4th Gen Armor Thread 2.0

Inv4drZm

Inv4drZm

Senior Member
4th Gen Armor Thread 2.0

The original armor thread sticky made by [MENTION=73750]Dusty Driftwood[/MENTION] has served its purpose for many years, but I felt it needed to be updated. After PM'ing Dusty we agreed something needed to be done and I felt I was in a position to help out. I have been working on the Armor Thread 2.0 in hopes of it replacing the original thread as a new sticky in the 4th gen section.

The original thread was great but I wanted to try and keep my version simpler with less text so I can add some pictures. The in-depth descriptions for each part is still easily viewed and kept up-to-date at the individual manufacturers web pages so my thread will give more of an overview of the armor options instead of a full breakdown.

Please, let me know if there is information that is missing or outdated.


Front Bumpers:

  • Plate bumpers made of 3/16" steel is the norm, with flat top, single hoop, or triple hoop options. Most if not all give you the ability to mount a winch, and some have LED light cutouts as extra options.

  • Powdercoating is available from most manufacturers or bare steel options for those with spray paint skills.

  • Some manufactures offer 1/4" aluminum construction for a pretty penny or two. Decreased weight and increased corrosion resistance is balanced by reduced strength and abrasion resistance.

  • Most steel bumpers weight 105-130 lbs not including winches with heavy cables so beef up your suspension accordingly.

  • Lots of manufacturers can add different LED light or air cutouts upon request.

  • Lead times may take months so plan ahead.



Addicted Offroad - $985 - Light Weight Rare Tube Construction -​





ARB - $1350 - Classic Design From The Aussie Outback -​





Armorology - $? - Colorado In-House Only -​





C4 Fabrication - $525-$650 - Low Profile -​





CBI Offroad - $900-$1325 - Solid Design From Idaho -​





Coastal Offroad - $610-$840 CDN - High Clearance Canadian DIY Kit With Aluminum Option -​





Demello Offroad - $950-$1325 - Lightweight 1/8" Steel Skin -​




Hard Notched Customs - $1350-$2159 - Lots of Hoop Options from Washington State​

toyota-4runner-beauty-front-2002-2009_3.jpg



Hefty Fabworks - $1200-$1500 - Colorado Built With An Aluminum Option​





Northwest Trail Innovations - $400-$580 - DIY Kit -​




Relentless Fabrication - $960-$1335 - Recent Sexy Redesign -​





RPM Fab - $1050-$1125 - Unique Plate Design -​





Shrockworks - $1195-$1425 - Heavy-Duty But Heavier -​





SOS Concepts - $900-$1765 - From The East Coast With An Aluminum Option -​





4x4 Labs - Contact manufacturer for more info -​



Custom - $300-$600 - Whatever You Want -​

If you have the skills or are fortunate enough to know a buddy that can help you design and fabricate a front bumper it is possible to save quite a bit of money and have a unique bumper. I have around $200 of steel into mine. There are a few others out there. I already used up the 20 pics in this post so here are some links:

Here is mine.

@LTDSC's Build Thread

@Calcagno21's bumper build

@Skrrt's bumper build



Rear Bumpers:

  • Allows for mounting accessories such as spare tires, extra fuel, or fold-down camp tables.

  • Expensive to manufacturer for the 4th Gen 4runner due to it's large bumper cover design.

  • Some manufacturers only build their bumpers in-house on your truck due to the complexity of the installation meaning you need to drive your truck to their shop.




CBI Offroad - $1400-$3035 -​





Coastal Offroad - $600-$1280 CDN - DIY Kit -​





Insain Fabrication - In-house Only -​




Northwest Trail Innovations - $490-$1240 DIY Kit -​

 
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Relentless Fabrication - In-house Only -​



RPM Fab - $1050-$2250 -​





4x4 Labs - $795-$2500 - Chopped Bumper Crossmember Necessary - DIY Kit Option -​





Custom Swing-out​

Some members, myself included, have added a swing-out to their stock rear bumper which requires trimming mounting location openings in the stock plastic bumper cover.

