I keep hearing you can run the ARB for an 95-04 tacoma with minor modifications? im assuming everyone on here with an ARB has this one because i haven't found one actually for a 4runner. but how minor are these modifications? what has to be done to fit it?

It's not bad at all to fit the taco bumper on a 4runner, you just need to cut the plates on the ends of your frame off (very easy, they'll just fall off once you grind the welds). The ARB mounting brackets then slide over your frame rails and are bolted on. Then the bumper is bolted to the mounts. This all you NEED to do.

However, after I bolted the brackets on, I strengthened them for winching by welding the brackets to the frame (in spots that would be easy to grind off if I ever wanted to remove the bumper). I've done a lot of pulling on my bumper and have had no problems with my method.

There is also another mod to consider though, in which you can weld some angle iron inside the frame and then put a bolt through the angle iron and the bracket for added pulling strength. L@@K:
Frame Endcap Mod for Winch Bumpers | Northwest Toys

(this is above and beyond what ARB designed for the Tacoma or the 4runner, but was developed by off-roaders who do a lot of winching)

wow thanks a lot man. the only problem is my plates got kinda messed up in my wreck heres what they look like
could i just cut off right after the part thats like kinda smashed to the side (look at the left rail to see what i mean). or is the frame plate the whole little section thats about a 3 inch block on the end of the frame?

I think they are bolted on

Was some of the frame extension removed? If I remember correctly there was a lot more frame for the bracket to slide onto, your's looks nubbed

I think they look nubbed too. They might still be long enough to suffice though, it looks like you have enough of a lip still and the mounts bolt on using the holes for your tow hooks which don't seem to be bothered by the damage. You'll have to grind all that smash flat because the mounts are a tight fit when you slide them on. Looks like it'll work though without too much extra effort.

Putting an ARB on my 2000, I had the plates.

Doing the same on my friends 99, he had no plates. I would guess that you never had the plates either.