Topic: Rear quarterpanel trim on 4Runner

[Volcom]

Has anyone trimmed this section of quarterpanel out of their 4Runners??  I was thinking of trimming it out so I could tuck my rear bumper up higher and have a straight shot mount to the frame.





Here's an under shot.  It shows the body mount attached to the inside.



I had alittle bit of damage last summer running with no rear bumper 



Looks like a pretty critical area since the rear tailgate hinges attach to it.





Here's the inside body mount



I know some guys cut that out and end up running a truck tailgate.  I need to keep the stock gate and glass for the kids.  I know the tailgate will hang down but I was going to build a bumper to protect it.

[jimbo74]

trucks dont have that extra body mount... and lots of peopel just hack that part off.....

would htink there might be an integrity issue with the body.... but honestly doubt it is really going to hurt anything

[Volcom [OP]]

trucks dont have that extra body mount... and lots of peopel just hack that part off.....

would htink there might be an integrity issue with the body.... but honestly doubt it is really going to hurt anything

What does it look like after they just hack it off??  What's behind there on a truck?

[bad luck]

i'm going to do that same thing to mine

[79coyotefrg]

nothing there on the truck 

i would  cut it  below the seem there  and  use  some of the scrap  or a totally new piece  to seal it off  on the inside

[blackdiamond]

Why not get a Marlin style rear bumper?  Mine worked great in Moab, probably the most used mod other than the dual cases.

[Volcom [OP]]

nothing there on the truck 

i would  cut it  below the seem there  and  use  some of the scrap  or a totally new piece  to seal it off  on the inside

Yup, that's what I'm thinking!!

Why not get a Marlin style rear bumper?  Mine worked great in Moab, probably the most used mod other than the dual cases.

I'm planning on building a rear tube bumper with a swing-out tire carrier to hold a 37" spare (just enough to get me off of the trail instead of a full-size 40" Irok).  Also, I have added a rear crossmember between the frame rails to help add some strength to the rear of the frame.  My rear shackles are moved back all the way to the end of the frame rails.  Marlin's bumper wouldn't fit.

[Volcom [OP]]

Here's some pics of one trimmed out like I was thinking.  Disregard the bumper though    I will build something that fits a tad bit closer to the body.







What do you think??  Worth the extra bit of clearance between the tire and the tailgate?  How would you build a bumper to fit that area knowing that the tailgate will stick down several inches?

[KDXSR5]

I would probably cut the sides where you are planning on doing and the trim as much off the tailgate as possible on the bottom. Maybe you could build some new hinges and relocate them higher on the tailgate. That way you could trim more off of the tailgate. The more you trim off the tailgate, the higher up you can build the bumper.