rear "bumper" corner bracket - junk?

Yeah, I've been there. Backing up the driveway I hit my house with my truck.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/damn-that-plastic-bumper-is-expensive.613281/

 

finally back to this thread with pics of RCI rear bumper I went with for repair, I like the looks and certainly more robust than the plastic.

 

i didn't realize rci offered blank-off plates for the light openings. might need to look into that.

do you miss the step under the plate at all?

 

Just replaced the driver side on my taco. The bumper doesn’t have to come off but there are some finger gymnastics involved for sure. From memory, basically you pull the pop rivets, undo 4 (ish) bolts on top and a few underneath (2-3?) and it comes out. If you have PDC those are a PITA. If you have BSM that sensor unplugs and comes off with three bolts. For the center cap/plastic - to acres the bolts on top, you just pop it up and you can sneak and box end ratchet wrench underneath it. If you only have socket drivers you have to remove it.

 

Back in the day...Used to be a requirement for passenger cars to have bumpers that would withstand a 5 mph impact without major damage. Wish they still did that but suspect it got eliminated in deference to improved fuel economy standards. That feature saved me more than once in my early driving days.

 

only rarely miss the step, I usually have the gate open when reaching in anyway (have a cap), but yah step wouild let you in through window without opening tailgate. I use small 2-step "stool" when climbing in and out regularly, like when camping. My grandson misses the step though.

 

Nice looking bumper

 

I did the same thing a few months back, these “bumpers” are useless.
Wanted to go the steel route but there was only me company offering a steel bumper that’s compatible with the rear sensors and the lead time was way too long…
These trucks are pretty much disposable heaps of plastic and tin.

 

Thats not just a Tacoma issue, the struggle to meet MPG challenges means you gotta cut weight. If you think this shit is bad drive an aluminum bodied Ford, a sneeze leaves it with a dent. My company issued 2016 F150 looked like it was straight out of the wrecking yard after 3 years. I handed it off to one of our stores and last time I saw it 6 months ago I thought it was ready to have the glass knocked out and fed to the shredder.

 

I ripped off left side of my bumper off-road. Inner frame was broken in 3 pieces, I didn’t bother replacing it. Mickey moused the cover and the sensor on with a couple screws and zip ties. Doesn’t look too bad IMO and BSM works.

I will be buying a steel rear bumper in the near future. I really dislike how flimsy the rear stock bumper is. Loved steel stock bumper on my ranger.

 

Looks great OP!