PDA

View Full Version : Kennesaw Mountain - Rear Bumpers


ttora4runner
12-03-2008, 04:11 AM
Anyone running one of these bumpers on your vehicle? Came across this on ih8mud, never knew this company exisited and is one of the few places I've found that has 4runner rear bumpers.


http://www.kenmtnac.com/McToy.html
ExploringNH
12-03-2008, 09:48 AM
Ive heard very bad things about them. I almost ordered from there before I did my rear bumper, as they were one of the only places that sold a decent rear bumper for a reasonable price.

Do a search on them before buying. I did and it prompted me to send an email asking a few direct questions, and the response alone made me not want to buy from there.
1speed
12-03-2008, 10:17 AM
I don't really want to get into the whole (long) story unless you really need to hear it. There is plenty of info already out there on this guy. My "opinion" based on my personal experience: STAY AWAY from KMA!
offroad_nomad
12-03-2008, 12:59 PM
Give Steve a call at Sonoran Steel (http://www.sonoransteel.com/store_custom_bumpers.html) in Tempe, AZ. He does excellent work.


Anyone running one of these bumpers on your vehicle? Came across this on ih8mud, never knew this company exisited and is one of the few places I've found that has 4runner rear bumpers.


http://www.kenmtnac.com/McToy.html
BrandX
12-03-2008, 01:46 PM
i delt with them last month. i put one on my tacoma
Rattler
12-03-2008, 04:30 PM
i delt with them last month. i put one on my tacoma

KMA or Sonoran? I will probably order my TJM from Sonoran.
Bighead
12-03-2008, 04:52 PM
I will probably order my TJM from Sonoran.

You will have to re-think that. From the Sonoran site: Update August 2008: TJM has decided to withdraw from the US Market. TJM bumpers are no longer for sale in the United States thought the Knoxville warehouse. We do not have any bumpers or parts in stock.
weezerbot
12-03-2008, 05:06 PM
Yep I emailed Steve direct about some TJM bumpers and they are long long gone, none in stock no way you will get one.

This is what I'm now looking at for the front: http://www.shrockworks.com/Toyota-4Runner-Winch-Bumper-Front-Bumper-Bull-Bar-Offroad-pr-16217.html

And for the rear: http://www.irbisoffroad.com/4R_rear_bumper_w-tire.asp
ttora4runner
12-03-2008, 05:14 PM
This is what I'm now looking at for the front: http://www.shrockworks.com/Toyota-4Runner-Winch-Bumper-Front-Bumper-Bull-Bar-Offroad-pr-16217.html



Got one of those, just need to install it.
Rattler
12-03-2008, 05:22 PM
You will have to re-think that. From the Sonoran site: Update August 2008: TJM has decided to withdraw from the US Market. TJM bumpers are no longer for sale in the United States thought the Knoxville warehouse. We do not have any bumpers or parts in stock.

Crap! The Shrockworks bumper is extremely nice-looking but out of my price range. Looks like I will have to go with a matching front All Pro Bumper now.
weezerbot
12-03-2008, 05:53 PM
Crap! The Shrockworks bumper is extremely nice-looking but out of my price range. Looks like I will have to go with a matching front All Pro Bumper now.

Oh its totally out of my price range as well, but one can dream, can't they??
offroad_nomad
12-03-2008, 05:56 PM
Have you looked at the ARB bumpers?
http://www.4by4connection.com/totrsuvarbbu.html
ttora4runner
12-03-2008, 06:02 PM
The shrockworks bumper that I have was part of another deal. Otherwise I wouldn't have one.
sami
12-03-2008, 06:07 PM
The shrockworks bumper that I have was part of another deal. Otherwise I wouldn't have one.

If you're not stoked about the Shrok bumper, i'll take it off your hands
02TahoeMD
12-03-2008, 06:11 PM
I know there are lots of bad things said about KMA on the net, but my experience with them went fine. I posted up about it here. (http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=197962&postcount=18)

I also put an ARB bumper on my rig, which had a better finish than the KMA bumper but I still had to mod it for my application.

There are pics of both bumpers in my build thread (http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13823) as well.
Rattler
12-03-2008, 06:18 PM
Have you looked at the ARB bumpers?
http://www.4by4connection.com/totrsuvarbbu.html

I like them and considered one but they are kinda heavy. I know with the All Pro one I won't end up having to change the front springs.

