts a pivot in the middle. Fine for overland stuff, but I saw my buddy have to drag his rear end on the ground on that corner and it bent the brackets for the pivot.
I catch a lot of things like that on CBI rear bumpers, good guys, I just like the bottom and sides of my armor to protect everything on the top.
It's refreshing to finally see a manufacturer come out with aluminum gear. For the longest time, the only belief especially on the heavy LC series was what's another 50lbs. It all adds up to a seriously overweight pig. Not only does it make for terrible dynamic performance, more weight taxes every single other component. Even the Jeep guys have come around on this for awhile now. While it obviously doesn't suit everyone, specifically the rock crawlers, it's a great fit for the overlanders.
The way Kyle and the xoverland crew uses their gear is likely how 90% of us do, but on much longer expeditions. They are a legitimate litmus test. Good enough for them, is good enough for me.
The way Kyle and the xoverland crew uses their gear is likely how 90% of us do, but on much longer expeditions. They are a legitimate litmus test. Good enough for them, is good enough for me.
Markuson
SILVER Star
Ya, I guess good enough for their South America trip...where larger rocks aren't the issue....
**Just noticed they said they are shipping their rigs to Colombia. Growing up in Colombia, I do not recall ever seeing big rocks. Not even in the Andes Mountains...so ya, maybe not gonna do much sliding--except in a lot of thick, nasty mud.
**Just noticed they said they are shipping their rigs to Colombia. Growing up in Colombia, I do not recall ever seeing big rocks. Not even in the Andes Mountains...so ya, maybe not gonna do much sliding--except in a lot of thick, nasty mud.
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Taco2Cruiser
Crazy American Off Road
I think @TeCKis300 brings up a good point about how most people use off-road vehicles, because it's so true, and it's always good to see more companies offer products for the 200.
I do like how they kept the rear bumper steel (despite the terrible swing arms and the vulnerable swing out latch), because, its a 200, they got big 'ol bottom, you are going to hit, so it needs to be ready to hit stuff. The front being aluminum make sense, since the front will most likely never to hit something because of the good approach angles to begin with.
But, like everything I say, it always comes down to cost, and guys like @kreiten prove that you don't need a front bumper to begin with anyway to wheel. So the whole approach angle thing that XOverland is saying, I'm not buying. Especially since XOverland did the Central America run with the stock plastic bumpers and a hidden winch mount underneath.
The point i'm trying to make is, if the plastic bumpers aren't doing it for you because you keep smashing them, then you need to put something on that can take a hit. Aluminum can't really take a hit, even if it is made out of 1/4", so what's the point of spending money to change out a weak plastic bumper cover for a weak aluminum bumper. Because now you killed your gas milage from aerodynamic drag.
I have a lot of respect for Clay Croft and the XOverland team, they did what I wish I could do. But in their success, they get to barrow free 4x4s from Toyota, and their sponsors are using them as advertising for what is out there to buy, as they should, that's the point of sponsorship.
I don't think it makes it right for people who are new to offroading to think, "i'm going offroad, so I have to have x, y, z because that's what a sponsored person has." No, just get out and have fun, and again like was mentioned by TeCKis300, 90% don't beat their trucks, so why waste money, unless you don't care about function, and just want to look cool, which is great also, because happiness means a lot of different things to each of us.
But as the old Army saying goes, "don't confuse enthusiasm, for capability."
I do like how they kept the rear bumper steel (despite the terrible swing arms and the vulnerable swing out latch), because, its a 200, they got big 'ol bottom, you are going to hit, so it needs to be ready to hit stuff. The front being aluminum make sense, since the front will most likely never to hit something because of the good approach angles to begin with.
But, like everything I say, it always comes down to cost, and guys like @kreiten prove that you don't need a front bumper to begin with anyway to wheel. So the whole approach angle thing that XOverland is saying, I'm not buying. Especially since XOverland did the Central America run with the stock plastic bumpers and a hidden winch mount underneath.
