The DeMello Offroad Toyota...
The DeMello Offroad Toyota FJ Cruiser front bumper is a great fit on '07-and-later FJs. It features recessed light mounts and an integrated winch mount. The bumper also blends well with the factory bodylines, creating a near-factory appearance.
The Toyota FJ Cruiser is quite capable in stock form, but when still equipped with the factory bumper it's limited to how many scrapes and scars the vehicle owner wants to look at after a trail run. A rock could easily punch through the bumper fascia and leave its indelible mark or even grab on and rip the whole bumper from its mounts. With a solid-steel front bumper in place, however, minor rock scrapes are simply minor rock scrapes, and FJ owners are left to think about their next trail adventure rather than how they'll carry out repairs from the last one.
Weighing in at less than 90 pounds, the DeMello Offroad Toyota FJ Cruiser front bumper offers a durable yet lightweight construction. It features a 1/8-inch plate-steel shell with 1/4-inch steel frame mounts. The bumper also offers an integrated 1/4-inch plate-steel winch mount that will accommodate various winches in the 8,000- to 9,000-pound range and recessed light mounts that accommodate a set of Acro lights. The DeMello bumper follows the FJ's bodylines nicely and is a good fit overall. It is secured to the front framehorns using three factory bumper-mounting studs per side in addition to two provided 12mm bolts and washers. DeMello FJ bumpers are available in bare metal but can be finished in black powdercoat at an additional cost. A center hoop and side hoops (headlight guards) can also be added at an extra cost.
We had the crew at DeMello Offroad install one of its bumpers on an '07 FJ Cruiser and were pleased with the result. The installation was completed in just over an hour, and the bumper should definitely help our confidence on the trail as we forget our worries of damaging the fragile stock bumper and instead concentrate on the obstacles ahead.
 The DeMello bumper is made...  The DeMello bumper is made with 1/4-inch plate steel in all of the mounting and structural areas and offers a 1/8-inch plate-steel shell. The integrated winch mount is also 1/4-inch steel and will accommodate various winch models with a nonintegrated control box. The bumper is shown with the optional center hoop. |  |  The factory FJ bumper has...  The factory FJ bumper has a lot of plastic that can easily become damaged. The side bumpers may also inhibit use of larger-than-stock tires. A slight improvement in approach angle is also achieved through installation of the DeMello Offroad bumper. |
 Jason DeMello removed the...  Jason DeMello removed the FJ grille to access the stock bumper mounting areas. Once the bolts were removed, the bumper was pulled and set aside. |  The mud guards were also removed....  The mud guards were also removed. Jason used a razorblade to trim the plastic inner fenderwells, which typically trap mud and dirt. |  The recessed light mounts...  The recessed light mounts in the DeMello bumper are designed to use H1-900 Acro lights. The 3-3/4-inch-diameter Acro lamps use 55-watt halogen bulbs. |
 The Acro lights were installed...  The Acro lights were installed in the bumper prior to installation on the FJ. We wired the lights to a factory-style switch sourced from our local Toyota dealership. |  With the bumper in place on...  With the bumper in place on the stock bumper-mounting studs on the forward framehorns, the DeMello bumper was bolted up. It uses three studs per side along with two 12mm side bolts that thread into factory holes. This creates eight mounting bolts total securing the new bumper to the frame. |  The bumper is shown installed...  The bumper is shown installed along with a set of Acro lights. The D-ring mounts are 1/2 inch thick. The bumper also offers provisions for mounting of the front license plate. |