Bumper Questions

So today I came out to my truck this morning to find three deep gouges across the the front bumper. Through the paint and into the plastic so great this looks terrible and I am going to need to fix it. It looks like it is just cosmetic damage. I am not turning this in to the insurance because its just not worth it.

So I've been looking around and I would like to get an deluxe arb but now I have questions.

1. Since I need to sell this to the wife does anyone have any idea on cost to buy a new front bumper cover and have it painted and installed? A ball park idea is good enough.

2. Is the ARB a bolt on (ie: no need for drilling cutting etc)?

3. Do I need to worry about suspension upgrades by putting the bumper on a stock 2008 dc? I have a cap on the back if that makes any difference?

Any help would be appreciated and sorry no pics I killed the camera on my last fishing trip.

 

You are going to want to get OME 886 coils and OME shocks for the front to handle the extra 160 lbs of the bumper

 

I thought I'd seen a bumper cover somewhere for under $100. Maybe on local Craigslist or something. It's the paint that will kill you. You could just stop by a body shop and get a free estimate to repair.

ARB is bolt on. You need to do a little drilling on the bumper itself for the last set of bolts that lock it in place.

I put the Deluxe on mine and the front end did droop some. I installed Toytec front springs with a higher spring rating and they lifted it back up a little higher than stock I believe. I think the Toytecs were something like $180 shipped? They've been in about a year now with no problems.
I think I paid about $90-100 to a local shop to install them.

You will need a front end alignment also after installing the springs. That's my understanding anyway. I let mine settle for 1 or 2 weeks before getting the alignment.

One last thing: follow the instuctions about spacing the bumper below the body panels (front fenders). Once I got it bolted on, I stopped reading the instructions and mounted it too high. Everytime the body rocked back and forth side to side I could hear the fenders hitting the bumper. I had to go back and lower mine and redrill. FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS!

 

Will the OME 886 coils and shocks result in adding lift or keep everything balanced out after adding that much weight up front? Not that I am opposed to lifting the truck just not in any hurry to do it and there would be a lack of funds for awhile after the bumper replacement.

To JimT,
an extra 200-300 for new springs wouldnt kill this project. Did you replace the shocks/springs or just the springs?

 

It can be spot repaired and you'll never know the difference.

 

steves I guess I need to add that the center of the bumper is tore up as well from when I was living in ohio, the front plate wore through the paint. I have a front plate to hide that but I cant really hide the rest.

 

It's been a year, but if I recall correctly, I talked to a guy at the dealership that runs TRDparts4u.com and he didn't think putting OME coils and shocks ONLY on the front was a good idea. They will provide lift. He thought I would be too high in front and he wanted to sell me the full OME front and back kit for around $1k as I recall. I'd recommend calling them and discussing the OME stuff.

I only replaced the springs. I think the guy at Toytec said that these springs are installed on FJ's with ARB bumpers by someone. I was concerned about the height being right. I think it came out perfect.

Keep in mind, I'm not a serious off-roader. I wanted the ARB for a deer shield when I go out west hunting. OME's seem to be a much heavier duty shock than my factory Bilsteins. The roughest terrain my truck will see is poorly maintained Montana/Wyoming BLM trails. I ran backroads in Montana last fall with the Toytecs, Bilsteins, and ARB and I didn't have any failures or notice any ride issues. Just keep your intended use in mind when you decide.

I think these:
are the springs I bought. Someone might correct me here, but I think factory springs are 550lbs, the Toytecs are 620lbs, and I want to say the OME's are 660lbs.

I felt the Toytec's were the right choice for me. I don't really want a full lift because I haul stuff in the bed all the time and another 3" of picking up strawbales, lumber, appliances, quikrete bags...etc just doesn't appeal to me.

I am concerned that if I put a winch on mine, it may take my front end too low again. But, given the cost and how often I'd use it, I don't think I'll be buying a winch right away.

 

^^^ JimT your use really fits what my intended use will be. I dont do serious offroad work only enough to get down the dirt and farm roads to get to my hunting spots. Some can be mess but not too bad. I really dont want to add lift because I really wont use it and like you I use the bed alot for storage and home improvement projects.

I dont think I will need a winch because I dont think I will need it. I am moving to a rural area and like you want I want a better deer defense.

I wonder though if I would be ok with the upgraded SR5 TSB front shocks the non Bilstein version. I like the idea though of only having to upgrade the springs. That would help keep the cost down.

 

The 886's with the ARB bumper will net you around 2 1/2" to 3" up front , you could add the OME Dakar leaf pack to the rear or just get an AAL

 

If you don't want to alter the suspension , what about considering the RelentlessFab aluminum plate front bumper , it's only 55 lbs

 

I just put on an ARB deluxe bumper-they are very nice. So I have my OEM bumper available if you want to pay shipping and some wrapping costs. Check out my photos, etc. on the threads that I've started.

 

Oz I looked at the RelentlessFab aluminum bumper but I just like the looks of the arb better. I am thinking about going with jimT did and get new springs up front to help shoulder the load and leave the rest of the suspension as is for the time being.

hstinge has my attention to. Looks like I have some homework to do to see if its worth picking up/shipping the oem and painting it versus the other options.

 

This would be a good route for you OP, keep your factory suspension!

I wouldn't put a heavier spring on the factory SR5 shocks. They will do a horrible job dampening the heavier spring. FWIW, 5100's and Eibach/toytec springs are a great set-up! I'm sitting just about 1.5" over stock. If you have this set-up with an ARB, you'll most likely end up around 1" over stock up front +/-.

 

for the cost you're looking at, have you thought about just having a body shop fix your old bumper? A little body filler (bondo) and some sanding with a fresh paint job will make it look like new. It would be cheaper than buying an ARB.

 

Good luck whichever route you take OP

 

Im not adverse to putting on the 5100's i just dont want to pick up much lift and I could avoid that with the 5100's. I really dont want to have to mess with the rear leaf packs.

I am also looking at seeing what it would cost to fix my bumper but depending on the cost I may get the plate bumper. I have wanted the plate bumper anyways. It does seem as though If get the bumper I would need to beef up the front suspension. That I dont have an issue with I just dont want to have to put a lift kit on truck to run the bumper

 

The front 5100's do not provide lift (at the 0 setting), the springs are what cause the lift. The Eibachs a relatively short lift spring with a high spring rate which is why I suggested them to you. It's tough finding economical coils with high spring rates without having lift. With the ARB, you'll most likely want to upgrade your suspension up front to support the additional weight.

 

Gonna need it. I think I need to educate myself more about my suspension options before I get the new bumper if I decide to go that route

 

This is a good place to start

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/showthread.php?p=125823

 

thank you oz as I have realized how very little I know. Glad I asked before getting the bumper I like.

So more questions. Could I put the 5100's on the truck and be ok to run the bumper. Or will I need 5100's/springs? The more I read the more confused I get. There's probably no help for me. What Im looking to do is find the least expensive route to beef up the suspension to run the arb without. I dont mind paying for good parts I just dont want to throw a 3" lift on the truck as I dont as the truck to do too much offroad work.