Off-Road.Com - Toyota Section - Stout Equipment Rear Bumper/Tire Carrier Combo Product Review
Toyota
Section Reviewer's Notebook
STOUT Equipment Rear Bumper/Tire Carrier System |
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The after market for Toyota
trucks is abound with several choices for bumpers. So many exist in
fact, that it makes choosing one that fits one's particular needs
difficult. Enter STOUT Equipment of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Specializing in Toyota products, STOUT offers a rear bumper with an
additional tire carrying rack that incorporates several thoughtful
features. As their name implies, this is no ordinary
run-of-the-mill "bumper." All STOUT bumpers are constructed from
1/4" rectangular wall tubing and are perimeter welded
throughout.
What really sets apart STOUT
bumpers from others is their unique mounting system. The base of
the mounting is 3/8" T-1 steel plate gusseted horizontally and
vertically by 1/4" plate that bolts directly to and surrounds the
truck's frame on two sides.
The structural
integrity of our example was apparent when it came time to mount it
on our project vehicle, a 1986 Toyota Standard Bed 4WD pick-up.
Taking two people, with the assistance of a third to operate a
floor jack, it became obvious that this is no lightweight bumper!
Weight estimates are close to 180 lbs. Grade-8, 1/2"mounting
hardware was supplied by STOUT. 
The rack system incorporated onto the STOUT bumper
contains a removable carrier for a full size spare tire (up to a
33x12.50/15) and a lockable rack for a Blitz style gasoline can. An
optional rack to hold dual Nato-syle gas cans side-by-side is
available.
Provisions for mounting a
license plate (with light and wiring) are also included.
A
one-peice design, the rack pivots on two hinges that utilize
graphite/nylon bushings, thereby eliminating the possibility of
rattles. Equally balanced, the rack swings open and closed with a
minimum of effort. There is also small hitch pin supplied to lock
the gate open should you need access to the back of the truck while
parked on a grade. The gate latch is adjustable providing a snug
fit that is rattle free when closed. 
Also provided on the rack is a mount for a
CB antenna, auxiliary back-up/work light and a mount for a Hi-Lift
jack. Once closed, the rack can be locked with a normal padlock
keeping your Hi-Lift from walking away. This is a great feature
that keeps the Hi-Lift handy yet out of the way. It beats the
heck out of storing the muddy, greasy Hi-Lift inside the pick-up
bed. 
By design,
the STOUT bumper has a low profile to promote a good departure
angle, yet it's installed placement allows for excellent protection
from trail obstacles. 
After field testing the bumper on a short trail
outside of Mammoth Lakes, California, it is apparent that the STOUT
sits much higher in it's mounted position than my previous tubular
design bumper. This allowed me to clear obstacles with less bumper
dragging. 
Other features
that come standard are shrouded auxiliary taillights, two 7/8", 8.5
ton recovery shackles, and a receiver-sytle winch mount.
Our
example was furnished with the optional removable tubular winch
receiver. This allows for an increase in departure angle when it is
removed from the bumper--Another nice feature simply not offered by
other manufacturers.
My only complaint with
the entire product was the hardware used to secure the gas can.
STOUT welds a threaded rod to the rack to which a plate is slipped
over to hold the gas can tightly. Over this plate threads a tapped
steel bar that tightens the plate snugly against the can. The rod
on our example was slightly bent and this prevented the gas can
bracket from being snugged against our gas can, allowing for a
slight rattle. I contacted STOUT Equipment about this and they
stated that not all "Blitz" style cans are created equal. They
suggested that I place a 3/8" nut under the can bracket to
effectively raise it's mounting surface. This trick worked like a
charm. Apparently, customer satisfaction is a high priority with
STOUT.
Overall the quality of the STOUT
bumper supplied for this review was excellent. The bumper mounted
right up to the frame of the truck and no extra drilling was
necessary. The rack installed easily to the bumper and all
accessories such as the tire carrier and jack mounts fit perfectly
with no detected looseness. STOUT truly builds a unique product for
the Toyota community. Considering the time and materials that go
into STOUT's bumpers and rack systems, the price is well worth
it.Contact Info
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STOUT Equipment 7410 Montgomery #200 Albuquerque, NM 87109 (505) 830-3203 - Info. (800) 279-3113 - Order E-Mail: info@stoutequipment.net |
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