1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Will my winch bumper tear off?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by Ca Taco, Feb 15, 2013.

  1. Feb 15, 2013 at 6:26 PM
    #1
    Ca Taco

    Ca Taco [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2011
    Member:
    #69398
    Messages:
    58
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Scott
    El Cajon
    Vehicle:
    2012 reg cab 4x4 2.7 auto
    Hi fab guys, I'm ready to start fabrication of a plate front bumper on my single cab 2012 4x4. I have the winch, steel, and tabs to start my project. When I looked at the stock bumper mounts, I found six 8mm bolts holding the stock bumper to the main rails. The flanges at the end of rails are only 1/8" thick if that! I see the whole bumper tearing off during winching as the winch centerline will be above the centerline of the rails, creating leverage. I can weld 1/4" plate mounts to the frame to mount the future bumper, but I want to ask: how are these builders making plate bumpers expecting the bumper to not bend the mounts or shear the bolts or flanges without welding stronger mounts off the main rails?
     
  2. Feb 15, 2013 at 6:49 PM
    #2
    KenLyns

    KenLyns 8.75" Third Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2010
    Member:
    #37674
    Messages:
    29,365
    Gender:
    Male
    Belly of the Beast
    Vehicle:
    4x4 TRD Off-Road Full-Auto
    LED Headlights, Volant CAI, 32" Duratracs
    Most plate bumpers use additional attachment points. All-Pro's classic bumper puts two 1/2" bolts in the front crossmember. All-Pro's Apex bumper has extra brackets that tie into the sway bar bolts. Relentless and ATO have tabs that tie into frame holes further back.

    As far as I can tell, only Demello uses just the 6 studs.

    Relentless:

    photo9_1b2d03d07b8dabbb93b54c68285e13dbde360e38.jpg
     
  3. Feb 15, 2013 at 7:38 PM
    #3
    OZ-T

    OZ-T You are going backwards

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2009
    Member:
    #27584
    Messages:
    50,399
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Peter North
    British Columbia
    Vehicle:
    Mag Grey 09 Trd Sport DCLB 4x4
    OME 885x , OME shocks and Dakars , Wheelers SuperBumps front and rear , 275/70/17 Hankook ATm , OEM bed mat , Weathertech digifit floor liners , Weathertech in-channel vents , headache rack , Leer 100RCC commercial canopy , TRD bedside decals removed , Devil Horns by Andres , HomerTaco Satoshi
  4. Feb 15, 2013 at 8:36 PM
    #4
    tex

    tex Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2007
    Member:
    #2042
    Messages:
    4,158
    Fort Worth, TX
    Vehicle:
    2006 V8 Sport 4Runner
    As the others have said reinforcement brackets are popular. They tie into the frame a little farther back and also they should wrap under and attach near the factory tow hook point. CBI, relentless, brute force, and ARB all use brackets.
    This pic kinda shows the bracket that ties into the frame towards the shock. This is the CBI.
    P1010994_zpsc348f7e1_a6565716712797ef20f1d94026ea6ab69ceb74b5.jpg
     
  5. Feb 15, 2013 at 9:00 PM
    #5
    username

    username Fluffer

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2010
    Member:
    #44704
    Messages:
    6,067
    Pendleton, Or
    Vehicle:
    05 Taco with some crap welded to it
    mostly stock
    Yes, yes it will rip off if you stress it. I don't even winch off of mine, mostly built for impact, but I welded a chunk of 4" angle iron between the frame rails. It also helps protect the radiator. I also took a 2" holesaw through the end of the frame and drove 4' chunks of DOM inside of the frame and welded it wherever I could. An engine cage helps increase strength too. Any fabricator can gusset it up in a few hours and make the bumper the strongest part of the whole truck. These frames are pretty weak, and with stress they crack pretty easy. Personally, I think the plate bumpers are worthless. Sure, the bumper won't bend, but the frame it is attached to will. I like the minimalist approach best.
    3E992B58-045A-4761-83B6-BEC065A33750-695_53ed3a1eefa339bec1b40d302ee74e005e0bf299.jpg
     
