High Clearance Front End Caps

I don't think it's about the money for all of us. There's something to be said about doing minimal productive change. I always have been a fan of the sleeper hot rod. This kind of parallels that ideology. my whole front bumper is rhino lined and scoring a pair of these, getting them rhino lined, is actually getting me really excited. I'll be the first person to purchase and test if you want. If you need any help scoring a bumper end or anything I can put in that legwork. I'm not a metal fab expert by any stretch, but I'll help in any way I can.

 

I agree. I'm going for an OEM+ look. Nothing over the top, just a functional mod that helps with off-road capability and makes the truck look a little custom. Full Baja-style bumpers are awesome, but I won't be using this truck in a way that would justify that level of modification.

 

It'd really be nice to have a full bumper to play with to make sure I got it all right. Locally, I've found a few, but they want $200-400. I'd be ok to just borrow one for a while lol.

 

Check out the SDHQ hidden winch mount a bit closer. Would be next to impossible to retain factory fogs.......

 

What if you used a small thin led bar as the fogs. Can’t remember which bumper uses them for the Tundra or Land Cruiser, but that would work.

 

I'm sure an aftermarket LED could be made to work as a fog light for this application, but it would be nice if the OEM fog light would mount up.

That being said, if the option was no fog light or aftermarket LED, I imagine most people would chose the aftermarket fog solution.

 

Edit. Found what i was meaning. The Dissent bumpers have slime line fog lights.

 

@matictundra - Looks like you have some awesome design/fab skills! https://www.tundras.com/threads/high-clearance-rear-bumper.66584/#post-1732278

Are you interested in prototyping high clearance front end caps??

 

He's local to me. I'd be your guinea pig and willing to help/fund whatever.

 

Not to reinvent the wheel but why cut up an existing end cap, why not design and build from scratch as a Remove and reinstall item in raw steel. Might cost a little more but would be able to design as needed with fog cutouts where needed. That way if it would go to production could build and ship not needing end caps to cut. Also whom ever would buy could have chromed or painted to color match. Just a thought.
I am not a metal worker so don’t know actually how difficult it would be either way.

 

I think the idea of using the stock caps is just to have a reference to mounting points and such. I don't think anyone is planning to modify and sell stock endcaps - I agree, that would be more of a hassle than a clean-sheet design.

 

Again not my place I only know what I see in TV lol but always see guys using cardboard cut outs

 

It has almost been 2 months sense the last post on this page. Has anyone had any luck with a mock-up yet?

 

Not exactly the same as what some have thought of in this thread, but I had seen this on instagram a while back. He cut the side portion to better fit 37s
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAFshuzAUU7/?igshid=jmjq9t97ag2v

 

I'm interested in this idea as well. I have almost 0 fab experience but might look into making my own.

 

I acquired a bumper but have not had time to work on something.

 

Loving the idea of a high clearance cut with the stock look. I happened to come across this on eBay.. supposedly modular so the end caps could possibly just replace the chrome end cap. Plus it’s pretty cheap too.. what yall think

 

Looks ok, but those end caps can't replace factory ones. The middle part of that bumper is smaller.

 

I came across this bumper online as well. I really like the idea, but like @Sharpienads said, I don't believe those end caps would fit in place of the stock end caps. The center section is not the same size as the stock one.

 

Yuck, I really dislike these fake Raptor bumpers.

 

If someone had access to a bead roller it could be easily done and pulled off to look nice. Make your cut, run your cut/raw edge through a "wire edge" roller or similar die and bend it back to make it a finished look like the existing edges prior to cutting.

Probably will damage the chrome slightly but that would be the only way to create an OEM, finished edge look, and avoid seeing a raw edge from the side or compromising its strength. I own a fab shop, but unfortunately do not own a Bead Roller machine. Hot-rod and motorcycle shops have the machines typically.

 

Here is a nice looking cut!!!

 

My buddy just trimmed his front bumper on an old Sequoia and it got me thinking about doing the same thing to my plastic end caps. That picture makes it look pretty good. Not as high as a nice aftermarket piece could be, but it helps...

 

Yeah thats nice id go for that. I zoomed in on their other pictures.

 

I just emailed the company that posted those pics (M.O.R.E.) about making an aftermarket part. They clearly have the right idea, maybe they'll be interested?

 

I’ve been eyeing raptor end caps for a while now and have been thinking about how good something like this will look...
Sub’d!

 

I think all you need to do is make a cut with a cutoff wheel of sorts, and line it with that black fender edge liner stuff, looks like that's all they did.

I don't think it will look right with the stock middle piece though. The stock center piece is more thick so you would need to cut that too I believe.

 

Two cents here, and I'll post this in another thread as well; but if you're CAD'ing this up, it would be better to start with a metal end cap as a reference. I just got mine back from the shop today, with new and gorgeous paint-matched resin end caps. The shop had a bit of trouble with fitment on the fog lights, sensors, and (not that it'll fully matter in this case) the fender-well splash guards. Lots of pushing and shoving, some cutting, and a couple of non-stock parts to get the job done. From other threads, this is the unfortunately normal course with that part.

 

I keep looking out at my truck and thinking to myself that the end caps on the bumper just look so bulbous and “meh”.


So I started playing around again with the idea of trimming them, such as the M.O.R.E. Tundra... but I think with that truck, the color match caps really leads your eyes to notice the trim.

I personally think that trimming would look best with an all black bumper, giving it a bit more of that aftermarket off-road look.


Before I go hacking away, I decided to throw together a sloppy photoshop edit so as to get a better idea...but I do like the look, so I think I will start chopping away here soon.


See below for pics. Pic 1- original. Pic 2- just trim. Pic 3- trim and paint.