Installed Tough Country Bumper?

[randyn]

I'm trying to decide on getting a Tough Country Economy rear Bumper. I can get one that requires removing the tublar cross member/reciver hitch (I didn't get the hitch but cross member is same), but then I have to raise the bed to remove/reattach the brackets that bolt to the frame. Or I can get one that leaves the cross member in place. Leaving the cross member in may cause more work when I put a class V reciever through the bumper. I need to know how the bumper fits relative to the tubular cross member. If the horrizontal plate of the bumper (where the ball holes are) lines up w/ the top of the tubular cross member, then that will work in that the receiver tubing can protrude through the bumper & pass on top of the cross member. I think it has to be this way because there is a tab that sticks out from the cross member into the stock bumper for the ball to mount to. Anyone out there know/have one of these bumpers? Any help/info will be appreciated.



Thanks,



RandyN

 

[cpizz]

I have only found one bumper that supposedly does not need the trailer hitch/cross member removed. It has to be one with a 8" drop. I am getting ready to put Tough Country's deluxe rear bumper on(10" rop). This should put the receiver tube at the same spot as the factory's. So far, there is no way to get around this with out removing the hitch.

 

[cpizz]

I went to have the Tough Country bumper installed and did not fit! Apparently, they did not make the brackets wide enough to fit over the frame rails. Also, they shipped the wrong bolts and did not include the lights for the license plate. When I talked to them they said to beat the brackets apart. This is not a professional company! I would not recommend them! There are too many others out there to pick from.

 

[randyn]

cpizz



I spent a lot of time talking to several people at Tough Country before deciding I didn't want to use their bumper. IIt just wouldn't work for what I want. Anyway, found out that they make two different spacings on the brackets, one for installation w/ the stock cross member removed, and the other w/ some spacers that allow you to mount the brackets over the stock cross member mounting plates. Sounds like you may have gotten the one that requires removing the stock cross member ( this also means you have to lift the bed). I didn't like theirs because if you add a reciever hitch they told me it reduces the towing capacity about half... . This is because it moves the attachment point farther out..... I wanted a receiver hitch w/ more, not less...