Savage rear bumper/tire carrier question

[thezentree]

Anyone have one of these? I really like the way they’re selling them as modules (buy bumper now, swingout later). I have some questions about their design though.

The heims seem like an easy part to fab and adjust but I’ve seen pictures of the heims failing and the tire carrier falling off with that style mount. Anyone have experience either way?

Beyond that, is there a provision to pin the swing out open? I saw they’ve got a gas strut but I feel like with a heavy spare, if I wasn’t parked level the gas strut might not be able to hold the swingout open.

 

[rkntoy]

Can you post up pics of the heims failing? I have a 37 spare on mine.Purposely bought it for the swing out design. I just modded the latch a bit.

 

[thezentree]

Can you post up pics of the heims failing? I have a 37 spare on mine.Purposely bought it for the swing out design. I just modded the latch a bit.

It’s been a while since I saw the pics so it’d be a lot of digging to find them, and it may not have even been a Savage bumper (sorry for not making that clear in the OP). But the body of both heims split at the top, 180 degrees from the threaded end. My concern is with that design in general after seeing those pics, not necessarily just Savage.


The fact that you’re carting around a 37 on yours though is reassuring. What’d you do to the latch?

 

[psraff]

[MENTION=67615]Dirtco[/MENTION] had his mount break on him a few months back. Maybe you were thinking of that. But what doesn't he break?!?!? He just finds what's weak and makes it 10x stronger.

 

[theesotericone]

The heims seem like an easy part to fab and adjust but I’ve seen pictures of the heims failing and the tire carrier falling off. Anyone have experience either way?

Beyond that, is there a provision to pin the swing out open? I saw they’ve got a gas strut but I feel like with a heavy spare, if I wasn’t parked level the gas strut might not be able to hold the swingout open.

I am really happy with my Savage bumper. I've got dual swings and a lot of weight hanging off the back. I've never had any problems with it and I get out pretty often.

The strut is strong enough that you won't have to worry about a pin to keep the swing out open. If you really want one just place a piece of 1" material between the swingout mount and the arm. That'll keep the swing from closing.

I've never heard of a Savage swing breaking. I've also never seen a helms break. If you really want to know call Roy. He's an honest guy and if you ask him about any of his products failures he will tell you.

 

[thezentree]

[MENTION=67615]Dirtco[/MENTION] had his mount break on him a few months back. Maybe you were thinking of that. But what doesn't he break?!?!? He just finds what's weak and makes it 10x stronger.

No I saw Dirtco’s tire carrier breaking just about everywhere else but I recall seeing a picture of the heims themselves splitting.

I am really happy with my Savage bumper. I've got dual swings and a lot of weight hanging off the back. I've never had any problems with it and I get out pretty often.

The strut is strong enough that you won't have to worry about a pin to keep the swing out open. If you really want one just place a piece of 1" material between the swingout mount and the arm. That'll keep the swing from closing.

I've never heard of a Savage swing breaking. I've also never seen a helms break. If you really want to know call Roy. He's an honest guy and if you ask him about any of his products failures he will tell you.

Cool. I certainly don’t mean to trash Savage - I’m really thinking about ordering a bumper from them. Just want to hear some firsthand experience with them before I do. Like I said, it may have been another bumper that I saw. It’s been a while.

 

[OU4x4]

Dirtco's break was a spindle, not heim construction
i'm going on two years with the rear bumper and it's been great
i wd40 the heims every few months but that has been it and no problems so far

 

[kolelt]

My savage is solid. Their is slight flex in the actual steel when the swingout with tire is swung out. The bumper will flex little bit. Normal for steel. How we I have not heard or seen anyone break their heim joint on the savage bumper.

And I agree. The buy now and Buy later. Is awesome!

 

[thezentree]

Glad to hear the votes of confidence. Now I just need to figure out how to convince my fiancé that I need a new bumper instead of an extra night on our honeymoon. :lmao:

 

[theesotericone]

Glad to hear the votes of confidence. Now I just need to figure out how to convince my fiancé that I need a new bumper instead of an extra night on our honeymoon. :lmao:

That's always the tough one. I told my wife that since we put bigger tires on the factory spare location and factory jack no longer would work. So I bought a hi-lift and a place to keep the new, larger spare. That just happened to be a Savage bumper. It worked out well cause it holds the hi-lift too. lol

 

[rallypoint_1]

That's always the tough one. I told my wife that since we put bigger tires on the factory spare location and factory jack no longer would work. So I bought a hi-lift and a place to keep the new, larger spare. That just happened to be a Savage bumper. It worked out well cause it holds the hi-lift too. lol

That's great!! My wife wouldn't go for that. I tried something like that.lol

 

[Hepar]

That's great!! My wife wouldn't go for that. I tried something like that.lol

I think I read someplace that the spare being so close to the gas tank in the 1996-2002 4Runners increases the likelihood of explosion. That the safest place for the spare is on the rear of the car.

 

[theesotericone]

I think I read someplace that the spare being so close to the gas tank in the 1996-2002 4Runners increases the likelihood of explosion. That the safest place for the spare is on the rear of the car.

I guess I should take my rotopax off the bumper then. lol

 

[thezentree]

I think I read someplace that the spare being so close to the gas tank in the 1996-2002 4Runners increases the likelihood of explosion. That the safest place for the spare is on the rear of the car.

What you did there - I see it.