High Clearance Front End Caps

Hey everyone, let me start off my saying that I am not a fabricator and I do not have the tools or skills to prototype this idea. I am just a guy with an idea, hoping that a current fab shop will see this post, take my idea, make tons of money and bring joy and harmony to Tundra owners everywhere....

Here's the idea: the front bumper end caps on the Tundra are stand-alone pieces. Many owners have swapped them out or powder-coated them in order to get rid of the chrome end caps. I was thinking there should be a product that replaces the end caps with high-clearance versions that would not only make the truck look better but allow for larger tires without cutting and trimming or shimming the bumper.

There is a vendor (SSO) that currently makes a product like this for the Tacoma and I think it looks great. It retains an OEM+ look, but makes it more aggressive and more off-road oriented. On the Tacoma it only works with their Slimline bumper, but for the Tundra it could bolt onto a truck without any other products.

There are many ways this could be done and I've drawn some lines on an image below to try to illustrate the idea. I'm wondering if others would be interested in a product like this and if any fabrication companies that already support the Tundra community would be willing to mock up a prototype?

I'd love to hear from everyone. I am not trying to profit from this idea in any way - if you have the capability to fabricate this, please do so and sell me a set!

 

Interesting idea. Do you have a link to the sso product that you mentioned? I can't seem to find it on their website

 

It's for the Tacomas, just some add on's that bolt to the slimline

 

Id consider something like this. Mine hit my tires sometimes and i destroyed the bumper cap liners the day I got tires. I don’t really like most of the aftermarket Bro bumpers. The ones i like are way expensive. It would be cool to have another option. I bought coachbuilder Spacers but by the time they arrived the damage was done.

 

The more I think about it, the more I like this idea. And it's right up my alley. I would have to dig into it, or get a set of caps, to really see how they would need to be fastened. I think it would be nice to have them work independent of any additional aftermarket bumpers.

 

I've been thinking of something exactly like this for a while now. It would achieve a practical and cosmetic change very easily without doing a full-blown ~$800-1500 high clearance bumper.
This a great idea and thanks for starting the conversation

Seems like something that @Victory4x4 would jump on. Maybe they could even market these along with their center winch bumper. It would allow you to 'piece together' a steel offroad bumper in smaller $$ chunks.

 

I'm really glad to hear that you guys like the idea. I was looking at my bumper and it looks like the fender well plastic piece that sits behind the stock end-caps could be removed completely. This would make the installation that much easier because I believe it could be done without any cutting or trimming at all. I think it could be a simple mod that would be really popular.

So who are the vendors we should be looping in on this besides @Victory4x4?

@RCIoffroad?
@Joe@Demello?
BAMF @jlee?

I'm curious what it would take to get someone to make a prototype?

 

Someone send me a bumper cap, I'll make a prototype.

 

A chrome end cap or plastic? You want to build off of it or just use the mounting points as a template?

 

Love this idea, I’m in for a set whenever someone produces one, though with how low the fog light is mounted there’s not as much clearance gained as the 4r or Taco ones

 

Cool idea but seems like the fog light would have to go also. So that’s a no go for me.

 

Since you will lose the fog lights, can you instead hook it up to a LED bar or is the wiring not that simple?

 

Probably doesn't matter which type. I'd need to copy the bolt pattern, but I'd also like to copy the profile a bit to get my design started. I'd prefer it blend in.

And as far as the fog light goes, I suspect it would have to go. Maybe there would be some way to relocate them, or use the wiring harness for other lighting.

 

The fog light is definitely an issue. Because it's mounted low and wide, a simple design would probably remove the fog light. I think it's possible to move it in and gain some clearance, it would just be a more complicated design.

 

Anyone have an extra end cap that they'd sell cheap?

 

I don’t see a possible way to keep the fog

 

I don't think you could keep the large black plastic mounting piece, but a lot of aftermarket bumpers have circular holes that allow mounting of fog lights. Maybe something like that would fit? The actual fog light is much smaller than the hole in the bumper. I don't know. Either way, I'd like to see what's possible...

 

I don't have fog lights, so I have nothing to lose, but I'd say there's room to move it in on a "Deluxe" version...

 

Nice. It looks possible.

How do the fogs mount? Edit: It looks like mounting them wouldn't be a problem if they fit in place.

 

if you were in Houston I have an extra chrome one I can give you

 

Two small tab pockets on one side and one screw in tab on the other. around 2:50 OF THE VID BELOW
watch

 

Perfect, thanks

 

@ninjajay, would you be willing to ship it to @TRDblvd if I paid for it? I don't know where he lives, but maybe it would be worth it...

 

Aaaaaand sub’d. If there is one made WITH a place for the fogs, I’m in.

 

I like this idea, count me in to buy a set

 

I would definitely buy a set if the fog light can be retained somehow. I am all about lighting and to loose a mounting location that can be used on the street would be a no go for me. There are plenty of options for aftermarket lighting locations for off-road use... but the street, only headlights and fog lights. Even if it could be fabricated to hold a 3” LED pod would work for me.

 

Sorry in advance it is a crappy rendering that I did quickly off my phone but something like this would be nice to retain the fog light and the sensor.

 

Don’t forget about the parking sensor mounts for those who have them.

 

NC