RTE Fabrication building new bumpers for 5th Gen - they're asking for input

[Land_Shark]

Greetings all,

This forum and its members have taught me more than I could have asked for regarding my new truck and the decisions that go into it. Now it's my turn to finally give back!

I'm working with a company called RTE Welding and Fabrication to build new bumpers and sliders for the 5th Gen 4Runner. Check out their site here: Welcome to RTE Welding & Fabrication! -- I'm very excited to be working with them and know they will deliver a great product.

I will be dropping my truck off with them later this September for them to design new production sliders, and front + rear bumpers. (They will also be designing the same for the FJs and Tacomas, but I can only afford 1 of these awesome toys).

RTE will base the bumpers off of their Discovery Series II Wideface bumper (http://www.rte-fab.com/products?pag...azing_zoom1.tpl&product_id=112&category_id=36), and will have some similarities to their LR3 bumpers here: http://www.rte-fab.com/products?pag...azing_zoom1.tpl&product_id=105&category_id=18 --- the design should be similar, but instead it will match up to the 4Runner's mounting locations and front fascia shape.

I know RTE has all the experience and know-how to build a fully capable and attractive bumper completely on their own, but they've asked for any input concerning specific design requests: tire swing out design features, hi-jack mounting locations, any specific structural nuances, etc. I am not an engineer, so anything input I have is basically a regurgitation of other, smarter people.

Please post any input you think necessary, and I will be more than happy to pass this along to RTE. They are very excited to enter the Toyota market and look forward to working with all of us. I'll try my best to answer questions as I can, but again, I'm no engineer. Questions/input such as, "Can I fit a light bar above the winch? - or - "Will the shackle mounts be 1/2 or 3/4 in loops?" - are for later. This initial inquiry is for overall design. Also, Ryan from RTE said they're aiming to build a winch tray that can fit all or at least most winches.

From when I drop the truck off in late September, they plan on having my bumpers (and ultimately all the design, computer plans, etc) completed in approximately 3.5 months. After that, I’m not sure when they would start taking orders, but I’m sure it’d be soon!
Cheers,
Cody

 

[Kimapebeau]

Rear bumper should play nice with Gobi ladders. Lots of us seem to have them. Another issue that has come up in the past is relocating the backup camera.

Look forward to seeing their designs & hope they come out before I make the decision about new bumpers.

Cheers.

 

[Jono.ful]

Options for rear swing out and accessories like jerry can and hi lift mounts. In the front, an option for full brush guards, or just a stinger, or no hoops at all. And please, please tell them to use some of the dead space in front of the rad for a winch mount rather than following arb's philosophy to have it stick out 10" in front of the grille

 

[Misterquad]

I took a quick look at the Land Rover LR3 bumper that you linked to above. And for my taste, it is too massive looking. It appears very protective but lacks style. Right now, I want to see if CBI can adapt their new Tacoma bumper over to 5 Gens. I also like 4x4Labs.

 

[Land_Shark]

Thank you all for the responses so far these are very informative and I think will help in the construction and design process. I should have been a little bit more clear in my initial post regarding the design, they will utilize the underneath structure of the LR 3 bumper but I'm not exactly sure what the final design language will look like, probably similar.

 

[GabrielM]

RTE will base the bumpers off of their Land Cruiser LR3 bumpers here: http://www.rte-fab.com/products?pag...azing_zoom1.tpl&product_id=105&category_id=18 --- the design should be similar, but instead match up to the 4Runner's mounting locations and front fascia shape.

Land Cruiser LR3??? :crazy:


It may look massive but may be different from another angle. Will they aim only to make it for the 2014+ or can be fitted to 2010-2013? I don't think they will be much more difference between the 2.

 

[Raven]

Agree with Viera - I do want protection, but that looks like way too much bumper for the front of my Runner. I want it to look, and be, strong but sexy!
Function is more important than looks, but can't we have both ?

 

[longeuayms]

I would like to see a minimalist rear bumper where the swingout tire carrier can be easily removed. A lot of us use our t4r as our daily driver and really only need the swingout for when we go off roading.
I wouldn't mind leaving all that extra weight in the garage for the 90% of time that I won't be using it.

The biggest factor ----> LOW COST, BUT WELL BUILT

 

[Land_Shark]

Land Cruiser LR3??? :crazy:


It may look massive but may be different from another angle. Will they aim only to make it for the 2014+ or can be fitted to 2010-2013? I don't think they will be much more difference between the 2.

lol, my brain must have turned off half way through writing that. I made a correction to the description after talking to Ryan. The new links are now in the original post. It will still have some similarities to the LR3, but will be more based off the Discovery II series, again, linked above.