My rear swing-out

@Porqupine82's rear swing-out

Skid Plates:

You know the drill. Steel if you use them lots, aluminum if you don't rely on them. I would recommend getting a lower link skid if you like wheeling on rocks, that is one point that seems to get held up the most along with the gas tank.

ARB - 3mm Steel (Just under 1/8") - Front -​

Bay Area Metal Fabrication - 3/16" Steel - LCA -​

Budbuilt - 3/16" Steel/ Stainless Steel - Front, Mid, T-Case, Gas, Diff -​

CBI Offroad - 3/16" Steel - Front, Mid, T-Case -​

Icon Vehicle Dynamics - 3/16" Steel - LCA -​

LFD Offroad - 3/16" Steel - Front -​

OPOR - 3/16" Steel - Lower Link Skid -​

RCI - 3/16" Steel/ Aluminum - Front, Mid, T-Case, Gas, LCA, Diff, Lower Link Skid, Bumper Filler -​

Richochet - 1/4" Aluminum - Front, LCA -​

Rocksteady Motorsports - 1/4" Aluminum - Front, Mid, T-Case, LCA, Lower Link Skid, Bumper Filler -​

Shrockworks - 3/16" Steel - Front, Mid, T-Case, Gas -​

Total Chaos - LCA, Lower Link Skid -​

Sliders:

  • Replaces stock running boards in favor of a beefy steel tube that either bolts to the frame or is welded directly to the frame.

  • Can help protect your body from rocks, trees, stumps, and the occasional door ding from an adjacent car in the mall parking lot.

  • Some manufacturers include an option for a 'kick-out' which can help distance your body from an obstacle when the slider is rubbing against it.

  • Tube Construction:


    • HREW Tubing (Hot Rolled Electric Welded): Mild steel with a yield strength of around 40ksi. Will hold up to moderate use but will dent with heavy abuse.

    • DOM Tubing (Drawn Over Mandrel): Starts out like HREW but gets cold drawn over a mandrel which produces a more consistent and stronger tube. Yield strength is around 70ksi which means it is stronger and a better option if you frequent boulder fields.

    Youtube video showing the difference between tubing construction.



  • Bolt-on vs Weld-on:


    • I've never heard of anyone shearing a bolt on bolt-on sliders so as far as strength goes they are both equally sufficient.

    • Bolt on sliders can be removed and easily repainted once you get rock chips or boulder scrapes on them but they occasionally have fitment/compatibility issues until the manufacturer works out all the 'kinks'.

    • Weld on sliders can be welded wherever you want, which is great for guys with body lifts. But to touch them up with paint on your truck requires a bit of creativity.

    ​

4x Innovations - $204-$293 - Weld On - DOM or HREW -​


Addicted Offroad - $350 - Weld On - Unlisted Matl. -​


Bay Area Metal Fabrication - $325-$795 - Weld On - DOM or HREW -​


Budbuilt - $525-$1040 - Bolt On - DOM or HREW -​


C4 Fabrication - $525-$685 - Bolt On - DOM or HREW -​


CBI Offroad - $500-$725 - Weld On - DOM or HREW -​


Demello Offroad - $650-$1150 - Both - DOM -​


Mobtown Offroad - $350-$700 - Weld On - DOM -​


Northwest Trail Innovations - $250-$360 - Weld On - Unlisted Matl. -​


RCI - $495-$745 - Bolt On - Unlisted Matl. -​


Rago Fabrication - $800-$1000 - Bolt On - DOM -​


Relentless Fabrication - $309-$470 - Weld On - DOM -​


RPM Fab - $474 - Weld On - DOM -​


Shrockworks - $454-$608 - Bolt On - Unlisted Matl. -​


Stubbs Welding - $325-$650 - Weld On - DOM or CREW or HREW -​


White Knuckle - $480-$830 - Bolt On - DOM or HREW -​




Roof Racks: (Armor For Your Roof?)

