I have recently purchased and installed this Body Armor bumper. So far I am a fan and rate this product 4/5 stars. Yet what i found to be an issue was lack of instruction and guidance and moving forward i hope this comment helps anyone with their decision to install this on their Crosstrek. The largest Badlands winch you can fit is the 5000 lb. long drum winch (the bumper does not accept short drums). Running the socket lead was a bit of a hassle due to its design and additional fender washers were needed. The fairlead does not fit as this video states. If you want to run a rope vs cable and an aluminum fairlead i’d suggest 50’ of 1/4” synthetic winch line and the badlands 6” bolt pattern fairlead. This will also save you some weight. My two biggest issues with this bumper was the packaging of hardware and lack of cutting instruction. The hardware shouldn’t come in a loose bulk back and the instructions should have had more colored and detailed photos on getting the cut started / fitting it properly. Seeing the cut is the most important part i can only assume you left it out due to excess swearing that probably occurred. Also i would like to see the photo example printed after the instruction. Having to flip back and forth was more of a pain and made the process more difficult. This packaging/ printing upgrade would cost a few more dollars on production but increasing the price $10 would cover this and be a huge help to future installers. In closing i spent about 20 hours to install this solo in my driveway on ramps. I took my time, used anti-seize on every bolt, painting over the bolts with bed liner to help prevent future rust, neatly ran the winch cables, lubing all connections with electronic grease and wrapping them in electrical tape to hide the colors through the grill and further protect them from the elements. Taped off the bumper to prevent scratching because it was pulled on and off 30+ times as i made my cuts. Overall the project was a success and added maybe a total of 55-65 lbs to the front end. IF I had received a sticker or two and the hardware/instructions weren’t a mess this would be a 5/5 star product. I will be in touch with BodyArmor and forwarding them this review in hopes they make it better for the next installer.
Hours after writing this BodyArmor has reached out to me about my review. They valued my feedback and have some stickers they will be sending me. Overall they have a solid product with good customer service and for that ill change my review to 5/5 star.
You mentioned that the new bumper was around 60lbs. How much weight do you think you removed from the car for the installation? I'm trying to figure out how much weight this will add to my car.
@@usmcsubieadventures9486you removed the stock inner bumper also, right? The one thing that I'm a bit wary of is that the stock inner bumper has a wrap around to help deflect at least a little, and corner impact, like a deer strike. What are your thoughts on this? Great video.
@@mhadman427 I'm no structural engineer so I can't speak to what safety I took away removing the stock bumper. But so far I haven't had any side (or any direction) impact so I can't give a first hand experience.
Shane, I’ll admit that I didn’t get under and measure my height before or after the install. I can’t give you an accurate measurement, but I would say that the entire bumper isn’t that heavy, it’s under 100lbs. Probably like 60 or so.
@@usmcsubieadventures9486 anyway you able to get a center-of-hub to bottom of fender measurement as it sits right now? Between those numbers and the height of your lift spacers, I think I can do the math to determine what I need 🙂
I really don’t remember but I think it was 6”. I can check. What I know is that it didn’t line up exactly with the bumper so I had to get a new fairlead and I didn’t use the mounting bracket that came with the bumper because the front of the fairlead didn’t line up but underneath, it lined up perfectly.
Hi Joseph. First off, I tried using the blue painter's tape then clear scotch tape but none held onto the bumper so then I just held the bumper over and kind of eye balled it. I'd trim some off with the dremel, fit it over top, and then trim again. I repeated that process like 1000x. But patience paid off cause I didn't end with a big gap between the bumper and plastic mold.
@@usmcsubieadventures9486 Perfect, thanks for the reply and yes I believe you are correct that patience is the key. My idea was to use a piece of cardboard trace out the back of the hiline bumper then to transfer that cardboard to keep a tight fit. Anyway you did a really great job on this thanks for the information.
Love you crosstrek. I have a 2021 limited in white and I want to install this bumper on it.
I have recently purchased and installed this Body Armor bumper. So far I am a fan and rate this product 4/5 stars. Yet what i found to be an issue was lack of instruction and guidance and moving forward i hope this comment helps anyone with their decision to install this on their Crosstrek.
The largest Badlands winch you can fit is the 5000 lb. long drum winch (the bumper does not accept short drums). Running the socket lead was a bit of a hassle due to its design and additional fender washers were needed. The fairlead does not fit as this video states. If you want to run a rope vs cable and an aluminum fairlead i’d suggest 50’ of 1/4” synthetic winch line and the badlands 6” bolt pattern fairlead. This will also save you some weight.
