Hefty Fab Steel tube bumper on stock suspension..

[pointman]

Bad idea? I am about to pull the trigger and wanted to get some feedback if possible. All the research I've done points to there being a tiny bit of almost in-perceivable droop from the heavy weight, but that it will be fine to run it on stock suspension. Would love to hear if I am making a mistake, if Hefty is a solid option (found a thread about delayed build times but it appears they have it in stock), or anything really. Thank you.

 

[JSparky]

Just to throw some numbers up, if we’re looking at their “hybrid tube bumper”, it clocks in at 98lbs. Will you be adding a winch or no?

 

[pointman]

Just to throw some numbers up, if we’re looking at their “hybrid tube bumper”, it clocks in at 98lbs. Will you be adding a winch or no?

Sorry I forgot to add that! Nothing else. Just the bumper. No winch for sure. Stock 19 with kdss.

 

[JSparky]

Cool, you’ll get a lot of opinions but I say you’re probably fine.

You’ll feel the weight of the bumper when driving, no way around that. If you’re unhappy with the performance you can always swap out the struts for a blistein 5100/Dobinsons/OME setup to firm up the ride without spending too much. I wouldn’t say it’s immediately necessary for 100lbs in added weight. A winch would be another story.

Nosedive when braking would be my only real concern, especially on mountain roads, but take it one step at a time.

 

[pointman]

Cool, you’ll get a lot of opinions but I say you’re probably fine.

You’ll feel the weight of the bumper when driving, no way around that. If you’re unhappy with the performance you can always swap out the struts for a blistein 5100/Dobinsons/OME setup to firm up the ride without spending too much. I wouldn’t say it’s immediately necessary for 100lbs in added weight. A winch would be another story.

Nosedive when braking would be my only real concern, especially on mountain roads, but take it one step at a time.

Thanks for the details. I appreciate that. I'm not sure how I feel about nosedive or feeling it in a daily capacity. I've run bars up front in other vehicles, but they seemed much more cosmetic than this one would be. Now I feel a bit unsure about whether to get it or not haha But I do appreciate the information as this is precisely what I was looking to hear.

 

[comtn4x4]

Thanks for the details. I appreciate that. I'm not sure how I feel about nosedive or feeling it in a daily capacity. I've run bars up front in other vehicles, but they seemed much more cosmetic than this one would be. Now I feel a bit unsure about whether to get it or not haha But I do appreciate the information as this is precisely what I was looking to hear.

As [MENTION=96425]JSparky[/MENTION] said I'd drive it first then see how you feel. That being said, you didn't give many details about your rig. Do you have anything else on you're rig? Even sliders might be enough to tip the scale into wanting a heavier coil.

 

[pointman]

As [MENTION=96425]JSparky[/MENTION] said I'd drive it first then see how you feel. That being said, you didn't give many details about your rig. Do you have anything else on you're rig? Even sliders might be enough to tip the scale into wanting a heavier coil.

Hey, sorry. Stock. I'm surprised sub 100 lbs up front would make it feel.. different.

 

[comtn4x4]

Hey, sorry. Stock. I'm surprised sub 100 lbs up front would make it feel.. different.

It's more that the 100# is hanging off the front and the front suspension carries all of it. When I added my aluminum front bumper and winch which is about 140# it made a huge difference and I had to go from my already up-sized 650# coils to 700# coils. However, I did have sliders and a very heavy roof rack and skid plates already

 

[SpeedyKevin]

Hey, sorry. Stock. I'm surprised sub 100 lbs up front would make it feel.. different.

Not running stock suspension but when I added my lopro bumper + winch, i definitely noticed the added weight. Swapped out the coils and the ride quality was much much better

 

[pointman]

It's more that the 100# is hanging off the front and the front suspension carries all of it. When I added my aluminum front bumper and winch which is about 140# it made a huge difference and I had to go from my already up-sized 650# coils to 700# coils. However, I did have sliders and a very heavy roof rack and skid plates already

Thanks for the feedback. So curious if I will run into disliking it without modding the suspension. You are running a bunch of mods though so maybe I would get lucky. I guess I have to research suspension now. Is it just a matter of getting new coils? If so, what would you recommend?