The point i'm trying to make is, if the plastic bumpers aren't doing it for you because you keep smashing them, then you need to put something on that can take a hit. Aluminum can't really take a hit, even if it is made out of 1/4", so what's the point of spending money to change out a weak plastic bumper cover for a weak aluminum bumper. Because now you killed your gas milage from aerodynamic drag.
I have a lot of respect for Clay Croft and the XOverland team, they did what I wish I could do. But in their success, they get to barrow free 4x4s from Toyota, and their sponsors are using them as advertising for what is out there to buy, as they should, that's the point of sponsorship.
I don't think it makes it right for people who are new to offroading to think, "i'm going offroad, so I have to have x, y, z because that's what a sponsored person has." No, just get out and have fun, and again like was mentioned by TeCKis300, 90% don't beat their trucks, so why waste money, unless you don't care about function, and just want to look cool, which is great also, because happiness means a lot of different things to each of us.
But as the old Army saying goes, "don't confuse enthusiasm, for capability."
Yeah the swing out mounts were what I was referring to when I said "funky". But as you said, for what they're using it for, I suppose it'll work along with the "sliders".
I'm guessing it's a balancing act in their situation between what they would actually put on their own rig, and what their sponsors want for publicity. If someone is wanting sliders/bumpers to look cool, then aluminum is fine. Whereas, if someone is buying sliders because they'll actually get used and abused, they should know better than to buy aluminum, or not. Some people like to say "my vehicle can do this" but never actually put it through the paces, the countless collections of Porsche, Ferreri, ect... relegated to garages for their lives, or the coal rollers with a 1000lbft who tow nothing and their bed is always empty. Whatever gives them a warm fuzzy.
Not a lot of general consumers have a vision/plan for their vehicle. I think most of the vehicles I've built, I've had a spreadsheet of thinks I want and things I need. The "need", list is very short. Though things do change, like having a CRV rear end you, thus, free bumpers
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The Alu sliders are expendable... they will do the job even on rocks. They will get beat and the rub rails will deform. No big deal as you 'd swap them out for next season. For most on this board we'd want something to last the life of the vehicle due to budgets or other concerns. This is the difference for "TV".
Many use ALU for armor under the rig, a front bumper seems reasonable - no one is rock crawling a 200 and smashing the nose. That front bumper is for approach pure and simple. Oh and no more rubbing on the big tires.
Many use ALU for armor under the rig, a front bumper seems reasonable - no one is rock crawling a 200 and smashing the nose. That front bumper is for approach pure and simple. Oh and no more rubbing on the big tires.
Markuson
SILVER Star
Seems like there are at least 5 different worlds in this field:
-Professional racing vehicles (narrow goals...speed, short-term durability)
-Sponsored builds (extreme bias in what parts are used in the build)
-Single Run vehicles (all choices made to accommodate a SINGLE trip--like this South American thing)
-Dedicated/Specialized Wheeling vehicles (Rock crawlers, mud-boggers, tractor-pulls, hill-climbs, etc, trailered to their intended world)
-And then Overlanding vehicles.
This last one is most of us & its interesting, because we can vary so greatly in actual use...and if we choose to, we can dabble in almost all the other types without ever being singularly dedicated to any of them. Some emphasize creature comforts with only mild wheeling...while others have a far more challenging uses in mind.
I think that's why we have so many differing opinions and questions--because our intentions and experiences of actual use (or dabbling in more specialized areas) can vary so greatly--not to mention our wildly-varying pocketbooks(!! All of these conflicting goals make a huge difference in how important (or unimportant) each build decision becomes.
Example:
Do you need BudBuilt skids? ARB skids? Or would ANY skids be wasted money for you?
There is no single answer because we all have to figure out what we actually need, vs. what we think looks good or costs too much, and on and on.
I think it's part of what makes this an interesting forum & sometimes I need to remind myself that good advice given or received can also be bad advice depending on the true NEEDS of the recipient. Single-purpose forums surely get into their own minutiae of detail, but Land Cruiser forums really pull in all levels under the sun. From highway drivers...to dirt road adventurers...to those trying to prepare for boulder impacts & escaping mud-pits. It's all here in LC forums & it makes for a really interesting place to ask lots of question, try to answer a few & learn always.
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