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New All-Pro Dual Swing Out Rear Bumper Release and Give-Away!!

Discussion in 'All-Pro Off Road' started by allpro, May 27, 2015.

  1. Jun 2, 2015 at 5:03 PM
    #141
    catattacksdog

    catattacksdog Well-Known Member

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    Not Kentucky
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    What size tires y'all running on that rig?
     
    allpro[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  2. Jun 2, 2015 at 5:11 PM
    #142
    Kbattlefield

    Kbattlefield Well-Known Member

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    It looks excellent All-Pro! Can the current white containers on the spare be used for a connection site for water/gas cans or both? The bed rack would be great for trips too
     
    allpro[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  3. Jun 2, 2015 at 7:41 PM
    #143
    wolfcolt68

    wolfcolt68 Member

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    mike
    mt.zion, illinois
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    2020 toyota tacoma trd pro. Super white
    cool like to have one cuz my bumper paint is fading off and need to get my 33 tires out of bed to have room. i like your style and design it will like good and better on my speedway blue :bowdown:....
     
    allpro[OP] likes this.
  4. Jun 2, 2015 at 10:29 PM
    #144
    Zollars

    Zollars Well-Known Member

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    Eagle River, AK
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    Suspension: 5100 Billstein Front Shocks Rear AAL 3" lift Engine Bay/Engine: Under-Hood LED lighting Hood QuickLift Elite Hood Struts - Redline Tuning Exterior Additions/Mods: Front Steel Skid plate Front Bumper Light Bar - NFab Bed Cap System: Steal Bedside and Tailgate Caps - KBVoodoo Fabrications 2x US Flag Vinyl Decals Under Mirrors - Far North By Design Exterior Lighting/Electrical: Retrofit Headlights - Ambiguous Fog Light Relay Mod (Fogs On With High Beams) - Thanks To Ostrichsak Depo Taillights 50" 4D Curved Trac Performance LED Light Bar - SLX Motorsports 4x Spot Fog Lights on NFab bar Full Exterior LED Bulb Swap - CSJumper LEDs Interior Additions/mods: CVRV Mirror Riser - BirdDawg Industries Pioneer 8100NEX Head unit Interior 6 Switch Panel - IggyCorp Interior Lighting/Electrical: Backlit 4x4 Switch Mod - RCBS204 Otrattw Switches On IggyCorp Panel For Accessories Dome Light on With Open Door Mod
    This bumper is badass!
    I have been searching for a new bumper for a long time now. I struggle to find a bumper that has the functionality, strength, and the look I want my rig to have. After tons of searching, I decided that All-Pro was the way to go. I have been doing smaller, inexpensive mods until now, and am ready to get new bumpers and sliders (have even been ailing with Tracy about your products), and was going to order everything from you guys at All-Pro. I joined the United States Air Force a little overy five years ago, and had planned on making or a twenty plus year career. Unfortunately, due to a back injury, the Air Force no longer wants me, and they are cutting me loose. Due to that significant life change, I can't justify spending so much cash right now, without knowing what will happen at the end of the little time I have left in the Military. I am continuing to pursue treatments on my back, and it hasn't stopped me from going out and getting the Rig a little dirty! Getting this bumper from All-Pro would fuel that fire and get me out there more, allowing me to blow off all this stress.

    I also currently have a full sized 285/70/17 spare that I can no longer strap down in the bed due to my Undercover Swing cases for my off road gear and tools. Overall, this bumper would allowe to carry all my gear, my full sized spare, and the drive to push through my back injury for a bit of mud!

    All-Pro, you guys make awesome products that not only have the great functionality, but also that awesome look that cause others to ask about, and want your products!

    Excited to see how this give-away goes!
    Thanks All-Pro!!
     
    allpro[OP] likes this.
  5. Jun 3, 2015 at 10:15 AM
    #145
    Head on Taco

    Head on Taco Member

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    Well, here it goes! First off amazing looking bumper! :thumbsup: I have always been a huge fan of all pros products and look forward to putting some to good use as I get some money(unfortunately I did not know about all pro when I "built" (paid) for my last truck, a 1997 4runner. That is where my need for the bumper comes in. While I may not have a blog to promise you huge publicity and advertisement, or a great instagram famous truck (yet), or thousands of posts on this forum showing my know how to do everything (or just BS) people on the intricacies of the Tacoma. What I do have is a love for wheeling and overlanding, bordering on obsession. I will always look at pictures browse forums :pccoffee: and make my friends ears bleed if I even hear them mention "trucks" (by the way explaining lockers and gear ratio importance to friends, fiances or parents is extremely interesting to them and they love it.)