 

[Land_Shark]

Agree with Viera - I do want protection, but that looks like way too much bumper for the front of my Runner. I want it to look, and be, strong but sexy!
Function is more important than looks, but can't we have both ?

It should be slimmer than that - I just spoke with Ryan from RTE.

I would like to see a minimalist rear bumper where the swingout tire carrier can be easily removed. A lot of us use our t4r as our daily driver and really only need the swingout for when we go off roading.
I wouldn't mind leaving all that extra weight in the garage for the 90% of time that I won't be using it.

The biggest factor ----> LOW COST, BUT WELL BUILT

It should be slimmer than the LR3 - I just spoke with Ryan from RTE. He is going to become a member so he can better answer everyone's questions. Most of his products are pretty streamline that I've seen.

 

[RTE]

Hey im Ryan from RTE, I'll see if I can get the pictures on here that resembles the bumpers more closely.

 

[RTE]

This is the Lr3 bumper. If you could imagine the center section of this bumper and the wings from the mid-face bumper above that will be our direction with the Toyota bumpers. Let me know your inputs!

 

[Misterquad]

Okay, I am liking that better. Since, you are asking for feedback, let me add a couple more points.

1. Make the winch accessible from the top so we can reach the winch to switch the direction and rewind the line. Toyota bumper makers seem to love to hide and bury the winch inside. It is a royal PITA.

2. Consider building a top access winch bumper that allows people to run built-in solenoid winches.

3. Please consider where someone would the mount the solenoids and control box.

4. Built-in tow hooks would be great.

5. I would also love a place to connect a high lift jack for lifting the front end of the truck.

 

[Intruder]

1. Make the winch accessible from the top so we can reach the winch to switch the direction and rewind the line. Toyota bumper makers seem to love to hide and bury the winch inside. It is a royal PITA.

2. Consider building a top access winch bumper that allows people to run built-in solenoid winches.

3. Please consider where someone would the mount the solenoids and control box.

Yes, yes, yes. Those are my only complaints about the ARB bumper is access to the winch and visibility of the spool when you're dressing the line. I'm not likely to change my front bumper, but if I did those would be the things that make me do it (along with construction, durability, safety, etc.).

I think that with there already being a few bumper options from well-known Toyota fab shops that a new player (to Toyota at least) would need to set themselves apart. A more open winch bumper would be one good way of doing that if you're targeting the off road market. Otherwise you're just focusing on aesthetics.

 

[RTE]

It's open at the top. If you want different recovery points we do that also. Like the Viking recovery points. We also have limb risers if needed.

 

[Land_Shark]

Ryan, I'm liking this more and more. Really looking forward to it.

 

[Misterquad]

I am liking your design even more now. You have met all the engineering demands. So, now it time to meet the cosmetic demands of the marketing department. My desire is that it looks like CBIs Tacoma bumper. You meet all that and stay near $1,200 with a quick delivery time and I want one.

 

[mikey's2010SR5]

Your land cruiser bumpers already look like what is out there, minus Luke's from 4x4Labs.

My advice.

1. Make your kit relocate the window washer bottle. The Shrockworks does not and has a low hanging skid. Albeit I have yet to hit it on anything but from a visual stand point I am not a fan.

2. Weight. Keep the weight down as much as possible while still being strong and able to be a recovery point and hold a winch.

3. Make a clean trim piece to go under the lights. The Shrockworks one is good but not perfect. I did not feel like cutting the plastic bumper because I knew I would not get the line straight. HAHA.

4. KEEP YOUR LEAD TIME DOWN TO SOMETHING REASONABLE! Ok off the soap box. Don't over extend your business, long lead times as you probably know are a deterrent. Six months for a bumper is ridiculous when you have a jig. I had a hand build one off (at the time) rear bumper made in less then two months. And that was only because he was building the bumper and building jigs to make further products.

5. Price needs to be reasonable as well, but you need to make a profit to keep your business alive.

6. Like someone said above, the ARB sticks out way to far in my opinion. Just does not look right. Try to keep the Toyota lines in mind.

7. Maybe design a couple of Hi-lift jack points on each side. My rear bumper has them and is nice but the front does not.

8. Give us a decent LED turn signal.

9. I like the idea of using the stock fog lights if possible. Should keep the total cost for the consumer down when reusing stock parts.

10. Make it pretty.

Ok I am tired and I bet most of these have been said. Can't wait to see what you come up with.

 

[st8rocks]

I did not feel like cutting the plastic bumper because I knew I would not get the line straight.

No cutting please!!

 

[DM4RNR]

Rear Bumper

I see most people here are focused on the front bumper but I would like add my two cents for the rear. I would like to see a rear bumper that gives as much clearance as possible and that replaces ALL of the plastic bumper cover with the ability to keep the rear parking sensors.