LOD Offroad Destroyer Rear Bumper Review

[Figmo]

UPDATE: See page 2 for my review of the swing away tire carrier LOD offers for this bumper. Still need to install the backup camera relocation bracket, will updated again when that is done.

TLDR: Happy overall with this bumper but there are some negatives you should be aware of.. Love the way it was packed for shipping. Don't get the the optional trailer harness relocation kit.

I ordered the bumper WITH swing away tire carrier but will keep the bumper and tire carrier reviews separate. I'll post tire carrier review in the future after I get it installed.

When looking at the pics - ignore the license plate location. I didn't buy their plate relocation kit because I figured I'd wait to get it all together and decide on the best location. So what you see pictured is just to get it legal (during the day - there's no light)

The good:

• Their marketing doesn't lie. Built solid and fits perfectly.
• They don't mention on their web site but really should how they package these for shipping. Hands down the BEST product packaging I've ever seen on a large heavy item like a bumper. They use spray foam to completely encase the bumper and protect it in shipping. Bit of a PITA to unbox - but WELL worth it given there is about a close to zero percent chance of shipping damage as you can expect.
• Instructions are clear and all hardware was present. I was able to install it myself but you'll find it much easier if you get a buddy to help lift it into place.
• Total confidence in their marketing claim that tow capacity is same as factory. In fact, I'd guess it is actually more simply because they've got double the mounting bolts than the factory tow hitch has. So no worries about this thing being ripped off the back of your Bronco.

The "not so good" (you be the judge if these are "bad" or not)

• They lost my order. I ordered it during the father's day sale but knew I wouldn't be installing it until the fall. I also knew they needed a couple weeks to make it so I just went on with my summer life being patient and not stressing over the fact that it was taking weeks (later months) to get here. But, eventually fall arrived and so I called. They lost my original order so didn't even start on it yet. However, they offered up some free swag and promised to move it to the top of the build list so I'm not really holding this against them. I could have and should have called at some point during the summer. I only mention here as a reminder to not be "TOO PATIENT" like me. If you order and it goes a month you might want to give them a call just to check and make sure everything is OK.
• There is no way this thing will work with a body lift. (well it works - but has the same gap as factory bumper) Some bumpers for other vehicles I've done have some adjustment to take up the gap you see between bumper and body. This is not a "bad" as they don't promise it will. But since they don't say one way or the other on their web site - now you know.
• Not one single lock washer nor nyloc included. And since most of the bolts are just barely long enough, you really can't add your own. Recommend Loc-Tite (not included)
• The park sensor holes are not keyed. So you have to cut the alignment tabs on your sensor holsters to fit in the holes. Time will tell if this will lead to any problems with them rotating in the mounting holes and getting out of alignment.
• Tow points are not rounded for use with soft shackles. I'll call this a "bad" in that I would expect most modern bumpers to accommodate soft shackles. They've kind of become ubiquitous. So you'll need to use noisy D-Rings old school style.
• You'll want to have a 1/2-13 tap because the tire carrier mounting nuts (welded in place) are full of powder coat and one had some slag in it from welding. I'll call this "bad" in that, for the money I would have expected them to plug those nuts while working on it rather than just putting "you might need a tap" in the instructions and passing that job on to the customer.
• The hole for the hitch pin on the receiver was drilled wrong. Went to slide my hitch pin in and it slid right in until it got to the other side. WTH? Looking, the hole on the other side was drilled a little smaller. I had to chase it out to get it to work.
• DO NOT BUY THEIR TRAILER PLUG RELOCATION KIT! See pic below. It's good that it relocates it up high and behind the bumper so it doesn't get hit offroad. But that good comes at a price: It's a bit of a pain to access the 7-Way connector on the bottom. And I can't imagine the 4-Flat connector on the top being usable at all. It wouldn't even clear the head of the mounting bolt to open when installed per instructions. I ended up deleting the washer and that allowed it to barely clear and pull down. But how you'd ever get up in there to plug anything into it is beyond me. I should have saved the money on this kit and bought the license plate relocation kit instead. My future plan is to move the trailer plugs up to a custom mount where the backup light plates are. I try not to backup offroad so aux backup lights are not a priority for me.

So there ya have it. Nothing's perfect and overall I am quite satisfied with the bumper in spite of the few issues I had with it. I'm pretty sure I've got some customization ahead of me when it comes time to install the tire carrier because of my body lift. Have no clue how that's gonna line up with the tailgate. But...that pleasure will have to wait for next weekend.

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[Doc TOC]

Are you sure that is the correct mounting?
Your gap is much lower than LOD's gap shown online.

Otherwise, always appreciate someone giving a detailed online review of product.
Let us know how the swing-out ends up working for you.

 

[Figmo]

Yup. Only fits one way. But the gap is due to my body lift so you would not have this gap.

