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- #21
If I didn't want a hitch I would be all over that. Glad to hear that you've had positive results with BIOR. His bumpers have definitely piqued my interest. His work looks quality
Rear Bumper Question
- Thread starter KC100series
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- bumper question rear rear bumper
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With any swing out you will have some compromise. I cannot speak to the swing outs available for the 100 (I don't have one...yet) but I can say I loathed the few swing outs I had on my Jeep(s). Disregarding the latch, stays and smoothness of the spindle, I was always annoyed with the extra steps to get into the back. The extra step to gain tailgate access was always a dirty task because I would push/pull the tire to open and close the swing out. I fear I would be more annoyed with a swingout on the 100 since it would need to be opened completely to drop the tailgate, but the benefits of a swing out could win that argument.
I was worried that the swing outs would bug me, but honestly, I've gotten used to them and don't even think about it anymore. The functionality (and bulletproof design) of the Slee is worth it.
I only have one swingout as of now, but plan on getting the second as soon as it's ready.
My thought process went this way:
I have to have two swingout for clearance (was dragging my spare everywhere) and for gas on the long desert expeditions. I wouldn't get swingout if I didn't have those two necessities.
So the next step was to see what was available. I spent a long time looking at all the offerings. My biggest concern was getting in and out of the rear a lot and I wanted it to be as easy as possible. I considered getting a emu wing window to get the dogs out, but they're big dogs and the window being so high wasn't practical. I spent a good bit of last year's HIH playing with other bumpers on other people's 100 series, but after seeing the latches and hinge locks, I knew I would get annoyed and even too lazy to let the dogs out if it was that much work to drop the tailgate.
Then I played with Ben's (dissent) bumper. There was one at HIH and after seeing how much easier (still not as easy as no swingout though) it was to open and close, I was sold. I patiently waited my turn while dragging my spare nearly every weekend.
Now that I have it, I'm so glad I waited and even spent a bit more. I'm all about functionality and convenience, and this checked both the boxes.
Just my .02
Thanks!
Oregon is nice but I'm in California
Where in Cali? Anywhere near San Diego. I'd love to see your product in person.
I'm in grass valley ca, but do have a custom in San Diego.
I would say Bens latch design is the Cadillac of latches. The latches on my BIOR are not near as fancy but they are one handed operation and are secure.
The swingouts take a little getting used to, and some downsides: ease of access into the hatch, the spare tire weight is higher and further back which combined with added weight of the steel bumper and accessories under certain situations like climbs lightens the front end and wheels spin or lift a little easier, The tire carrier jiggles a bit on certain roads at hwy speeds, you loose back up camera with out a relo kit, and rear view is hampered a bit ( but we're supposed to use our side mirrors anyway right?)
Benefit though is not crawling under the truck laying on the ground( in dirt-Mud-sand-snow) to lower a spare if you even have enough clearance available on trail to lower the spare. Access to lifting the spare off the back of the truck is fast and easy enough( as long as you can lift 60-70lbs). No dragging the spare across rocks and damaging your spare. And most importantly it looks cool and builds mall crawler cred.
The swingouts take a little getting used to, and some downsides: ease of access into the hatch, the spare tire weight is higher and further back which combined with added weight of the steel bumper and accessories under certain situations like climbs lightens the front end and wheels spin or lift a little easier, The tire carrier jiggles a bit on certain roads at hwy speeds, you loose back up camera with out a relo kit, and rear view is hampered a bit ( but we're supposed to use our side mirrors anyway right?)
Benefit though is not crawling under the truck laying on the ground( in dirt-Mud-sand-snow) to lower a spare if you even have enough clearance available on trail to lower the spare. Access to lifting the spare off the back of the truck is fast and easy enough( as long as you can lift 60-70lbs). No dragging the spare across rocks and damaging your spare. And most importantly it looks cool and builds mall crawler cred.
Thanks Rami!
