Will I need a lift if I get this steel bumper?

Am strongly considering the Tough Country and it occurred to me that I'll have an extra 300lbs to contend with.

Will I also be facing a front end left as well? If so, what would be a reasonable lift? I'm currently running with stock suspension.

I don't plan on having a winch.

 

Why is there a 4 inch gap between the bumper and body?

You will at least want to look into new springs for the front end if the bumper is heavy, you won't need to lift it though, just put stronger springs on

 

It looks like you've got an access cab. You could get these coils paired with some bilstein 5100s. These coils are a 620lb spring rate as opposed to the 500lb rate of stock ones. These would maybe lift your truck 1" in the front.

http://toyteclifts.3dcartstores.com/112-620--ToytecEibach-front-coil-lift-springs_p_14.html

 

Another consideration that occurred to me, and maybe it doesn't apply to my specific situation, is brake lines and possibly extending them.

 

For a bumper?
No

 

Nope, doesn't apply to you.

 

Still might also consider the ARB.

 

Dave,

I put an ARB on my '13DCSB. I weighed the bumper and everything that was removed. Without a winch, the ARB adds 131lbs net weight. I lost, at most, 3/16" - 1/4". One thing I noticed on mine is that the hoops do shade some of the light bleed so there is a much more notable cut off. I ended up adding a lift to level the front a bit mainly for raising the light cut off.

 

I have a 68lb aluminum plate bumper...Pelfreybilt. Winch with synthetic line (1/7th the weight of steel cable) Aluminum skids, and relatively light sliders (for bolt on sliders...)

With the use of aluminum, ALL my armor and winch is still less than that heavy steel bumper and winch.

That dropped the front of my truck about 3/4". That's with OME 885X coils on 5100 Billstiens. A simple 1/2" poly top plate spacer restores it to pre-armor/winch ride height.

You will need higher spring rate, regardless of actual "lift" or not just to maintain the ride height you now have.

 

The truck is a 2011 with 130,000 km (about 80,000 miles) on it, stock shocks and springs. I'm not averse to switching out both springs and shocks.

 

The ARB is expensive and an engineered product as well.

 

Mine is a 2011 with 139,000.

 

Buy a demello offroad bumper or SOSconcepts, solid bumpers. Many companys make great strong plate bumpers that dont weigh 300 pounds, my bumper like 135 ISH and it weighed it down quite a bit. You are not gonna wanna go that heavy in the front especially if you drive highway a lot.

 

Wow! THANK YOU for showing me that! I really light the ones with the headlight and grille loops.

 

Most of the better brands of aluminum bumpers are formed in such a way that they're stronger than the truck frame itself. I've already had a couple solid "impacts" that rattled the truck and didn't leave a mark on the bumper. Wouldn't hesitate for a second to go aluminum again.

This one is available with loop and headlight loops too.

 

Quite a bit lighter than steel to, I'm assuming?

 

Steel just like it is over 120 lbs. Aluminum is 68lbs.

VERY helpful come time to mount it! Did this one by myself.

@Pelfreybilt!

EXTREMELY good people to work with. Most accommodating!

 

ARB for the win! Ive hit a few deer in mine and its held up great. The ones for the 05-11s fit better than the 12-15s too. If you had a 12-15 id say steer clear, but this one fits like a glove. Also without a winch, it weighs about 125. I ran mine without upgraded suspension for a while, but you will notice the front end nose diving a little more on hard stops

 

Now that I think of it, the Tough Country I was originally considering being 300lbs... that's kinda insane...

 

If you're putting on a new front for protection while offroading, I'd stick with steel. Besides ARB they're usually 125-140lbs.