| The Stout Equipment bumper is really sturdy. It's 1/4" steel throughout, and incorporates a class 2 receiver, rear quarter rocker guards which bolt the the FRAME, shackle mounts, and two brake lights to make up for the design of the bumper slightly obscuring the factory brakelights. It includes two antenna mounting tabs, and two other tabs (I mounted new, 55w reverse lights). The tire carrier can handle up to a 33" spare, and has an incorporated dual jerry can carrier and Highlift jack holder. The carrier is a swing-out design, which rests on not one but two sturdy hinges. The hinges are lined with graphite-impregnated urathane bushings. The whole assembly can be locked closed, too, using a regular padlock, effectively locking the Highlift in place until needed. A few things I would have done differently: Use Metric wheel studs for the spare mount--I can't use my spare wheel lock on the studs, because they're SAE. As the bumper was built specifically for a Toyota, they should have used stock Toyota studs! DUH! The antenna mounts are too low, I think. And, there was no hole drilled for the wiring for the extra brakelights. Overall, however, it is a good design, but not good enough to save Stout from going out of business. |