I have had just about every bumper and swing out options on different vehicles over the years,
When designing the rear 100 bumper there were several inconveniences I wanted to address! Number one was the swing arms. With other swing outs my wife wouldn't even drive the vehicle cause it was so hard to open and close the swing outs so a big must for my design was my entire family could easily operate the swing outs! I have seen full grown men struggle with operating other designs while offroad. When designing this bumper I addressed everything I did not like with my other bumpers, nothing major but many little things that got frustrating on long trips.
I used the slam style latch with gas assist struts for quick easy operation, I also used a shorter swing arm to eliminate interference when towing. Fully adjustable tire mount for a high, low, angled or vertical tire mount,
Recessed towing accommodation for easy access to the hitch pins, safety chains and trailer plug, high clearance, adjustable wings for propper body gaps. To achieve all this the factory cross member must be removed but is replaced with a stronger one.
I plan to continue the same with all the accessories as well, just to name a few, modular aluminum ladder/accessories mount, sealed 3rd swing out that will attach to the ladder with dry storage, fold down camp table, rotopax and maxtrax mount.
Bike rack, camp shower, ice chest/jerry can mount with slid out drawer/camp kitchen ect.
I also plan to make many of the accessories mounts work with the roof rack when that gets finished.
IMHO 4x4 Labs swing-outs are the easiest to use - with gas struts - and fail-proof positive latching. The only downside is that the swing arms are not removable from the spindle like the Slee or Dissent. So when daily driving with attachments removed, you still need to open the swing arms to drop the tailgate. But considering the DIY price, 4x4 Labs is hard to beat.
I had the 4x4 labs in the past and it's a simple reliable latching design, the problem is when I had the latch tight enough to prevent rattles my wife could not operate it. For me it was fine but not on a vehicle my wife used.
This is the problem I have had with any clamp style latches I have experienced.
really every current option that I'm aware of is a great option and are built very well! I don't think you can really go wrong with any of them.
I think if there was a way for the op to see them all in person would help tremendously to pick the best for his tast and needs.
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I got an ARB with tire and Jerry can holder for swing outs. I dread dragging the wings on any rocks because they are in my opinion the week points of the bumper and I highly doubt they can carry the weight of the vehicle. My plan is not to abuse my cruiser with rock crawling, but before you know it, your in one of those situations... The rear of the bumper is stout, and the ease of operating the swing outs is great and the integrated tow hitch is awesome and rated. The bumper looks over engineered if you ask me, and as all ARB products, the quality shines! It looks the closest to a stock bumper (cosmeticly speaking), I often get asked if I baught the truck from the dealer this way? We know we're going to drag our bumpers, I get nervous thinking I'll drag the side wings and that's when I wish I had got the Slee instead. My two cents...
@ad27326 I'm assuming this means that your current BIOR rear bumper does not have the integrated hitch. Do you have a factory or aftermarket receiver hitch installed? If so, how does it look with that factory hitch hanging down below. I've only been able to find one photo of this setup and it was an aftermarket hitch so I don't know how it would look with the Toyota hitch.
and one more
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- #35
Yes! Is that too much to ask for? I really need to go to 100's in the hills for my best chance at that. I was really hoping to make it this year but a vacation with the gf's family put an end to those hopes
sleepycruiser
I will get by….I will survive
Any structural issues? Rust? What issues did you have to remedy when putting it one, etc? Any info would be great.
No structural issues, I have some minor rust spots in the welds (bad powder coating). It's a made in China bumper....
The issues with fitting was that the bracket was about 1/2 inch lower than the frame, so I had to drill new holes.
I was not expecting anything better on that price range. I'm 100% sure that the other bumpers mentioned here are better quality, but I just can't put that kind of money into it.
You need to remove the trailer hitch....
The issues with fitting was that the bracket was about 1/2 inch lower than the frame, so I had to drill new holes.
I was not expecting anything better on that price range. I'm 100% sure that the other bumpers mentioned here are better quality, but I just can't put that kind of money into it.
You need to remove the trailer hitch....
I went with the basic bumper with no options, not seeing the need for a swing out or anything else.