SOS Concepts Streamline Bumper installed!

I did the Anzio flip up mount from Amazon. My only concern with it is that, with the front angle of the bumper, it doesn't flip up very far. I think if I had to do a pull at anything much above horizontal, my plate would be in the way. I'm thinking about modifying it, so the hinge bolts are pins, so I could completely pull it if I need. Should've probably gone with the removable from the start.

 

Looks good!

my 2cents - Synth line and hawse fairlead will imporve approach angle and lighten it up a good bit.

 

Will this fix become part of normal production??

 

PM incoming

 

Interested to know as well.

 

There wasn't an issue with the bumper. It's the factory mounting points. They are weak. We have weld on frame plates that are 3/16" thick and replace the factory studs with grade 8 1/2" bolts. This is the best method to fix the issue.
http://sosoffroadconcepts.com/weld-on-frame-brace/

Do you have a bumper already?

 

Yep. Did my install last week. See above.
Really happy with most everything, but know AL isn’t going to match steel, if there is reinforcement that needs to be done, I’d like to be as strong as possible.

 

That wasn't the bumper that had issues but the factory mounting points. The welded plates I linked are the better. You can also get some tie in brackets that go from the outer 2 bumper bolts to a hole in the frame behind the bumper. This works ok but you can still bend the factory mounting points. I did and I was using C4s tie in brackets which also mount to the sway bar bolt holes. Eddy may still have some of those tie in brackets left you can email him and see.

I am running both the tie in brackets and welded frame plates.

 

Ah.....Should I switch my Aluminum for steel? I wanted to save weight but I'm getting this winch bumper to use it.

 

You dont have to. The bumper is strong enough for some good winch pulls it's the factory mounts that are weak.

 

Hmmm, not super confidence inspiring. You are saying the frame is weak?

 

As I'm the guy who reported this, the issue is with the winch bumper flanges only securing the bumper at the top of the mounting flange. The weld-on bracket is the right idea, but unless you add a mounting bolt at the bottom, you're likely to have the same problem. And to be clear, I couldn't tell without disassembling everything whether it was the bumper, the frame mounting flange, or both that bent--I'm not trying to point fingers here. And I think the brackets that SOS kindly supplied are a good non-welding solution--they tie to a strong bottom bolt and would appear to provide the same steel support in front of the bumper mounting point as the weld-on bracket supplies behind it, plus the brackets support the lower part of the bumper mounting points. A picture of the driver-side bracket as mounted up (and easily done) is attached.

 

Thanks for following up. So just to be clear, you ultimately are happy with the bolt on brackets?

 

Well, a qualified "yes." The brackets certainly reinforce the mounting, and do it without welding. I was a bit worried about the flimsy metal in the front end when I mounted it, and the more I think about it the more likely it seems to be a Toyota issue rather than SOC. But I've not used the winch since mounting, and in that will be the ultimate proof of the pudding. Might monkey around with it this week and see how it works.

Update Jan. 2022: After a few more winch uses, I'm satisfied with the bolt-on brackets SOS provided, especially after I managed to hang the truck up on an unseen stump which required using a high lift jack almost to full height. I managed that by using one of the D-Rings flipped up to provide purchase, and then leaning into it. The bumper moved perhaps 1/4 inch under almost full weight of the truck, which I'm not going to complain about. But one thing I discovered when I pulled the winch out last week before we sell the truck--the passenger side rear mounting bolt on the winch (8K Warn) is slightly elongated and had pulled up perceptibly. That surprised me--I only did one really hard pull on the set up; one moderate, and several very modest pulls. IF I were to do it again, I'd find some 1/8' stainless steel angle iron wide enough to run laterally underneath the winch, and use that to reinforce the mounting. My ultimate conclusion is that aluminum ay be the answer for the modest requirements I had, but I'd not run aluminum on a serious off-road winch setup. This worked well on the Taco because it was primarily an on-road/fire road truck, where weight was a significant concern for mileage and ride and I was unlikely to bump into situations like winching a tow truck hooked to a mobile home up an aspen-covered hillside. Don't ask how I got into that little episode so many years ago!

 

Thanks for reporting back, @ovrlndkull has some brackets coming with my bumper so should be solid from the start.

 

Just an update—I finally used the winch on taking down several trees, with heavier pulls than caused the original problem, and the brackets kept everything nice and solid — no apparent deflection at all. They definitely should be standard part of the bumper installation kit!

 

I think they are now. @ovrlndkull can confirm but Eddy sent some with mine based on my concern after your report.

 

Yes the reinforcement brackets are coming standard with all of our bumpers from this point on.

 

Cool I had my stream line bumper installed by SOS last spring and now I want to install a winch (the smittybilt Gen 3 9.5 Comp) I am wondering if this will fit? and I guess I have to take the bumper off to install?

 

Why not the Smittybilt X20?