Body Armor Hiline Series Bumper

A few people here receive their bumper damage. I got mine damage as well. I didn’t realize this until I try to mount the bumper on. It was uneven on both side, really uneven. Take it out and look at it again, it was bent at the corner.
Another issue I have is, the piece to move the power steering line, it doesn’t really fit properly. I have to add 5washers each side to raise it up so the line won’t crush against the bolt. To me that wasn’t a bit deal. Also, the 3rd bolt on the side that hold the power steering line, after moving it back, there is no way to install that bolt back due to the alignment of the hole. So I just leave it there. But hopefully the replacement bumper is fine.

another thing is, I install the bumper without removing the grill, bumper, or the black plastic cap in front like the instructions say. I just measured and cut. Then remove the crash bar, move the power steering line back.

 

Rust is the biggest threat to the Hiline bumper. I've repainted the interior and exterior; also have applied two coats of RP-342 on the insides.

 

Yup
My power steering cooler would not fit either using the kit. I too had to use stacks of washers to clear the bolt heads.
Also my bumper was crooked. I had to jack the drivers side and bolt it in place or it was visibly sitting lower. When I measured and square checked the bumper either the parts were jigged up slightly out or the bumper twisted welding it.
I also installed my bumper the same way. I had another thread on that. Their instructions have you do way more work than necessary.

It was really one thing after another with this bumper. Again, more time than it was worth. Time is money too for some of us

 

Time is money for all of us! I worked on mine a few hours at a time and it took 3 days! Instructions are indeed, unnecessarily complicated. I didn't take all that shit off either I mean, WTF? I had forgotten but DNguyen mentioned the cooler line having to be un-bolted to move the cooler and that, there is no way to re-bolt it back in. I think instead of trying to drill/tap a new hole or use a self-tapping screw (both options would suck)...I might bolt a small tab to it an then, just bolt the tab back to the original hole. Hmmmmm...that could work!

Thanks for the reminder, I need to get that done. I expect Toyota bolted it in for a reason?

 

Yeah, Toyota bolt the line at the frame (next to passenger wheel) for additional support to the line. But there is no way to bolt that 3rd one down after you move the line. I try to push/wiggle that area around but it seems pretty secure. Im not too worry about rubbing to the frame even though it sit against it. If u reach around the frame, you can feel the metal tab is wrap around the line so if any rubbing from driving, the cooler line isn’t damage. If anyone still worry it might rub paint off the frame, get a thin piece of plastic or something, use double sided tape, put it between the line and frame.

anyway, who ever wrote up this instruction is wack. It’s much more challenging to cut ur bumper if you remove it especially you do it yourself.

 

It’s funny how you are the only person who encounter the issue with the bracket to move the power steering line. I’ve read many post before installing my bumper and no one mentions about it or the bolt next to the passenger wheel.

 

Instructions with the BA Bumper kit say to use the extra nut included as a spacer, if you need to raise the supplied power steering cooler bracket relocation kit.

 

Lol, I didn’t even read the instructions. While waiting for the bumper to arrive, I read people’s post on their installation and I thought that was easy enough.

 

You may be thinking of the cooler itself? We're talking about the line to the cooler that was mounted to top of frame near passenger wheel. Using a nut as a spacer isn't going to fix anything. The tab attached to the line is pushed back too far to get any bolt back in it. Not a spacer issue. Needs a new bolt hole or, an extension as I proposed to use the original location?

 

This is inside engine bay, top of frame member, passenger side.
Okay, now I know why I forgot about it...I don't even think I can get in there to re-mount the hose! I would have to remove so many things just to get access to the frame I could barely even get this picture but, I wanted others to see what we're talking about. The hole in the frame is the original threaded bolt hole for the tab attached to oil cooler hose. You can barely make out the tab I have identified, you can't see it but it has a hole in it for a bolt to pass through. I'm not sure which of the hoses is the one in question, runs either to or from oil cooler.

