Oooookay, should have the images working now, so here goes:

I noticed a while back that A.P. had started making a weld-together kit for their back bumper.

As you can see, I needed it. The end cap on this end was bent, I tore the other sides off, and the bumper was loose on it's mounts and bent as well. Also, the stock bumper w/ a reciever hitch underneath it were a huge ground-clearance suck:
<img src="http://home.off-road.com/~mithrandir/rear_bumper/rear04.jpg">

Some assembly required :rasta:
<img src="http://home.off-road.com/~mithrandir/rear_bumper/rear06.jpg">

Playing with my $179 jigsaw puzzle:
<img src="http://home.off-road.com/~mithrandir/rear_bumper/rear09.jpg">

Quality Control Alert: The little 'ears' kept the bracket from butting up against the tubing, and the holes didn't line up for the bolts. (Both sides)
<img src="http://home.off-road.com/~mithrandir/rear_bumper/rear11.jpg">

Tacking it together: (Didn't have the bracket tightened down all the way, so it sits crooked here)
<img src="http://home.off-road.com/~mithrandir/rear_bumper/rear13.jpg">

One of the brackets:
<img src="http://home.off-road.com/~mithrandir/rear_bumper/rear15.jpg">

Painting:
<img src="http://home.off-road.com/~mithrandir/rear_bumper/rear17.jpg">

Finished shot:
<img src="http://home.off-road.com/~mithrandir/rear_bumper/rear19.jpg">

Another one:
<img src="http://home.off-road.com/~mithrandir/rear_bumper/rear20.jpg">

The whole set (about 10 more) are <a href="http://home.off-road.com/~mithrandir/rear_bumper/" target="new">here</a>.

I've used it to anchor the truck to winch a vehicle out of a ditch, and dragged/slammed it hard enough to lose a LOT of paint. Unlike the factory model, it's still straight. :cool:

It was a hell of a lot of work for a little bit of tube, and you'd definitely spend more buying this kit and paying someone to put it together than you would buying it assembled from All Pro. Notching the tubing, cutting all of it to the exact length (it all comes un-notched and cut ~1" long) and re-drilling holes and such took a lot longer than I thought it would.

But if you're a welder, or are good friends with one (read: he works for :beer:...) it makes sense to get this, if you don't have a bender, or the time, to build one from scratch.

Looks good Yota. Too bad it didn't fit that well and it was more work than most might think for $180. Well be be breaking in the cheapie HF one for a couple fronts and a new rear for mine. Nice flat tan too.:smokin:

Dind't fit that tight? If it was UNDERNEATH all the panels, it wouln't defend against trees. I'm really very happy with the fit - it was just more work than I expected.

But would I buy it again? Yes.

If you really intend to use it hard, put some side braces to the frame on it. If you land on it hard, it'll bend up. Seen it a couple times before. The side braces take away it's tendency to want to bend up. Not that it's a bad design, any tube or pipe will bend if you whack it hard enough. Just a heads up to keep it out of your quarterpanel.

Is that bumper meant for a bobbed runner?

Originally posted by Leonel
Is that bumper meant for a bobbed runner?
No



<hr width=144 align=left>
<img src="http://www.systemslogic.com/projectcrawler/smlrcalvinifs.gif">
GBOGH <img src=./images/elite.gif>

<a href="http://www.projectcrawler.com">www.projectcrawler.com</a>

Originally posted by pmurf1
If you really intend to use it hard, put some side braces to the frame on it.
Been planning on doing that, actually, I just haven't had the time to do so. I'll shoot some pics if I do and add them to the page. Also, a while back someone asked why All Pro doesn't build them that way. The way it's built, you have to weld these reinforcements to the frame to make them strong, and it takes away the ability to unbolt the bumper.

Has anyone seen the tube bend when the reciever was tugged on realy hard? I've been kinda wondering about that possibility, and I'm trying to devise a way to anchor the reciever to the frame of the truck.

Originally posted by Leonel
Is that bumper meant for a bobbed runner?

Looks that way to me, otherwise it seems silly that the side pieces don't go all the way to the wheelwell. :confused:

WTF??

http://www.allprooffroad.com/pics/7859.jpg
To use it on a bobbed 4runner you'd have to cut the brackets shorter, or redrill the holes in the frame, since it was designed for the stock rear end, otherwise it would stick out past the rear however many inches you bobbed.



<hr width=144 align=left size=1/2>
<img src="http://www.systemslogic.com/projectcrawler/smlrcalvinifs.gif">
GBOGH <img src=./images/elite.gif>

<a href="http://www.projectcrawler.com">www.projectcrawler.com</a>

I agree though, it should continue all the way up to the wheel wells.

<hr width=144 align=left size=1/2>
<img src="http://www.systemslogic.com/projectcrawler/smlrcalvinifs.gif">
GBOGH <img src=./images/elite.gif>

<a href="http://www.projectcrawler.com">www.projectcrawler.com</a>

Originally posted by Yota_San
The way it's built, you have to weld these reinforcements to the frame to make them strong, and it takes away the ability to unbolt the bumper.


Not true, not true.....:D I bought an AP bumper from JackA before we went to the Hammers last year (actually, I borrowed it but bent it so bad I had to buy it!). I made plates that bolt to the frame in the rear holes of the bumper mounts and the factory "square" holes in the frame (also used a sleeve in this hole). Then a friend welded tube b/t this plate and the AP bumper--straight shot, no bend. Had to beat the body outta the way a little. Hasn't bent yet, and has seen MANY tough trails and taken several hard hits. It used to bend every trip out, but no longer......:D:D:D

Sorry, no pics.:(

My bumper is not an all-pro, but very similar. It bolts on and off and has a side brace. I have hit it pretty hard on the side (enough to dent the tube a little), and can't see any bending.
Here is a pic.

Originally posted by Ian30
My bumper is not an all-pro, but very similar. It bolts on and off and has a side brace. I have hit it pretty hard on the side (enough to dent the tube a little), and can't see any bending.
Here is a pic.

So who's bumper is it or is it custom?

It's a homemade bumper

Looks great!!
what the specs on the tubing you guys using, is that 1.75 diam, 120 or 125 wall??

I got a bender and knotcher and really need to make a few sets, just wondering if 120 will hold up to some hard hits, i'll definetly go with the braced design.

I used 2" .120 wall tube for the main part of the bumper, and 1.5" .120 wall tubing for upper part. I cut the mounting plates out of 3/8 steel plate.

AllPro bumper:
2" .120
1.5" .120
3/8" plate.

Sounds like you did a bang-up job selecting the materials for your knock-off, Ian. :D

rigth on.. the only die I got so far is the 1 3/4 inch. thanks for the info!