  6. Feb 15, 2013 at 9:15 PM
    #6
    Toy Yoda

    Toy Yoda gotta make sure Youtube comes down to tape this

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2011
    Member:
    #54800
    Messages:
    1,862
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Garrett
    Vehicle:
    06 DCLB
    OME, ARB, Warn, Snugtop XV
    So if you hit something lower than that top bar it's gonna completely fubar your radiator? Looks a little bare down low
     
  7. Feb 15, 2013 at 9:25 PM
    #7
    TRD 09

    TRD 09 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2012
    Member:
    #85544
    Messages:
    538
    Gender:
    Male
    Alberta
    Vehicle:
    09 TRD sport
    Mine bolts on with the 6 bolts plus two by the tow hooks, I have only used it a few times but no problems yet, I will be making brackets to reinforce the sides
    1A8B1FB4-0056-46D6-85C4-80B1DB6D2F1B-479_1c05062548e0e379ea2ca6239caf95cead9f7fbc.jpg
     
  8. Feb 15, 2013 at 9:29 PM
    #8
    KenLyns

    KenLyns 8.75" Third Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2010
    Member:
    #37674
    Messages:
    29,365
    Gender:
    Male
    Belly of the Beast
    Vehicle:
    4x4 TRD Off-Road Full-Auto
    LED Headlights, Volant CAI, 32" Duratracs
    The way username runs his truck, a 100+ lb plate bumper can fall off from all the shock.
     
  9. Feb 15, 2013 at 9:46 PM
    #9
    jandrews

    jandrews Hootin' and Hollerin'

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2009
    Member:
    #18122
    Messages:
    16,139
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    '09 FourDubDee TRD OR
    A-TRUCK, Fat Kid in the Bed, Custom Pinstriping, Ported and Polished Muffler Bearing, Hi-Performance Bed Mat
    This. Heavy usage will deform the front end of the frame. More than one member on here has had it happen.

    Gusseting helps. Not getting into those situations in the first place also helps.
     
  10. Feb 18, 2013 at 12:32 PM
    #10
    JDEMELLO

    JDEMELLO Well-Known Member Vendor

    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2009
    Member:
    #13480
    Messages:
    1,356
    Gender:
    Male
    Corona Ca
    Vehicle:
    99
    none

    Nope we use reinforcement brackets too.
    05brackets002_587c2f8701279e1b68b646901649b92f3ccc77b7.jpg
     
  11. Sep 2, 2020 at 3:56 PM
    #11
    9619tacoowner

    9619tacoowner Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2020
    Member:
    #315061
    Messages:
    53
    Gender:
    Male
    Clayton, NC
    Vehicle:
    96 was my first taco, 19 is my new one
    none yet
    I had the same concern about them six bolts holding in the bumper
     
  12. Sep 2, 2020 at 4:00 PM
    #12
    rnish

    rnish Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2014
    Member:
    #129450
    Messages:
    8,318
    Gender:
    Male
    Peoples Republic of Maryland (USA)
    Vehicle:
    Tacoma 2nd gen
    King's, Camburg UCA, Dirt King LCA, armor
    Reinforce tabs are cheap enough.

     
    Tacoma Simpson likes this.
  13. Sep 2, 2020 at 8:29 PM
    #13
    6 gearT444E

    6 gearT444E Certified Electron Pusher

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2018
    Member:
    #243372
    Messages:
    7,533
    Deep South
    Herculiner Hootus
    You can also remove those and put in grade 8, stock hardware is cheap and for holding an aluminum crash bar not for heavy winching.
     
  14. Sep 3, 2020 at 9:19 AM
    #14
    9619tacoowner

    9619tacoowner Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2020
    Member:
    #315061
    Messages:
    53
    Gender:
    Male
    Clayton, NC
    Vehicle:
    96 was my first taco, 19 is my new one
    none yet
    Yes that looks like a great option, do you make them
     
  15. Sep 3, 2020 at 9:20 AM
    #15
    9619tacoowner

    9619tacoowner Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2020
    Member:
    #315061
    Messages:
    53
    Gender:
    Male
    Clayton, NC
    Vehicle:
    96 was my first taco, 19 is my new one
    none yet
    I agree definitely no hard winching
     

Products Discussed in

To Top