A New Rear Bumper for the D2!!!!!

[Kyle]

Couldnt he say that if you want to promote something then you should go somewhere else ? Double edged sword... I love it , I think it matches your RTE front perfectly...

 

[Snwbord24]

Some of the rear quarter panel is still unprotected. I think it would look better if the quarter panel protection went all the way to the wheel well. You could trim the arch molding a little and it would look pretty good. I also don't like the stock trailer hitch there as far as departure angle. I'd love to see it with the hitch integraged, a skid plate for the gas tank and lights, but then you're raising the price quite a bit I'm sure.

It does match the lines of the front though. I'm still looking for one I like enough to drop the cash on.

 

[Kyle]

Oh , and at exactly what point is anything high enough so that it doesnt hang the trail ?

 

[Bruno]

Nice of you to share David !

Bruno.

 

[Croakus]

Good comments, and bad. Fair enough. You're absolutely right.

The biggest negative comment is also my biggest regret though. I do wish I had let them replace the stock hitch.

 

[Snwbord24]

I haven't looked too closely but I'm pretty sure the stock hitch is easy to remove. I'm sure the place you had make the bumper can make you a gas tank skid plate that used the same mounting points as the hitch does. That way you can remove the hitch and install the skid plate if you know you won't be towing and need the extra departure angle.

Just a thought anyway.

 

[syoung]

Does anyone make an aftermarket hitch with integral skid? Seems like the logical solution would be to combine the two into one assembly.

 

[Snwbord24]

I don't think so Steve, but you're still losing departure angle by having the hitch there. I don't really see a need for a seperate skid plate if the hitch is there. Unless you come down on a rock just right and it goes between the hitch bars under there, anythings possible I guess.

 

[syoung]

Maybe an aftermarket one could hug the frame a bit better- Catching the hitch and hanging up is a distinct possibility. I've had the hitch hang up before on other vehicles and the Rover hitch seems really poorly designed in that it could really hook on something hard.
Even less departure angle, but a smooth underside and you won't get stuck. Great departure angle and all kinds of stuff to hang up on is less desirable to me, anyway.

 

[koby]

So you remove the trailer hitch... what do you plan on using as a rear recovery point?

 

[Kyle]

I have dragged my hitch all over the whole US and back again. I dont see the issue. Do you somehow think that removing the hitch will raise it enough so that your ass dont drag anymore? LOL

 

[rovercanus]

I've dragged my hitch too. Never had a sticking problem. I'd rather hit that then the bumper.

 

[Snwbord24]

Definately not Kyle, you're always gonna drag somewhere. I've had mine hit/drag on quite a few things and it's fine. However, the best option would be an integrated hitch so you can keep the great recovery point it provides (as Koby is pointing out) and improve your departure angle. You can always do Jate rings in the rear I guess, I happen to like using the hitch though.

 

[Kyle]

Thats just it , what is high enough ? YOu cut one hunk of metal off cause its hitting and replace it with another hunk of metal thats gonna hit ? Make sense to anyone ?

 

[Snwbord24]

Here's my opinion. If you're going to replace the stock bumper then you might as well improve your departure angle while you're at it. Why would you leave all that ass hanging out there if you could do something about it? There's obviously a limit to how much you can increase the angle without being a moron. If you can integrate the hitch (and maintain the stock towing capacity) in the bumper and have a good sturdy skid plate to protect the gas tank then why not?

 

[Kyle]

Because its gonna hit. Do alot of work and its gonna hit. Do a little work and its gonna hit. Why do bumpers get a smile in them on the back ? Cause they hit , right ? They are higher then the hitch right ? So cut off the hitch and start butchering and it still hits...

 

[Snwbord24]

How long does the stock bumper last through all of this? Not long at all. If you hit the stock bumper it's pretty much toast. If you're going to replace it then why not improve the angle? I don't think it's butchering at all. You're replacing the stock hitch which was not designed to hit rock on the underside with something that is.

Why replace your front bumper then? Just mount a winch with the LR winch tray and be done with it if you don't want a better approach angle and more strength.

 

[Kyle]

Because that hitch in the back is one of the only things on a rover that doesnt break. Its no different then a slider. The sliders hit ? Why not cut them off and make the doors higher ?

Oh , and the front end will prevent me from getting up on something. That hitch aint gonna prevent me from getting off of it. I can assure you of that.

 

[Snwbord24]

I agree, it does act like a slider of sorts. But my sliders were put on for that very reason, the hitch wasn't. I'm not saying it's not strong enough, it is as most of us have experienced. But what about on either side of the hitch? You can hit there as well pretty easily. Once you do your stock bumper is done. When this happens you can either replace it with another stock bumper or with one that is designed for taking some abuse. I'd rather replace it with one that will take some abuse. Now as long as I'm doing that, why wouldn't I improve the departure angle by getting rid of the stock hitch and replacing it with something just as strong? Because it's butchering? I don't think so.

 

[Iron Boots]

Hey man, could be worse....you could have an RTE that you are about to chop to fit an 8274...Big and ugly twice over!