SSO Slimline Hybrid Stage 2 High Clearance kit

This please☝️

 

My status (currently tracking at 13 weeks total time for the bumper only):

5/17/19 I ordered my basic bumper (no cutouts or hoop) on May 17th (early Friday morning), #104888
5/22/19 Order was Invoiced on May 22nd,
6/18/19 Materials Received email was sent to me on June 18th,
7/5/19 SSO Email, "sorry for the delay to all our customers" was sent on July 5th,
7/17/19 Email, "only a few bumpers ahead of you to go into production. The build/powder time is usually a few weeks depending on volume",
7/25/19 Email, "I checked your order and there are 5 orders ahead of you to be assigned out. You will go into fabrication by the beginning of this upcoming week...build/powder time is a few weeks depending on volume".

So, I'm 10 weeks into it. We will see... I'll report back when I receive shipping confirmation.

 

Well I've been chipping away at it after work this week. We tried welding the face with a nice clean bead and I was planning on leaving them exposed, but the gap on the drivers side would not allow for a clean bead that matched the passenger side. So we tig welded both sides and did a lot of finish grinding. Finish product A+. We also welded the flanges where the stage 2 bolts up. After welding I reinstalled and had to do some fine tuning on the plastic cuts.


I've now sanded the powder paint off the outside of the bumper primered with rustolium self etching primer and applied the rustolium bed liner to match my sliders. This is easy to repair when the bumper is scratched or dinged in the future. It's not as tough as a good powder paint but it easier to repair and cost me $50 instead of $400. I've had a lot of stuff powder painted and it's really overrated, it all needs to be refinished after 5-10 yrs. living in The Mojave Desert we don't have to worry about rust like most of you all do.


I'm hoping to make some time this weekend to finish the project. I'll shoot a few photos of the finished product in a few days. Be Blessed.

 

@Sootytom nice! Planning to do the same weld for mine

 

This looks so good. Cant wait to see it on the truck. I wish I had the skills to do that.

 

Looks amazing. Well done! Can’t want to see it all finished up and installed.

 

What size hardware did they send you ? I ask because I am getting wings today but bumper shipping in 3 days. I would like to know if I need different hardware before they ship rest of my order. Thanks

 

They are size 3/8 but only 3/4 inches long, I think. I got 1 1/4 length and that was enough.

 

Well, I worked on this from about 8:00pm - 2:00am'sih. I will say from a distance it looks amazing and I love it overall... BUT when you get up close to see the details it can be a bit disappointing. I am sure some of these issues just come with the territory of getting aftermarket parts while everyone's truck is a little different. I tinkered with the stage 2 sides for a very long time to try and get the gaps minimized while also keeping it lined up but I could not get it to look right. The passenger side looks ok but the driver side is off. I made my cuts and they were damn near exact to what was shown in the video on every single point of reference but when I mounted up the bumper... the stage 2 goes over the entire area and covers almost the entire trim piece in most areas. I also have a bigger gap on the slimline edge on the driver side. I am not really sure how to fix any of this by shifting the bumper, so I am thinking I just draw a line while it is still mounted and then recut everything? Any advice in this area would be great. You can see the passenger side is very overlapped on the fender area but the driver side has a big gap. I will mess with it more today to see what I can do but I am thinking I am going to have to take it off and try and trim more.

 

Thanks. I will check to make sure when it gets delivered today

 

SEAMLESS !!!

 

Mission complete I worked late last night and got just about wrapped up. I ordered some kydex to rebuilt the inner fender wells I cut out, that will be later this week.
I'm extremely happy with the finished product, but it took A Lot of extra work.
If your planning on installing this bumper at the moment, I would purchase it bare metal, bolt it all up, mock it upon your truck, make necessary adjustments, with grinder and hammer, paint or powder paint it, than install and make final adjustments to plastic cuts on truck.
Sorry but 1/8" gaps are not ok.
I'm sure on new systems purchased as a set things will be tighter, but I would still purchase it bare metal.

I removed, cut and capped the 2"-3" tubing that has the nuts for the lower bumper bolts so it's not sticking out 4" on both sides.
I also ran the plastic edging behind the fender flares, trimming the front on the plastic flare so the trim would tuck under it nicely, than I backfill the gap under the black plastic flare with silicone caulking to secure it to truck better.


To the guy that posted before me. You've got to cut your plastic on both sides quit a bit more, the edge trim should sit on top of the bumper, your's is tucked behind the bumper, which is causing the center area to push up away from the bumper. That's why you've got such a large gap along the center

Peace, Joy and Love. The Greatest Is Love.

 

Do you think the best option would be to take and draw a line along the line that mine is currently sitting and then just cut along that line? Or should I cut a little above the line or below? I guess I am not sure what you did to make it so perfect.

 

Whatcha doing next weekend ? Feel like visiting Long Island ? Have a few cold beers do a little fishing. Oh and I have this one little bumper project that I could use a hand with.

 

Before you cut your bumper higher I would try lowering the stage two wings. It's hard to tell from the pictures but it looks like you have them at the wrong angle.

 

Yeah, you've got the plastic in a bind. It should install from underneath the plastic, not inf front. I see theres also a large gap above the slimline as well. Make sure the slimline fits well within the cuts before bolting on the side wings.

 

There is not much play available but I got it lined up as close as possible after messing with it for hours.

 

3000 x2 miles for a couple of beers.
Why don’t you drive out here and we’ll finish your bumper, than go wheeling out in Lucerne Valley at Cougar Buttes.
Home of King of The Hammer.
20 miles away.

About your install.
I would remove the black edging.
Mark your plastic with a sharpie.
Remove the bumper.
Trim your plastic leaving an extra 1/8”.
Leaving edging off, reinstall the bumper, keeping plastic on top of bumper, adjust stage 2’s so reveal is satisfactory. Remark plastic with sharpie.
Remove bumper trim plastic again.
Remount bumper check all plastic to fit. Make sure plastic is relaxed should have 1/16-1/8” gap.
Remove bumper install black edging.
Mount bumper final time.

Take your time and do it step by step and it’ll look good.
I’ve got 30 hours in the total job.
Mounting bumper, stage 2 kit, prepping truck for warn winch, installing everything and wiring winch and light bar.
Hope this helps.
Tom.

 

He did issue a refund of $49 but I paid $59 for shipping so he did not refund all of the shipping charges like he said he did.

 

You drive a hard bargain. 36pk and a pizza! BTW this is not the guy with the slimline mounted. Mines coming next week. Anyways you did a beautiful job. I will probably be getting mine welded if I have any serious gaps. You inspired me