Rear Bumper Question

So I need everyone's help. As I posted yesterday I was hit from behind and the bumper has to be replaced.

As people suggested I am thinking about going with a plate bumper. I know there are many kinds and styles and this is all personal preference. Where I need help is with towing.

Part of the reason I bought the truck is to tow a trailer my wife has for her company. With that being said, I have found very few bumpers that utilize the factory hitch. Many of them DO come with hitch options, but they are NOT load rated. Now this is probably based on legal issues, and I understand that and they are probably stronger than the stock.

So where I need help is if people have experience with said bumpers and towing or can suggest any they would or would not recommend I would greatly appreciate it. Feel free to chime in as a member or a vendor. All info is appreciated. If you have had an unfortunate experience feel free to send me a pm to avoid negative exposure.

My plan is to slowly build my truck so it will be utilized and not just for looks, but I am not looking to do a high clearance at this time (bedskirt cut) and I will not be going above 3" in the future as it is my daily.


Also if you have Picts, please post them.

Thank you again,

 

SOS black friday sale going on right now. I have the reg rear, with hitch inside the flip up tag. they also make a high clearance with hitch in there as well. @EddyRRT tows (towed) a loaded trailer regularly with this.

 

Love the bumper- group buy states closed. Looking for the Black Friday info.

 

Bruteforce hi-clearance with swing out

 

Black friday sale through SOS Concepts website, code is BLKFRI

 

in the same situation with the same thoughts and I am seriously thinking about the bumper below.


http://www.4xinnovations.com/2005-2015-Tacoma-Bolt-On-Rear-Bumper-Rock-Donkey-Style-1_p_61.html

 

Here are the ones I am looking at:
SoS
Relentless
4x Innovations
CBI

Thoughts?

 

Can't go wrong with any of them, personal preference at tbis point.

 

I'm in the same situation. There are a few bumpers that use the OEM hitch. Fab Fours, schockworks, warrior are a few. I wouldn't use a non rated hitch because of liability issues.

 

The OEM hitch just bolts to each frame rail with 5 bolts IIRC? There is nothing special about it, just welded steel. In fact from the frame rails it drops down at a 45ish Degree angle to put the hitch below the bumper height which puts torque on the frame. A lot of aftermarket bumpers are mounted directly in line with the frame eliminating that torque (See Pic). If the replacement bumper bolts to the same locations and is properly welded, gusseted, and reinforced...what do you need the OEM hitch for? I have towed over 5,000lbs from my aftermarket bumper several hundred miles and have thousands of all pourpose towing miles with no issues. Basically a PROPERLY built aftermarket bumper is just a huge tow hitch. There are very few companies I would trust to build it properly, I chose Armorology...for a reason. An OEM bumper is just garnish.

That being said and to address your liability question. A lot of these companies advertize the "tow hitch" function/compatibility of there products which puts the liability on them, not you.

 

Yeah if push ever comes to shove, though, they don't rate their hitch so they're off the hook and it is your responsibility for using it.

 

I would second 4xinnovations out of Wisconsin.
I had my 300lb motorcycle on a joehauler in the hitch for a 1500 mile trip. All that weight cantalevered out there doin 85 down the highway convinced me that shit is well built. Plus it's sexy as hell.