Upcoming Rear Bumper build (2 Viewers)

[wareagle]

Guys,

I'm planning to commission a local shop to build a rear bumper for my 2000 100-series. I'm unsure whether to center rear tire and whether to swing left or right. I'm looking for any thoughts you guys might have. Also, Any pics would be greatly appreciated.

 

[1loudLX]

i'd say, for visiblity reasons to put the tire on the left and offset it. Although if you tow a lot, on the right side might make more sense. I dont like the centered look personally, plus offset gives you the ability to add a swingout on the other side for gizmos and gadgets.

It's all personal preference really when it comes down to which side. Check the new slee rear bumper thread for offset look, and zanes rear carrier build for centered look.

 

[wareagle]

Why do you suggest passenger side for towing? I tow a 19' boat a couple of times a week during spring and summer months. We live 5 minutes from the lake, so its not distant.

 

[1loudLX]

well depending on how you secure it, you may have to climb over the trailer back and forth a few times to get into the back. being on the right side, and depending on how it's secured (if you do it how spressomon modded his slee) then you can get out of the drivers side, go to the back, open the carrier and get into the back without pretending you're back in elementary school on the jungle gym during recess.

 

[EdsCruisin]

well depending on how you secure it, you may have to climb over the trailer back and forth a few times to get into the back. being on the right side, and depending on how it's secured (if you do it how spressomon modded his slee) then you can get out of the drivers side, go to the back, open the carrier and get into the back without pretending you're back in elementary school on the jungle gym during recess.

Good points, but I think that really depends on the trailer tongue. I have a power jack on my TT that would be in the swing range of a centered wheel. Possibly the jack on the utility trailer too. An offset, or dual swingouts would enable missing the trailer altogether.

You mentioned visibility - do you use the rear view mirror? I find it generally useless for much else than seeing the kids in the back seat. The rear window is usually so dirty that I can't see through it anyway.

 

[1loudLX]

I don't use it to back up(camera) but I do use it to check for fuzz lurking behind me.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

I tow and like to get in the back of our 100 and you could not give me a swing out tire carrier for free. A 285 will fit fine under the 100.

 

[wareagle]

I hear you! I have mixed feelings on the swing out. I had one on my cherokee and hated it. It was a pain to swing before opening hatch. I much prefer the setup that my Trooper had.

I'm already running a 285 spare, and it definitely fits. I just don't want to be one of those poor chaps that breaks a bead and burst their spare on an obstacle. I've seen that scenario play out on couple of 4 runners. I guess I could secure on my roof rack for the more extreme trails.

 

[wildsmith]

I've put an OEM style body mounted carrier on mine that latches on to the tailgate. It sits up a lot higher than a bumper mounted swing out and doesn't stick out as far low down when you open it. They only do them for the right side AFAIK but a decent fabricator could probably make one for the left side.

 

[packer]

I've put an OEM style body mounted carrier on mine that latches on to the tailgate. It sits up a lot higher than a bumper mounted swing out and doesn't stick out as far low down when you open it. They only do them for the right side AFAIK but a decent fabricator could probably make one for the left side.

Do you have a picture for this?

 

[wildsmith]

Some plates I had to make for inside the body panels:

It's just another option to think about.

 

[1loudLX]

That's a fkn sweet option! I'd love an oem one I didn't think it was possible!! Great work wild.

 

[wareagle]

Interesting...Have you had any issues with this setup? I did this to a cherokee, and ended up with wavy sheet metal after a few extreme trail runs. The may have been due to it's unibody and heavy tires.

By the way, what tires are you running. They look almost like LTB swampers. Also, what are the knobs on each side of the hitch?

 

[packer]

What does the latch on the tailgate look like?

 

[hoser]

I was under the impression the tailgate was completely different with 100's equipped with the OEM carrier. True or not?

 

[1loudLX]

true. However it wont prevent you from using it. The different tailgate just allows for the license plate to be mounted to it instead of the carrier.

 

[hoser]

Hmm, looks like the "dent" extends lower than our "license plate dent."

From this thread.

 

[1loudLX]

as long as you can fab a latch that bolts up and ends up being the same place as that one, I dont see why it wouldnt work. The mounting of the actual carrier to the body is what I always wondered about. Looks like that problem was solved too.

 

[wildsmith]

The carrier I bought is a copy of OEM, not an actual OEM which is why I called it OEM style but AFAIK they're pretty much an exact knock off. Mine is eBay item 260350795368 and that has more pictures of how the catch fits in with our lower tail gate licence plate space. If you compare pictures you'll see I cut off the wheel mount and moved it across and up a bit to accomodate the big tyres and added the receiver for the licence plate.

It's very solid, fully open I can swing from the end of it no problem and I guess I'm about 200lbs. When closed it rests on the latch and also a bracket on the upper tail gate so it's well supported. The OEM installs come from the factory with extra supports in the body so I made up those plates in my last picture and they seem to be as much as you need to do to make it work.

The tyre in my pictures is a 36x12.5x16 Simex ET II and they're quite heavy. The 'knobs' are trailer electric sockets

They're just another option, there may be reasons why it wouldn't suit the OP, I just wanted to add them to this thread because I don't see them here on mud.

 

[hoser]

Very slick. Nice work.

The OEM style carrier looks more user friendly. My only concern is it's "damage multiplying" properties. A run in with a large boulder/tree could tweak almost every panel back there.