Slimline Hybrid Bumper from Southern Style Offroad Review and Pics

[Friggin Idiot]

Does anyone know the best way to mount a license plate with this bumper?

I was thinking magnets, but wanted to see if anyone had experience with this issue.

My bumper is on order now, just trying to get all the pieces together before it arrives (winch, license plate, etc).

I used magnets and did a short write-up here in my thread, good for everything but water crossings, mudholes (lost 1 plate), and automatic car washes. But with the "fun" of dealing with the DMV about a lost plate, I remember to remove it now.

When I was asking the same question, I posted a bunch of options here in their original thread.

 

[billnourse]

I did my front plate with a Cascadia Flipster. It stays in place at 70mph, but easily flips up out of the way to expose the winch fairlead. It attaches with the fairlead bolts.

https://www.amazon.com/flip-up-license-plate/s?page=1&rh=i:aps,k:flip up license plate

 

[83Mule]

I have been watching these guys on Youtube quite awhile and that Merri is a Card!......next time tell the Cow to Moooooove!:scared:

 

[ryguytheman]

I used magnets and did a short write-up here in my thread, good for everything but water crossings, mudholes (lost 1 plate), and automatic car washes. But with the "fun" of dealing with the DMV about a lost plate, I remember to remove it now.

When I was asking the same question, I posted a bunch of options here in their original thread.

Thanks, I knew I couldn't be the first person to need this info.

Thanks for doing the legwork for us all!

 

[Basic_Runner]

Hey guys, I ordered my Hybrid bumper about 3 weeks ago, what is everyones experience with turn around time? I am going to be doing an OEM paint match on it!

 

[ryguytheman]

Hey guys, I ordered my Hybrid bumper about 3 weeks ago, what is everyones experience with turn around time?

Took about 10 weeks for mine to arrive.

 

[Basic_Runner]

Took about 10 weeks for mine to arrive.

Did you get yours with Powder coat?

 

[mteolus]

So for someone ignorant about bumpers and winches, why does the port where the cable/rope comes out of tilt down? Wouldn't that put stress on the rope if you had it tied to a tree straight out? Rope rubbing up against the top of the port? Or is it because most of the time you need it you are driving uphill so the rope is coming out straight?

 

[Basic_Runner]

So for someone ignorant about bumpers and winches, why does the port where the cable/rope comes out of tilt down? Wouldn't that put stress on the rope if you had it tied to a tree straight out? Rope rubbing up against the top of the port? Or is it because most of the time you need it you are driving uphill so the rope is coming out straight?

My understanding is that the winch actually sits low enough in the bumper that the line is basically coming strait out. Plus the opening for the line in the bumper is wider than the fairlead, so if you are rubbing its on the smoothed edge of the fairlead. Plus if you think about it, in a winching situation you are very rarely pulling strait on and level so there would be no rub no-matter the angle of the fairlead.

 

[ryguytheman]

Did you get yours with Powder coat?

Yes I did.

 

[a.delav]

I'm getting ready to do the SSO slimline on my 2014 Trail and I've got a few questions for those of you who have installed this bumper:

1. Light Options
2. Winch Options
3. Winch / light Installation

For lighting - is there a preference for a 20" light vs. a 30" for those that have gone with one or the other? I see Rigid and Heise as popular options for these bumpers and am curious what folks have found works best.

For the winch - my local overland outfitter is recommending the 10,000 lb Warn Evo with a synthetic line. Seems like a pretty solid option that works well with this bumper. Does anyone have any challenges with this setup?

For Installation - I'd like to do this in pieces and will probably install the bumper, then later add the winch and lighting when time and funds allow. It sounds like this can be done with the bumper mounted and the plastic factory bumper and grill removed. For those that have done this, what's been the experience?

Thanks in advance, I'll search around too but figured this would be a good place to start.

Adam