New Trail-Gear 80 series tube bumpers...

[madisonr34]

To stinger or not to stinger.....??

 

[Noahrob]

Seems pretty obvious to me..

 

[retrofive]

To stinger or not to stinger.....??

There are looks and there is reason for stinger....

 

[Box Rocket]

There are looks and there is reason for stinger....

I don't see it as a stinger at least for what the original intent is for a stinger but for some protection if you mount lights to the bumper.
.
Also, if you have a welder (or know someone who does) I think it makes a big difference in how these bumpers look if some plate is added to close up the top of the bumper. I did that on my Tacoma with this same bumper and I think it improved looks a lot, as well as function since it created a step also.


I'm really starting to think seriously about getting one of these for my 80. My ARB bumper is great, but it has had a hard life over the past 16 years and it's starting to show it. This is a likely candidate if I decide to replace it.

 

[yellowgeko]

So has anyone else had some experience they would like to chime in with now that this has been out for almost a year?

For anyone that has the rear, would it even be possible to put a tire carrier on it later? Possibly a swing out? Also do the rear wings cover up the side marker lights? It looks like it goes right over it.

I am not a huge fan of the rear but the price seems like a steal for either the front or rear. $800 out the door for both is hard to beat. It seems to me that ugly protection is better than no protection.

Had to edit cause my fingers are too fat for this phone.

 

[Jroach321]

 

[4rings5cyls]

So has anyone else had some experience they would like to chime in with now that this has been out for almost a year?

For anyone that has the rear, would it even be possible to put a tire carrier on it later? Possibly a swing out? Also do the rear wings cover up the side marker lights? It looks like it goes right over it.

I am not a huge fan of the rear but the price seems like a steal for either the front or rear. $800 out the door for both is hard to beat. It seems to me that ugly protection is better than no protection.

Had to edit cause my fingers are too fat for this phone.

I've had mine for a bit and have no complaints. Fit and finish was good and it fit well, easy to install with 1 person. I got some extra tabs from them for $6 and welded them on to the top of the stinger to add 2 lights. It fits my 10k winch with lots of room to spare. I've done a couple hard pulls with the winch and it doesn't appear to have distorted or bent. Clearance is decent, if I hit the bumper I'm on the wrong line anyway, and the couple times I've touched it off on something it's held up fine. I wasn't initially stoked on the hitch style recovery point, but it works just fine when need be. I did smoke my a/c drier on a trail though, so that would need to get relocated if you wheel it hard.

 

[yellowgeko]

I've had mine for a bit and have no complaints. Fit and finish was good and it fit well, easy to install with 1 person. I got some extra tabs from them for $6 and welded them on to the top of the stinger to add 2 lights. It fits my 10k winch with lots of room to spare. I've done a couple hard pulls with the winch and it doesn't appear to have distorted or bent. Clearance is decent, if I hit the bumper I'm on the wrong line anyway, and the couple times I've touched it off on something it's held up fine. I wasn't initially stoked on the hitch style recovery point, but it works just fine when need be. I did smoke my a/c drier on a trail though, so that would need to get relocated if you wheel it hard.

Thanks for the reply. Do you think it provides radiator protection from underneath or is it pretty much open down there? I know the front would need to be skinned with something if i was really worried about it. Do you think the wings on the side, even though they look like they don't go back all the way, could take a hit without deforming and denting a quarter panel or cracking head light pretty bad?


Anyone get the rear with some input? Do they feel like it does the job well, could it be modded with a swing at some point?

 

[yellowgeko]

Completely unrelated (sorry for the highjack) did you paint your black window trim? It looks really dark and nice in that pick! Mine are really worn and faded. Just curious....

 

[Haspin FJ]

Thanks for the reply. Do you think it provides radiator protection from underneath or is it pretty much open down there? I know the front would need to be skinned with something if i was really worried about it. Do you think the wings on the side, even though they look like they don't go back all the way, could take a hit without deforming and denting a quarter panel or cracking head light pretty bad?


