Hey everyone, I am new to the site. Although I am not building the beasts I see on the website. I do have a very nice 83 pickup, that I am constantly dumping money into. I will post a picture when I can. I have so many questions. First, I need a bumper. I live in Alaska and autopartswarehouse won't ship me a bumper up here. I want a SmittyBilt but they went out of business. Any other rear bumper recommendations? And how can I get one in Alaska? And is everyone else's straight front axle ride harder than *&%!? Is it my rancho shocks or did I screw up the suspension when I put 1.5 inch lift shackles on the front? I put the shackles on because the front of my truck was dipping ridiculous when I bought it. Thanks for any help.
SmittyBilt bumper
- Thread starter dizzidave
- Start date
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Can't help you on the suspension issues, though it could be shock related.
With the bumpers though a few different companies make bumpers.
Marlin Crawler, All Pro, Wab Fab to name a few. I'm sure they would ship to Alaska too.
If not then look into making your own bumper as it's not all that difficult.
With the bumpers though a few different companies make bumpers.
Marlin Crawler, All Pro, Wab Fab to name a few. I'm sure they would ship to Alaska too.
If not then look into making your own bumper as it's not all that difficult.
Welcome to Mud 
. Since you're in AK, I'd say build your own or take your design to a welding shop and have them build it, then have it powdercoated or rattlecan it. Yep, my '85 rides hard, but better than it did. It's now sporting Rancho 5Ks up front and 9Ks in back, on Explorer Pro Com 4" lift springs. That's where my rough ride comes from.......those spring packs don't flex much at all. I hope that helps some. 
. Since you're in AK, I'd say build your own or take your design to a welding shop and have them build it, then have it powdercoated or rattlecan it. Yep, my '85 rides hard, but better than it did. It's now sporting Rancho 5Ks up front and 9Ks in back, on Explorer Pro Com 4" lift springs. That's where my rough ride comes from.......those spring packs don't flex much at all. I hope that helps some. 
How much did you tighten the bolts when you put the shackles on? Most people will crank them down too tight-hence the pogo stick ride. They are supposed to be loose enough to move on the spring. As for the bumper, just make one, it really isnt that hard and you will have the greatest since of accomplishment-Good Luck
Hears how you can make your own smitty built bumper...get some cardbord tubes and wrap them 20 times around with tin foil then pull out the card board bam there is your smith built or as i llike to say s***ty built
Welcome to mud! All kidding aside check out allprooffroad.com and marlincrawller.com or just make your own.
Welcome to mud! All kidding aside check out allprooffroad.com and marlincrawller.com or just make your own.
Good question. I don't have a torque wrench, so I guestimate they're on there pretty darn good, but the urethane bushings are not bulging or squished. Does anyone know what the torque specs are on the shackle bolts?
I have smittybuilt front and rear and I have been very pleased with them for 4 years. I live in the heart of the rust belt as well. Like the yota itself, you just need to keep an eye out to try and control the rust before it gets too bad and mine still look fine. On multiple occasions those bumpers have saved me from serious damage on my 4Runner. One time, I hit a tree going about 10 mph in reverse 
and all that occured was a small dent in the bumper. With a stock bumper or some of the other aftermarkets out there it would have been a different story.
and all that occured was a small dent in the bumper. With a stock bumper or some of the other aftermarkets out there it would have been a different story.
if u want a decent trail bumper and not a tube rock bumper like marlin and all pro have try building one, the best way to learn is to do it yourself. for a rear i have a simple 2x4 piece of 1/4in rectangle tube with a couple mounts bolted to the frame. there is no welding required, just a good drill and some grade 5 or 8 bolts.
as for a front bumper try digging around on any site u can find, it sounds like u want a good stout off road bumper and not a stinger or something. i know they are expensive but ARB makes some good stuff, its expensive but good.
bent up, protofab, TJM they all make good stuff. proto fab is mostly broncos and jeeps, but any bumper will fit any truck with a little work.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=134554
those are my bumpers, the front is custom. and as far as i know there are only like 5 in the world.
as for a front bumper try digging around on any site u can find, it sounds like u want a good stout off road bumper and not a stinger or something. i know they are expensive but ARB makes some good stuff, its expensive but good.
bent up, protofab, TJM they all make good stuff. proto fab is mostly broncos and jeeps, but any bumper will fit any truck with a little work.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=134554
those are my bumpers, the front is custom. and as far as i know there are only like 5 in the world.
One other thing for you to check if you are still wanting a smittybilt... A guy I work with bought front and rear smittybilt bumpers from summitracing.com a couple years ago... you could call them and see if they still have any in stock...
take it easy
-j-rOd
take it easy
-j-rOd
Performance Products also has some left over.
The longer shackles you have do not have the same type of mounting as the stock toyotas so you cannot torque them. You need a good set of self locking nuts and just tighten them down till the shackles set flush on the edge of the bushings. Also Rancho RS5000's are well know not to properly dampen on spring rebound, working aginst the spring way to much. Meaning you will skip instead of keeping constant tire contact with the road, which is why they ride so ruff. The RSX version is a great improvement but there are better choices to be had than the Rancho brand.
- Thread starter
- #19
In training
I think I got it, smittybilt sucks. I looked at one at the junkyard the other day and I don't want one anyways. I want a bumper like the green truck in one of the reply's above.
Shackles and ranchos. Should be a better ride tomorrow now that i loosened the shackles up a bit, I hope. Didn't loosen to much in fear of leaf/frame separation
I thought the Ranchos were stiff as hell, thanks for confirming their suckiness.
I am learning fast with this forum. Thanks H8ters!
I think I got it, smittybilt sucks. I looked at one at the junkyard the other day and I don't want one anyways. I want a bumper like the green truck in one of the reply's above.
Shackles and ranchos. Should be a better ride tomorrow now that i loosened the shackles up a bit, I hope. Didn't loosen to much in fear of leaf/frame separation
I thought the Ranchos were stiff as hell, thanks for confirming their suckiness.I am learning fast with this forum. Thanks H8ters!
I guess smittybuilt does kinda suck.