ARB Rear Bumper Installation
Have you seen Marc’s ARB rear bumper in some of our posts?
That’s a recent installation that Marc did with Dan, another member of YOLO.You might be thinking: why did he install a different rear bumper? Well, Marc was having a hard time going on some trails or even performing properly because his Land Cruiser’s rear bumper was too low to make it over certain sections of the trail. If he tried to do so, the plastic bumper would tear off from scraping and dragging against the ground. Bumpers are made to protect the car like armor, so drivers can get up and over things without worrying about damages every time. Marc was on the hunt to find the perfect bumper to replace his Land Cruiser’s original but found that Land Cruiser parts are more challenging to find than other cars.
The solution was easy:
Purchasing a bumper from ARB, a high-end, reputable company that sells metal bumpers. This new metal bumper raised the bumper’s level by 6 inches, allowing Marc to drive his truck across spaces he couldn’t before.
“My truck’s got a big ass.”
All modifications to rigs are based on trails and protecting the vehicle from the elements.
Tools: jigsaw with a small blade, socket set, wrench
TIP: Don’t go too fast while cutting because it can melt the plastic.
This bumper installation took about 6 hours between two people. Marc had to cut the plastic fascia bumper to match the seam of the one going onto the truck, so he used tape to mask up and use as a guide. He took the plastic bumper off and removed the rear sensors first, then he taped a line where the cut had to happen. Marc used a jig saw with a fine blade to cut along the taped line. Something to keep in mind: Toyotas are built with the body on the frame, but there is flex allowed, so the body on top can rock based on the frame it’s on. When cutting the bumper, Marc had to cut with a ½” gap to accommodate the plastic fascia. This adjustment was made so the body on frame can still flex.