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659 messages, Last post on Dec 13, 2008 at 11:05 PM
You are in the Toyota 4Runner Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester
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Toyboxx Thanks for the insight. I tend to agree that the guards are probabley more for asthetics. Hence, I am not going with one. Just curious, with respect to replacement bumpers, when they are available for 04's, what is the advantage and what are they made of? Can you give me a ballpark price? Thanks Dillon |
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Don't know of the availability yet, it may be a while. although I will be checking every few months. Advantages are that it is a replacement so it is funtional and limits the adding of weight. Also you can mount winches to them. I'm pretty sure you can get the in steel (maybe stainless too) and some in aluminum. They are expensive. I would say $600 to $1000. Do a search for the companies and you will get an idea of looks, price and features. ARB and TJM |
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Replying to: oldnavycdr (May 04, 2004 3:08 pm) |
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Toyboxx, I am also very interested in the ARB style bumper, instead of the typical "grill guard". Please post when they become available. Whitney |
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Toyota's sport bumper trim is clearly for looks only. When I was shopping I spotted that option on several vehicles and was equally surprised at the flimsy plastic construction of the thing and at the $500 cost. For approximately that same $500 you can get the WAAG bumper (not grille) guards, including shipping, for both ends of the vehicle. If you're interested in my resoning, see post #8899 in the main 4Runner discussion. I can say from personal experience that the WAAG bumper guard protects against front end damage in a low-speed parking lot bump. If you're interested in specifics see my post #403 in "Toyota 4Runner: Problems and Solutions." I just got my replacement "front runner" bumper guard installed and am about to get the old one to the responsible party's insurance company so they'll reimburse me for the cost. It saved them a bunch of money, too. As far as airbag function, I think the effect will be quite small and I'm not concerned, but it's impossible to know about every possible situation. The front runner guard will provide a little more crush space, and dissipate some initial energy, but I think that's about it. Remember that the vehicle or object you might hit with your bumper is a highly variable thing, and not a flat test wall, so the effect of the guard is likely to be swamped by the larger variability of the structure of the specific impact situation.
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Replying to: corancher (May 06, 2004 10:38 am) So my thoughts on going for the replacement is not really for protection but for looks, ability to add winch and lights, possibly improved approach angles, tested compatability with air bags and the fact that I am not adding extra weight. These are stronger though so if I was to hit a kangaroo (they are both made in Australia) or a deer I think they would offer more protection that a typical grille/bumper gaurd. Just my opinion. |
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| For anyone who wishes that they would have gotten a Home Link (garage door opener)system with their '03-'04 4runner, it's never too late as it turns out. Total delivered cost to my front door was just over $80 from Partznet.com, for a new Toyota OEM overhead console which includes the Home Link system. Total installation and programing time was under 15 minutes. Easiest modification I have found to date. Pop out the old console, disconnect one plug, reconnect the plug to the new console, push it back in place and you are done. Very easy and works great! | |
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toyboxx, I think we're on the same page with bumper guards and replacement bumpers. They're for different purposes, and the WAAG bumper guard (front) will indeed compromise approach angle somewhat. They're fine for low-speed bumps and as a place to tie down a boat or mount some lights (or even as something to stand on) but that's about it. No surprise that the Australians are the ones making really heavy duty bumpers and grille guards! my2cents, thanks for the reassurance about the Homelink retrofit. Mine is supposed to arrive in a few days and I'm looking forward to an easy install. My only gripe with partznet is that they don't give you even an estimated shipping cost until you get the notice your order has been shipped. I even sent an email question and they didn't answer the part about estimated shipping.
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Replying to: oldnavycdr (May 04, 2004 3:08 pm) |
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I would like to install the Smittybilt Outland Sport front center guard http://www.smittybiltinc.com/products/frontguards/outsport.html on my '03 4Runner Limited, but it's not yet available for the newer 4Runners. I consider this Smittybilt item to be a more logical, durable, better looking, and a more functional alternative to Toyota's largely plastic and vastly overpriced front (center) bumper guard. If Smittybilt would just come out with a version to fit the newer 4Runners, I would plan to hang a set of PIAA 1450 fog lamps off of it. But as I said, Smittybilt isn't yet offering this for the new 4Runners, and I can't seem to find a similar low-profile, center bumper guard that's currently available for the new 4Runners. (I looked at the Westin Safari bar, but didn't like it.) Any suggestions other than waiting for Smittybilt to eventually get around to offering what I want? (I don't want a wide front bumper guard/cage. I want something like what's shown in the link above.) Thanks. KH
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