Need recommendation for aftermarket rear bumper that will work w/ receiver hitch

ArmorTech does indeed make a bolt on application, but I'm not sure it leaves the factory hitch in place. Thought it did, not so sure.

Honestly, after seeing the way my high-clearance ATO is built from the inside, I have absolutely NO qualms about using it to tow the Tacoma's rated capacity. It lines the receiver up better with the mounting points, and there's less leverage between the receiver and mount due to it. And Kevin has a strong commitment to quality materials...no cheap-grade shit there.

 

surfing the web, I found this: I am not affiliated with the company, just looking for a new bumper after I was rear ended and I need a hitch.

www.padgettfabrication.com

 

You beat me too it. I just saw their website tonight. Haven't read anything about their quality but it looks like their standard rear bumper lets you keep the factory hitch.

Edit: there are better pictures here

 

That Bumper on the Blue truck is one Padgett Fabrication, LLC built over three years ago, and we are currently in the middle of a complete re-design on it. The new bumper, like the old one, does bolt to the Factory Receiver Hitch Assembly just like the Factory bumper. Its a complete bolt on unit, and nothing needs to be trimmed, drilled, or anything. The new bumper has been very expensive to build, and I really need to get some orders flowing to justify the re-design. The corners shown in the pictures below are the prototypes that were given to FabCon in Lynchburg, VA for production. The actual corners will look the same, but will be built from Lasercut and CNC bent parts and will have the same number of angles, but fewer welded seams. Thanks for the interest.



The rest of the Album is here

http://s408.photobucket.com/albums/pp167/AnthonyPadgett-weldfab/Gen2 Tacoma bumpers/


Anthony and Samantha Padgett
Padgett Fabrication, LLC
www.padgettfabrication.com
http://s408.photobucket.com/albums/pp167/AnthonyPadgett-weldfab/

 

hi Folks,

I found this thread after starting my own here:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/236091-recommendation-aftermarket-rear-bumper.html

the Body Armor 4x4 rear bumper looks promising but I haven't heard from anybody who actually has it installed.

Product Page:
http://bodyarmor4x4.com/ba/extreme-off-road/toyota/

Installation:
http://bodyarmor4x4.com/bulletins/TC-2961.pdf

Looks like you can keep your rated receiver and doesn't require any other modifications.

Let's keep this thread going.

Thanks,
alex

 

hi folks,

Following up on this thread, I ended up getting a rear bumper from Body Armor:
http://bodyarmor4x4.com/ba/extreme-off-road/toyota/

Cost was $335 plus $14 shipping via UPS. Bumper weighs about 90 pounds with all the mounting bolts. Very solid construction, powder coat finish is good with some minor blemishes along the edges (hard to see unless you are up close).

Installation took about 1.5 hours and it is possible to do by yourself. Socket set and a wrench are all that are needed for the install.

Receiver hitch is fully accessible. I am pleased with the way it looks and happy to be rid of the tinfoil bumper.

Best,
alex

 

I think body armor is the best out there for the money I got mine for 360 total with shipping

 

I've had the Body Armor (http://bodyarmor4x4.com/ba/2011/04/tacoma-products/) rear bumper on my Tacoma since late 2012 and I am pleased with the construction, appearance, and price. Perhaps most important to me, I got to stick with the factory hitch.

However, I have noticed a significant increase in cabin noise, specifically a buzzing sound at highway speeds that definitely started after the bumper was installed. The sound is some sort of harmonic resonance as it doesn't happen all the time, coming and going with slight changes in speed. There is also vibration feedback in the accelerator petal I didn't notice before.

Do you think maybe some rubber washers on the bumper mounts or perhaps another approach would relieve this noise? Anybody else experience this with aftermarket bumpers?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
alex

 

Ever tried crawling under the truck and mask off with duct tape and heavy mil plastic to see if the air is creating your sounds? Masking off big air breaks that your bumper may have. That bumper is cool!

 

Thanks Cain for the tip, it may very well be the air at high speeds that is causing this as the bumper is indeed one large air break on the interior side. I'll try covering it up temporarily and see what that does, if effective I guess I'll be hunting for a more permanent solution...maybe some of that expanding foam spray? My reservation there is that is really messy stuff and the expansion behavior isn't always predictable.

In any case, your suggestion is much appreciated.

Best,
alex