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I just took some height measurements after installing the bumper and putting more stuff into the bed. I really expected the Fab Fours bumper to drag the front end lower, but it's been looking slightly nose-high lately. I have probably 400-500 lbs total in the bed between the Decked system and what's loaded into it... maybe 150-200 additional pounds since last measurement.
Front
Rear
Here are the measurements over time and through the stages of mods I've done:
My rake has gradually reduced and, now, gone negative. I haven't measured correctly (level ground, both directions, taking the average), but my plan remains to add a 2" AAL and remove the blocks. And I have a Fab Fours rear bumper on the way, too.
Last edited by DeltaNu1142; 08-17-2017 at 07:46 PM.
I installed the Fab Fours Black Steel Elite rear bumper tonight. If the front bumper installation was a 3/10 for difficulty, the rear was a 6/10. And I'm not really pleased with the fit. It looks like it could go about an inch forward to close the gaps, and maybe slightly higher, but it's right up against the mounts and all of the holes are aligned so the bolts slide in & out easily. There is no upward or forward adjustment to be had. Here are the installed photos:
Look at this gap:
Other side:
Other than the fit, the finish items all seemed like an afterthought. Major gripes, in order:
The factory plate tack-welded to the top of the receiver needs to be bent for the bumper to get anywhere near the mounting holes. This isn't mentioned in the instructions anywhere (compare right, factory position, to left, bent down flat. The bumper sits on top of the flat).
The trailer electrical plugs don't fit with the factory clips. And with the bumper aligned left-to-right, the plug doesn't fit flush to the bumper... in the photo above, that hole for the trailer plugs doesn't line up with the hole in the bumper.
I needed to file down the factory trim for the reverse sensors for them to fit in the new bumper's holes. This was left out of the instructions. There were gaskets provided for the holes, but I see no way to use them with the sensors. I think they're only there to plug the holes in case you don't have the sensors.
The tag light is cheap plastic & chromed metal, and doesn't come close to fitting in the hole. It's supposed to press-fit... but it doesn't. So I have no tag light at the moment.
The spare tire access lock cylinder comes with a shim so it fits in the bumper. The shim is a bit too thick. It requires a lot of force to fit the cylinder into the bumper.
I have an email in to Fab Fours. I don't think I missed anything, but in case I did, I hope they can help me out.
I talked to Fab Fours, and shared the facts and photos (and additional photos) above, and, sure enough, that's how it's supposed to fit. They acknowledged a problem with the instructions and that bending that factory bumper plate is the only way it'll go on. They offered to consider replacement with another bumper, so I'm mulling that over. There are only two other Fab Fours options: one has way too many angles, and the other has logos laser cut into it. I'd take the Premium bumper, but without the logos... if that's not an option, I guess I'll need to work out how to make this look... not as bad. Thick rubber as applied to the upper side of the factory front bumper, maybe.
EDIT: Yup... I'll be keeping this bumper. Time to get creative.
Last edited by DeltaNu1142; 08-23-2017 at 03:55 PM.
Maybe modify the existing mounting points to get it sitting how you want it? If there's enough wiggle room to do that without just having to extend the current mounting holes.
Maybe modify the existing mounting points to get it sitting how you want it? If there's enough wiggle room to do that without just having to extend the current mounting holes.
Nah, these are lateral faces set squarely against each other. Frame-to-bumper, square & flat, with bolts running front-to-back. There's adjustment left to right, but zero fore & aft movement. Extending the holes would just give me more left-to-right range. Keep the ideas coming, though...!
looks as if everything mounts to the trailer hitch.... figure out a way to move the trailer hitch back....
Mm... negative. I took more photos last night.
Here are two shots of the driver side fasteners with the camera pointing sort of toward the rear of the truck. The grade 8 bolts are going front-to-back, and you see the mounting faces are right against each other:
And, just for reference, here are shots pointing up from the ground of the tabs that need to be bent down so the bumper will fit:
passenger side
driver side
driver side, pointing up & toward driver-side taillight
And, WOW, is the mobile version of this site terrible. Why doesn't IB hang it up and go with Tapatalk?
08-17-2017, 11:38 AM
They acknowledged a problem with the instructions and that bending that factory bumper plate is the only way it'll go on. They offered to consider replacement with another bumper, so I'm mulling that over. There are only two other Fab Fours options: one has way too many angles, and the other has logos laser cut into it. I'd take the Premium bumper, but without the logos... if that's not an option, I guess I'll need to work out how to make this look... not as bad. Thick rubber as applied to the upper side of the factory front bumper, maybe.