My two biggest issues with this bumper was the packaging of hardware and lack of cutting instruction. The hardware shouldn’t come in a loose bulk back and the instructions should have had more colored and detailed photos on getting the cut started / fitting it properly. Seeing the cut is the most important part i can only assume you left it out due to excess swearing that probably occurred. Also i would like to see the photo example printed after the instruction. Having to flip back and forth was more of a pain and made the process more difficult. This packaging/ printing upgrade would cost a few more dollars on production but increasing the price $10 would cover this and be a huge help to future installers.
In closing i spent about 20 hours to install this solo in my driveway on ramps. I took my time, used anti-seize on every bolt, painting over the bolts with bed liner to help prevent future rust, neatly ran the winch cables, lubing all connections with electronic grease and wrapping them in electrical tape to hide the colors through the grill and further protect them from the elements. Taped off the bumper to prevent scratching because it was pulled on and off 30+ times as i made my cuts. Overall the project was a success and added maybe a total of 55-65 lbs to the front end. IF I had received a sticker or two and the hardware/instructions weren’t a mess this would be a 5/5 star product. I will be in touch with BodyArmor and forwarding them this review in hopes they make it better for the next installer.
Hours after writing this BodyArmor has reached out to me about my review. They valued my feedback and have some stickers they will be sending me. Overall they have a solid product with good customer service and for that ill change my review to 5/5 star.
Solo!? What am I a fucking ghost? You owe me a sticker
Alright this guy showed up with some beers and a spare Dremel. I guess i didn't do the install entirely by myself.
Universe speaking, also a subie owner, also a Marine veteran, also installing this bumper 😂😂😂
You mentioned that the new bumper was around 60lbs. How much weight do you think you removed from the car for the installation?
I'm trying to figure out how much weight this will add to my car.
Way less. All I removed was part of the front bumper that I cut off to for around the bumper.
@@usmcsubieadventures9486you removed the stock inner bumper also, right?
The one thing that I'm a bit wary of is that the stock inner bumper has a wrap around to help deflect at least a little, and corner impact, like a deer strike.
What are your thoughts on this?
Great video.
@@mhadman427 I'm no structural engineer so I can't speak to what safety I took away removing the stock bumper. But so far I haven't had any side (or any direction) impact so I can't give a first hand experience.
What needs to be trimmed on the bumper cover?
On the cross trek you trim off most of the black trimming. Sorry I didn’t record that but that takes the most patience, trimming bits off at a time.
How much lift height did you lose after this install?
Shane, I’ll admit that I didn’t get under and measure my height before or after the install. I can’t give you an accurate measurement, but I would say that the entire bumper isn’t that heavy, it’s under 100lbs. Probably like 60 or so.
@@usmcsubieadventures9486 are you on stock springs? Sounds like it wasnt a noticeable amount of height loss (?)
@@shaneclack3234 I am on stock springs and correct, nothing noticeable from my perspective.
@@usmcsubieadventures9486 anyway you able to get a center-of-hub to bottom of fender measurement as it sits right now? Between those numbers and the height of your lift spacers, I think I can do the math to determine what I need 🙂
What size fairlead is that, 6” or 10”
I really don’t remember but I think it was 6”. I can check. What I know is that it didn’t line up exactly with the bumper so I had to get a new fairlead and I didn’t use the mounting bracket that came with the bumper because the front of the fairlead didn’t line up but underneath, it lined up perfectly.
@@usmcsubieadventures9486 awesome thank you!
How did you center up the bumper cover to determine where you were going to tape or draw your line to make your cut?
Hi Joseph. First off, I tried using the blue painter's tape then clear scotch tape but none held onto the bumper so then I just held the bumper over and kind of eye balled it. I'd trim some off with the dremel, fit it over top, and then trim again. I repeated that process like 1000x. But patience paid off cause I didn't end with a big gap between the bumper and plastic mold.
@@usmcsubieadventures9486 Perfect, thanks for the reply and yes I believe you are correct that patience is the key. My idea was to use a piece of cardboard trace out the back of the hiline bumper then to transfer that cardboard to keep a tight fit. Anyway you did a really great job on this thanks for the information.
@@josephrezny308 sounds like a good idea. Let me know how that works out. I need to do an install on my 2019 Forestor Sport once I purchase the winch.