Fitting 17" Wheels On 4G - No Issues With Clearance! | 4th Gen Tacoma Forum

I Cut Off My Hitch/Crossmember! New Rear Bumper Coming Soon From Backwoods

rustytaco · 2026-03-17T06:24:23+00:00

So... I wasn't originally going to take it this far, but things happen, lol. I had the chance to go down to work with the Backwoods guys on a new project they're about to wrap up for the 4th Gens - rear bumpers. This is technically a bolt-on option, however, you have the option of cutting your hitch/crossmember off to gain a few more inches of clearance. Around 4" if I remember correctly. That's quite a lot of clearance. If you've taken your truck off-road, you might already know the departure angle isn't the best and the low hanging hitch literally drags on everything. When I first heard about the frame modification, without a high clearance bed portion (meaning cutting the end of the bed for a true "high-clearance rear), I wasn't quite sure if it was the move. But once I saw the final prototype on the Backwoods truck, and how much I would gain, I decided to make the jump. And I'm real glad I did. The final result is super clean and the rear end is starting to see some big improvements. And if you're wondering, yes, you still get a hitch receiver. It's under the license plate (I need to get a spring loaded bracket). So you're still able to tow. The bumper with all the reinforcements and frame contact points is definitely as strong, if not stronger than the OEM member. A swing out option is tentatively planned for the future, but ETA is still TBD. https://backwoodsadventuremods.com/ No direct link quite yet, but you can sign up for their email list to get notified when they're ready to purchase. The rough estimate is summer/fall. A quick shot from my trip back home through Missouri...

rustytaco

Administrator

Staff member

Feb 15, 2025

Hey everyone. I know wheels are a big topic that a lot of people look into upgrading. Personally, while the 18" wheel my OR had from factory didn't look bad, I like to see as much tire sidewall as possible. 17" wheels help here. The tires are also usually cheaper. No clearance issues at all. Plenty of caliper clearance. These are Lock Off-Road Combats if anyone is curious!

Fitting 17" Wheels On 4G - No Issues With Clearance!

rustytaco

Administrator

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