    On another note, I just got engaged and with all the wedding expenses and priorities coming up getting money together to build a rig is going to be a very long process. This bumper would help me and my soon to be wife get out of the city and enjoy camping and offroading like it was meant to be enjoyed. Loved ones and friends out exploring the world and having awesome stories to tell people when we come back. and when kids are on the way they will grow up learning responsible wheeling and camping. I know that everyone that works at all pro can agree with me and say that is whats really important about wheeling. its not the gear you have or how amazing your truck is its simply getting out and doing it. However, a really sexy rear bumper sure makes it that much better. I assure you that I would have plenty of moments where I would walk away from my truck and not be able to help but to "look back at it" with that sexy rear bumper!

    Finally one last ditch effort to pull at your heart strings. I was talking to Justin Mildenberg trying to sell him my 1997 4runner so he could build a clifford 2.0. so essentially im pretty much a member of your Research and development team ha! unfortunately it got decided that a drive out to california was out of the question! But nonetheless, I supported him and all pro the whole time :p

    So there it is, my pathetic groveling and begging attempt for you to give me your bumper that you worked hard for and I simply want. I would be honored to get it and put it to good use! Ill gladly send you all pictures if I win it!
     
    allpro[OP] likes this.
  6. Jun 3, 2015 at 10:27 AM
    #146
    llibrm

    llibrm OH NOOOOOO!

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    Winthrop, WA &Convection Oven, AZ
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    06 DCSB, 06 LC120 (sold)
    Pelfreybilt Aluminum Bumper, KING 2.5 on all four corners, 4x4 illuminated switch, Cobra 75 w/ 3' Firestick, 2M/ 70cm Radio w/ Diamond NR770HB, Pelfreybilt bed bar, Lightforce Stiker 170s, BD 20" OnX6, BD S2 ditch lites on SDHQ mounts, BD SAE Fogs
    How I would love to sport a new rear bumper that like. With a growing family, I find that my gear list is ever expanding. The problem with this is the trucks volume of the bed has not also increased. This means things like the cooler and others items have needed to be reduced in scale. Now with the addition of this added gear is the associated weight that drops the clearance down. Now taking my two young boys out into the "bush" means lots of bumps and bangs as the rear hangs up of rock shelves or over large gaps in the terrain. Having a beautiful swing out tire gate such as this beauty would be nice to get a few items out of the bed, make them more accessible and offer some much needed protection to the trucks posterior.

    Nice work guys. Oh, and pick me!
     
    allpro[OP] likes this.
  7. Jun 3, 2015 at 6:49 PM
    #147
    punisherTRD

    punisherTRD Member

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    Jacksonville NC
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    I need this for the dumb a$& boots on base that can't drive. Been rear ended 3 times in 4 years. On camp lejeune. I don't really have anymore reasons than I'm tired of replacing tail lights. Also there is no way I can afford something that nice on my paycheck. My reenlistment just got approved for another 4 years in the USMC. And A NEW ALLPRO BUMPER would be tits. God knows all the Marine Corp is going to do is give me a bigger green weenie.
     
    allpro[OP] likes this.
  8. Jun 3, 2015 at 6:53 PM
    #148
    Allstar780

    Allstar780 Well-Known Member

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    3" Lift, 32" Goodyear Duratrac, XD Series Hoss Rims
    I need one with the hidden reciever because there are a lot of ditches and trenches I have to cross while hunting and it bottoms out my stock reciever every single time
     
    allpro[OP] likes this.
  9. Jun 3, 2015 at 7:03 PM
    #149
    Seabass

    Seabass Give it to me. I'll break it for you

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    Just a bunch of old crap
    Already being an All-Pro customer, I've been happy for years with my AP front and rear bumpers. I've been looking at shops to build on a swing-away rear gate and to finally move my full size spare tire from my bed or rack so it's finally out of the way. I'm already impressed with the original rear bumper and it has already performed well after backing into trees and giving me that added rear clearance and sharp look. I wouldn't change a thing, except to have the swing-away option to haul more gear on expeditions. I have jerry cans in my garage that have to ride in the bed because I haven't had the opportunity to fabricate a better holder for them. Rotopax were eventually in the plan for my bed rack, but I like having the sides of the rack remain open so I have quick access to gear all around the bed of the truck. This new bumper is an excellent solution, and I would put it through its paces. My truck goes everywhere, no doubt thanks to your great products.