Anyone get the rear with some input? Do they feel like it does the job well, could it be modded with a swing at some point?

Mine seems like it would take quite a hit without bending. Haven't had a chance to test that yet but these are very stout with the 1.75 dom tubing and the triangulation in that area

 

[4rings5cyls]

What kind of hit are we talking? I'd be pretty confident about any low speed bumps out on the trail. Anything high speed on the road is a guessing game.

As far as radiator coverage...not sure, didn't look. That'd have to be a very unique obstacle/rock to take that one out.

 

[Dissent]

Are those LED strip lights below the headlights/above the parking lights?

 

[2fpower]

I've had mine for a bit and have no complaints. Fit and finish was good and it fit well, easy to install with 1 person. I got some extra tabs from them for $6 and welded them on to the top of the stinger to add 2 lights. It fits my 10k winch with lots of room to spare. I've done a couple hard pulls with the winch and it doesn't appear to have distorted or bent. Clearance is decent, if I hit the bumper I'm on the wrong line anyway, and the couple times I've touched it off on something it's held up fine. I wasn't initially stoked on the hitch style recovery point, but it works just fine when need be. I did smoke my a/c drier on a trail though, so that would need to get relocated if you wheel it hard.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, That green leak detector dye sure works.

 

[yellowgeko]

What kind of hit are we talking? I'd be pretty confident about any low speed bumps out on the trail. Anything high speed on the road is a guessing game.

As far as radiator coverage...not sure, didn't look. That'd have to be a very unique obstacle/rock to take that one out.

Yeah, I guess that I am over thinking the whole radiator thing. If it can take a low speed hit and still be solid thats good enough for me. I was thinking more along the lines of hits accidental slides into something while trying to get over or through something.

 

[Haspin FJ]

Are those LED strip lights below the headlights/above the parking lights?

I was going to ask the same thing. Please tell.

 

[Jroach321]

I was going to ask the same thing. Please tell.

Completely unrelated (sorry for the highjack) did you paint your black window trim? It looks really dark and nice in that pick! Mine are really worn and faded. Just curious....

Haven't done anything to them.

Are those LED strip lights below the headlights/above the parking lights?

I was going to ask the same thing. Please tell.

Yes led strips. Go here I put a link in my build. Betty White Refresh

 

[Haspin FJ]

Fj80 Trail Gear winch bumper

• Haspin FJ
• Jan 20, 2017

Fj80 trail gear bumper with warn XD9000I winch, warn cast iron hawes fairlead, 20" light bar...

Picture of mine with a Warn XD9000I (only bumper besides ARB that seemed to fit it), warn cast iron hawes fairlead to keep the steel cable, and 20" light bar using rough country mounts and longer stainless fastenal cap head screws.

 

[izzyandsue]

Yeah, I guess that I am over thinking the whole radiator thing. If it can take a low speed hit and still be solid thats good enough for me. I was thinking more along the lines of hits accidental slides into something while trying to get over or through something.

The Metal Tech bumper, similar design, has a protector for the dryer. An option could be to modify yours like this, has saved mine a few times.

 

[yellowgeko]

Fj80 Trail Gear winch bumper

• Haspin FJ
• Jan 20, 2017

Fj80 trail gear bumper with warn XD9000I winch, warn cast iron hawes fairlead, 20" light bar...

Picture of mine with a Warn XD9000I (only bumper besides ARB that seemed to fit it), warn cast iron hawes fairlead to keep the steel cable, and 20" light bar using rough country mounts and longer stainless fastenal cap head screws.

What did you use to coat your bumper? I am assuming that is spray paint, I like that color

 

[Haspin FJ]

What did you use to coat your bumper? I am assuming that is spray paint, I like that color

It's "Storm Gray Metallic" (I'll correct if that's wrong) dupli color rattle can from Autozone. Looks to be a GM color and is a fairly close match to the oem bumper on my 97