Not running stock suspension but when I added my lopro bumper + winch, i definitely noticed the added weight. Swapped out the coils and the ride quality was much much better

Sounds like I might regret this without changing something else in the suspension. What coils did you go with? Any other suspension work needed?

 

[87pony]

if they didnt already have nose dive id say you would be fine. buuuut since they do from factory, it will definitely make it a little worse.

 

[SpeedyKevin]

Thanks for the feedback. So curious if I will run into disliking it without modding the suspension. You are running a bunch of mods though so maybe I would get lucky. I guess I have to research suspension now. Is it just a matter of getting new coils? If so, what would you recommend?



Sounds like I might regret this without changing something else in the suspension. What coils did you go with? Any other suspension work needed?

It's generally recommended to install the new shocks/coils after adding all your weight so you can still get the bumper and then see if you like the ride. I'm also running a full set of skids (aluminum front and steel everything else) but added the bumper/winch much later. I went with a simple Dobinsons Twintube set up. For fronts and rears, it costed about 800ish. They have a bunch of coil options for specific ride height/weight.

Just see though if you like the ride on stock and go from there.

 

[comtn4x4]

Thanks for the feedback. So curious if I will run into disliking it without modding the suspension. You are running a bunch of mods though so maybe I would get lucky. I guess I have to research suspension now. Is it just a matter of getting new coils? If so, what would you recommend?



Sounds like I might regret this without changing something else in the suspension. What coils did you go with? Any other suspension work needed?

You'll definitely benefit from driving it with the bumper on and seeing how it is. The only thing I could say for sure is that it will change some. You'll have to see how you feel about that. It's definitely possible that you get lucky.

You could get new coils only, although I would imagine that you would end up doing the shocks too after looking into it. As far as recommendations go, it depends on your budget. The new Eibach stuff looks nice and gets good reviews. Bilstein and Dobinson's is a good choice too and well reviewed also. If you can step up slightly you could look at Toytec or others too. I personally prefer a fully adjustable front coil over so your suspension can grow with your build but that's a bit more of an investment and may exceed your needs.

The whole suspension thing of kind of a can of worms honestly. If I do this then I want that etc.

 

[Sbenis]

If you do this you will def need to upgrade your front suspension ,id save up for some upgrades before puting it on .

 

[pointman]

if they didnt already have nose dive id say you would be fine. buuuut since they do from factory, it will definitely make it a little worse.

I actually don't mind the dive! Only time it seems excessive is when I brake suddenly and the brakes lock up and its like I fell over the side of the Titanic.

It's generally recommended to install the new shocks/coils after adding all your weight so you can still get the bumper and then see if you like the ride. I'm also running a full set of skids (aluminum front and steel everything else) but added the bumper/winch much later. I went with a simple Dobinsons Twintube set up. For fronts and rears, it costed about 800ish. They have a bunch of coil options for specific ride height/weight.

Just see though if you like the ride on stock and go from there.

I think this is the only armor mod I want to do! Thanks for the suggestion and estimate. Gives me something to work off of. Had no idea previously. I really like how the 4Runner is now and don't want to mess with the geometry of it too much. This was supposed to be my "don't touch it and enjoy its reliability" ride.

You'll definitely benefit from driving it with the bumper on and seeing how it is. The only thing I could say for sure is that it will change some. You'll have to see how you feel about that. It's definitely possible that you get lucky.

You could get new coils only, although I would imagine that you would end up doing the shocks too after looking into it. As far as recommendations go, it depends on your budget. The new Eibach stuff looks nice and gets good reviews. Bilstein and Dobinson's is a good choice too and well reviewed also. If you can step up slightly you could look at Toytec or others too. I personally prefer a fully adjustable front coil over so your suspension can grow with your build but that's a bit more of an investment and may exceed your needs.

The whole suspension thing of kind of a can of worms honestly. If I do this then I want that etc.

Thank you! I am only hopeful thinking it might just change a tad and I will be ok with it. The idea of jumping into other mods, isn't where I wanted to be. But the look and functionality of that front bumper is calling to me.

The can of worms is what I am trying to avoid! Appreciate the suggestions. Now I have to search all this stuff up. Thanks again.

If you do this you will def need to upgrade your front suspension ,id save up for some upgrades before puting it on .

"definitely"?? Oh man..