Rear Bumper Sliders? (1 Viewer)

[TeCKis300]

A curious thought occurred to me while installing an LRA sub-tank recently...

One of the most constraining factors off-roading is the departure angle of the 200-series. With it's long rear overhang past the rear tires.

Could an effective rear bumper slider be made for the 200-series platform? Something low profile and lightweight that could protect the rear tupperwear. While still looking good and not detract from the overall look. Hardcore rock crawlers would still want to go full rear bumper. But perhaps for the average enthusiast?

Perhaps it's an ugly and terrible idea. Just tossing this out there. @benc , @TRAIL TAILOR

There's not a lot of examples out there, but an idea.

 

[Sedalia]

Interesting, but I guess would exacerbate the departure problem. At the price of the replacement bumpers, Dobinsons aside, it might be cheaper to bash up the OEM and replace it every year or so.

 

[indycole]

Interesting, but I guess would exacerbate the departure problem. At the price of the replacement bumpers, Dobinsons aside, it might be cheaper to bash up the OEM and replace it every year or so.

Not by time you add up damage to the underlying moldings, parking sensors, rear combination lights, trailer harness, the time to swap the old bumper covers internals to the new cover, paying to have the new cover painted, etc.

 

[supercarrera]

For the 80 series, the tow hitch basically acts as a slider for the factory rear bumper.

 

[TeCKis300]

^Yup. Earlier 100-series also had an undermount hitch that would largely protect the bumper. Except for the vulnerable wing areas that usually take the bashing.

Structurally on the 200, there's quite a bit of beef under the rear bumper skins. Between the frame, hitch, and substantial boxed in wings of the body in the corners, it'll hold up to abuse. But the tuperwear won't look good.

Perhaps a slider wouldn't be something completely under the rear bumper skin that further reduces departure angle? Possibly cutting portions of the lowest part of the bumper skin to replace with sliders? Structurally and mounting wise, there's lots of opportunities to do something with minimal weight.

Styling wise, would it look good? Would it be something the market would adopt? Perhaps those are the bigger questions.

 

[codyaustin5]

I like the one on the RR.

 

[mcgaskins]

It would lower clearance where it’s already not very good which is my biggest concern, especially in the rocks. If you’re not in the rocks, I don’t see a huge advantage to having it either. If the rear bumper was much higher clearance like it is on the front of the 16+ LC, I could see the advantage of having it.

 

[Chocolate]

The rear tupperware is poorly designed on both sides (seriously, you could fit a storage compartment there with all the empty space), but it is very close to the frame at the center, within a few mm. You can easily push and tuck the sides of the plastic bumper to sit completely flush with the frame. And the comically oversized rigid mudflaps? Those were gone in the first 2 weeks.

Also, the towing connector can be relocated into the frame for more clearance as well.

 

[TeCKis300]

Came across @Nitro-gear 's latest beast of a 200-series photo's.

Not sure what's he's done to the rear bumper, or if it's only paint? Tried to find more pics but this is all I could find. Either way, I think it gives an idea of the concept. A minimalist rear bumper or slider, could look great setup like this. Ties in really well with the side sliders and tow hitch.

I think there's ample opportunity here for a product like this that adds rear tupperwear protection without the full gonzo commitment or weight of a full on rear bumper?

 

[Fisher23]

On my Grand Cherokee I have a rear skid plate from a company called 4xGuard.

Looks like this.

 

[Roy Park]

Not by time you add up damage to the underlying moldings, parking sensors, rear combination lights, trailer harness, the time to swap the old bumper covers internals to the new cover, paying to have the new cover painted, etc.

I found a way to destroy my trailer harness even with the TT bumper. Hahaha. I just zip tied it together and carried on with my life. Hahaha.

 

[Markuson]

I found a way to destroy my trailer harness even with the TT bumper. Hahaha. I just zip tied it together and carried on with my life. Hahaha.

Hehe... Re banging rear bumpers & wiring...Just occurred to me that I have no idea if my parking sensors even work. They take regular beatings...but turned them off years ago... Should have just skipped em.

 

[Chocolate]

Came across @Nitro-gear 's latest beast of a 200-series photo's.

Not sure what's he's done to the rear bumper, or if it's only paint? Tried to find more pics but this is all I could find. Either way, I think it gives an idea of the concept. A minimalist rear bumper or slider, could look great setup like this. Ties in really well with the side sliders and tow hitch.

I think there's ample opportunity here for a product like this that adds rear tupperwear protection without the full gonzo commitment or weight of a full on rear bumper?

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2008-2011 TRD Pro confirmed?

Not sure what's he's done to the rear bumper, or if it's only paint? Tried to find more pics but this is all I could find.

Paint, vinyl, or plastidip. Probably vinyl, which appears to be on the hatch.

 

[DRCocaCola]

Hehe... Re banging rear bumpers & wiring...Just occurred to me that I have no idea if my parking sensors even work. They take regular beatings...but turned them off years ago... Should have just skipped em.

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I didn’t even have Trail Tailor cut the holes for my sensors. They are redundant to the camera IMHO and just there to make noise. I’m sure if I back into something there will be some noise made even without them.

 

[Markuson]

I didn’t even have Trail Tailor cut the holes for my sensors. They are redundant to the camera IMHO and just there to make noise. I’m sure if I back into something there will be some noise made even without them.

Ya, once while wheeling in Moab...all sorts of annoying beeps started happening and I didn’t know why. -Then I remember the truck has parking sensors....& that I must have bumped the button. It’s downright FUNNY when bumping through rocks...

 

[terdrocket]

I didn’t even have Trail Tailor cut the holes for my sensors. They are redundant to the camera IMHO and just there to make noise. I’m sure if I back into something there will be some noise made even without them.

I shut my sensors off right after I cut the holes and installed them. As soon I installed them they went crazy detecting the swing out latch and/or the rear tire overhang.

 

[supercarrera]

The problem with these parking sensors is they go off waaaaay too soon. If they triggered when they are in inch away or less from an object, I think they would be useful to me. As they work now, they are pretty much just a nuisance and I never use them either.

 

[bloc]

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View attachment 1902083

2008-2011 TRD Pro confirmed?

Paint, vinyl, or plastidip. Probably vinyl, which appears to be on the tailgate.

I vaguely remember seeing pictures of a low profile bumper guard made of steel or something like that.. probably out of Australia.

Can’t find anything on a quick search.

 

[ANDRESTREV]

I think that you could easily build something yourself, however not knowing how its going to look or work sucks... we need a brave one and some pictures.

 

[Fisher23]

I shut my sensors off right after I cut the holes and installed them. As soon I installed them they went crazy detecting the swing out latch and/or the rear tire overhang.

Mine did that, and what I did to correct is was angle the one sensor under the tire carrier downward. Now they work near perfect. It will sometimes go off if backing down a steep incline right at the bottom of the incline. The one under the water can carrier was fine.

Under the NAV screens there was an setting to set how sensitive they are with a range of 1 through 5.

Rock crawling .. for sure need to be turned off. LOL