Let's talk front steel bumpers.

I've been thinking about adding a BodyArmor Front bumper to my SloRunner. I had the exact same setup on my Tacoma a few years ago and think I may want to do it again. I'm in no rush to do this, and I'm still kind of on the fence about it. My ride is a pavement princess, so this would be for aesthetics only.

It would be a nice 2yr anniversary gift to my Big Red Headed Girlfriend (That's what I call my ride, FYI).

The full list:

1) Body Armor Highline bumper.
2) Shackles/D-Rings.
3) 20" light bar.
4) Interior button for the light bar.
5) Labor at my local shop. (They installed my last one and did great work).


I found the one I want on ExtremeTerrain.com


https://www.extremeterrain.com/body-armor-4x4-4runner-hiline-winch-front-bumper-tr-19339.html


In the pictures, it looks like the bar gets in the way of the TSS sensor. But the reviews say different.

What I want to know is this:


Does anyone have this exact same setup on their 2022 or newer 4Runner? If so, did you have any issues with the TSS?



Here are pictures from the ExtremeTerrain site for reference. Oh, all in Parts + Labor would cost me a hair over $1,500.

 

That bull bar (pictured) running across the face of the TSS sensor is something you don’t want! If you must have a bull bar then see if they have a hoop option that goes above the sensor plate. (Ex., C4 Lo Pro)

 

If the reviews are for that specific bumper, I’d call BS. I’d go for high hoop if it clears the top edge of the sensor. A safer bet is no hoop at all. That said, I wish the high hoop was available when I bought my warn winch bumper, because I would have taken the chance on it.

It’s hard to say if the width of the bar hoop is an issue (where legs of the hoop connects to the bumper), but it stands to reason that the sensor has wide-ish field of view. So I would also want something that mounts as widely as possible.

 

Yeah, I'm inclinded to call bullshit on the reviews also. The hoop looks like it blocks the sensor. Not by much, but if the TSS is partially blocked it will throw an alert. This was the bumper I had on my Tacoma and reallllllllllllllly liked the look of if. The C4LoPro looks nice, but the hoop isn't textured. It's just plain black. Kind of shiny even. I'd have to hit it with a can of rhino liner or something.

 

I only have experience with the Warn (no hoop). It doesn’t have the pretty lines of other bumpers out there, but absolutely no corrosion issues with the powder coat. I mention the quality of the powdercoat because getting bad powdercoating is worse than just getting raw steel and doing the prep and painting yourself. Anyway, the powdercoating on mine isn’t textured, but not shiny either. The hooped version seems to clear a top mounted sensor by a good margin based on what I recall seeing.

 

Did you see the fine print?

 

Well, clearly...I missed that. My apologies to, good sir.

 

Oh dear! Borracho wants armor. I can't imagine what that front would look like given the hitch he runs at the moment.

In any event, I think you got some good choices there. As photon says, dont mess with a bull bar if you dont have to. Else you might have to relocate the TSS sensor and add more crap in that area.

 

dont do it, looks like garbage and your TSS will freak out. Go with a SSO slimline and a full hoop to clear the TSS . I am so glad I went with mine as opposed to other brands. The fit and finish is perfect and I did the install in my driveway with zero issues on the install.

https://southernstyle-offroad.com/p...q93WVanDuZBJt88O3RvLjSTfcoVizqVV_ns7Rw0uO-at5

 

.

 

Found my receipt from Nov 2022. Got it when it went on sale + free shipping to my door for $764. Cant beat that!

 

If you want a bull bar, make sure you get one from a company that makes one tall enough to clear the front sensor. I run the RCI one and the quality is great and does not interfere with the sensor. I also went with diode dynamic for my light bar set up.

 

Have no personal experience but interested in Aluminum ones due to less weight.

For example Victory blitz bumper in aluminum is 35lbs. I don't think with stock springs it would practically loose any height. It's priced at $1259 when select aluminum and power coating.

On a minor note, I saw a post here in CO Toyota group insurance companies denying to insure vehicles with winch and bumper. I think I shared that post here few years back. So me personally would check if I were to get a front bumper. When I was driving through WY I saw insane amount of vehicles with aftermarket bumpers.

 

I like the look of that bumper. Got a link? I’m being lazy today and don’t want to find it myself.

 

What about this one? Sleek and stylish.

 

Another vote for the SSO Slimline with the high hoop, it doesn't interfere with my TSS.

 

I have a similar set up. It does effect the TSS sensor. I ask the shop what can be done. They relocated it with a bracket mounted behind the upper grill. Sensor still did not work. I called the Toyota help desk, they told me that the sensor has to be in the center of the grill to work properly. I modified the grill where the senor is and moved it down and made a plastic cover to protect it. If I would have known it was going to be a problem, I would have chosen the bumper without the hoop. It works perfectly now going on 5 years.

 

Update: I found this bumper and I think it might be the one.


https://youtu.be/BFF-azJFQZw?si=7Xh_9sDtVvZ9j8PL