Trimmed 5th gen SR5 bumpers and rocker panels

[cmlesschwab]

My plan was to try and improve the approach and departure angles for off roading without having to replace the front and rear bumpers. I started by installing the Bud Built Rock sliders and trimming the rocker panel to mold around the slider for a more OEM look. After doing that, my front and rear bumpers seemed awfully low compared to the rocker panels since I removed almost 4 inches off the bottom of the rockers. So I whipped out the jig saw one more time to try and even out the body lines, so tell me what you guys think.

 

[crackiswack]

you should get rid of your hitch shackle if you are really concerned about your departure angle, the stock departure angle is limited by the hitch and you've made it worse

 

[3wbdriver]

I like the way you blended the rocker trim to wrap around the sliders. I have no comment about the front or rear valence mods since I'm already minus the Trail rear cap for the same problem. I leave the Smittybilt Beavertail on there now! It might have saved me from this.

 

[4RnR Grl]

My plan was to try and reduce the approach and departure angles without having to replace the front and rear bumpers. I started by installing the Bud Built Rock sliders and trimming the rocker panel to mold around the slider for a more OEM look. After doing that, my front and rear bumpers seemed awfully low compared to the rocker panels since I removed almost 4 inches off the bottom of the rockers. So I whipped out the jig saw one more time to try and even out the body lines, so tell me what you guys think.

That looks pretty good. Those are the exact spots I scraped up on my 2013. :yo:

 

[IAmTodd]

I'm really liking the rear bumper. Thanks for the idea!

 

[Stifler]

looks good, very clean

 

[DRICHEY]

^^^ agreed. I thought those were the before pictures. Scrolling down looking for one of those classic OEM Jeep fender flare hack jobs.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

I plan to do this to my 14 Limited as soon as the newness wears off for me.
Was it hard using a jig saw or would you recommend another method of cutting? I am assuming you put tape on the panel before cutting. Do your edges look rough?

 

[bimrunner]

I'm not sure how much real "damage" you save yourself from with the trimming, but I do think it looks better! Did you make the sides of the front bumper rounded? I think it may work better with the factory lines to angle that up instead of having it rounded off, but maybe it looks better from the side profile with the rocker trimmed the way you did it. That rocker would not survive though if you really had to bang on the front of that slider in a real world "slider saved my rig" kinda way.

 

[2014 Warthog]

I like the way you blended the rocker trim to wrap around the sliders. I have no comment about the front or rear valence mods since I'm already minus the Trail rear cap for the same problem. I leave the Smittybilt Beavertail on there now! It might have saved me from this.

Heh well after any amount of offroading that isn't a gravel mining or logging road... the rear bumper is going to take a pounding. It is the ONE THING on the truck that I was consistently bumping or dragging. So I rather quickly replaced with with a plate bumper.

I still drag and bump the plate bumper as well but it takes it like a champ and just a little spray paint touch up now and then to keep it looking nice

I've been thinking of trimming my front 3R5 bumper a bit just to add 2-3 inches of wheel clearance. Easy on the Drivers side but on the pass side the window washer fluid tank and pump sit REALLY low and would be the first thing to hit a rock. Really would need to move that whole thing out of the way somehow so too much work for me at the moment

 

[03_4x4Runner]

you should get rid of your hitch shackle if you are really concerned about your departure angle, the stock departure angle is limited by the hitch and you've made it worse

He just needs to cut off the excess length and drill a new hole in it to keep it flush with the end of the hitch.

 

[DM4RNR]

I trimmed my front bumper also after a fender bender. But I used the bottom of the chrome strip as a guide. This left half of the aluminum bumper showing so I used flat black spray to paint the bumper and chrome strip and fog lamp surroundings. Great job on your cuts. Mine looked horrible but I used trim molding to hide everything.

 

[E-ROCKER]

Heh well after any amount of offroading that isn't a gravel mining or logging road... the rear bumper is going to take a pounding. It is the ONE THING on the truck that I was consistently bumping or dragging. So I rather quickly replaced with with a plate bumper.

I still drag and bump the plate bumper as well but it takes it like a champ and just a little spray paint touch up now and then to keep it looking nice

I've been thinking of trimming my front 3R5 bumper a bit just to add 2-3 inches of wheel clearance. Easy on the Drivers side but on the pass side the window washer fluid tank and pump sit REALLY low and would be the first thing to hit a rock. Really would need to move that whole thing out of the way somehow so too much work for me at the moment

I really dislike how Toyota placed that washer fluid reservoir on the passenger side wheel well. It is twice the size that it really needs to be and should be under the hood. I plan to relocate mine sometime in the future and will let you know how it goes.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

To those that cut the front and rear did you have to make new support brackets? On my 14 Limited the factory bottom brackets also set low and I think I would have to make new ones. Also I would have to drill new holes in the panels to keep them from flopping in the wind.

 

[gm350reratliff]

Looks good! I hated how everything hung so low on the 2010-13 4runners.

 

[DM4RNR]

To those that cut the front and rear did you have to make new support brackets? On my 14 Limited the factory bottom brackets also set low and I think I would have to make new ones. Also I would have to drill new holes in the panels to keep them from flopping in the wind.

l am pretty sure I have removed all lower support brackets. The bumper is stiff enough where it doesn't flap in the wind. The only flapping I get is from the drivers wheel well liner but I will fix that with a zip tie. The passenger side liner broke high enough where there is no flapping but did leave the washer fluid tank exposed.

 

[470SNC]

Absolutely love that idea, the rocker around the sliders looks awesome, what kind of jig saw did you use?

 

[03_4x4Runner]

l am pretty sure I have removed all lower support brackets. The bumper is stiff enough where it doesn't flap in the wind. The only flapping I get is from the drivers wheel well liner but I will fix that with a zip tie. The passenger side liner broke high enough where there is no flapping but did leave the washer fluid tank exposed.

Thanks, I will have to crawl around under there more to see what I can come up with. I will probably wait till the 4runner reaches its first anniversary though. The wife let me buy my new BFG KO2 tires and RCI gas tank skid plate but she will freak out if I take a jig saw to it. This is the only vehicle we own other than my ATV. I can live with the back for now but the low front on my Limited could get torn off easily in the desert.

 

[cmlesschwab]

Speaking of RCI skids, I'm selling mine. I just bought them last month, but some family issues came up. They are NEW IN BOX, and are bare metal 3/16 FULL underbelly skids, Front/Mid/trans/t-case skids. Asking $500 plus shipping. I need money asap. In regards to the blade type, I used a laminate/wood blade, it provided a really smooth cut, I barely needed to sand the edges. I did use some blue masking tape just to make sure the cuts were as clean as possible. As for why I did it, first off it was free, and I hate how low the SR5 bumpers are to the ground, also when I go wheeling in pretty good at making sure I don't smash my bumpers. If there's anything more then a 70% chance of me scraping I just take the easier route. Please call or message me if anyone's interested in the RCI skids, 360-259-1103 or [email protected]

 

[wfo9]

I was thinking of doing something similar.

Looks great, Can you provide a few more pics. The shadows make it a bit hard to tell where you cut.