Wish me luck / any ideas?

[thorrunner]

Well I dropped off the 4Runner today at the fab shop for a custom rear bumper. The only instructions that I gave were:

use a double tapered bearing setup on the tire swing
mount for the Hi Lift
keep the hitch mount as high as possible
contour the sides (like the CBI)

I don't like the big flat side panel like on the Aluminess bumper and the only complaint that I hear about the CBI is the rear clearance is about the same as the stock tow hitch.

I said to put their creativity to work... I really like these guys so I am taking this gamble over just ordering up the CBI (the current price is they are offering is really good and tough to pass up)

If anyone has any suggestions send them my way b/c there are going to be working on this for about 3 weeks or so!

Pictures to follow with the progress...

 

[gaterose]

Awesome, good luck!

I'm sure you'll get something nice if the guys do good work.

What about gas cans? license plate mount? maybe a step for accessing stuff on the roof if you have plans for a rack or loading anything there? I don't necessarily have ideas for those yet just asking if you gave em something for that.

I personally would like integrated backup lamps.

edit: or at least holes for a certain lamp that I could install, maybe 4.5" circles for PIAA 510s or rectangles for KC26 backup floods?

 

[thorrunner]

Good call on the reverse floods, I hadn't even thought of that!

 

[Jerrydog]

Man! I wish I had your kind of money!!!

 

[TOYLUVA]

Built in fresh water and/or air tank where the spare was mounted up under the cargo area. maybe even a air compressor. spair fuel tank would be nice too.

I would definitly have some integrated shackles/tow hooks.

reverse lights for sure.

the step is a great idea too. but you should be able to use the top of the bumper for that.

shovel mount?

ax mount?

and last but not least and antenna mount for your cb or vhf.

 

[4RBob]

rub bars

this would be more of a necessity on our 5th Gen's with the big goofy taillights.

 

[darkie3495]

Good luck!! It's really the only way to have something fit your truck perfectly and have the correct spacing for flex.

here's a few that wasn't mentioned on your original list:
Double Shear pivot swing arm
Removable dual fuel can holder
Hitch integrated in the bumper (notch the cross member) or removable when not in use
Dual clevis mounts
Flush mounted LED back up lights (4" back up lights)
License plate holder with lights (legally required here in WA)

Looking forward to the progress...

 

[berettashot117]

subscribed

 

[K.C.]

x2

Subscribed

 

[thorrunner]

Thanks for all the input everyone. I am going to stop by the shop today on my break from work to see the 4runner and talk about the bumper. The shop (Full Speed Fab) did a custom 3rd gen rear bumper recently and they put an aux fuel tank where the spare used to be. Personally I don't think I am ready for all that but the rear lights and tow hooks are definitely great ideas.

We had already discussed the license plate mount, so that is already in the works. I haven't given too much thought to extra gas cans or shovel / ax mounts but that is good food for thought. I do have a Jeep buddy who didn't secrue his gas can property recently and seeing that pitched off his bumper was pretty frightening...

On another note, I have been driving my wife's sister's Corolla since last Thursday and I am already about to drive into oncoming traffic! I know this bumper is going to take the better part of a month to build but maybe I can pay extra to speed up the process!

 

[thorrunner]

Here are a couple update pics, no big progress yet... I never took the bumper cover off before so I enjoyed checking things out.