San Antonio

I’m from Washington where we had national forest. Sucks that texas is all bought up and private. Gotta pay to wheel. Gotta pay to dirtbike. Gotta pay to shoot. I have off during the week a lot. I’ll stop by there then.

 

Not a bad place at all. Owners have been great too us!!!

 

I lived up in Tacoma, Graham, and Federal Way for about 15 years. I didn't do much wheeling while I was there but had a well built WRX and did a lot of fire and logging road runs on the weekends. Lots of places to go shooting and go play in the dirt. Or well usually mud.

 

Born and raised on the east side. Easton. God’s country up there. Wish my job allowed me to go back

 

How can I help?

I learned a lot doing mine. What kind did you get?

 

4xinnovations

 

Got a pic or a link? I'm trying to find it

 

This'un?

http://www.4xinnovations.com/2005--2015-Tacoma-Rear-High-Clearance-Wraparound-Bumper_p_37.html

 

I am free!!!!! Having a good ole milk stout

 

Well that went down good now on a Alaskan Amber

 

It looks very similar to where the cuts were on mine



That high up gets tricky to cut because our second gen fenders have a subtle curve to them. When measuring from the top down, it'll throw off your measurements and your cuts will come out fucked up like a football bat.

Once you remove your old bumper and flares:

.5) Verify your level of commitment. There is no going back. Have a beer.

1) Park your truck on level ground. Shim the front or rear tires as needed to level the bed. I verified mine was level with a 4' level and checked level front to back and side to side on all bedsides.

2) Use making tape to tape 4" above and below where you'll be making your cuts.

3) Measure from the top the suggested amount near the taillight and Mark it with a black sharpie. Move forward toward the cab about 4" and repeat.

4) I used a laser level with a magnetic base to draw a line. Line up the dots in the beam and verify the beam is level. The laser draws a straight line around the curved fenders for a perfectly flat and level line.

5) Using a straight edge and a black sharpie, trace the line.

5.5) Triple check your work so far. I recommend doing BOTH sides before you begin any cutting. Take a step back and verify it looks straight. Have a friend critique. A quick cell phone picture and post to TW IS a good idea. Hell, take shots of both sides, crop them and match the lines up. Anything to look at it from as many views as possible.

6) I recommend making a few practice cuts in the metal 3-6" below the actual cut. This will give you a good idea what it'll feel like on the actual cuts.

6.5) Have one or more two beers. Adjust for your personal tolerance.

7) Using a NEW 4" cutting disc, proper eye protection, ear protection, and your preference in loud music (I prefer metal for this kind of work), carefully cut along the line.

8) Using a NEW flapwheel, make a quick pass perpendicular to your cut to remove any burrs. I always go in the opposite direction I went in when I cut.

9) Spray the cut with some clear coat to prevent rust.

10) Repeat steps 7 - 9, 6.5 is optional.

11) Once both sides are cut, remove the tape and mount your flares with all available hardware. You want it to move as little as possible and sit as natural as possible. Using a single piece of tape, match the cut across the flare.

12) Take a step back and verify it is straight. Use a small level to verify it is level across the flare. Triple check.

13) I used a Dremel tool with a new cutting disk to make the cut along the bottom of the tape.

14) Using a mid grit sandpaper, buff the edge to de-burr.

Some people say to cut 1/4-1/2" lower on the first cut. I disagree. Like completely disagree. Measure twice, cut once. If you do and you mount the bumper and find you need to trim, it's a real bitch. The metal will be much more floppy and it'll come out not-so-good. There go your perfect cuts. Just do the practice cuts well below your actual and do the actual cut ONCE per side.

 

This is great info

 

Yes sir. Looks just like yours. Thank you. That is great and needed info

 

@hoverlover great looking truck too sir

 

Thanks, guys.

Always happy to help.

If any of you have any questions, you're always welcome to hit me up.

If any of you want help, I'll do what I can to make time.

 

Danke

 

I had the bumper sent to my work down here. Not realizing how extensive it was. Lol. Gonna need more than the tool kit I have in my truck. Might be a month or two before I get back north to install it

 

It's definitely a project. But, the first time you hear a thud that would have been a crunch, it's worth it.

Yep, I like renting the bays. They'll let you do rifle/pistol transition drills and movement to fire drills as long as you're not a jackass about it.

 

This threads moving pretty quick now, hard to keep up

Good looking truck! And welcome to the group

"Screw it, hold my beer" makes for great stories though. I think I've only got one story that starts out with "So I was completely sober and hasn't drank anything at all when..."

That one made me lol and now the wife is grouchy for waking her up

Yup

My feet are still cold.

Rode the bike in. No ragrets.

I don't mind cold. I don't mind wet.

Cold and wet sucks.