17 replies to this topic

[Hado]

Today I installed a genuine Toyota nudge bar. I bought it from eBay for half the price of one from a Toyota dealer.

It was reasonably easy to do. It took about an hour - although the instructions said it would take twenty minutes. (I suppose it would only take that long after you have done it the first time.)

The instructions are well written and straight forward - so I will only include some tips in addition to the instructions.

The long bolts which go into the two tow points to hold the nudge bar on uses a large nut.

You need a 32mm socket to tighten it - this is not a common size - and I bought one from SuperCheap for $10.

When you insert this bolt into the tow point you need to use locktight and it is tightened with a 24mm open ended spanner. However, the 24mm slot in the middle of the bolt is not very wide and a good quality Sidchrome 24mm spanner wouldn't fit in the slot.

I had to go and buy a cheap 24mm spanner - which was thinner and would go into the slot. It only tightened half a turn so I wouldn't do this again - just use something like multi-grips.

BTW you don't lose your tow point it just moves to the end of this bolt and you can still insert the tow ring through similar access covers in the front of the nudge bar.

Here is a pic:
 New_Nudge_Bar.jpg   725.96K   196 downloads

[Rolla Boy]

My Sidchrome spanners don't fit the slots either, but the Stahlwille ones do

Well done on the install... Should take you 20 mins to do the next one

[Kesawi]

Vehicle looks great

[holmesie]

Looks good Hado

[PC XT]

Good work every body likes a saving
By the way only use those tow points in an emergency, I have been told not to use them.
I took my Nudge bar off to fit my Spot lights its very easy wit the right tools

Edited by PC XT, 15 December 2009 - 09:48 PM.

[Kesawi]

I took my Nudge bar off to fit my Spot lights its very easy wit the right tools

Just out of interest, why did you take the nudge bar off to fit your spots?

[PC XT]

I took my Nudge bar off to fit my Spot lights its very easy wit the right tools

Just out of interest, why did you take the nudge bar off to fit your spots?

I did not want any extra holes to mount the HID pendant lights (mount from the top NOT BOTTOM LIKE most spots) and also I Had to mount the Ballast behind the number plate, not your usual installation trust me. Mine are beside the number plate, very neat and very unobtrusive they look factory.
I could mount more light on the top side of the bar if I needed too, all with no additional hole so totally reversible

[hysterical]

Hi

We just took delivery of a Kluger KXR and i am interested in getting the nudge bar installed myself (either with an aftermarket or genuine toyota).

I tried looking for the tow point you mentioned that is used to mount the nudge bar today but cannot really find it.

Is it possible for you to post a photo from the bottom of the car on how it is mounted ?

Thank you

[Blackkluger]

so your ended up getting those ! i was watching that. Was it the one with those driving lights on it?

[whofan]

Today I installed a genuine Toyota nudge bar. I bought it from eBay for half the price of one from a Toyota dealer.

It was reasonably easy to do. It took about an hour - although the instructions said it would take twenty minutes. (I suppose it would only take that long after you have done it the first time.)

The instructions are well written and straight forward - so I will only include some tips in addition to the instructions.

The long bolts which go into the two tow points to hold the nudge bar on uses a large nut.

You need a 32mm socket to tighten it - this is not a common size - and I bought one from SuperCheap for $10.

When you insert this bolt into the tow point you need to use locktight and it is tightened with a 24mm open ended spanner. However, the 24mm slot in the middle of the bolt is not very wide and a good quality Sidchrome 24mm spanner wouldn't fit in the slot.

I had to go and buy a cheap 24mm spanner - which was thinner and would go into the slot. It only tightened half a turn so I wouldn't do this again - just use something like multi-grips.

BTW you don't lose your tow point it just moves to the end of this bolt and you can still insert the tow ring through similar access covers in the front of the nudge bar.

Here is a pic:
 New_Nudge_Bar.jpg   725.96K   196 downloads

Looks good and what a great feeling you get from landing a bargain, well done.

I'm curious, what (if anything) is between the rear of the nudge bar and the bumper paint?

 nudge bar.JPG   49.18K   46 downloads

I'm thinking that the nudge bar would rub against the paint so that if its ever removed you'll have a nasty outline of where it used to be fitted.

Or is there some kind of rubber or felt placed in there I can't see?

Edited by whofan, 10 April 2010 - 11:48 AM.

[Blackkluger]

There is approx 1cm gap between the plastic cover and the bumper....unless you hit something, they dont touch.

[whofan]

There is approx 1cm gap between the plastic cover and the bumper....unless you hit something, they dont touch.

I am potentially setting myself up for a fall here... but simply must ask the question.
If you attach a "nudge bar" shouldn't that protect your car from "nudges" ??

With the 1cm gap I'm thinking that a "nudge" will result in a scratch, dent or both.

Are they really just a platform for mounting driving lights?

I acknowledge that they add some bling to your ride but idea of adding them to protect from nudges doesn't seem to be a benefit.

[Kesawi]

I am potentially setting myself up for a fall here... but simply must ask the question.
If you attach a "nudge bar" shouldn't that protect your car from "nudges" ??

With the 1cm gap I'm thinking that a "nudge" will result in a scratch, dent or both.

Are they really just a platform for mounting driving lights?

I acknowledge that they add some bling to your ride but idea of adding them to protect from nudges doesn't seem to be a benefit.

The 1cm gap is between the plastic cover and the front bumper. The cover is not structural and simply hides the connections to the tow points. Looking at the design of the nudge bar the mounts into the tow points are rigid and attach direct to the chasis, which sould prevent the bar from moving backwards. The lower bars, which run back underneath the car, look like they work in tension to stop the top of the bar rotating back onto the grill. The following link has pictures of the install which should give you a better idea of how it fits together:

http://www.toyotanat...47&postcount=29

This link shows the damage after a frontal collision with a nudge bar fitted:

http://www.toyotanat...ad.php?t=304748

The collision was a little bit more than a nudge.

Edited by Kesawi, 12 April 2010 - 08:12 AM.

[Hado]

There is approx 1cm gap between the plastic cover and the bumper....unless you hit something, they dont touch.

I am potentially setting myself up for a fall here... but simply must ask the question.
If you attach a "nudge bar" shouldn't that protect your car from "nudges" ??

With the 1cm gap I'm thinking that a "nudge" will result in a scratch, dent or both.

Are they really just a platform for mounting driving lights?

I acknowledge that they add some bling to your ride but idea of adding them to protect from nudges doesn't seem to be a benefit.

There is a gap as pointed out - I tightened my bolts as much as I could to make this as small as I could.

And yes mine is just a place to mount driving lights - hopefully

[whofan]

What about washing the car, does the nudge bar come off or stay on? Is it a hassle to remove?

I'd imagine there is a build-up of crud under there after a while.
I'm only asking questions because I'm interested

Great post Hado, what is it now, a week or so old and almost 1500 reads.