  • Allows for the storage or mounting of awnings, flat totes, Rotopax, recovery devices, chickens, light bars, shovels, kayaks, tents, fishing poles, firewood, etc...

ARB - $920-$1300 -​




Baja - $860-$900 -​




Ecotechne - $750? -​




Eezi-Awn K9 - $1050-$1325 -​




Frontrunner - $1045 -​




Gamiviti - $830-$1460 -​




Gobi - $1600 -​




Prinsu Design Studio/ CBI - $695-$815 -​




Sleekster - $450 -​




Sherpa Equipment Co. - $800-$1000 -​
 
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Miscellaneous Armor Items:

Lower Links:

Check out my brother's lower link guide on the FJ forums, those will fit our trucks too. http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/foru...-tech/523489-lower-link-comparison-guide.html


Shock Shaft Protection:

These mount to the lower mounts of the rear shocks to protect the shafts and eyelets from rocks or pebbles.

Icon Vehicle Dynamics - $125 - Bare Stainless Steel -​

FJ Toyman Off Road - $150 - Powdercoated Steel -​

Bullet Proof Fabricating - $190 - Powdercoated Steel -​


******WORK IN PROGRESS******
 
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This is great, thank you! Im pretty sure relentless fab will do a rear bumper in house. It does require them to chop out rear cross member and I think it's somewhere around 3k with powder coating and installation included. Don't quote me on that but I did call them recently to get a quote since they are somewhat close to me.

Anyone in here running rpm fabs rear bumper? Seems like a good price...interested in more pics if someone has it mounted up.
 
Good idea, thanks for the work put into this thread, really really well done.

Edit - wanted to link to possible RCI skid group buy this fall: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/group-buys/243736-rci-off-road-fall-group-buy-2017-a.html#post2792453

I used the old thread 3 months ago and settled on Rocky Road Outfitters for Sliders - just got a shipment notification email 2 days ago from UPS Quantum View - still nothing from Rocky Road since the original order - no shipment notification, credit card billing confirmation, etc... Had totally forgotten about them since I ordered in June.

They do say some items are build to order but that's too long... I'll post when I get them put on, arriving next week, but even if they're perfect I wouldn't recommend due to customer service and wait time unless you're ok with at least 2-3 months wait and enjoy the surprise of a large credit card charge hitting randomly when they ship...
 
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catfishbirddog said:
Good idea, thanks for the work put into this thread, really really well done.

Edit - wanted to link to possible RCI skid group buy this fall: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/group-buys/243736-rci-off-road-fall-group-buy-2017-a.html#post2792453

I used the old thread 3 months ago and settled on Rocky Road Outfitters for Sliders - just got a shipment notification email 2 days ago from UPS Quantum View - still nothing from Rocky Road since the original order - no shipment notification, credit card billing confirmation, etc... Had totally forgotten about them since I ordered in June.

They do say some items are build to order but that's too long... I'll post when I get them put on, arriving next week, but even if they're perfect I wouldn't recommend due to customer service and wait time unless you're ok with at least 2-3 months wait and enjoy the surprise of a large credit card charge hitting randomly when they ship...
Click to expand...



That's so disappointing to hear. I really like their slider design. I ultimately decided to build my own sliders, but always like they're setup.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I want them all, just wish there were some in stock and didn't have to wait. I think I'll stay local, Addicted,Hefty or RCI if they make a front bumper.
 
I am still on the hunt for a rear bumper. My factory one has lost about 35% of its paint and if I'm going to replace it, I might as well do it right.
 
Thanks for putting together an updated armor thread! It’d be great if this included pictures of the sliders, info on bump out vs straight, and whether they have a top plate option.

I’m trying to decide on the best bolt on sliders with a bump out and full top plate. Leaning towards White Knuckle, but I’m still trying to make sure it’s the best option.
 
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