I had to un-bolt this hose from the frame to be able to move the cooler back and relocate it. The instructions say nothing about the line having to be free or, about re-mounting it. It is still loose.

 

What 3rd bolt? Remeber, it's been since December when I did this. Yes! This IS the frame bolt for the cooler line.

 

Well guys an Update and a HUGE SHOUTOUT to Body Armor and the store I purchased from, Clint at https://wheelsplusmore.com

So as I said I received my second bumper this week similar to Doc's experience it had some imperfections. The first one was damaged in shipping and it also had some imperfections. So I contacted WheelsPlusMore and they had the second one shipped out.

The one I just received in the pictures above was just cosmetically not very good in some areas so I sent pictures to Clint again and asked him what he thought. I just wasn't sure what to think and thats why I had asked you guys for some more pictures.

He then proceeded to contact Body Armor personally on the phone and sent me a message last night saying the VP of Body Armor was going to call me.

The VP called me today and was super nice and assured me that the cosmetic issues were not OK and he would make it right. He was glad it was brought to his attention and he will be following up on this problem. He personally went and pulled a new bumper and inspected it out in CA and is shipping it to me on a pallet so it does not get damaged.

It was really good to be able to speak with him, to share my input and experience. We discussed Doc's experience as well, and was very sorry/concerned this had happened to us.

So I cant say enough about the customer service that I received with my seller WheelsPlusMore. The fact that he took the time to call Body Armor first and foremost and then the VP called me on the phone.

Hopefully they will get the issues sorted out and we can all benefit from parts we are proud to have on our trucks.

 

Yeah. If I didn’t unbolt that, there’s no way I can push the line back on the left side. The bumper itself is bent at the corner. They are sending me a replacement.

 

I was referring to DNguyen1033 where he added the washers. I thought maybe it was because the frame bolt in the fender well was still there but maybe not.

 

I ordered the RP-342 for the inside as well just as an extra precaution

 

Cool makes sense.

 

gregnauman said, " So I cant say enough about the customer service that I received with my seller WheelsPlusMore. The fact that he took the time to call Body Armor first and foremost and then the VP called me on the phone."

I'm personally glad to hear you're getting some good customer service from the retailer and even something from the VP at BA. And, they did the right things. But had the VP at BA been doing his fucking job in the first place, this kind of shit wouldn't be so prevalent, so many would not have been returned, and you would not have to drag him out of his office. Further, with ALL the returns, how is it we're supposed to believe he didn't have a clue?

So again, happy for you but, I'm calling bullshit on the VP

 

I ended up with the CBI Covert Front Bumper. CBI Offroad Fab - Toyota Tacoma Covert Front Bumper | 2016-2021 - Going to install it as soon as I get that myself, which will be very soon and the 22 bar light so i can do it all at once.

 

1) New here, so if there's a search function within a thread, please drop some knowledge on me! (I didn't want to search through the 20 pages.)

2) For you OEM guys with this bumper, do you know what your new approach angle is? Bonus points if you have a Pro.

3) I know mods rarely add value and mostly decrease value, but does anyone have a good estimate of how this might impact the trade-in or private sale value?

 

I don't have the ability to measure my approach angle, but I will say it hasn't changed much (if at all) vs. the stock bumper. Having a Pro vs. any other model shouldn't be different, as they all use the same bumper. But the extra inch of front-end ride height on the Pro will increase the approach angle slightly vs. non-Pro models, if you're comparing stock height trucks (but it should be noted that most folks who install a bumper like this are also modifying their suspension and ride height).

As for value - I would venture to say that a mod like this decreases the trade-in value by the cost of a new OEM bumper, since you have to cut it up and can't return to stock. For trade-ins, dealers want vehicles to be stock, because they'll return it to that stock condition before selling it. To the right private buyer (someone who already wanted to install this exact bumper), it can add maybe a couple hundred dollars to the private party sale value.