I know this kind of thing isn't everybody's style, but I thought I'd share anyway.
I'm a bit strapped for cash, but was a bit dissatisfied with the rear bumper and smashing my tail pipe into the ground all the time... the solution? only the most ULTIMATE rear bumper mod. ever.
Time: a couple of hours
Cost: free
Basically I just tore everything off the truck; rear bumper, and all fender flares. What's under the plastic on the side of the truck in the rear looks really nasty and isn't clear-coat like the rest of the body, so I painted it flat black.
Here's how it looks:
I dare anyone to find more clearance back there. I DARE you!
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UPDATE: 4/7/2008
Time has proven this to be one of the best things I've done to my FJ. It remains - you CAN'T beat this in terms of cost, weight, or clearance!
Add to that list now, durability. As I step up the difficulty of trails I run, the dimensions of my rig are quickly being exceeded. Grinding the rear bumper across the ground or dropping off a ledge and smashing the corner are commonplace. The rear of the frame plenty beefy to act as a slider.
It's so empowering to not have to care... there is no way this is going to break:
Here are some more pics of the ULTIMATE rear bumper mod...
Exploring mountains...
The chute...
Here you can see the mark in the sand where the frame dug in...