02TahoeMD,
That is the nicest-looking Tahoe I have ever seen!!
theMec
12-03-2008, 07:00 PM
I know there are lots of bad things said about KMA on the net, but my experience with them went fine.

my 2 cents ..
I exchanged numerous mails w/ Kyle of Kennesaw Mountain Accessories (KMA), about a rear bumper for my dodge. He responded quickly & knowledgeably. I knew about the bad publicity on the net but that's not what kept me from going with him. There just wasn't an elegant solution to keep my factory hitch receiver (not an uncommon problem w/ the 3rd gen Dodges). If I were local to KMA, I wouldn't have a problem working with them.
ExploringNH
12-03-2008, 07:06 PM
The Shrockworks bumper is a very nice piece of metal, from first hand experience. I wouldnt hesitate to pay the price for one, if I were ever in the market for a front bumper again.

If you have someone local that does custom fabrication, get together a few ideas and talk to them. Not only does it support the local, small economy, but you can custom build something that matches your needs 100%. I would guess that most places can build a bumper for the same price that you can buy one for, but it will be better tailored for your particular application.
BrandX
12-03-2008, 08:15 PM
i delt with them last month. i put one on my tacoma...kennesaw:luxhello:
pnorvell
12-03-2008, 08:19 PM
I've only heard bad things about them when it comes to their Rover stuff. Only thing appealing is their prices. You get what you pay for i guess.

Peter
ttora4runner
12-03-2008, 11:29 PM
If you're not stoked about the Shrok bumper, i'll take it off your hands


Ya, thats not going to happen. Being installed on the 19th.


Need to look and see how this rear bumper stacks up to the Irbiris one (Irbiris is double the price, I know that much already)
Rattler
12-03-2008, 11:51 PM
How much are the KMA front bumpers? I do like the looks of the Taco front. I couldn't find a price though.
SOAZ
12-04-2008, 04:30 AM
Yep I emailed Steve direct about some TJM bumpers and they are long long gone, none in stock no way you will get one.

This is what I'm now looking at for the front: http://www.shrockworks.com/Toyota-4Runner-Winch-Bumper-Front-Bumper-Bull-Bar-Offroad-pr-16217.html

And for the rear: http://www.irbisoffroad.com/4R_rear_bumper_w-tire.asp

If you want to check out the Irbis, 111db here in town has one. We are grabbing some brews sometime this week I think if you want to see it.
Tanto
12-04-2008, 05:31 AM
The complaints I've seen about about KMA are mainly on shipped products especially the rear bumper. The rears have about a 50/50 good vs. bad mix on the reviews for the Grand Cherokee bumpers. If I lived close I'd buy one & have them install it without thinking about it. Otherwise, I'd go for someone who has a better track record on shipped products.
BrandX
12-04-2008, 01:15 PM
i paid 400 for the bumper. 150 for a heavy duty grill guard that leans out plus head light protection bar. plus 140 to ship across the country. whole thig less that 800 dollars:PROFSheriffHL: no stick up there
Rattler
12-04-2008, 01:27 PM
i paid 400 for the bumper. 150 for a heavy duty grill guard that leans out plus head light protection bar. plus 140 to ship across the country. whole thig less that 800 dollars:PROFSheriffHL: no stick up there

Any pics?
sami
12-04-2008, 03:10 PM
Wow i think that i might look more seriously into thier front bumper... without the grille/light protection though.. My god, they need to rework that upper tube design..

-Jason
BrandX
12-04-2008, 04:26 PM
yeah i will post some this after noon.
weezerbot
12-04-2008, 04:26 PM
If you want to check out the Irbis, 111db here in town has one. We are grabbing some brews sometime this week I think if you want to see it.

Thanks that would be awesome. Let me know, next week is tight for me with that Forest Service meeting and the slacker students I have to stay late for to make up end-of the-semester stuff, but depending on where you are and how late you are out I'm sure I could swing by.
BrandX
12-04-2008, 07:56 PM
help i cant figure out how to post pics, sorry
sami
12-04-2008, 08:22 PM
help i cant figure out how to post pics, sorry

i'll post em for ya.. you can email them to me @ jason.goates@gmail.com
valkyrie
12-16-2008, 09:45 PM
Based on my experience with Kyle, I could never recommend KMA to anyone. Absurd wait time, shoddy workmanship and piss-poor service. Never did recoup all my money back from that fiasco.

