Removing front and rear stock bumpers

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bluecruiser

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For those of you have replaced and/or removed bumpers, about how long would it take to get them both off? I am looking forward to a weekend offroading trip and don't want to break them yet. I still have 265's and no lift.

Also how long about to get them back on? Any bolts or clips that are troublesome or might break when removing?

Any tips would be appreciated.... My rig is a '99 .

Thanks
 
Wait, you want to take your bumpers off, wheel, and then put them back on again? :confused:

The amount of time involved to remove them will offset ever putting them back on again.

I doubt you'll break them except under some pretty hardcore wheeling. You might scratch them up a bit however.

IMHO.
 
I've thrashed both of my bumpers the last few times we've been out.

That being said, once you get them off, no reason to put them back on.

Time for better approach / departure angles, stronger build materials / quality, and after market mount points for winch, tire, etc.

Take 'em off and upgrade IMO!! :cheers:
 
I thought taking them off might be quick...but it sounds like it isn't.. Anyone have any pics off them off (front and back) so I can check it out before doing it because it sounds like if they come off they are not going back on.

I don't know how quickly I will be buying/making bumpers. I guess I could remove them and hit them up with a rattle can black for now...
 
I mean painting the frame with the bumpers off...not the actual factory bumpers....Just in case you guys were wondering...:doh:
 
bluecruiser said:
I thought taking them off might be quick...but it sounds like it isn't.. Anyone have any pics off them off (front and back) so I can check it out before doing it because it sounds like if they come off they are not going back on.

I don't know how quickly I will be buying/making bumpers. I guess I could remove them and hit them up with a rattle can black for now...



Unless your '99 is from the rustcoast it should only take you about 1-hour to yank both stock bumpers...
 
spressomon said:
Unless your '99 is from the rustcoast it should only take you about 1-hour to yank both stock bumpers...

I agree, maybe even less once you've done it a couple times. Using an air ratchet , I could probably take them both off in less that 30 mins now that I've done it once . You'll see what I mean once you take them off.
 
Yup, my bumpers were quite easy to take off with basic tools in 30 min or so....

But its MUCH more fun to remove them with off road obstacles !!

Either way..once you see how flimsy they are and what little vehicle protection they actually provide, you will not want to put them back on anyway !

HINT: Might as well break out the Visa, call up Christo and order a set of REAL bumpers.. and then enjoy laughing at all of those stock bumpered 100s in your neighborhood !! ;)

Good luck !!
 
SINCITY100 said:
Yup, my bumpers were quite easy to take off with basic tools in 30 min or so....

But its MUCH more fun to remove them with off road obstacles !!

Either way..once you see how flimsy they are and what little vehicle protection they actually provide, you will not want to put them back on anyway !

HINT: Might as well break out the Visa, call up Christo and order a set of REAL bumpers.. and then enjoy laughing at all of those stock bumpered 100s in your neighborhood !! ;)

Good luck !!

I like the way you guys think......My wife just left maybe I'll run out in the garage and take them off. She probably won't notice....

I am going out with Shotts this weekend for a group run here in Sedona, AZ. Hopefully once the wifey sees his ride she will appreciate the much needed armor/meats/lift etc......:D
 
bluecruiser said:
I like the way you guys think......My wife just left maybe I'll run out in the garage and take them off. She probably won't notice....

I am going out with Shotts this weekend for a group run here in Sedona, AZ. Hopefully once the wifey sees his ride she will appreciate the much needed armor/meats/lift etc......:D

On one of my first trips to Sedona, our friends Doron and Cindy Strassman brought their UZJ100 when it was still stock. Now, Doron's truck is the Expo-King. Before and after below:

OK, back then....Broken Arrow was tougher and the other trails are about the same. Doron did great, I don't think he scraped but VERY little and only in a couple of places. You can ride behind me. I know the spots where you might scrape and can spot for ya. I'd not worry about your 100. It'll impress you so much you'll open the wallet-gates and get new charge cards ASAP.

Come on out...sit back...and enjoy!

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bluecruiser said:
Hopefully once the wifey sees his ride she will appreciate the much needed armor/meats/lift etc......:D

Wait! I might be giving you WRONG advice! :D

Maybe you SHOULD take the bumpers off. That way I can tell her that you-all need to equip your 100 like mine so you don't damage it? Otherwise keep it on pavement. :D

You tell me? :D

OK.....won't work.....there will be a stock new 4Runner on the trip too. You and I will be found out! :D
 
Taking the stupid tupperware bumpers off so you can risk damaging something important seems insane. They may protect your vehicle from serious damage.
 
calamaridog said:
Taking the stupid tupperware bumpers off so you can risk damaging something important seems insane. They may protect your vehicle from serious damage.

Okay?
 
Let me rephrase this.

Unless I am misunderstanding your post, you are going to remove your cheap plastic bumpers and risk damaging expensive sheetmetal instead. While the stock "tupperware" does not provide much protection, it is much better than nothing at all.

My bumpers are fairly trashed from some MILD wheeling. Without the stock bumpers, I would have suffered significant sheetmetal damage.

I'm not trying to be an ass, just trying to understand.
 
No offense taken....I never thought of it that way. I thought taking them off might be better than hearing them scrape and break on stuff.

I will probably leave them off until I can find a fabricator to make me something like Amando (I think thats his name) has on his 100.

Thanks for the suggestions....
 
you are mad if you take them off without replacing the bars. They integrate with the air-bag system (especially the front bar) and you are risking not only serious damage to the 'cruiser itself, but to you and your passengers.

Leave it as is until you can buy replacement bars which integrate with the air-bag system of the 'cruiser.

cheers
peter
 
bluecruiser said:
I will probably leave them off until I can find a fabricator to make me something like Amando (I think thats his name) has on his 100.

Sweet idea! Get aggressive with that thing!
 
ShottsUZJ100 said:
Sweet idea! Get aggressive with that thing!


IMHO, this is actually a stupid idea (at least the part about leaving the bumpers off). If you're going to eventually ditch them, no reason to take them off now. Leave them on, and here are a few reasons why:

1.) As someone else mentioned, they will help prevent you from damaging your sheet metal, and more importantly, your front cross member and frame. Not because they're particularly strong, but because you will hear it and probably feel it when you start hitting and scraping them, which will be your cue to back off and try a different line before you damage something that can't be simply replaced like a frame rail horn, i.e. they'll act as early warning devices.

2.) The front bumper affects the crush rate of the front end. If you change that, you affect airbag deployment. Wait until you can get an airbag-approved front bumper (like an ARB or TJM).

3.) The front bumper helps to prevent rocks and other road debris from hitting the delicate vanes on your radiator.

4.) No place to mount your front license plate. I don't know about your locality, but here in CA it's illegal to drive around without two plates, one front and one rear.

My $0.02,
 
"Quote:
Originally Posted by ShottsUZJ100
Sweet idea! Get aggressive with that thing!"


dclee said:
IMHO, this is actually a stupid idea (at least the part about leaving the bumpers off). If you're going to eventually ditch them, no reason to take them off now. Leave them on, and here are a few reasons why:

If you'd a read the whole thread you'd a noticed a told Blue Cruiser to leave them on. My statement refers to the idea of making aggressive custom bumpers like Amandos.

I'm used to certain members selectively reading my posts.

Blue Cruiser.....don't worry about those on these trails. You'll A-OK.
 

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