DV8 Front Bumper Support Design Change

Just wanted to throw an FYI out there regarding the new 3-piece Tundra bumpers (at least for the 2nd gens). When I got the bumper in, it appeared to be missing the upper and lower support brackets that were on the original 1-piece bumper design. I sent the seller the below drawn-on picture from Grey Wolf's build thread showing the two support brackets that appear to be missing:



This is what they sent back:

The annoying thing is that the hardware pack with all the bolts and washers looks like it has the special, two-nut plate thing that the upper support bracket bolts thread into. So they just deleted the supports but didn't update the hardware pack.

I haven't gotten around to installing the thing yet, but I figured somebody on here probably picked up one of the more recent batches of the 3-piece bumper design.

 

The problem for me is that even though I have the brackets that came with my one piece the fitment was still wrong...seems to be hit or miss with these bumpers.

 

Interesting. How did it fit incorrectly? Holes didn't line up? Bad bends prevented mating faces from being flush? Thanks for the info in all your posts. I hope it is OK I used your picture - it was the only picture I've found on the entire internet that had just the DV8 winch plate mounted.

 

The whole bumper sits about an inch low and not level on the ends when looking from the side. I was told that some new brackets were going to be available to fix the issue but that never happened. Going to fix it at some point. I can live with it for now. I got $150 refunded back to me so I'm ok with it. Still sucks.

 

Ha. So, in my unofficial reasoning, it looks like the real motive for deleting the support brackets was to prevent alignment issue complaints. Something tells me that you aren't the only person who complained about the poor fitment. The brackets that hold the bumper to the winch plate have vertical both slots for up and down adjustment. And if there arent brackets above and below to limit movement, you can adjust the bumper vertically easily.

 

Yep...my brackets that you mentioned have nowhere near enough play to properly align the bumper but yet I've seen some fit perfectly. Go figure....

 

So without the support brackets, is it possible to mount the bumper without the winch tray? I don't have a winch and don't want one.

 

The winch tray is what actually bolts to your truck. The support brackets provided more points of contact between the winch tray and your truck frame.

The actual bumper bolts to the winch tray only and can't be mounted without the winch tray. You don't actually have to mount a winch, though. It could be called a bumper sub-frame instead.

 

Ever since someone posted the eBay info for this bumper on the 2nd gen bumper sticky, I've been keeping my eye on it on eBay. They've been selling out pretty fast every time a new stock shows up. Maybe a few more will start appearing on this forum and guys can come up with a good solution to the fitment issues. I'd like to purchase one eventually but can't part with the money yet. When I do I'll be sure to post how well it goes on my truck.

 

That is funny, I am missing the lower bracket but I did get the uppers, they were a bitch to put on and make fit. However mine does fit well

 

Did the upper holes just not line up? Or were they bent at the wrong angles? I assume it's pretty sturdy without the lowers.

I like the front plate covering the winch slot.

 

these 2 pictures sum it up, i had to do a small bit of trimming in the bottom lip and get different bolts All in all still worth the trouble for the 600 bucks vs 1000-1500

 

Everything lined up fine. There just was not enough play with the lower brackets and mounting plate to align the bumper correctly.

 

I had no fitment issues there^^^. How about a side pick of the lower brackets and bumper mount plate? Maybe I missed something but I've looked at it over and over...

 

Look at the pic of my bumper above. Post #1. I used all 3 frame studs on each side to mount the winch plate. My winch plate sits lower than yours and explains why my bumper is mounted lower. I need to see a side pic if possible where your winch plate bolts onto the frame studs.

 

these are all i have

 

I have the two piece DV8 front bumper, no issues with it at all, getting ready to mount a winch also.

 

Yep....mine is mounted the same. Nothing out of the ordinary. Has to be my mount brackets.

 

Did you have to cut off the protruding arm on the center support that held up the original bumper trim? The one that is in right in the centerline of the radiator. Or is that only required if you have a winch?

 

You can remove it or bend it sideways out of the way. I finally found the difference from my setup and @groverdill. My winch plate is mounted the same but look real close at my side pic you posted and then @groverdill 's. His winch plate sits higher. His winch plate is welded to taller frame mount plates than mine. Go back and forth a million times like me and you can see huge difference. I just need to see a side shot of a bumper that lined up right...

 

All you need to do is slot the three holes that mount to the frame so you can slide the mount up or down. If I am reading all this correctly.
Thats what the manufacturer should do to allow adjustment.
I'm following as I am thinking of buying this same bumper. But with modifications on my end!!

 

I recently installed a dv8 bumper 3 piece on a Dodge diesel for a friend. I will say it was a PIA. Not a very good design. Maybe that’s why it’s on the cheaper spectrum.

 

Is the bending/cutting only required if a winch is installed? Or does ot need to go to clear the actual bumper?

Wow, yea. There's a whole inch or so above the top mounting bolt compared yo yours. For what it's worth, the new, 3-piece design looks like groverdill's with the inch of plate above the top bolt. I wonder if his bumper was a different revision between yours and mine, where they only included the top bracket on purpose. Seems like it's a hybrid between your kit and mine.

 

Usually these bumpers (at least for the Tundra and Tacoma) are knock-off designs of existing (Smittybilt for Tundra and Allpro for Tacoma). I've got to believe the same applies to the Dodge.

 

Bracket will get in the way of the bumper.

 

I can slot the mounts but then the brackets would have to be modified too. hmmm....

 

You can do it!!!! post pics so the rest of us can follow or learn any pitfalls.

 

I most likely leave winch plate and upper/lower brackets as they are and modify only the brackets that bolt to the bumper. I got a weird one for sure. I don't think you will have any issues as long as the winch plate mounts are correct unlike my mine.

 

From these pics I can't tell where the actual bumper bolts to! Apparently not to the winch plate if you are going to leave that as is!. I assumed you needed to raise the whole thing up.

 

There are two bumper brackets that bolt to each side of the winch plate at the same location where the top of the lower brackets bolt to. These brackets can be adjusted to get best bumper fitment and then torque down. I'm going to have new bumper brackets fab'd up. If you look close at the pic of my setup you can see the bumper brackets.