Aftermarket Bumper Install Questions

Hey all, I bought myself a Victory 4x4 Strike front bumper a few months ago and have yet to install it due to the busy-ness of life in general and accumulating the additional parts (aftermarket fogs, front plate holder, etc.). I have a few questions though:

1. About how long does it take to put on an aftermarket bumper, between removing the stock bumper and putting the aftermarket one on?
2. Is it worth finding a shop to do it for you?
3. With my Tundra having the BSM/park assist sensors, what’s the best thing to do with those sensors since the bumper isn’t made to work with them?

Any other tidbits or suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

How high does the bumper go? Do you have to remove the upper plastic valence thing that runs across the top of OEM bumper? If so, that is a bit of a pain to remove but nothing you can't handle! Can't help with bsm, park assist.

 

Yes, mine removes the valence. I was figuring that’d be a bit of a pain to deal with.

 

Not that hard. You have to temporarily remove the lower plastic headlight panels to get at a couple 10 mm bolts.

 

If you weren't in Kansas I'd help you...heh...heh..

 

I moved back home to Fort Morgan last year, now I just live in the area of CO that’s basically SW Nebraska haha.

 

That's only 80 miles or so.

 

not that hard to swap. I would do it at home for sure. maybe grab a buddy to help you lift it.
first is remove the oem bumper: start with inside the wheelwell.

mount everything on the bumper before installing it i.e. lights, winch etc..

not sure if you can drill holes new bumper to fit the sensors

 

gen 3 but he talks about sensors and other tips.

 

and yeah post pictures when on !

here is a gen 2 C4 Fab bumper install:

 

I wonder if mine doesn’t have holes already drilled and I just never noticed. On Victory 4x4’s YouTube, the bumper in the install video had holes for the sensors. Granted, the bumper in the video was for a 3rd gen...

 

Turns out the 2nd gen bumpers don’t have holes drilled for the sonar like the 3rd gens @TheBeast

 

Do you have upgraded front suspension for the extra weight? I’m genuinely asking,as I was told the front of my ride would sag on stock suspension. I’d like to hear first hand for a definite answer

 

Yes, I have the Toytec/Radflo 2.5’s with 700 lb coils so I should be good. The bumper I’m adding also only weighs 126 lbs, and if I recall the stock bumper weighs around 70, so it’s only around 50-something additional over that.

 

Toto.....were not IN Kansas anymore “

 

Get a buddy or u will end up like me using dog bins of food to hold stuff up lol

 

Figured I’d ask this here rather than create a new thread. So long story short, I called Victory 4x4 and ordered mounting bolts since I couldn’t find mine that came with the bumper. They send me the package with the additional frame mounts and bolts…there’s only two bolts and associated nuts, washers, etc. in the bag. But when I look at the bumper, there’s something like 7 holes per side…was I not specific enough with the manufacturer, or do aftermarket bumpers in general only use a few of the holes…? Pics of the bumper below for reference.

PS I know there’s a video of the install on their site, but it’s for a 3rd gen and doesn’t show the up close and personal steps that I’m looking for.





EDIT: Do you just reuse the OEM bumper bolts installing an aftermarket bumper?

 

@zcarpenter92 check c4fab gen 2 bumper install. maybe some relevant info for you.

 

duh I just realized I posted the same link a year ago. You still haven't installed that bumper ? lol

 

I know, I know…

Life’s been life, that’s for sure haha. Really appreciate you drawing my attention to that video though, I had no idea that aftermarket bumpers reused the factory bolts and nuts. I always just figured they supplied new grade 8 bolts and such for these.

 

It's gonna look good once done. Can't wait to see it so I know what to get next..haha

 

Yes, yes! Reuse your oem bumper bolts! It wouldn't do any good to have upgraded bolts, because the studs are part of the frame.... unless they can be pressed out. Anyways, get that sucker mounted up and post some pics. This is a fairly easy swap. Most of your time will be getting your tools out and then putting them away afterwards.

 

I can’t believe that that didn’t occur to me earlier haha.

That it will. Whenever I try and plan a few hours out of a weekend to do it, something throws a wrench in my plans, whether it be the gf, needing to get something else done around the house, etc. haha

 

After watching this video, I’m realizing that it shows some of the steps, but mine looks a hell of a lot different given it doesn’t have the black plastic fake bumper on it. I’ve removed most of the stuff that I can reach, but I’m almost wondering if the headlights and valence need to come off first…hitting a roadblock with the actual bumper itself it seems.

 

Yo, This bumper is sitting in my carport ready to go on and my old bumper is all the way off. So i figure i can give you some quick tips since im just like one step ahead.

1. Pop the hood and take out those trim pieces under the headlights. pretty easy to pop out and now you should have access to a crapton of 10mm bolts holding on that top valence. Take off every one of them that you can find. Some are under the headlights where you took those trim pieces off.

2. on the inner fender well, make sure to seperate the bottom fender liner from the top and take the bottom out. also make sure that upper valence is seperated on the side of the truck, you can just pop it out. after all these 10mm bolts are removed, you should be able to take the valence off the front. might take some real pulling though. i thought surely i was missing bolts and then i just yanked on one side and it came off.

3. Now you should have just the metal bottom part of the bumper with the fogs. you should un hook the fog lights, then there are 8 12mm bolts. 4 on each side. 2 above and 2 below each fog light. Remove these, i needed a cheater bar to get them loose. Then the whole metal piece thats chrome should be able to come off.

4. Now the actual bumper is exposed! there's a few 14mm Bolts that are recessed in holes on the front. take those out, take the bumper off of the extensions. then there are 8 bolts holding the extensions to the frame. take those off and take off the extensions. Now this is what will match up with the holes on your new bumper. You should notice those bottom holes on the bumper that wrap up under the radiator mount are going to mount in place of your tow hooks, so remove your tow hooks and use those bolts to reattach them over the bumper. and those brackets you got with the bumper wrap around the bottom studs of the bumper/ frame connection and go around to the frame. Thats what the bolt and washers are for. You can see this same procedure in the Victory 4x4 video on the 3rd gen strike bumper. In that video they also bend that lower cooler to make room for a winch, might want to watch that.

Bad news, Probably will have to cut a bit..... The sides of the new bumper will now fit around the body sheet metal. Just wont go into place, the you can only take so much off the sides with removing bolts and youll have to use a cutting wheel on a grinder to take off the metal where the side of the bumper will meet the fender.

 

Btw the reason im riding with no bumper is the holes did not line up on the victory 4x4 bumper so im waiting for some rotary tips to widen out the holes.

 

Yeah I’ve been wondering if I need to move the cooler lines on mine, since I don’t have a winch. Any pics of where you had to take off metal?

 

probably not have to move the line if you don’t have a winch. This is how much I’ve cut so far, just to try and get it up on the truck. I’ll clean it up later.

 

Didnt realize till just now that you drive a 3rd gen, wonder if that’ll be different with mine.

 

Mine is a 2nd gen.



Where you have to cut is up under the fender. The fender dips down into where the bumper will meet and doesn’t allow it to bolt up. That’s where you have to cut. Probably why they don’t have a video or instructions. I called and they said, “just follow the instructions for the 3rd gen, it’s pretty close” I don’t think they really know what they’re selling. Jeep company and all.