    You may say "but you already have an All-Pro bumper, so what would you do with your old one?". I'll make another Tacoma owner very happy by donating it in the same generous fashion that you folks are offering.

    Enjoy the slideshow.








     
    Last edited: Jun 3, 2015
    allpro[OP] and Kbattlefield like this.
  10. Jun 3, 2015 at 10:39 PM
    #150
    Maurice365

    Maurice365 Well-Known Member

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    I spent this past weekend installing a "satoshi" grill I built for my truck, reinstalling my suspension that came in from DSMS after my coilovers gave out, and buying her new shoes. I have slowly gathered, installed, and built everything I have on my Taco. From the first day I drove her until today I have pushed this truck harder than I have ever pushed any other vehicle (this includes trying to kill an iron duke). From getting her dirty for the first time with under 300 miles on her, to pulling a wood chipper for work, this truck has never let me down. Why I NEED this bumper? This bumper would validate the time and effort I've invested in my truck and would really push me along towards having it ready to do some much more serious exploration.

    Work Hard

    Play Harder
     
    allpro[OP] likes this.
  11. Jun 4, 2015 at 7:18 AM
    #151
    Kerleyfries

    Kerleyfries Idk what the hell I'm doing

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    I need this bumper because it would allow me to carry my spare somewhere other than my truck bed when I'm off at school and going on my weekend adventures into the smoky mountains. I've actually been keeping track of this bumper since y'all first mentioned it and was emailing back and forth trying to find out if it was possible to get the swing-outs welded to my current All-Pro rear bumper. I use my current bumper everyday from towing with the hidden receiver, to keeping my truck damage free from getting rear-ended (true story, RIP civic that hit me), to pulling trucks and trailers from being stuck out on the farm. I'm currently working my way through college as a mechanical engineering student at the University of Tennessee and would love to work for/run a company comparable to y'alls one day, but for the time being just rocking y'alls products would be enough :D
    truck boat.jpg
     
    allpro[OP] likes this.
  12. Jun 4, 2015 at 7:24 AM
    #152
    PETEREDGE

    PETEREDGE Well-Known Member

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    ARB FRONT BUMPER...16x8 SR8 RIMS ,YOKAHAMA MT'S,DEMELLO SLIDERS,UPGRADED SOUND SYSTEM...
    I simply love the product and gives peace of mind having a full size spare out on the trail.
     
    allpro[OP] likes this.
  13. Jun 4, 2015 at 7:00 PM
    #153
    CowboyTaco

    CowboyTaco $20 is $20

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    I have been looking to replace my rear bumper ever since someone "hit and run" my truck in parking lot while on vacation in Boone, NC. One heck of a Christmas present. (Second vehicle that I've owned that was hit on or near Christmas)

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    They first made contact at the bumper and didn't stop until they hit rubber. I only know that because they took off my driver side rear mudflap.

    It isn't as bad as some of the other photos that people have posted, but it bothers me every time I look at it. There is a gap between the rear fender and the plastic overfender. The bumper is more noticeable than the fender or the rest. I need a replacement bumper to correct this issue. In fact, I've been eying your other HC bumper because of the sides that cover the fender. (are those an option here?)


    With my need being covered, my argument is not as strong as that of some of the other compelling posts. I'd like to cast my vote for some of the other posters in the event that I don't win.

    Oh, and for what it's worth, I'm the original owner of my truck. I saved for years to purchase the truck of my dreams. I've never been one to leave something stock. I started with an Isuzu Rodeo. It had lots of mods, but I won't go into that. Sold it because repairs were starting to cost more than the vehicle was worth. I then owned a lowered G20 that I sold to a friend who needed reliable transportation for two reasons. I wanted to help a friend out, and I wanted a G35. The G35 looked good on the surface, but ended up being a piece of junk (trunk leaked when it rained, went through a bottle of power steering fluid every 1.5 months, and only got 14 mpg). I finally got back into something higher with 4 wheel drive and could not have been happier since.......the Tacoma that I have been wanting for YEARS! I have zero intention of ever selling it. Ever. It will stay in the family and become a ranch truck when it is no longer street worthy. It's been through every state in the Southeast...every state between Texas, North Carolina and Florida. We're looking to explore the mid-west next. Getting to remote campsites has definitely helped keep my wife and I close.

