Bumper, keep my BSM

BSM and park sensors are one in the same, as far as i’m aware... odd on alignment

 

BSM can’t see through metal. The stock bumper used plastic caps. The metal bumpers do not come with BSM.

 

You can see the difference between the Parking Sensors and BSM here

 

Yup separate systems and sensors

 

From what I can tell from reading the interwebs, it's not really an alignment issue, more of a calibration issue. Apparently they can be a bit finicky, and getting the sensor gunked up with mud or debris can cause it to throw an error. Knocking them out of the original position that it was calibrated in, or even changing how it is mounted (like moving the sensor to a new bumper made of different material) can throw the calibration out of whack, regardless of whether the sensor is blocked by a radar-reflecting material or positioned exactly like the OEM mounting. And calibration can then be finicky. Basically, anything other than an OEM mount with no damage around it could possibly cause issues with the calibration.

So, it's not just about moving the sensor over to a new bumper -- you then need to have the sensors calibrated. A dealer is unlikely to do this on an aftermarket bumper, although you might be able to find a collision repair shop that would take it on. However, unless there is other work involved (like a collision repair), many would likely avoid doing it due to liability issues. And either way, it is likely to be expensive and takes special tools.

I would surmise that C4 and other aftermarket bumper fabricators would want to avoid saying that their bumpers are compatible unless they have a calibration procedure you can follow, or stating that unless you can find someone to calibrate the sensors, they may not work.

I don't think it has anything to do with the flexibility of the mounting material (metal or plastic), it's more about how the sensor is affected by surrounding material and how it is calibrated.

 

Basically why I wanna build a cage and leave the OEM bumper and sensor mounts the hell alone lol. Now I just need to do it so its not ugly as fck and strong enough not to cause more damage if it bends...

 

ADD just released a new rear bumper and they have it with or without sensors...not sure if they actually work, but I would like to think a company finally figured out this issue.

 

Sent them an email, I'll reply with response. Thanks for letting us know.

 

Keep us posted!

I was looking at their website here, and, unless they have something in the works, they only offer Parking Sensors, and no BSM or Blind Spot Monitor radar compatibility...

Bumpers look nice though!

 

That’s just parking sensors on the ADD. No way it does bsm as well.

 

Good news, quick completely unoptimized test shows the first signs of hitting yeild str (whatever mild steel is in the program) at 2,000lbs force. (Like twice the "Hi-lift" test)

Since I'm not a designer, starting to think of just making "sliders" for the rear instead of a full cage. Basically trace the bottom of the bumper (sticking out a couple inches for trees) with a tube of steel and call it a day. Got a sheet of foam board and gorilla tape, Ill get around to making a model or two sometime this week.


And since I'm not a wheeler (yet), does anyone that knows better think this is not enough? Is the reason that all the plate bumpers look the way they do because of looks or something I'm missing? (Yes, improved clearance, but since I'm keeping my BSM, I cant do that)

 

I had thought about using my torklift camper brackets (here) as a point for mounting sliders, but make them out of plate steel instead of tube, although, I like the tube idea!




That, and I bought one of these: https://warfabarmor.com/products/sheridan-hitch-skid

 

I can tell you this hitch skid saved my rear bumper in Moab . up and down trails this video does not show how steep the hole is but you can hear the skid dragging 2 times .https://youtu.be/joFDTzQlQ4k

No damage to the rear bumper still.

 

May or may not have had a slow night at work
Thinking of using 2" round tube. Don't know how thick (1/4"?) yet. Don't know how to tie in in near the hitch, or just let the hitch be its own (or get the hitch plates posted above).
I'm half and half about the hoops by the tires, in the end it'll follow the indented body line.

Anyone in the Seattle area bored this weekend? I need to do some testing of the radar. (sit in the bed holding pieces of metal different places to see where the BSM sensor activates, probably have to do this while driving)

Edit: also thinking it would be easier to bolt it in place using the hitch bolts VS welding to the hitch tube.

 

Big nope. Just parking sensors.

 

Just toasted my right rear bumper cap, all the plastic underneath and a little of the metal bracket that holds it on on a small 6” tree stump that the sensors and I didn’t see —it was dark and I didn’t see anything in the rear view camera... lucky there is no damage to body or bed. Could have been a lot worse.

Plastic bumpers make no sense on a truck...

Anyway, so I think I’m gonna pull the trigger on the ADD stealth bumper w/sensors and the option Rigid flood lights instead of putting the factory plastic back on... gonna loose the BSM sensor, but it seems like the right thing to do for a “truck” that’s going to be used as a truck...

 

I don’t care about BSM as a blind spot monitor, but I appreciate the cross-traffic alert which uses the same sensors. So I want to keep my stock bumper, but like @Alnmike I think a rear “slider” would be very useful. Enough horizontal impact strength for minor trail mishaps, but primarily to prevent snagging and tearing the bumper on droids where there isn’t sufficient departure angle. Essentially tube extensions welded on either side of the hitch, out to the corners, for full width protection unlike a hitch skid.

Maybe a few gussets and/or some formed sheet metal to add a skid surface under the tubing. It would obviously reduce departure angle a bit, but make up for it by being wider than the receiver square tube and much stronger than the plastic bumper.

 

This guy has created a similar “underbumper” which attaches to the receiver of a GX470. With some plastic trimming which I think would be feasible on a Tacoma, it sits at the same height above the ground as the receiver and he says it doesn’t reduce clearance or departure angle. Looks pretty good.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/mountain-passes-off-road-mini-max-bumper.1104134/

 

Went out to get some actual experience this weekend. Pics below. I really like your mini max link. Looks really clean.
Im starting to think that there's a reason for plate vs tubing and it's for sliding vs catching on rocks. When I get a chance, I'll look at my foam model and add in some plate. Should help with stiffness too.

I'm still running into the design issue with how to connect the two sides without impeding functionality of the hitch. I don't think it'll look as clean with 2 pieces vs 1 piece.


Also, I need to get sliders and skid plates sooner rather than later... Exhaust reroute scheduled Friday!
https://ibb.co/2sB8mdm
https://ibb.co/0FQW7PR
https://ibb.co/9HbxJf4
https://ibb.co/gZ3djqj

 

I'm not into off-roading like I used to, but I've spent a my fair share of time in a off-road club destroying vehicles.

I do still use my truck off-road a lot simple due to the things I like to do --mostly to hunt in hard to get to, remote places.

I can tell you, if you spend enough time off-road or using your truck as a "truck" those plastic end-caps they call a "bumper" are going to get ripped off, smashed, dented or other wise destroyed... Even with a protective bar around them, I see them getting damaged. Toyota took the easy and cheap route on this one by putting the BSM sensors in a plastic car bumper and not somewhere else (tail light assembly for example?).

My suggestion... put a complete metal bumper on your truck. There's a reason manufacturers have been doing that for years.