Aftermarket rear bumper considerations

Hi all,
I'm new to the forum, and I've enjoyed reading a number of your posts (including those about bumper mods). First off, after 16 years, I just replaced my 2005 Tacoma with a 2022 (for MSRP, if you can believe it). I bought an SR5 double cab long bed 4x4, which is what I had before. I don't do any rock crawling, but I spend a lot of time hunting in the Sierra Nevada, and I busted a LOT of brush with my 2005. The paint on that truck was utterly destroyed. Not sure how I'm going to deal with brush in the new truck, but that's a different story.

I'd like your opinion on a mod I'm considering. I could not be more disappointed in the plastic bumper of the new tacos. I'd like to replace the bumper with one that weighs about 85 lbs. I'm also putting a shell on the bed. Will all this weight affect performance? At what point will I need to consider changes to the leaf springs? Finally, I've read some who think that the stock bumper was designed to crumple in a crash, and aftermarket steel bumpers will transfer energy to the frame in a crash, instead of absorbing energy.

I'd appreciate your thoughts on all these issues.

Thanks all!

 

To maintain stock height with a shell and an aftermarket bumper, you'll likely need to consider an add-a-leaf or block spacer on the rear. The stock springs sag if you fart on them.

 

If it’s not broke don’t fix it.

 

Or a leaf pack that doesn't suck like the stock ones.

A steel bumper that bolts to the frame rails will transfer more energy to the frame in a rear collision. There are energy absorbing materials and design that deform in a collision and in turn will absorb some energy. Only in a low speed collision will it save the truck from further damage, but I'm any collision it absorbs some amount of energy. How much difference it makes is impossible to say without testing it in a controlled environment or getting some info from Toyota. AFAIK that info is not available publicly.

 

If you have Blind Spot Monitors (BSM) then the only rear bumper on the market that will keep them functioning is built by Apogee Offroad. There are a couple of threads on Tacoma World discussing Apogee products.
I have their rear bumper mounted for about 3 months and confirm the BSM works with them.

 

Welcome to TW , maybe try this out.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/goat-magnetic-armor.642930/

 

I installed a Body Armour rear steel bumper. Didn't affect a thing, including gas mileage. Best move, ever!

 

That's the one I'm looking at.