    I've been following Benson's build since he first started. He has taste and uses his truck appropriately. I definitely think he should be in the running.


    This man clearly uses his rear armor for what it was intended.

    He uses your products as intended. Seems like a good candidate.

    Seems like a good contestant.

    Complete All-Pro all the way around, and he uses it. Definitely should be in the finals.

    Rear damage is worse than mine. Definitely a need if he hasn't already gotten this fixed.

    Been following him for a while too. That mileage number is accurate. I think he is planning to give this truck to his son and picking up a 3rd gen. I definitely think he is worthy.

    In for creativity in post.

    I agree. However, no need stated :(.

    Someone who uses their truck to camp? Definitely should be in.


    Oh, and for what it's worth, I think this would look out of place on a stock truck. My personal opinion is that someone who has demonstrated off road use should win.
     
    allpro[OP] likes this.
  14. Jun 4, 2015 at 8:02 PM
    #154
    Supra4x4

    Supra4x4 IG: hash_brown55

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    Whole lotta stuff
    The goal of a product give-away is to attract new customers to the brand name and product. Stock taco's (with exception to the x-runner and 4 cylinders) are capable of demonstrating off road use. One could argue that a person with a stock truck has a higher chance of being won by a brand name and purchasing gear as opposed to someone already well-equipped. That being said, I agree, it would be a shame to see this bumper being used with a trailer full of lawn mowers. :annoyed:
     
    pyriteCO and Kbattlefield like this.
  15. Jun 4, 2015 at 8:17 PM
    #155
    BassMaster06

    BassMaster06 Well-Known Member

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    Mods: sand, dog hair, roof rust
    Maybe this has already been covered, but is the winner to be chosen at random as long as they have posted to this thread? Or is it based off of the content of their post?
     
  16. Jun 4, 2015 at 8:48 PM
    #156
    1MK

    1MK Desert Explorer

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  17. Jun 5, 2015 at 6:51 AM
    #157
    That1guy108

    That1guy108 What's a title?

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    Colorado
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    Full OME Kit, Level 8 MK6 Wheels wrapped in 255/80/17 Cooper Maxxs, NWTI Plate Bumper, Flowmaster 40 muffler, Smittybilt X2O 10K winch.
    Heck Ill enter I pretty much need one of these at this point. Ill do this short story style haha

    Hmm where should I start...

    May 18, 2013

    As the off road gods looked down upon the deserts of western Colorado, a black flash followed by a cloud of dust blistered across the hills. That flash was my newly acquired Tacoma, Sharona, my first real truck and the beginning of an adventure. This picture is from the first day that I had her, not in my hands 15 minutes and I had her in the desert.

    [​IMG]

    Shortly thereafter I found Tacoma World and was living in California.

    From the June to September I was in SoCal I went out a few times with my stock DCLB on its stock tires and such with a Jeep club that was on the base I was working at. I started to notice how much my truck really could do, and kept pushing it... til I got stuck... many many stucks.

    In September of 2013 I moved down to Florida and finally got my first mod done, a tonneau cover and some BF Goodrich Rugged Terrains, which to be fair served me well the year and a half I had them. Just those tires allowed me so much more off road freedom and instantly started taking Sharona into much worse places than before. 6 foot bed and 4 doors allowed me to take friends camping and tote everyones gear... relatively comfortable. Florida isnt exactly rough terrain, but I still pushed my truck over what was available to get where I wanted to go. The truck pretty much looked like this til about a couple months ago.

    [​IMG]

    Basically up to this point I havent had money for mods and had been saving as much money as I could. Then in January I got a promotion and significant raise and finally had enough money to get an OME kit a couple months later... which is good because my stock suspension was done. After the lift I instantly took it out (I think the next day actually) and my truck felt so much more capable right off the bat! I bought new wheels and tires about a week later and went up to 33" tires and have since tested those thoroughly as well. I found out Im moving up to Washington state, where the terrain will be rougher than almost anything here in Florida and Ill be stopping back home in Colorado again on the way for about a month. After finding that out I bought a bumper kit and ordered a winch as I feel I will need that equipment. Which leaves the truck where it is now, unfinished front bumper in all it glory!

