Westin Rear Bumper Guard

[SE4runner]

I just got my Westin Rear Bumper Guard. Gonna install it tomorrow. Anyone else have this installed? If so, was it easy to install?

I bought this for 2 reasons:

1) protect my bumper (at least to a certain degree)
2) presents a psychological effect on some people that tailgate me. Because it sticks out, and is more visible, it lets people pulling in too close know that if he rams me, it would do more damage to their car, than to mine.

 

[Biff]

I have a similiar bumper guard. The install takes no more than 10-15 mins.

 

[jharris2]

We'll expect pics by Monday.

 

[SE4runner]

Westin forgot to mention that if the 4runner has a towing hitch, you have to remove the entire thing to install the bumper guard. Hmmm... towing hitch or bumper guard? Which one should I take? Removing the hitch is gonna be a pain... but I just spent a few hundred bucks on the bumper guard.... I might need to tow something in the future, but will probably do it only once or twice. Returning the bumper guard isn't really an option, cuz the shipping + 15% restocking fee is gonna end up about half the price of the product itself.

What should I do?!

 

[jharris2]

Westin forgot to mention that if the 4runner has a towing hitch, you have to remove the entire thing to install the bumper guard.

Now that should get the prize for the most ridiculous deal of the day. Every 2003 and 2004 model has a towing hitch....what was Westin thinking??? :twak:

I'd see if Westin would waive the 15% fee since they failed to mention that their product is not compatible with a standard 2003/2004 model 4Runner. Before you call, check all their documents available before you buy (meaning, not the stuff in the box, but the stuff on the site where you ordered it) to see if there is a mention of this minor detail. If not, they really should take it back at no charge and refund the fuill purchase price.

If they don't you can be sure that no one on this forum will buy from them without very thoroughly checking out all alternatives first.

 

[SE4runner]

Westin has a pic of the 03/04 Toyota on their website with the bumper guard on.

Either a) they sent me the wrong bumper guard. b) the SE model's hitch is layed out a bit differently than other models. c) I spent about an hour looking in the wrong place, which I doubt because there's only 2 possible places that it could fit -- and the towing hitch is taking those spots.

Anyway, I'll give them a call on Monday.

 

[hellothere]

easier to just get a Waag

I do not know much about the Westin, but I just installed a waag rear bumper guard over a 7000lb hitch and it was incredibly simple. Plenty of space to use the hitch and allows you to keep the "tow loop" too.

If you have the 7000lb hitch, be sure that they send you 4 of the longer bolts, not the shorter ones (they typically include 2 new short bolts and have you use 2 existing bolts). I had to call them to get the longer bolts, but they sent them out same day.

 

[SE4runner]

I just spoke to technical support, and it seems that they left out some minor details about the install. Whoever created the install directions for this needs to be fired. He/She forgot to mention that you have to remove the screws and left hook for the towing hitch, and also to disregard the 4 main screws that come with it. Also, the bracket on the directions is setup wrong. They need to be reversed in order for it to fit in the holes (unless I buy a commercial drill and make my own holes in the bracket). And, even if I turn the brackets the other way, they fit in the holes, but the bumper guard won't fit in the brackets.

So... my orignal assessment (did I spell that right?), was correct... In order for me to install the thing correctly with the parts that they gave me, I'd have to remove the entire towing hitch.

I spent over $200 and 2 hours of my life on something that's such a hassle to install that it's not worth it. Gonna try and return it (although it has to be returned by freight truck).

 

[SE4runner]

Westin's product manager emailed me and said that he suspects that the Sport Edition model's towing hitch is layed out differently Anyway, he's having one of the engineers look into it. Hopefully, they can just send me new brackets that fit, and I won't have to return the thing.

 

[hellothere]

Ask them if they designed the guard for the 5000lb hitch or the 7000lb hitch. It seems very unlikely that Toyota designed an entirely different tow assembly for the Sport trim, and Westin probably did their design before the 7000lb hitch was available.

Good luck.

 

[Iman74]

If things do not work out and you end up returning it, you can do what I did. Since I wanted a nice tow hitch cover, and wanted a step on the back I got something just like this.

This is a newer model, and actually a bit nicer than mine. But it gives the basic idea. Plus I have close up pictures of it on my car on the pic threads.