all pro 05+ plate bumper install question

[zero niner]

Hello,

So I installed my All-Pro Front Bumper today, except it doesn't fit right. First off, I don't have an All-Pro skid plate so the 2 bars coming from under the engine brace is still connected to under the radiator so when I went to tighten the 2 bolts under the bumper (the ones that go into the threaded plate) there is a gap because it's resting under the brace. I could take off the brace but then when tightened up, the bumper is going to be touching the underneath of the headlights, what I am doing wrong? Do I need to put spacers to adjust for the lack of a skid plate? I know it's not sitting right... Thanks in advance. Pics included for reference.

Rob

You can see in the bottom right corner the black bar/brace and the gap.

[zero niner]

Here another angle where you can see the brace -

[zero niner]

The gap between the bumper and body/fender flare is much smaller than the gap between the bottom of bumper and frame??? It doesn't add up, any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

[silverback07]

Just cut those tips off the braces, leave the bolts, but cut off the area hanging down. Or you can notch the bottom of the bumper to allow it to fit. I would cut the braces though.

[silverback07]

Originally Posted by zero niner

The gap between the bumper and body/fender flare is much smaller than the gap between the bottom of bumper and frame??? It doesn't add up, any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

You dont want it completely flush, it will contact the body/flare when off-roading and cause damage. Leave a bit of a gap.

[LonghornTaco]

I took those braces off, thinking that's what I had to do. Because of that, it fits MUCH tighter, but it's actually too tight. I'm rubbing those little painted strips under the headlights.

What Silverback appears to be right and I plan to do that when I have to drop the bumper for my winch in a couple weeks.

Their website "says" that you won't lose your factory skid plate, but I don't see how you can keep it the way it all goes together...

[SilverSeven]

what i dont understand, is how there are so many variances in the fitment...

Mine is not spaced out at all, and it hits the front fender flares, but everywhere else is spaced out fromt he vehicle so there is no way it will ever hit anything...

[silverback07]

I actually notched the bolt holes in my bumper to allow it to sit a little lower, then I took and cut around the ends of the bumper where the flare is.. it looks form fitting and I don't have to worry about it hitting the flare. I don't have any pics of that though.

[Fire931]

mine has similar clearance on the top but pushes the flares really bad when flexing. almost to the point of popping them off the fender. i need to readjust it or do some trimming before it breaks.

[SilverSeven]

i would cut the plastic flares before moving/cutting the bumper...

but thats just me, i dont really give a shit about some plasitc flares lol

[silverback07]

Originally Posted by SilverSeven

what i dont understand, is how there are so many variances in the fitment...

Mine is not spaced out at all, and it hits the front fender flares, but everywhere else is spaced out fromt he vehicle so there is no way it will ever hit anything...

What I did with mine was use large washers on the front mounting bolts. I have 2 on the top bolts, one on the middle and none on the bottom. This give the bumper a slight angle and it lines up with the bottom of the lights and the fenders evenly.

[silverback07]

Originally Posted by SilverSeven

i would cut the plastic flares before moving/cutting the bumper...

but thats just me, i dont really give a shit about some plasitc flares lol

Have you priced those factory flares? You might change your tune if you had to replace them. I only cut about 1/2" back under the flares. It matches the shape of the truck now. Which IMO looks better plus it reduces risk of hitting the metal or popping the flare off.

[zero niner]

Thank you so much folks! I was going crazy, I also figured that those braces were there for a reason so I'm hesitant to remove them. For those with the All-Pro skid plate, I'm assuming these get removed?

And there was no way that the factory skid plate could still be used with this bumper, in the instructions it didn't mention removing the skid plate but I had to just to be able to mount the bumper up to the front of the frame. Also there was a little recovery hook on the left side attached by 2 bolts that needed to be removed also. I don't know if it's the 09's or not but the instructions didn't account for that.

Thank you once again for all the feedback. I like the gap between the fender and bottom of headlights and don't want to cinch it up too much and cause it to rub.

I'll work on this in the next few days. Have a great holiday folks, I gotta work...

