02 tacoma best bumper

[cletaco]

I find the airbag question most interesting, as it has been in my own mind as I think about bumper options for my Tacoma. ARB makes a big deal about airbags. Here is their statement from their web site:

AIR BAG COMPATIBILITY
With an air bag equipped 4x4 it is essential that the vehicle's crush rate and air bag triggering is not altered when a bull bar is installed. To ensure compatibility, ARB assesses each vehicle's frontal crush characteristics and replicates the crush rate into the design of each air bag compatible bull bar and its mounting system. This method enables engineers to achieve maximum possible vehicle and passenger protection without affecting the crash pulse. ARB has invested heavily in vehicle crash barrier tests to validate the performance and compliance of its air bag compatible bull bars, and as a consequence, our bars offer a far greater level of protection than most standard brush guards and grille guards.

So, is this as important as they say, is it hype, or are they splitting hairs? I don't mean to hijack this thread, but this is an important point that has been brought up.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

....On Tacomas the bumper has absolutely NOTHING to do with the air bag deployment. On a Tacoma, the sensors are located on top of the frame rails in the engine compartment - not in the bumper. A Tacoma's airbag is set off via a "G Force' imometer" or watever its called. The sensors measure how fast a vehicle stops, NOT a crumple zone detector, that deploys the airbags once the bumper is crumpled.
.

Not so fast. The 'rate of crush' for all intensive purposes between two different bumpers absolutely plays a very crucial role in air bag deployment. A more rigid bumper cause a faster decelleration and thus causing the bag to deploy sooner. Crush cans play a very crucial part in deceleration and are absolutely integrated by engineers in the design of an air bag system and deployment.

Bumpers absolutely have something to do with air bag deployment.

 

[SAR_Squid79]

A more rigid bumper cause a faster decelleration and thus causing the bag to deploy sooner. Crush cans play a very crucial part in deceleration and are absolutely integrated by engineers in the design of an air bag system and deployment.

Yeah . . . I see what you're saying.

 

[Rattler]

I think my mind is made up now.

 

[4xdog]

Any experience with Kaymar rear bars for a Tacoma?

I've been delighted with the Kaymar rear bumper on my 1988 Cherokee XJ for the last dozen or so years. It's knocked over parking meters, survived numerous backcountry camping trips, opened a lot of space in the rear of the XJ by relocating the spare to the superb swingaway. On the pure aesthetic side, which matters to me, I've been delighted with the 5-bar checkerplate on the top surface. Nice integration of the receiver hitch, too.

With the XJ planned to be sold by year-end, I've been looking around for a similar replacement for the 2001 Tacoma DC that's taking the XJ's place. There's not much out there that's tickled me so far.

Without trying to hijack the tread -- 'cause I hope this is still on it -- does anyone have any experience with rear bumper interchangeabilty between the early 90s Pickup/Hilux and the later Tacomas? Kaymar (in Australia) make a rear bar for the earlier generation Hilux, and I've never figured out if it'll work on our Tacomas.

Don

 

[Rattler]

I've been delighted with the Kaymar rear bumper on my 1988 Cherokee XJ for the last dozen or so years. It's knocked over parking meters, survived numerous backcountry camping trips, opened a lot of space in the rear of the XJ by relocating the spare to the superb swingaway. On the pure aesthetic side, which matters to me, I've been delighted with the 5-bar checkerplate on the top surface. Nice integration of the receiver hitch, too.

With the XJ planned to be sold by year-end, I've been looking around for a similar replacement for the 2001 Tacoma DC that's taking the XJ's place. There's not much out there that's tickled me so far.

Without trying to hijack the tread -- 'cause I hope this is still on it -- does anyone have any experience with rear bumper interchangeabilty between the early 90s Pickup/Hilux and the later Tacomas? Kaymar (in Australia) make a rear bar for the earlier generation Hilux, and I've never figured out if it'll work on our Tacomas.

Don

I sold my old rear bumper to a guy that had a '95 pickup. I never heard if he got it to work though.

 

[CYi5]

Just found another one I liked. Also a custom fab job, sorry.
http://ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=97035&highlight=bumper

 

[Rattler]

Just found another one I liked. Also a custom fab job, sorry.
http://ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=97035&highlight=bumper

Not a big fan of the tube bumpers in front but that one isn't bad.