plate or tube bumper???

Well it's not big trees but put in the right place they can do damage. I've had them snap off in my skids and stuff. I go around what I can but sometimes you just can't.

 

get out and move said branches?

the rad is pretty well protected with the TG toob bumper it looks like, since the winch plate is plate.

 

Another vote for plate. I love my shrockworks. Shortly after that photo I accidentally hit a tree and it was fine. I have banged it into trees and rocks and its holding up great. I have a 1'' BL and the bumper is still in the stock form so that is why there is a gap. Soon I will be taking off the BL so there wont be a gap anymore.

 

lol I guess I should have been more clear on what some of the trails are like. I don't go just running over stuff that I know will mess my truck up but on some of the hunting lease roads they are tight light made more for a four wheeler but I still use my truck to travel them. That being said I do run into smaller tress and stuff that can get thrown up into the skids and front bumper that is why I am looking for something that will cut that down like a tube or plate bumper. I like them both for different reasons I just do not want a lot of un-needed weight if it is not worth it. Both the TG and Allpro bumpers look like they would give me what I need but still kinda have doubts ya know.

 

I also have a BL on my truck I will prob be taking it off too.

 

Shoot me a PM if you have any questions about any of my bumpers.

 

Tubes work great for monkey bars... and the kiddies love'm!

 

Lol that is funny and scary and the same time, maybe I will go with plate then.

 

Tubes are also easier to shove up your ass than plate
















































J/k

 

yo op, ever come to a decision, or still fishing?

 

Sadly still fishing. May end up with plate since the terrain out here is more of mud and trails with hidden obsticals rather than just sand or rocks.

 

this is wear i got my bumpers!

 

So you have tube front and rear bumpers?

 

Debating this as well. I am going to encounter lots of rocks with the occasional tree while offroad, but my Taco is my DD so I'd like something that'll hold up to idiots on the road as well.

I'm not too thrilled at how tube looks, but it is a lot cheaper than plate. I am seriously considering an Allpro bumper set. My big gripe with their (and other) front tube bumper is how much of the vehicle is exposed vs. the stock bumper. Yes, this is purely a fashion over function issue.

The thing I like about the Allpro rear bumper is the fact that you can add a hitch receiver while leaving your license plate intact. Currently, I have nothing to tow, but I'd like to leave my options open.

Allpro has free shipping during the month of July too.

As far as plate goes, I love how Relentless Fab's bumpers look. Hopefully the upcoming group buy will have some great prices. I'd like to see the plate wrap around to protect the rear quarter panels, instead of tube. I also would like to see the swing away tire carrier installed, as this is an option I'd be interested in.

My biggest concerns with a plate bumper is how the additional weight is going to affect everything, and the significant investment (roughly $2k for front and back with the options I want).

This is my first 4x4 vehicle, and I've learned to live by the saying "buy once, cry once." I'm still debating each, but I want whatever I choose to ultimately be what will best fit my needs.

 

I live down in wilmington and was looking for bumper options. DO you have any contact info for the guy that did your bumper?

 

tube bumpers will probably be lighter, but I like the look of plate bumpers better.

I like the look of the All-Pro Off Road bumpers, and they're designed to give good protection too, but to some they look goofy.

 

See I am in the exact same spot as you are in but you make some good points.

 

The trail gear front and rear bumpers come with a built in hitch receivers and the rear bumper comes with spots to put shackles on for recovery. The 4xinnovations tube bumper has the option of coming with a class III rated hitch receiver and is probably one of the strongest tube bumpers for the first gen tacoma if not the strongest imo.

After taking off my stock rear bumper and hitch receiver and putting on my trail gear rear tube bumper I think there was less weight in the rear of my truck. Also I haven't noticed if the my front trail gear tube bumper has affected my front suspension much. I noticed the front bumper a little bit the first day I put it on, but after that I haven't noticed it at all.

The look of tube has definitely grown on me and I kinda like how my front coilovers are exposed for everyone to see lol. I like the look of both tube and plate bumpers, but the plate sometimes looks too bulky imo, especially for 1st gens.

 

yeah I got both front and rear

on the front you gotta cut part of the frame and re-weld it so it bolts on or you could just weld it on, but its really not hard at all. the rear is too easy takes like 5min. Also keep in mind they send it with no paint so i had it sand blasted and powder coated with a texture kinda paint to help prevent scratches.
(2000 V6 if that helps)

 

Cool thanks man good info. If everything goes as planned I will be trading a few items for a full set of armor I will keep y'all updated.