To high clearance, or not to high clearance.. rear bumper question.

Ok so I’ve been going back and forth about this and can’t seem to make up my mind. I know the age old saying of “if you don’t know you probably don’t need it” but I also do my best to avoid any trails that I know will destroy my rear end.

One issue I have is that all high clearance rear bumpers I’ve seen seem to stick out a lot from the back instead of being tapered off. I assume it’s to help with the steel on the quarter panel side.

I absolutely love how the mobtown (non high clearance) looks. http://mobtownoffroad.com/product/bumper-3/ It’s really small and tapered up. What I’m affraid of is getting on a trail, smashing my quarter panel and wishing I would’ve bought a HC bumper from the start. I hang out with a few Jeep guys so I foresee more rocks in my future.

So I don’t know, HC or Non HC? Maybe it’s just the angles of the pictures?? I don’t know.


I’ll attach a photo so you guys can see what I mean about HC bumpers sticking out too far. Picture quality is crap since I cropped in

 

I say HC, that being said i still drag the bumper from time to time. Mine is made by SOS.

 

Agreed, I just don’t like how they stick out so far. Too bad I don’t know how to weld or I’d make my own lol.

 

@Mobtown Offroad hc doesn't stick out that far. If mine was in, if go out and take pics for ya

 

I think most will stick out at least as far as stock, due to the fact that most have an option for a swing-out maybe? idk about that one. Mine doesn't stick out any further than stock i don't think.

 

FYI...

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rear-hidden-hitch-bumpers-not-high-clearance.590385/

Non-HC options that will gain you clearance. If the cutting gives you heartburn.

 

Thanks man! I guess that’s what I don’t want. For it to be the same size as stock.

Thanks for the link! And not at all, I’m quite happy to cut things off lol. Just not a fan of the designs I guess.

Yeah I’ll most likely go HC. Just looking for the most HC, HC option lol. Like the picture i added, that thing sticks out wayy too far.

Do you know if there are any tubular options?

 

Go big or go home!

I vote for HC. Lots of benefits.

 

How far it sticks out off the back really doesn’t have anything to do with if it’s high clearance or not.

 

Gotcha. I was just pointing out that it seems like most HC seem to stick out more. Unlike the non HC you guys make which seems really tucked in and nicely tapered.

By any chance do you know if the HC you guys make stick out a little further from the non HC?

 

Same distance. Literally the same parts less the corners.

 

Same. HC doesn’t affect how far it sticks out.

 

I'm wondering how well they can take a hit and if the front-wing part by the wheel well would act like a lever and rotate the whole bumper...or tweak it.
Somewhere I saw one that the part I mentioned looked like it would catch on stuff.

 

I realize I stumbled on to this thread a little late from creation. However some Canadians up north are building probably more what your after. This is best pic I could find while they were fab’ing it up to show how tight it is to body lines.

 

Woah Definitely what I’m after! That this is small!!! I wonder if they’ll build a high clearance version.

 

Nice!!! I too am considering a Hi-C bumper the only thing that bums me out is that you can't put your Blind Spot Monitors on them. Mobtown and CBI look really nice.

 

HC all the way.

As well as Bruteforce...best bumper in the business right now

 

Throwing in my .02 here - HC bumpers will be about 2x heavier (if not more), cost more (initially and to ship), and run the risk of rust/corrosion due to cutting the bedside panels. IMO, they should be purchased if you wheel pretty hard. But hey, if that's what you'd like to do, then go for it!

That being said, I was rear-ended just over a week ago and have been looking into a standard bumper replacement; ironically, I had done a lot of research prior, as the stock rear composite bumper doesn't "do it" for me. While there are many great companies to choose from, I chose ATH Fab. Their standard rear bumper weighs less than most others (about 85 lbs, comparable to stock), seems to have a great form factor, doesn't have extensive lead times (at time of writing), and includes a few features that are more unique, like slots for a highlift jack. They can be ordered with the standard receiver location (shown below) or a hidden receiver with a flip-up license plate bracket, which is the one I selected.




Morgan with @At The Helm Fabrication has been very responsive in answering my questions and securing my order - now it's just a waiting game. I have no affiliation other than being an initial customer, but they're worth a look.

 

HC ftw.

Mine is SOS Concepts.



During installation

 

HC FTMFW