    [​IMG]

    Why I need this bumper:

    - Im gonna start this off by saying DCLBFTMFW!!!... most of the time...
    Being that I have a 6' box on the rear every amount of clearance I can get is worth it and Ive hit my bumper a few times aside from the hit and run dent on the back from someone at work I have yet to identify.

    - The adventure ahead.
    The mountains of Colorado are calling me back and the mountains in Washington still lie ahead. Sharona is getting tougher but the trails are getting rougher. Im a mountain man with the fire of adventure burning inside, Ive explored a lot of Colorado since Im from there, but Washington is uncharted to me... for now.

    - Convenience and storage.
    Its rather inconvenient throwing my spare tire in the bed with all my other camping\wheeling gear. I keep 2 jerry cans, a large pelican case with emergency supplies, and a large ammo can with recovery gear and such in it at a minimum when Im just wheeling. If its a camping/expodition style trip then usually I have someone with me and my dog which means much more gear and things packed into the bed. Itd be huge to just get the tire out, let alone the tire AND gas! Leaves a lot more room in the bed for just in case situations and group trips.

    - Trail armor
    Honestly who doesnt love armor? Pretty self explanatory, Now I can hit a person, I mean some accidental wildlife! going forward OR backwards. Its good to have and this bumper brings a ton of function with it to justify the weight. Im not a fan of adding anything non functional to my truck so keeping weight vs. worth in mind is huge and in this case pays off greatly in keeping the bed a little less full and giving me extra clearance in the rear

    -Cool factor
    My mom has a Jeep... Gotta rub it in and show her what's up.
     
    Last edited: Jun 5, 2015
  18. Jun 5, 2015 at 8:18 AM
    #158
    CowboyTaco

    CowboyTaco $20 is $20

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  19. Jun 5, 2015 at 12:40 PM
    #159
    Yukon Yak

    Yukon Yak Well-Known Member

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    Denis
    Whitehorse, Yukon Canada
    Vehicle:
    2015 TRD Access Cab Trails Team
    BFG KO2 285/75R16 OME 886/Dakars Rotopax Pelfreybilt Aluminum Front/Rear HC with gate Dual Batteries Rigid fogs, 20 inch spot/flood, SQR back up Cobra 75, 3' fire stick Custom Storage/Dog Platform in Cab Allpro Apex sliders Allpro Apex Aluminium Pack Rack Allpro Aluminium Gear Rack
    So why do I need an AP dual swing? I have done some travel to some poor and remote areas of the planet, all of this travel has been backpacking adventures. So what has changed that I want to take an expedition built Tacoma? Three things: 1) a friend and I travelled for three months in Northwest Africa to accomplish reaching Timbuktu 2: I am now married and my lovely wife wouldn't appreciated the type of travel I have historically done. 3. THE thought of keeping on asphalt while traveling is not my idea of travel.

    To understand my decision to build up my Tacoma for not only local adventure, (Tuktoyaktuk ice road March 2015, camping 3 weekends every month throughout spring, summer, and fall, fishing in Alaska) but also an extended trip to the tip of South America; I have included a story I wrote for family and friends while on the trip to Timbuktu, hopefully after you read my tale you can appreciate how much a bumper will assist us in our quest for adventure, while maintaining my marriage, providing space for a aux fuel tank, freeing up space in my box and not requiring me to remove my bumper as happened a couple weeks ago in Moab.