Rob

[silverback07]

Originally Posted by zero niner

Thank you so much folks! I was going crazy, I also figured that those braces were there for a reason so I'm hesitant to remove them. For those with the All-Pro skid plate, I'm assuming these get removed?

And there was no way that the factory skid plate could still be used with this bumper, in the instructions it didn't mention removing the skid plate but I had to just to be able to mount the bumper up to the front of the frame. Also there was a little recovery hook on the left side attached by 2 bolts that needed to be removed also. I don't know if it's the 09's or not but the instructions didn't account for that.

Thank you once again for all the feedback. I like the gap between the fender and bottom of headlights and don't want to cinch it up too much and cause it to rub.

I'll work on this in the next few days. Have a great holiday folks, I gotta work...

Rob

I removed those factory braces when I had AP skids, but I had to reinstall them when I put BudBuilt skids on it. So dont throw them away, they are about $150 from TRDPart4U.com. Ask me how I know

I don't know about that tow hook, my 07 has a factory tow point and I didn't have to remove it. But I never used it anyhow.

[LonghornTaco]

Originally Posted by zero niner

Thank you so much folks! I was going crazy, I also figured that those braces were there for a reason so I'm hesitant to remove them. For those with the All-Pro skid plate, I'm assuming these get removed?

And there was no way that the factory skid plate could still be used with this bumper, in the instructions it didn't mention removing the skid plate but I had to just to be able to mount the bumper up to the front of the frame. Also there was a little recovery hook on the left side attached by 2 bolts that needed to be removed also. I don't know if it's the 09's or not but the instructions didn't account for that.

Thank you once again for all the feedback. I like the gap between the fender and bottom of headlights and don't want to cinch it up too much and cause it to rub.

I'll work on this in the next few days. Have a great holiday folks, I gotta work...

Rob

Silverback told me that for the All Pro skids, you remove those braces. But you need them for BudBuilts (which I plan to get) so if you do remove them, don't throw them away!

That tow hook isn't new to the '09s but does indeed have to be removed.

[SilverSeven]

Originally Posted by silverback07

Have you priced those factory flares? You might change your tune if you had to replace them. I only cut about 1/2" back under the flares. It matches the shape of the truck now. Which IMO looks better plus it reduces risk of hitting the metal or popping the flare off.

yeah i thought of cutting the bumper.. just dont care about the flares, I plan on cutting a half inch off them whenever im somewhere with a sawsall... i need new clips anyway they are falling off..

[LonghornTaco]

Originally Posted by silverback07

I removed those factory braces when I had AP skids, but I had to reinstall them when I put BudBuilt skids on it. So dont throw them away, they are about $150 from TRDPart4U.com. Ask me how I know

I don't know about that tow hook, my 07 has a factory tow point and I didn't have to remove it. But I never used it anyhow.

There is a "loop" that's welded to the frame on the left side of the truck that doesn't have to be removed. There's a hole in the bumper for it. But that hook on the right (that I had to remove) was on my '06... Maybe they forgot it on yours??

[LonghornTaco]

Originally Posted by silverback07

Have you priced those factory flares? You might change your tune if you had to replace them. I only cut about 1/2" back under the flares. It matches the shape of the truck now. Which IMO looks better plus it reduces risk of hitting the metal or popping the flare off.

Aren't they like $200-$250 each for the painted ones? It's hella expensive!

[silverback07]

Originally Posted by SilverSeven

yeah i thought of cutting the bumper.. just dont care about the flares, I plan on cutting a half inch off them whenever im somewhere with a sawsall... i need new clips anyway they are falling off..

yeah, I popped my rears off, broke the flares and clips. After I wrecked it they fixed them though! The body shop said they where $500 per flare, parts, paint and labor, to replace!

So you are going to cut 1/2" off the bottom of your front fender too?

[silverback07]

Originally Posted by LonghornTaco

Aren't they like $200-$250 each for the painted ones? It's hella expensive!

yeah, body shop told me it was $500 per flare, parts, paint, and labor! hell the little clips are $4 each!