CBI Covert bumper installation

Just start in the AM, have your tools ready, a separate car available to run to the hardware store, and enjoy the process. Then enjoy EVERY SINGLE TIME you walk out to your truck you’ll have the pride we all feel when your truck becomes more than just stock

 

Anyone have a photo of how they placed their front license plate on the cbi bumper? I haven’t seen one photo with the plate installed.

 

when is your bumper projected to come in? would like to see some pics when you get it installed

 

I second this request

 

I didn’t put a plate, I’ll likely get a flip one if I get a fix-it ticket. Which I’m sure will now be soon because of this post

https://www.victory4x4.com/product/UNI-FPF-PC.html

 

Ah that’s a great solution, thanks for sharing!

 

I have this one, and I had it for years on my 4runner, the hardware dose suck but I changed it for stainless bolts and nylocs.

Its currently $23

https://www.amazon.com/Astra-Depot-...=flip+up+license+plate&qid=1681739459&sr=8-23

 

That’s a great option for the cost! Thanks! The one issue with both of these is how they fit the designs of the bumpers though. CBI has the Fairlead recessed a little and nearly vertical if not exactly vertical which is good for the Amazon one but not for the Victory design. But will the Amazon design fit in the recessed Fairlead area of the CBI bumper?

 

I can send you some measurements when I get home this afternoon.

Another option could be mounting it to the outside of one of the tows hooks?

 

Previously I had a built up Tacoma that my son took his drivers license test in and I just zip tied the license to the bumper! Haha they allowed it!

 

could anyone with the covert bumper get me the measurements on the holes that are cut in the face. I am looking to see if there big enough to add pod lights ?
Thanks

 

3.25" wide on the top and 2" wide on the bottom and 2.50" tall and its got that weird taper.

 

Check this out Edit: meant to add a pic

 

@uberoval thank you.
@AND i was looking at that one but kind of like a little bit more bulk that the CBI looks like

 

That scorpion looks pretty good. Biggest change in lighting (besides the two 20" bar lights from BD) was the replacement of the stock fog lights and going to the BD ones.. For being so small, the difference is DRAMATIC.

 

Ya I went with the SAE amber fogs in the stock location from Heretic so I am wanting to do some pods on whatever bumper I do as spot lights

 

To confirm, you mean no issues with the radar cruise assistance system?

 

Awesome. I didn’t have an issue until the dealership touched it. At least they fixed it no charge but I still have no idea what they did or what went wrong.

 

@Tundra17944Ever Looks like I am having some of the same fitment issues. I watched the updated install video posted in a previous thread (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4RhgZfGMIY) and at the 16:15 mark I see that they do not use any spacers at all. I used the thicker spacers, one on each side, leaving the two thin spacers un-installed. See attached pictures for reference.

What is interesting is that the face plate and the winch tray holes for the winch fairlead do not align. I understand your comments about the faceplate moving independently of the winch tray. I am also having an issue with the fender flare not "clicking" back into place. Seems like the clipping action has been wallowed out but I can deal with that later. Hoping to hear if anyone else has had this issue and how they resolved it.

 

@super_mech sorry you are having a fitment issue as well. It looks like your winch tray needs to be lower. This should take care of the fairlead holes lining up. If you have enough play with the long bolt holes, put the thin spacers in as well. If not you are probably going to have to modify the long bolt holes and the faceplate holes to give you about a 1/4” drop. The hood misalignment is due to the bumper pushing up on the grille. Make sure you have grinder down all of the plastic you can without cutting into the clips for the fog light bezel. As for the fender flare, I found that the outer bolts where the bumper attaches to the grille surround were the problem. The further to the outside that you move it the better the flare fits if that makes sense. I’m talking about the small bolt and screw on the outer tabs of the bumper. I hope this helps.

 

@Tundra17944Ever I meant to get back to you sooner. I was able to dedicate some time this past weekend to do some work on the bumper install. I must have taken the grill on and off about 5-8 times. I experimented with it, leaving the CBI faceplate off and just installing the grill with the winch support installed. I ended up taking all the shims out, and still having issues. I know you suggested putting the thick and thin shim BOTH in, I will try again later this following weekend and report back on my findings.

Thanks again for your feedback, I appreciate it!

 

I wasn’t able to use both shims until I elongated the bolts holes. That gave me enough play to get it where it should have been from day 1. Good luck. I feel your pain with removing and reinstalling the grille. It’s more of a pain with the bar.

 

CBI covert are either on backorder or expensive in addition to the high shipping cost, not sure if I wanna wait or move to a different brand.

 

Only thing that is keeping cbi on the watchlist for me is the bull bar and the low profile-ness. I want to be able to push shit off the road if need be. But shit is expensive and their "sales" suck.

 

@Tundra17944Ever Sorry to get back to you after so long. I had service at the dealer a few weeks ago, and one of the techs there showed me that the hood latching, or that space between the initial "click" of the hood and fully closed, can be adjusted via some small rubber stops located just behind the headlights. See pics below. You will see that the passenger side is a lot higher than the driver side. These adjustments made a significant difference in the hood closure/alignment. The rubber gasket is still a bit pinched compared to when it was new, but I am much happier.

Also on this same trip to dealer, I walked the lot and looked at over 20 Tundra front ends. Not a single one had the same fitment of the front-end elements, and some things such as gaps between the headlight and grill or the other trim components were very bad. Really, seeing the variability in fit and finish on some of these other trucks satisfied my efforts for perfection on my own.

 

I ran across a hiccup I haven’t seen described here: I had a hard time getting the winch tray to mount level.

I eventually figured out that the weld on the bottom aspect of the driver frame rail was much thicker than the one on the passenger side. This caused the tray to sit lower on the driver side. It wasn’t noticeable until I mounted the faceplate and noticed a large gap (like a window into the engine bay) between the upper part of the driver recovery point and the faceplate, and no gap at all on the passenger side. The asymmetry looked sloppy.

After a few tries mounting the winch tray with differing combinations of the shims I settled on one thin shim on driver side and one thick shim on passenger side. The winch tray now sits level and looks even with the overlying faceplate. It’s been mentioned in this thread but worth repeating: the faceplate mounts directly to the frame and isn’t easily adjusted vertically unless you enlarge its mounting holes.

So for those preparing to install this bumper, before you tighten the 6 remaining bolts that hold the winch plate in place, check whether it’s level after tightening the first two bolts that secure it to the underside of the frame rails.

 

@Tundra17944Ever question for you, which bolt holes did you have to hollow out to make it work? The long bolts?
I’m afraid I’m having a similar problem on day 2 of trying to get my CBI covert bumper to fit. I’m having the same shimming issues you described, but also dealing with a twist, the faceplate and tray are proud on the driver side by at least 1/2”, flush on the passenger side. I cant twist either enough to even it out, right now the back of the tray is up against and square with the radiator cross member.

 

Some pics of the twist….

 

I elongated the holes on the bumper where it mounts to the front of the frame. The bolts where you have to drop the spacer/washer in between the bumper and frame if I remember correctly.

 

Thanks @super_mech. I will play with the adjustments on mine tomorrow or after the winter “storm” in the southeast.