    Unfiltered West Africa

    I never write anyone about what traveling is like or such nonsense. But I had a decent amount of time now to reflect and I figure I am being selfish. So I shall give you a small example of what it is like to travel in West Africa. The idea really came to me to share because of a conversation I had with Marshal while getting ready to fall a sleep on a mud hut... We were talking about how friends or family could come to West Africa on a package tour and that would probably be ok... at which point Marshal turns to me and says "yeah but they would not get to see how the people live day in and day out."So hear it goes... Had to get a nice hotel in Bamako as we were very ill.Can not eat and I am suffering from 3 days of the worst diarreah I have ever had in my life... the bathroom door might as well have stayed open as Marshal and I took turns dispensing whatever fluid remained in our parched bodies to the porcelain god. Both of us were at the cannot trust a fart level and beyond, horrible cramps as well. Not just regular oh my poo has become soft diarreah... nope it was more a fine mist of opaque liquids blasting from our bodies... Stomach acid frying our already over used sphincter muscles.... We take some medicine and hope for the best... I was not getting better and it was getting worse, actually something was happening to my tongue. So I decided like any good man to read the directions for myself as I had committed to what Marshal had prescribed.... yep we were or I was overdosing on the medication ... oh and the symptoms for that are... nausea, diarreah, cramps and loss of taste.... go figure. At least we still had a day to recoup.
    Morning of the adventure wake up at 5am and pop some Imodium to plug the hole... and off to the bus destined for Dakar Senegal.... Knowing the bus will take 21 hours to get there I fully expect to shit myself on the way....Buses and time in Africa:We are supposed to leave at 6am... yeah right... roll call comes at 7am ... Marshal and I are the third and fourth person called... we both grin at each other thinking yeah we have been here for a while suckers .... we will have great seats. We climb aboard the bus and quickly decide the seat right behind the rear door on the right hand side will be best... least amount of sun in the window for the direction of travel... plus previous experience has the back door opening up quite often to let in a breeze.... PERFECT!!!! ( the average day time temperature in a bus in Mali is about 35c, 95f) Now we kinda laugh and beam with pride at the all too African crowd that joins us... Turbans... long flowing robes, guys that look like 50 cent but really can not understand the writing on their shirts as it is all lovey dovey type BS that never sold in Europe... ladies with their boobs hanging out... Wait about the boobs ... A woman's breasts in Africa are more like a multi tool... the can be used as a scarf, paper weight, weapon, food producer, the hang around at waist level and well are just there... there is no sexuality about a breast here.

    Ok so the bus lurches and we are off perfect 730am right on Africa time... the back door guy starts to close the door and ahh... shit the door has a rope on it, and he ties it off to a seat.... hmmm in my head I go shit this is bad... But Marshal is happy as this will provide a breeze... ever so positive that one is.

    It takes awhile for our bus driver to meander out of Bamako. I think he is dodging toll booths ... as we begin to climb away from the city I breath a sigh of relief the bus is driving quite well and Marshal is correct, the breeze is quite nice coming in the broken door.

    15 minutes later we stop... hmmm I get off the bus as this is the custom in Africa... although the bus is chalk full with people and bags strewn thought the aisle. (When a bus stops in Africa everyone rushes the door and gets off.) Once off I realize the bus guys are doing something to the back tire.... oh good just putting air in the tire no biggy....

    Soooo... 30 minutes later we all load the bus and start out again. Marshall looks at me with disgust as we are loading and explains that at least 3 hours of our journey will be due to the unloading and loading every time we stop. I shrug and give him our answer to everything while we have been traveling, " it is, what it is..."

    Uncomfortably back in my seat, I once again stare out the window and acknowledge the poverty and garbage that fills the sides of the roads... goats, sheep mud huts and 1970s Mercedes, accompanied by the African music blaring from the speakers of the bus and the all too familiar smell of Africa. My mind cannot wander too far as I am consciously flexing my sphincter in fear of crapping my pants.

    This time we drive for about an hour before we hit a toll station/security check point... the bus comes alive and is filled with woman climbing aboard hawking their food stuffs... which equates to screaming at the top the their lungs in Bombera what they are trying to sell. Everything is unrecognizable... so yet again I pass them by. The horn honks and they all pile off while finalizing their deals...

    The amazing parts of travel is when you leave villages and the cities behind... when you can look out the windows and see Africa as if you were watching Discovery Channel or National Geographic.... these times of course are rare.
    We continue through the day following the standard African bus theme as the temperature soars into the 30s/90s .... the bus is now an oven. Any driver in Africa is proficient at two things knowing within the millimetre the width of his vehicle and the proper over usage of his horn... they use these two skills alone to safely navigate their highways. At 1230 we roll to a stop and the drivers helper screams informing us to get off the bus and eat.

    At this point, I have had 1 meal in 72 hours, and my stomach seems to be holding firm. Marshal and I go into a food shack and order some rice avec tomate sauce... Of course it comes and I have Rice avec some form of meat chunks... Marshall and I briefly pick at the rice and the horn sounds again forcing us to dash out and board the bus.

