BSM and aftermarket rear bumpers

I'm not really thrilled about being the Guinea pig, but oh well, I'm sure I'll find someone to take it off my hands if it looks like a diaper.

It was only $570, compared to the $2,373.96 bumper at Apogee (6 ga steel vs 7 ga, they were even going to charge me extra to make "flat" BSM covers, and, I don't think that's a good spot for a step because you'll end up kicking the 1k+ BSM monitor each time you use it)

 

Steelcraft Arrived...

 

Thats a good looking bumper and can’t wait to see photos of it on your truck!

 

What happened to the C4 rear bumper, did you ditch it for something else?
Ideally I'd like to get a high clearance and that's even more reason for the bsm. It's super helpful backing out of my driveway onto the street.

 

Subbed. Def also curious to see how this works. Of the bsm actually works I'll buy one.

 

Awesome, let us know how BSM/RCTA works! Also how the clearance compares to stock, if possible.

 

The C4 bumper started to crack around the hitch mounting point. I contacted C4 and they said it had happened with a few people. They said that is why they discontinued it, because their original design was adapted to include the swing out which ended up being too much force on certain parts of the bumper. Pair that with the legality of offering a "safety feature", bsm, and they discontinued the bumper because they didn't want to be held liable because there isn't an aftermarket method for calibrating the BSM. C4 gave me the option to replace my bumper with their high clearance model so I switched to that.

The steelcraft bumper looks like it would "work" but won't give the full range of sensing like the OEM position. The Steelcraft bump looks like it senses purely from the side of the vehicle but not the rear angle as another vehicle approaches so it will be a delayed notification and not provide sensing as originally designed.

As an computer and systems engineer for the DoD I see why there is not a larger amount of aftermarket bumpers that support BSM. You are essentially providing the customer access to a custom safety feature that isn't calibrated to work as desired, thus opening yourself up to liability if performance is degraded or an accident occurs do to false positive/negative notifications. Not to mention there is no testing or verification of the aftermarket use of the safety feature that Toyota spent hundreds if not thousands of hours on.

I just turned my BSM functionality off and it hasn't been missed. It's nothing that a quick look in your mirrors doesn't solve. A lot of people have mentioned that the best alternative would be if Toyota moved the sensor out of the bumper and into the tail lights like other car manufacturers.

 

not to poke any fun at steelcraft, but does anyone know where they are made? USA? CHYNA?

 

Box says Made in China. From their website: R&D and distribution facilities are based here in the United States

 

How much does this Steelcraft weigh?

 

They told me 97 lbs.

 

a Google search of their bumpers does not do them any favors...woof. I genuinely hope this works out and an am excited to see it mounted up and a personal TW review.
I have been questioning how much a lift impacts the BSM and if they could be grafted into the fender above the bumper instead? I have noticed that it seems like a LOT of manufacturers seem to be integrating them into taillight housings, which is probably a very simple solution from the factory but obviously less so for us.

 

I lifted my truck 2 1/2” a couple of weeks ago and my BSM seems to working fine.

 

So how's it working out?

 

It's still sitting on my sawhorses. I really want to install it, but I'm also tempted to cut the bottom skirt, where the backup lights go, and leave the D-ring anchor points as drag bars. I'll take pictures of it mounted up in stock form before chopping it up. My only excuse is the holidays came around. Maybe I'll get to it this weekend. It's on the "to do list".

 

I had the same thought. It's a bit bulky. Eager to see how it comes out.

 

that bumper sounds like one heck of a deal to me definitely going to pick one up

 

Just came across this Westin that also works with BSM: https://www.westinautomotive.com/pro-series-rear-bumper

 

There is a calibration procedure dealers and body shops charge a lot to do when the rear bumper is replaced. Just putting the sensors back may or may not have the desired effect.

 

Nice find! Desert Rat seems to have it here.
Looks like they have a metal grate over the BSM,
Much better angle of the BSM compared the Steelcraft,
No recovery points like the Steelcraft,
Doesn't use OEM reverse lights,
Doesn't specify which lights can be installed...