Relentless Fab 05+ Cut bedside high-clearance bumper

Question for guys with the hidden hitch, where do you hook the safety chains from the trailer?

 

I haven't installed mine,and the bumper is back home, so I cant take a look for you, but you can hook them up to the recovery points. I also think there is an attachment where you put the pin through on the hitch in behind the bumper. Someone will have to clarify though

 

Ok, just wondering what others have done. My dad got his non HC on and was asking if I knew how others have done it. I havent seen it yet to throw out my ideas.

 

Well I'll be able to tell you when I install mine in a couple weeks , but im sure someone will chime in by then lol.

 

PM'd

 

These are my absolute favorite HC bumpers. Do you do customization? Specifically I'm interested in incorporating a rear winch mount with fairlead behind the license plate, and shortening the bedside parts to match cut fenders. I'm probably not going to be ready to pull the trigger for a while, but planning is fun.

 

Yeah I've done both in the past for a couple customers

 

Wicked! I'll be in touch when the time comes.

 

You guys talking about permanently mounting a winch behind the rear bumper?

Or a receiver mount winch like I used to have?

 

Permanent mount

For instance my Tacoma that got totaled

 

Yes! Exactly! I even have the same backup lights.

 

What's better than a tacoma with a winch?

A tacoma with TWO winches!

 

Nice

Hell ya, that was my thought! Sometimes you might need to winch a buddy up an obstacle behind you and dont want to turn around to pull from the front, or maybe you just need to pull yourself backwards rather than continuing though an obstacle so I decided to double up on winches. Bummer the truck got totaled before I even got to use it.

 

Pulling myself out backwards is more what I was thinking, but I guess it could save me some turning around too. Sometimes the ground looks okay, but it turns out to be awful muskeg crap and continuing forward is not the best option. I'm learning that moar recovery options is better.

That really is a bummer. It looks like it was a great build!

 

This is probably a good place to post this pic of my truck with 2000lbs of concrete in it. It's not the most flattering photo of the high clearance bumper, but it highlights a cautionary note when you install it:



Nothing against the bumper itself - this is a result of how I installed it.

It's been a while - but as I recall it, I think I marked my bedside cut parallel to the *ground* because that was an easy measurement to take.

But as you see, that ends up looking a bit funny when you load up the truck and it loses all its rake ("levels it" as some folks like to say) and now the bumper's actually pointing upward and looks bent.

So - here's my advice: When you cut your bedsides, make sure that your line is parallel to the top of the bed. Because of the bed curvature and fender flare - that's a harder measurement to take. But it's the right one.

 

Very true steve! Which is why I also recommend eyeballing level with a tape line BELOW the tail light as a rough cut first, then after the lower part of the bedside is gone lay a new tape line at your intended final cut position and eyeball down the side of the truck for level with the body lines. It's much easier to see the alignment of the cut edge rather than just the tape line. And of course measure between left and right sides tape line to ensure both cuts are parallel to eachother before making the final cut, measuring down from the rail caps above the fender flare is a good place to measure. If I recall, from the rail cap down to the fender flare at cut line is approx 16 5/8" down for a nice level install to match the body.

 

Hhhmmm....

 

For anyone interested or on the fence about the weight rating on Eric's bumpers, here's my high clearance with the integrated hitch towing around 4k pounds or so. I realize his hitch isn't officially "rated" like the factory one but it's just as strong if not stronger. This is the heaviest thing I've ever towed with the truck to date. This is with a 7" drop hitch on and probably could have dropped it another inch or two. To the person that asked the question above about safety chains, I've just been hooking them up to the recovery hooks as you can see in this pic below

 

That bumper is pure awesomeness. Just trying to determine if I want a dual swing out or single. How do you like the side bars? Ever had to rely on them? How much do you think your bumper weighs? Thx!

 

Thanks Eric did a great job, I had asked him to add a couple goodies as the build progressed. The dual swingout is nice what I found is not having the swingout so long I don't run into it when it's open at camp lol. I've used the side bars quite a bit and they've saved some significant damage. Better to have them and not need them then to need them and not have them is my motto. I would say bumper weighs around 130-150 lbs with the swingouts attached.