    Our bus lurches and bumps down the highway and we continue this rhythm until 4pm... we arrive at a security check point... everyone unloads. The police at the door looks at our passports and says nothing. The earth around us is baking in the heat... we hide in the shadow of the bus and wait. Marshall spits on the road and checks his watch wanting to see how fast his spit will vanish.

    A scrawny shady character from the bus approaches us and points at the Police Office... motioning at us to go there. Of course Marshal and I cannot understand a thing this guy says so like good sheep, we go over there. We stand in a group while police take payment from the locals... no one pays attention to us at all. At last I hear the Oui Monsieur? I hand him my passport and say "Voyage pour Senegal..." he hands it back saying along line of French that I cannot comprehend... Marshal picks out one word the name of the border town Diboli.

    Marshal says to him OK Diboli as the bus sounds its horn again... we scramble over to climb aboard... again I am reminded that of all the places in the world you may need French this is it.

    Another short stop in Kayes to put air in the tire and we are off... the next pattern of travel continues as follows drive to a security check point everyone gets off... they ignore Marshal and I, and take money from the locals. The locals are becoming agitated not a good sign for the 2 white guys who keep being ignored while the indigenous people are paying left, right and center.

    Oh well it is what it is...

    Our travel is severely slowed by all these stops and I figure now that Marshals 3 hours is probably closer to 6 hours of delays. Night falls and we dose in and out of consciousness... the Africans on the bus complain about the door as they are freezing... Marshal and I enjoy the cool air.

    1am I am woken up and looking at a man dressed in Military fatigues... he is saying something to me? I respond in broken French he says "Oh you do not speak French in English" ... I am pleasantly surprised.

    He then says open your bags and makes us unload our day bags... I really do not blame him... Marshal has his shirt tucked into his capris, money belt making him have a gut and kinda reminds me of a giant hobbit... while I was sleeping wearing a turban ...He checks my stuff and when he goes into Marshal's bag he finds the SPOT.... (GPS locator and Search and Rescue Tool) hmmm this might go bad. Marshal the giant hobbit looks at him in a daze and says "Communicator for home... for the parents" Inside I am laughing and later tell Marshal he might as well have been trying to explain Astrophysics to the guy... it reminded me of the scene out of E.T. " E.T. call home"But it worked... kinda He looks at us and says anymore luggage? " Yes 2 bags under" all conversations are like this, small simple sentences. He informs us he will search our bags so Turban wearing Denis, and Frodo Marshall get off the bus in a daze ... quickly I whisper to Marshal " Maybe the Toureg sword, knife and Moroccan dagger in our bags is not gonna fly so well?" Marshal shrugs still half a sleep as we stand in the dark amongst out African traveling companions ...

    Standing on the highway or what they consider highways in Mali and Senegal ... Marshal and I identify our bags and I empty the contents of mine on the ground indicating that it is mostly souvenirs. A cursory check by our army or police guy and he tells me to pack up. He barely looks at Marshals Bag expect for the hilt of the sword protruding out of the top wrapped in a one piece skinned pig bag... "what is this?" Marshal AKA giant hobbit " a Tuareg sword, from Timbuktu " ................. " ok pack up and get on the bus" What the f--k? I think to myself and later joke with Marshal that yep no worries packing swords is OK here, I am now convinced I could wear it openly pas de problem.

    We are lucky because we only get searched once ... we were very unlucky because the new night time theme was every hour lets pull everyone off the bus and open up random bags... our african companions are not impressed as they pay for this service.

    Some time maybe 3am I wake up and realize that the pavement has ended and the inside of the bus is a swirling mass of red dust... my eyes are caked in the stuff but I can breath because of my adoption of the turban.... what a marvelous piece of cloth. I look over at Marshal and some how he is sleeping, mouth wide open and the dust and wind is creating a micro climate in his gaping maw. A good friend would have woken him up... however I am a great friend and I let him sleep. At this point of the trip we are now so very desensitized to dirt, filth, grime feces, smells etc... that he will survive.

    Sunrise the second one on this particular vehicle... the bus comes to a stop... our Muslim companions unload... and wash in order to pray to Mecca. One of the boob ladies falls out of the bus carrying a baby in front of us... I screw up my face in the holy crap that has to hurt look... and glance at Marshal " is she ok?" "yeah she is, probably tripped on her boob he responds"

    I smirk not because it is funny but because I see the validity in his comment.

