Body Armor Hiline Series Bumper

Awesome! Thanks for the quick reply. So you have this same one installed in your Hiline bumper?

Update: Sorry, i just realized this one i sent was the 12 and you said you have the 10 and i think the bumper says it only accommodates a 10k winch.

 

Not really sure what the difference would be other than the line strength? If the motor and size is the same. Then it should be good?

 

I'll just play it safe and go with the 10K lol thanks man!

 

No problem! That wireless remote is quite a bonus too, haha.

 

This one is the Desert series.

 

What winch did you use and light bar?

 

I went with led bolts for the tag lights. I will probably use that "fairlead" hole to run a 120 outlet from the one in the bed.

 

I pulled the trigger on this bumper and installed it last weekend. This thread was a huge reason I decided to do it, so I wanted to share my photos in case it helps anyone else take the plunge. I think I ended up cutting a little too much from the sides, but it still looks great. There is quite a bit of metal still covered by the remaining plastic on the factory bumper after you cut, so the design is actually pretty forgiving if you make a mistake and cut too much. If anyone is in Southern California, there is a guy on Craigslist selling a few of these for $375 new in the box. That's where I purchased mine, and it was exactly as advertised with no funny business.

 

Would you mind sending me the craigslist link? That a great deal and this is the bumper I have been eyeing.

 

Absolutely! Here it is: https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/pts/d/corona-toyota-tacoma-new-winch-front/7221677750.html

As of when I picked mine up (about a week and a half ago), he still had a few. Just call him on the phone number listed. He's kind of an older guy who isn't the most communicative via text.

 

Cheers, thanks! I reached out to him, hopefully he has one left, that's a great deal. Looks genuine? (I know it's Chinese metal anyway).

 

Sorry, I just saw this. Did you ever get in touch with him and did he have any left? I see that his ad is still up on Craigslist.

It is definitely genuine. Came in the box from BA. The box was a little beat up, but the product inside was perfectly fine. The smaller box with all of the mounting hardware/plate bracket/rubber trim wasn't even opened. The guy's company does displays at the SEMA show every year. He had a few of these for that show from a few years ago, then they just got put back in their boxes and have been sitting in his storage ever since.

 

Do you have a lift on your truck? How much did it drop the front end?

 

I do not have a lift... yet. I have acquired some TRD Pro coilovers and rear shocks, and I'm going to install the Westcott front end kit and a Headstrong AAL in the rear. Should be about 2" higher in the front and 1.5" in the rear when it's all said and done.

I did not notice any drop in the front end when I installed this, but I don't have a winch in it yet. I cut the plastic bumper and installed this to get it out of my garage for the time being. I need to take it back off and install my winch, but I was waiting to install the suspension first. The Westcott increases the height of the lower spring perch on the front coilovers, which increases the preload and should offset the increased weight. That's the hope anyway.

Most folks in this thread have said they lose 1/4 to 1/2 inch of ride height in the front end on factory suspension with a winch.

 

Many thanks!

Please keep us posted on it once you add the winch.

You truck looks like a beast with that bumper!

 

Mine dropped 3/8” with winch and light bar installed on Eibach Pro Truck lift which has 700 lb springs I think so it would drop more on stock suspension.

 

I was looking for slim bumper that's pretty simple to install. The less cutting the better. The front bumper cutting isnt a big deal.
I did notice that the power steering cooler needed to be relocated. How difficult is this?

 

Yeah, that's quite a bit. I don't know how heavy the springs are on the TRD Fox coilovers that I'll be installing, but I doubt they're 700 lbs. Hopefully I don't lose that much height. Can I ask what winch you're running? Synthetic, or steel cable?

Not difficult at all. It's about 3 to 5 minutes of the total installation process. The hi-line bumper comes with two small metal brackets. You simply remove the two bolts that currently hold down the cooler (both very easy to access from the front once the aluminum crash bar is removed), and then you attach the brackets with those same two bolts that you just removed (right back into the same holes). You do have to remove one more bolt which clamps one of the power steering hoses and prevents the cooler from moving around. You access it by reaching through the passenger side fender well. I didn't even have to turn my tires or anything, just reached right in and got to it with ease, although you may need to pop off the little floppy splash guard if yours is still there (it's attached with 4 little clips. I just popped off the upper right clip with a screwdriver, and pushed it right back in when I was done). With that bolt removed, the whole cooler is kind of loose and can wiggle around. You just push it backwards an inch or two and rest it on the threaded studs of the new brackets, then install the new nuts that hold it down. The bolt that was clamping the hose does not go back in.

 

I did mine this week: