Any issues installing high clearance bumpers?

I am considering buying a high clearance bumper for my 2016 Tacoma. I really like the one from relentless fabrication ( https://www.relentlessfabrication.c...oducts/2016-tacoma-high-clearance-rear-bumper ).

It has the best design and cleanest lines that I have seen. My only concern is finding a shop that can install it properly. I've talked to several off-road truck stores and none of them have experience installing these bumpers. I know they're very popular out west, but you don't really see them here in the Midwest.

Have any of you had issues installing high clearance bumpers? You only get one chance to cut off the back corner of your truck. I'm afraid the lines won't be straight or that there will be other issues due to inexperience installing these types of bumpers.

 

If you aren't comfortable doing it yourself, I would try and find a good hot rod shop that cuts and fabs show cars. They should be able to take care of you.

 

My neighbor has that bumper. Compared to other HC on the market, it is much more forgiving on where you cut the bed(because it covers half the cut line) although a straight cut would always be preferred.
Few things that turned me off on it;
The receiver hitch is welded below the bumper. so much for a High clearance. The trailer connector also hangs below(he already bent the heck out of it wheeling)
There are also no frame braces towards the front of the bumper. Not a big deal, but if I am buying a bullet proof bumper.. I want it to be beefy.

Other than that I love the aesthetics, the way it flows with the stock body lines. Best looking one for sure. But between their lead times, and the above mentions cons... I went with CBI.
Good luck to ya

 

I’ve been browsing the high-clearance rear bumpers and my only gripe at this time is the lack of keeping BSM. I’m sure this isn’t a big deal to some of you on here but I would prefer to keep it, if at all possible.

The Relentless bumper looks good. I will agree with @mesojdm for the fact that it lacks a proper location to fit the trailer connection and the rear hitch.

 

It's really not a big deal with a grinder and a steady hand. I've cut dozens of bedsides. I use blue painters tape over the area and mark out my cut.

It's better to cut too little off and have to trim again than go too high. Just take your time and be steady.

 

I have the pelfreybuilt. I did 2 cuts. Like said above, better to cut too little and have to cut again. I may actually do one more small trim to get it a little cleaner looking.
Also use the blue painters tape, but what I did was put one piece of tape above and below where I wanted to cut, leave 1/16" inbetween and cut the line inbetween the tape. It's easier to keep the grinder cut of wheel straight that way.

 

I don't want to be that guy; just trying to inform.

State by state bumper requirement pdf

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.rvia.org/UniPop.cfm?v=2&OID=8148&CC=8544&ved=0ahUKEwj179Dot7jVAhXD5lQKHeC5BlkQFghtMA0&usg=AFQjCNF0PXYn6WR6Ci_X9q5i4R-oQwDuAA

 

Could you post a pic of the bumper on your truck ?
I was thinking of the relentless bumper also...but after reading your post the hitch is something I need, and your right I think in that it is hanging down . So much for high clearance .

 

I would think a good body shop would be a great place to look to have this bumper mounted .

 

I'd also think a body shop or most local fabrication shops could install and cut for you. This is a trimmed corner. I feel that cutting through tape tends to leave a cleaner edge on in thw paint afterwards.

 

Remove stock bumper, measure twice, cut once.

 

Ive never purchased a bumper from any one. The manufacturers don't include some sort of guide lines for where to cut on these?

 

I've got a couple rigs with aftermarket market

Hey Porter first off that's a great looking truck , but that bumper with swing away puts you dangerously close to land yacht territory
Just sayin! Lol

 

Haha, it's not that bad.

 

No it's on my decision list of bumpers.

 

Did you read that? I don't think there is a single state where an after market Tacoma bumper wouldn't be legal. Just about all of them either have no provisions or it must be equal to or greater strength.

Good info though. I always wondered about mine.

 

Yes I did.
I count 17 states with no provision.
Quite a few have height requirenments. I would think a high clearance bumper affects that.

 

Porter707, great looking Taco.

Silly questions regarding the aftermarket bumper. What did you do to prevent the body from rusting after you cut it to fit the bumper, and I assume you just did a way with your sensors and backup camera?

 

Thanks!

And not a silly question at all.

I painted the bare metal surfaces after the bedside was cut, then I used this (

Door Edge Guard Protector For Most Sedans By COSMOSS, Virtually Invisible / Durable and Cleanly Remove Design, Easy D.I.Y. Installation: No Tools Needed, (16-ft, Black)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N9SGSUM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_dp_T1_zRGGzbPYN6VVG ) to cover the bedside to give it an aesthetically clean look.

Parking Sensors could have been retained had I opted for the option to get the cutouts, and I just reloacated my backup camera with a $20 aluminum mount from Pelfreybilt.

 

Thank you for the reply. So it sounds like the parking sensors could be used as long as the bumper has cutouts. That's good. Any chance you could take a pic of where you relocated the camera? I looked over your build thread but couldn't see anything in regards to the camera. The sensors, camera and rust containment are really the only things holding me back from getting one. Living in Utah, the roads are heavily salted in the winter time, so rust is a concern. Generally, I'm not a big fan of powder coating metal b/c it doesn't seem to hold up through our winters. I don't recall seeing any manufactures making an aluminum option for a high clearance bumper, but could be wrong. Front bumpers yes, but don't recall for the rear.