    Note: washing in this part of Africa is sprinkling water on your hands and feet rubbing them and than rubbing your face.
    Also note: the left hand is used to wipe your ass with and they serve you food with both.

    Pray time is over.... we are off and running. Sun is up, dust is gone we all have a tint of red covering us but spirits are high. Marshal faithfully pulls out our lonely Planet... looks at the map deduces our estimated time of arrival in 45 minutes. This deduction would have been very sound yet ... three and a half hours later we arrive in Dakar. Creeping along or stopped in Mule, moped, bus, truck, whatever can move GRID LOCK....

    We are close to the coast the temperature soars into the high 30s we are all sweating... changing us from dust covered to mud covered. The food scraps the locals have been throwing on the floor for the past 30 hours begin to smell. Or maybe someone has died in the night... I care not if it is the latter as I am reaching the peak of my tolerance. ( 4 spoons of rice in 48 hours makes me grumpy go figure) but I consider it better that then shitty my pants...

    At last we arrive ... chaos as everyone flees the death trap that has been our home for the last 31 hours... taxi drivers scream at you ... grab you... everyone crowds for their bags ... We hop in a taxi ... 2 more men hop in we have pre chosen a hotel above our budget but necessary to regain our health.

    I ask "c'est com bien?"
    "cinq mill"
    I hand over 5000 cfa, the man next to me hands over 5000 as well... and wants his change...
    Marshal and I quickly figure out that the whole car is 5000cfa... they are scamming us ... we say nothing as really at this point I could care less is I lost 2 dollars.

    The driver and his companions however think they have really fooled us ... once again it just makes me sad that these people are so dishonest when it comes to foreigners and to each other. But as Marshal always points out they have nothing to lose and everything to gain...

    Two very sickly... dirty smelly infidels throw our dusty bags by the reception.... a beautiful Senegalese woman looks up at us... Bonjour Monsieur?

    "Un chamber pour 2, avec le toilet?"

    Yes she says.... I sigh inside. We are here, we haven't crap ourselves, Mali is behind us... we are sick, dirty, tired and hungry but this is nothing new.

    So there’s my story hope that you all enjoyed it.

    I need a rear bumper for expedition travel so I no longer have to: Try and rent a car and driver from places like this:

    Car%20park%201%20of%201_zpsgblvivnf_6986c3f7e1dd101ad73e8b64db902c5d919c88fd.jpg

    or a take rides on a boat like this:

    boat%201%20of%201_zps4j4jdvri_62257fc5d51092b6e75c5688e00ad057abbc5f77.jpg


    or be squashed in the back of this:
    (truck was good, occupancy not so much)

    20100130-IMG_3646_zpspunce0dv_61e24008ecdcba782004979b7e74f7e2650704f1.jpg

    With 4 guys like this:

    boat%201%20of%201-2_zpsgsa9uud5_01a119e70ca1208865c48b9f5ef83e3f82134afd.jpg

    to get to train and ride like this

    Train%201%20of%201_zpsica3bszj_47b22ef7507282b1d6cbdf3b05dc48e7894313a1.jpg

    to get to an area where you have to walk through the desert following this:

    Camel%201%20of%201_zpswvopa2wo_e12ac48b4e712aa1d59244a9a0826d77317fb180.jpg

    So this is my reason, Expediton travel not as above.

    Thanks for the consideration Denis and Brianna (Yukon Canada)


    Bonus: you only have to ship to Blaine, WA
     
    That1guy108 likes this.
  20. Jun 5, 2015 at 8:45 PM
    #160
    rocksolidata

    rocksolidata New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2014
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    #144494
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    Here is why I need this bumper... It would be a reason to execrate my return to truck ownership. I traded in my truck for a Subaru when my wife got pregnant with our first born. She had a hard enough time getting in before she was pregnant and was dreading doing so when she was. And further more couldn't wrap her head around how we were going to get the baby in and out. So, if I won this bumper I would have to get a new Tacoma because I would have a bumper that needed a home!

    So, I don't have any pictures to post of my truck needing this bumper because... I don't have it yet. However, I would be posting tons of pics of it's installation and once it is installed of the adventures my family would be able to have. Because I tried taking my Subaru on a fire road and all I did was screw up the alignment and break off a kick panel. All this said winning a new super awesome bumper would expedite the purchase of a new truck!
     
    SixthSnail likes this.

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