Body Armor Hiline Series Bumper

Which would you guys recommend is easiest install/least amount of modding needed, C4 or BAMF?

 

I liked the C4 reinforcement bracket and it would of been my first choice. However I would have not been able to replace the three frame horn bolts on each side, and get to them like I was able to with the BAMF reinforcement bracket. So I chose the BAMF over the C4.

The OEM frame horn bolts do not have enough thread to get a good bite on the lock nuts when you are installing the Hiline bumper mounting plate. So you have to extend those bolts by drilling them out, and installing longer bolts in their place. See my referenced post upthread here to what I did regarding that.

Whatever you decide upon, it is absolutely necessary to use frame horn reinforcement brackets if you plan to do any real winching with the Hiline bumper. If you don't, you will screw up your frame horns with a heavy pull.

 

I read a lot of your posts before buying and installing mine. However on my 19 I think I have about 1/2” of bolt through each nut on mine. I wouldn’t see any reason for a change in that but mine seems plenty stout for recovering the truck. It might be sketchy using it for a 12k pull or something but I didn’t feel it needed reinforcement. Then again I haven’t got a chance to winch with it yet, so hope it doesn’t just tear off of there when I get to test it out.

 

When I had mine installed; the off-road shop told me they drilled an extra support hole and added a bolt to help strengthen it, however they didn’t provide me with any other details; it’s a huge shop that does tons of off-road builds so I’d hope they knew what they were talking about, cause I don’t I’m not familiar with the install but is anyone aware of an extra part of the bumper that allows extra hole/bolt to be added?

Also, you think Body Amor didn’t account for hard pulls when designing? In all my off-road trips, especially the dunes, this is probably the most common bumper I’ve seen on Tacoma’s, and they have been getting yanked out with both winches and kinetic tow ropes left and right and I have yet to hear of an issue or see something happen in person. Im all for extra strength though, so if it is an issue that does come up and I’m not aware of it, I’d love to add one of the two options to my Tacoma.

 

Harbor freight has got Apex 12k synth, at 30$ off comin up. Spring “Black Friday” sale starting Monday. (Thats just weird to say, or type, or read) but yeah its out there!

 

Finished my in under 3 hrs. Easy install no issues.

 

What Light Bar did you install with the bumper?

 

I used the auxbeam 22”. Combo Flood,beam. Pretty dang bright!

 

Wonder if any vendor will have a July 4th sale on these bumpers?

 

I was in the process of installing when I noticed some fairly significant gaps in some welds does anyone have pictures of this exact area for comparison.

 

You’re good. Mine is the same! And Bonjour from France!

 

Before I put this bumper on with a warn evo 10k winch, I was running a caliraised hidden light bar. The winch control box was too high and would not allow me to keep the light bar, so I bought a cheapo 22 in light bar to put in the bumper. I was never happy with the output.
During the Diode dynamics 4th sale I picked up some new light bars to replace all my cheap ones. I completely forgot about the top bar on the bumper, until I went out to test fit.
To my surprise the the light bar fits perfectly on the brackets and clears the top of the winch.
The top bar on the bumper seems to impact the light output less than the grill itself. I have the combo, so the wide pattern is a little behind the legs of the bar but the output does not seem to be impacted very much.
The output of this over the cheap 22 inch light bar and the cali double row is amazing. Still need to get the angle dialed in a little but am very happy with the set up so far.
I did not like the opening on the bumper where the lightbar goes so I did a quick ghetto fab of some textured abs plastic, popped in a couple of 1/4 20 rivnuts and mounted the plate using some thumb screws. I will redo the cover plate at some point but am pleased with it thus far.

 

looks good, how is it holding up, it's got good and bad reviews from what I read.

 

The bumper is ok, it is holding up well for what it cost. There is some fading/discoloring on the powder coat seems to be the only issue, but it doesn't bother me that much. The bumper has been on the truck since 4-20-20.
I will end up replacing it at some point in the next few years with a different style bumper.

 

Installed my bumper yesterday came out great, bracket to relocate power steering cooling unit was missing but made it work. but the question is the metal piece on the side should that be inside the bumper or outside of the bumper? it is angled like OEM bumper I wasn't sure about this. OP installation was outside but google picture was not shown?

 

I just bought this bumper myself. Looks great, excited to put it on once I've got my lighting and winch figured out. FIRST thing I noticed unpackaging the bumper though, was that it is definitely NOT 3/16" thick AS ADVERTISED on BodyArmors website. 3/32" is what it measures in reality.

Certainly not the end of the world, but certainly makes me question what I paid for. Did I get 3/32 and pay for 3/16? Either way that is a blatant error on their part. I have reached out to get to the bottom of the discrepancy.

Not like we are talking .375" to .37" .. it is HALF of what is stated.

Anybody else notice this on theirs? Or even care?

BODYARMOR certainly doesn't. They have lied two times further about it. Waiting on a phone call now.

 

Sorry if this is a dumb question but what did everyone do for the light control? Is it a switch that gets installed inside? I assume it’s on its own switch/control?

 

I purchased a switch that went into one of the panel blanks. I forget where I got it from.

 

Probably not the option you're looking for, but this was my solution for lighting with proprietary switches.

I dismantled the proprietary housings and incorporated them into a custom glass housing to mount at my steering column with dbl sided tape. Wires feed under the column through the adjustment lever. Permanent looking install but no damage to factory parts.