Avoid Body Armor Rear bumpers at all costs!

So just a PSA here. Ordered a bunch of stuff for my Taco to take advantage of July 4 savings from Extreme Terrain. Body Armor Pro rear bumper, DV8 front winch bumper, Barricade 9500 winch, Rough Country rear ditch lights and 20" led bar for front.

First rear bumper that got sent out was an obvious customer return. Box was haggered and ripped, bumper wrapped in bubble wrap, mounting brackets bubble wrapped but loose (5-10 lbs each), and hardware kit was wrapped up in a big taped bundle that looked like a kilo of coke.

So wanting to check the hardware before the install, and pretty much knowing what should be in there from the YouTube videos I watched regarding the install, I found missing pieces and obvious galling on washers and nuts from a previous install. 3 of the lock washers where even u-shaped from deformation.

Called ET and told them about this and they apologized and said it wasn't in their control as these direct ship from the manufacturer. This is BS because the FedEx label showed shipping from their distribution center.

Anyhow, they expidited a replacement bumper. So this one arrives 2 days later in what appears to be factory packaging. Problem is, with this one ,quality control is out the window. The piece across the top of the license plate was welded poorly and when they ground it smooth had pitting and left divots. It wasn't jigged correctly either as you can see the jagged edge across the top line of the bumper. Inside welds were not complete and this would probably rip apart if you have it a couple good tugs to get a buddy unstuck. Welds looked like 1st year apprentice garbage. Lastly, the powder coating appears to be single stage and was literally still tacky too the touch when I received it.

Should have known this was garbage when I saw the Made in China sticker on the second box. Long story short, both bumpers are going back. Going for a Fab Fours Vengeance instead.

Something huge to keep in mind even for returns. These things weigh 85lbs. Once you open a factory box, it will take you 5 rolls of packing tape and a buddy to help you repackage these. That's x2! Luckily I had access to poly strapping from my job and the x connectors so I could somewhat put these boxes together. Keep in mind that poly strapping for the average consumer can reach $75 per box.

So save your money and time and buy a quality product. Body Armor I would not wish on my worst enemy.

By contrast, the DV8 front bumper was packaged perfectly!! Each piece was wrapped in neoprene and the whole box was filled with that industrial Great Stuff foam preventing any movement of parts. Box was also poly banded. Same with Barricade winch. Perfect styrofoam packaging, box banded and shrink wrapped.

Hope this saves you guys a bunch of headaches!

 

I got the front bumper a couple years back and the rear bumper a few months after. Everything seemed to good back then, Who knows?

 

Yeah dunno. These bumpers were worse than Amazon/Ebay ones I've seen on other rigs. Maybe quality control went to poop after Covid

 

Worker shortage and such

 

The shipping boxes were beat to hell, as I recall, but all the bolts lined up with the holes.

 

DV8 front is stought!

 

Not to be a dick, but you purchased most of the cheaper options out there all the way around. I mean, you do get what you pay for.

 

Didn't even attempt the install as both bumpers were scratched and single stage powder coat looked like crap. Wouldn't expect it to hold up 3 months in the Arizona sun. By contrast, the DV8 dual stage powder coat looks quality and I believe it has a warranty.

 

Found that out the hard way. Front bumper is solid quality! I'll spend double for the Vengeance rear this time around.

 

Again props for the quality of the DV8. I work for the railroad as a train car mechanic. Something as simple as the quality of the nuts and bolts makes all the difference. Nothing more frustrating than being in a confined space and a nut not wanting to thread onto a bolt because the plating tolerances are too thick or threads not cleaned. Necessitates extra tools, time and patience for something you should be able to just spin on, THEN tighten.

 

I just went and installed my DV8 Winch Mount.
My winch mount came w/o any damage to the box, and was well packed inside, using expandable foam.
One of the mounting brackets was slightly bent, due to welding warpage, but was easy to straighten out.

I was able to install it w/o removing the bumper, nor doing any cutting.
It was fairly easy, though it is a two-man job.
I ran out of time installing the winch mount that I have to wait to install my winch.

I've got a Warn M8000 Cable Winch for it, but I'm waiting on a shorter Roller Fairlead I ordered from 4WP. See photo below. This Warn one sticks out too far for my taste.

I've also got a License Plate Mount on order as well from USOffroad. See photo below. As you can see, it mounts via the Fairhead mounting bolts. 2016-2020 Toyota Tacoma License Plate Mount (usoffroad.us)

This is my third Warn M8000, while there are cheaper winches available, especially w/synthetic rope, which people say work just fine, I prefer buying American when I can. Plus, this is my third M8000, w/the other two being left on my previous vehicles.

As to why I went cable w/synthetic rope? Cost! This one was $769.99 at 4WP, while the model w/the synthetic rope is $1121.99. Plus, I don't expect to use it all that often that I need to worry about the cable.

Finally, it's too late for me, since I just found out about them, but I recommend looking at the USOffroad winch mounts. I personally like how they mount myself, though there is some cutting, but they do cost more than the DV8.
Don't get me wrong though, the DV8 is still a pretty good mount, and probably easier to get.

UPDATE:
Instead of the Warn Roller Fairlead, which as you can see in my photos, sticks out too far when mounted at an angle, and so I went w/a shorter, height wise, one, a
Smittybilt Low Profile Roller Fairlead, together installing a license plate mount, which slips behind it.
I still have to install my winch, when it gets cooler towards the fall.

 

My Body Armour rear bumper looked great until I put it on the Taco. Almost immediately it started rusting around the hardware bolts, and then later on all over. Their paint prep work isn't the best, but it is a solid bumper. Unfortunately for me, I have to touch it up every spring, as the winter just beats the shit out of it.

 

So it looks like you deleted the light bar hoop. Does anybody know what light bar fits this bumper without modification? The Rough Country I ordered was too long to fit between the tabs and the DV8 one I ordered is too short. The opening between the tabs is 21 3/4" and the light bar is only 21 3/8"L. Seems stupid to have to rig something in to make it fit when this is the light bar they link to the bumper on their site.

Looks good brother!

 

Yeah like I said, I wasn't impressed with the powder coating at all. I've done a better job in an old oven at my friend's garage on bike parts lol.

 

I'm looking to get same bumper. Did you ever install license plate lights? If so, what or how did you?

 

Yep, it was actually really easy. I use the ones are built into the bolts that hold the plate on. I'll try to find a link. They are pretty easy to find, I think I bought them at AutoZone.

 

Now you know why textured and wrinkled finish paint exists. Any company that uses it is reason enough to avoid them.

 

As it sits, after a couple years in the Sonoran Desert sun. I still love it.