Body-lifts lift the vehicle body away from the frame. Bumpers are mounted to the frame. Ergo they don't get a lift leading to gap between bumper and body.

Don't worry. I've got a plastic trim piece that I fabbed up to cover the ugliness (you can see it resting on the stool in pic #2). Just Haven't reinstalled it yet until I get the tire carrier mounted .

 

[Chrome_Pony]

Great writeup.

Is there anything structural behind the light pocket recesses?

I'm wondering why they're recessed and if I can just cap them off and cut in whatever flush mount pod I want without needing the recesses or access to something through that recess area.

 

[Ninjak]

I was wondering if you had a body lift when I saw the gap. Are you going to do the rear tire setup? This is the bumper that puts the carrier on the bumper, correct?

Nice setup.

 

[Figmo]

Great writeup.

Is there anything structural behind the light pocket recesses?

I'm wondering why they're recessed and if I can just cap them off and cut in whatever flush mount pod I want without needing the recesses or access to something through that recess area.

It's open behind them. I think they are recessed because the chase lights/backup lights you would normally mount there want to be recessed for protection.

 

[Figmo]

I was wondering if you had a body lift when I saw the gap. Are you going to do the rear tire setup? This is the bumper that puts the carrier on the bumper, correct?

Nice setup.

Yeah - the tire carrier should be this weekends project. What I liked about this bumper is that the carrier weight is 100% on the bumper, but it swings open with the tailgate. So no latches or anything to undo first.

Which, I'm pretty sure is going to be a problem with my body lift. Since the body is lifted away from the bumper - almost certainly nothing is going to line up on the tailgate.

But....a little cutting here...some grinding there....maybe fab up a doo-dad....should be no problem.

(famous last words)

 

[Chrome_Pony]

It's open behind them. I think they are recessed because the chase lights/backup lights you would normally mount there want to be recessed for protection.

Thanks. I wasn't planning on buying that goofy relocation bracket anyway. Is there enough wire/clearance to have them punch through the "license plate" area? That was my original thought.

 

[HOSSMAN]

How much body lift do you have? How much different is the gap from when you had the factory bumper on it?

Still searching for a rear bumper but still can't find something that I gotta have. We have access to ARB products but their rear bumper just seems a little bulky, JMO but not bad.

Thanks,
D

 

[Figmo]

Thanks. I wasn't planning on buying that goofy relocation bracket anyway. Is there enough wire/clearance to have them punch through the "license plate" area? That was my original thought.

By "license plate area" are you talking about the center where I have my plate temp mounted? If so then this would be a no fly zone for trailer plug setup. First, you'd need to extend your harness to reach that area. But also It is recessed to allow clearance for your spare so there is little room behind that area. Depending on tire size - it would also probably be covered by the spare making it inaccessible.

I really think the best option is that left chase-light knockout. Harness for the plug is right there behind it and it's just a thin piece of 18ga that could easily have the shape for the stock plug setup cut out of it and mounted to it. Then, the plate mounts to the bumper same as the knockouts you see pictured. Easy install and removal if ever needed.

In fact: So perfect is this idea I'm really surprised LOD doesn't make a knockout plate with that shape already cut into it. Could sell if for $30 and have plenty of room for profit there. And it would be way more useful than that whole "tucked up behind the bumper" bracket they currently sell.

 

[Figmo]

How much body lift do you have? How much different is the gap from when you had the factory bumper on it?

2" body lift. The gap is virtually the same between the 2 bumpers.

It's only an eye-catcher now because I removed the black trim piece I made. When that is installed - it covers a lot of sin and doesn’t grab the eye so much….

 

[mkennedy009]

Good write, I look forward to the tire carrier review. You are correct on the soft shackle. That means the company are not in the know about current 4wd applications. Jeepers have embraced the soft shackle and I know Broncs have also. More than a missed opportunity, should be a requirement.

 

[murphtron]

Have you seen any aftermarket bumpers with rounded recovery points? I have not. That’s one reason I keep the OEM recovery points, which admittedly looks a little odd. The other is I don’t trust recovery points that are above the frame attachment points. Creates a lot of downward leverage.

 

[RowsKing]

Get rid of that baby and get the Monster

 

[Figmo]

Have you seen any aftermarket bumpers with rounded recovery points? I have not. That’s one reason I keep the OEM recovery points, which admittedly looks a little odd. The other is I don’t trust recovery points that are above the frame attachment points. Creates a lot of downward leverage.

While LOD missed an opportunity on the hole shape - they must have been reading your mail on the mount location. These points are pretty much on the same plane as the bumper mounting bolts. So no additional downward leverage.

I also like that they have mounting bolts coming in from different vectors. Some fore/aft. Others side/side. So there's no one single direction of sheer failure risk.

I've no doubts this is about as sturdy a bumper as one could design for towing or recovery. I know it seems like I listed quite a few "cons" above - but that was just being thorough. The overall score is still pretty high in my book.

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