I was not alone in my problems with KMA. Do a search on most any board (TTORA, YotaTech, Tundra Solutions, almost any Ford, Chevy or Nissan off-road board) and you will find out they have been doing shoddy work for years. The constant supply of new suckers to the internet seems to be keeping his business alive... the low price draws 'em in, but there are wayyyy to many reputable suppliers of quality parts to have to take the risk of dealing with a shiftless hack.

Support the sponsors here and you should not be disappointed.
grouch
12-17-2008, 12:39 AM
Chris, is that you??
valkyrie
12-17-2008, 12:28 PM
Chris, is that you??
yup. :)
RakkasanFA
12-20-2008, 04:21 AM
I suppose it is all in your experience or maybe things have changed recently. I went and had my KMA installed on my 07 Frontier in August. Kyle was friendly and I thought the bumper turned out really nice. I would have no problems ordering from him again. I am sorry to hear of the bad experiences.

I DID however wait nearly four months for a Shrockworks bumper before cancelling the order. Lots of broken promises, etc. My situation may have been unique though.....
valkyrie
12-20-2008, 03:09 PM
I suppose it is all in your experience or maybe things have changed recently. I went and had my KMA installed on my 07 Frontier in August. Kyle was friendly and I thought the bumper turned out really nice. I would have no problems ordering from him again. I am sorry to hear of the bad experiences.

I DID however wait nearly four months for a Shrockworks bumper before cancelling the order. Lots of broken promises, etc. My situation may have been unique though.....
Same story- if you are there in person, he seems to act okay and makes things right.

If you order online and he believes that personal contact is unlikely, you will get fawked around.

This behavior has been well documented over the years....
zolo
12-20-2008, 05:51 PM
There is no doubt many negatives to KMA customer service. I know this better than anyone since Ive know Kyle and wheeled with him for over 9 years.
As for the bumpers the only way to get exactly what you want is to be very specific in writing if you can, and it is much easier for the locals.
He has built several bumpers for me and I have built my own at his shop.
The big thing is to tell him and be very specific and say it over and over agian, he may be a jerk but we are all grow here and if you cant take a salty welder then your in the wrong sport. That being said he does need to make an effort sometimes.
Hell Iv know him for a long time and he has messd up bumpers for me.
All in all you get what you pay for and if you dont mind making the small final touches and dont mind the salty additude they are OK bumpers, but no doubt he is not good with people, that much I agree with.
One of those you got to get and know him then things are cool.
cool doesnt mean good or bad..... just cool.
111db
12-20-2008, 07:12 PM
And for the rear: http://www.irbisoffroad.com/4R_rear_bumper_w-tire.asp

IRBIS

I have one, it is a nice unit. I got mine secondhand, and since then looked at many other designs, I think the Irbis design is one of the strongest in terms of mounting, flex, etc. I've thoroughly tested (abused) it and it is holding up strong. Looks tough too!

The ONLY change I would suggest, is to make the spare tire mounting plate 1/4" instead of 3/16". And I'm sure if someone mentioned that to Irbis he'd think "WTF", but mine got all bent up and mangled when my truck slid backwards off a waterfall and the spare smacked a large rock (see first pic). Lesson learned: take the spare tire off if there is any chance the truck will land on it. Anyway, I cut that plate off and made a new one out of 1/4" plate.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v416/111db/Elvis%20Martinez%200808/9.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v416/111db/Elvis%20Martinez%200808/5.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v416/111db/Miner%20Revenge/MinersRevenge03-08-08100.jpg
SOAZ
12-20-2008, 09:11 PM
IRBIS

I have one, it is a nice unit. I got mine secondhand, and since then looked at many other designs, I think the Irbis design is one of the strongest in terms of mounting, flex, etc. I've thoroughly tested (abused) it and it is holding up strong. Looks tough too!

The ONLY change I would suggest, is to make the spare tire mounting plate 1/4" instead of 3/16". And I'm sure if someone mentioned that to Irbis he'd think "WTF", but mine got all bent up and mangled when my truck slid backwards off a waterfall and the spare smacked a large rock (see first pic). Lesson learned: take the spare tire off if there is any chance the truck will land on it. Anyway, I cut that plate off and made a new one out of 1/4" plate.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v416/111db/Miner%20Revenge/MinersRevenge03-08-08100.jpg

Yah, but it can't handle much abuse! You doing all those easy trails.
At what is that weirdo guy doing in that pic above on the right. Is he a flamingo, standing on one leg!

(for everyone else, just kidding above. I'm absolutely impressed with Irbis. Stout as heck. All around great stuff.)