Relentless Fabrication 2nd gen Stingray Bumper Group Buy Thread

Thanks man! I think your reward for finishing your finals is installing this thing. Good luck and have fun with it! Post pics when you’re done!

 

yee haw! Looks fantastic @EMR

 

They finally arrived after UPS lost them. Unfortunately it will be awhile before I get them mounted. Having foot surgery on the 20th and will be down for 4 months.

 

Dang, glad you got the bumper finally but sorry about the foot. Good luck with surgery and hope you recover quickly to get things installed!

 

Got mine in- getting ready to install after Christmas this week. Quick question on install, I can only find instructions for 2016+ Tacoma on the website. Does this one involve cutting? I thought it was direct install swap.

Thanks- SRick

 

There’s only some minimal cutting involved of the center lower plastic piece. Let me try to find the instructions I used.

*edit: found it!

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2012-15-sting-ray-lo-pro-bumper.459324/page-9#post-20094766

 

EMR, thanks a ton- Instructions are rock solid. Greatly appreciate the link, the assist, and your excellent instructions!!

SRick

 

Don’t fret too much about the cutting. I literally took my angle grinder and in under two minutes, had the cut. It’s super easy. Also, just to clarity, those weren’t my instructions so sadly I can’t take the credit.

 

Anybody else have to re-cut/drill the mounting bolt holes? Mine are 1/4 inch off. Just spent 45 minutes trying to get the bumper mounted and no way is it fitting with current bolt hole configuration.

 

Can’t say, haven’t tried to mount mine yet. My u joints went kaboom so fixing that first and hoping weather doesn’t shift to an arctic blast. But I’ll report back if it’s off later.

Edit: Mounting bolts were tight on mine but fit with only a small amount of persuasion. Original aluminum crash bar also came off with the same tight fit. Assuming each truck is different and if you've ever had the bumper tapped in a parking lot it may be tighter.

 

Mine went on fine but a few other people somewhere in this thread said they had to hit the bolts with a mallet to straighten them out. Put a nut on and hit that of course, to preserve the threads.

 

Shouldn't require any modification, these are the same design as they've always been and the hole pattern is the same as all our hundreds of 2005-2023 Tacoma bumpers we've built for years now.
It's possible as mentioned that the studs are angled a little where they come out of the frame end plates, but they'd still be very close. 1/4" is a lot, something seems off. You removed all the aluminum crash bar parts from the frame and are going straight to frame?

 

Yep, I got it and installed it. About 20 minutes with a file and got the wholes widened. More like 1/8 on both of the right side holes. All good now, rest of install went smooth.

 

Working on installing mine today. Old school milkwakee bumper jack sure made any work of any lifting.

 

Here is everything all buttoned up.

Winch is a warn VR12-S with a warn epic fairleed and hook and a AEV hook isolator. Shackles are mooseknuckle split jowl. I may have them powdercoated a deeper red as in the sunlight they are bright red.

Bumper instal was pretty straightforward. I did have to bend the factory bumper studs in a little to fit over the bumper. I showed the outside of the studs measuring 1/8" wider than the holes. The factory aluminum bumper was tight and the studs may have bent when trying to remove it also.

 

Looks sweet. Can’t wait to get back on my feet so I can get mine installed.

 

How’s that foot recovery coming along?

 

I am doing pretty good. They had to do more than they were expecting. I have 4 screws holding it together. No weight bearing for about six more weeks. Total recovery is supposed to be 4 months. I am going insane sitting in the recliner all day. Thanks for asking.

 

Wow that’s a long recovery! My wife who’s a PT says your surgery must have been doozy! As soon as you’re off the restrictions, don’t go off and rushing this bumper on just to screw up that ankle again (because I can totally are myself doing that). Good luck to you brother.

 

They pretty much rebuilt my metatarsal’s. I have 4 3” screws holding it all together. I am so tired of sitting in the recliner. But I am not going to do anything to hurt myself. Just be happy to be able to go back to work when it stops swelling.