Previously, I installed Dissent Off-Road’s Low Profile Modular Winch Bumper, allowing me to add a winch and light bar to my 4Runner. While I was very happy with the outcome, part of me still wanted a full-width bumper. Then, I came across the Dissent Off-Road High Line Wing additions.
One of the attractive aspects of the Dissent Off-Road bumper was the ability to customize it if I wanted to. Combining the Low Pro bumper and wing kit gives you the High Line Modular Winch Bumper. You can opt for the whole kit straight out of the gate or wait and add the wings later, as I did.
In either scenario, you’ll end up with a high-clearance front bumper that provides both function and form.
Find it Online
- Dissent Off-Road High Line Wing (Discontinued)
- Dissent 4Runner Bumpers: Check Price
Table Of Contents
Installation
When ordering, you can either pay to have the wings painted or not. Mine came unpainted, and I had them powder-coated a textured black to match the black recovery points on the Low Profile bumper.
Before getting started, inventory your parts. Dissent Off-Road does a very nice job shipping all parts and hardware, but taking inventory is always a good idea before any installation.
Step 1. Mark Your Cuts
We’ll start by marking the front bumper cuts. Dissent Off-Road has provided this wonderful tool that was designed and cut using 3D scanning software to match your OEM plastics.
This marking tool will line up just below the fog light and will cross from the fender to the center. The key is to match it up so that the gap between the tool and bumper is minimal/equal across the corner. Refer to the 3D scan above to view the orientation of the tool and bumper.
When laying it out, note that the center 1/4″ marker is from the bottom of the curve on the plastic, not the fog light! I took a piece of painter’s tape and placed it on the inside and outside of the factory bumper, measured down, and made a mark.
Lay your tool across with your measure mark on either end, then take a silver sharpie and make your mark on the lower side of the tool. This will give you an extra 1/8″ to 1/4″ when cutting, a benefit that will be useful later on.
With cut lines drawn on both sides, remove the bumper, and lay it across a working surface to cut with a body saw.
Step 2. Cut The Bumper
Take your time, be precise, and remember which side of the line to cut on!
Depending on your cutting instrument, you can build heat into the plastic, causing it to melt back onto itself as you cut. If this happens, cut in short bursts to reduce heat.
Thumbs up for a job well done. Remember what I said about leaving an extra 1/4″ gap? It would have saved my bad cut below the fog light. I mismarked my line, and having some extra wiggle room would have made this mistake (more) salvageable.
Step 3. Installing The Wings
Moving back to the vehicle, you’ll want to install your High Line wings to the Low Pro Modular Winch Bumper. Start by removing the end caps from the bumper.
You’ll need to trim the radiator “funnel shroud” more than in the initial installation to accommodate the new wings. Mark it and cut it with the same tool you used to cut the bumper.
Fit the wings onto the centerpiece so that it is appropriately positioned. You can decide whether to perform the final hardware installation now or later in the process.
I performed a test fit with the plastic bumper loosely snapped into place to ensure that I had sufficient consistent clearance between the top of the high-line wings and the plastic. I didn’t take a photo of this step, but I did have to make some minor trimming to get things lined up correctly.
Step 4. Install Automotive Trim
With the cutting finalized, I used sandpaper to smooth out the lower edge of the bumper, removing any rough edges before applying the trim.
Take the supplied rubber trim and apply it to the cut edge of the plastic bumper. Push firmly to allow the trim to seat fully on the plastic. If you cut your bumper unevenly, sometimes you can pull back slightly on the trim to help ‘even out’ the overall appearance of the cut line.
Step 5. Reinstall Bumper
With the trim installed, reinstall the plastic bumper on the vehicle (ideally, for the last time). If you didn’t install all of the wing hardware, now is the time to do it!
Step 6. Check Bumper Alignment
Check your final fitment and angle of the wings. I decided to make some angle adjustments to the center section of the bumper to align the corners better. Because the fitment of the wings is so precise, you’ll need to adjust the center section to affect the sides closest to the wheel well.
Knowing that the last few steps would involve me being mainly under the front end, I elected to jack up the front and support the 4Runner’s front on jack stands behind the front wheels.
Remove the small support brackets from the bumper attachment points on the frame. These were used to support the plastic bumper when it was just the Low Pro bumper and are no longer needed.
Custom Fabricated Fog Light Support
After looking, poking, and pushing the bumper near the fog lights, I decided to fabricate and install a small brace that would install behind the plastic bumper and attach to the metal inner fender behind. This would reduce or eliminate vibrations in the light output from the Baja Designs lights when driving over rough surfaces.
Note: The small bolt seen on the front is bolted through to the back bracket. It might be an OCD step, but it worked really well in controlling the light ‘chatter’ normally visible from the driver’s seat.
Step 7. Install Fender Liner Filler Plate
One of my favorite aspects of the Dissent Off-Road High Line Wing kit is its solution to a problem that, as an installer, I encounter with almost every bumper I install.
What do you do with the plastic fender liner?! Most will tell you to cut, bend, fold, or sometimes remove it altogether. The solution presented in this kit is a single piece of formed metal that attaches to the wing itself.
I installed the filler plates and then marked/cut my plastic liners bit by bit until they fit snugly in place. I used zip ties to attach the plastic to the metal, primarily for ease of removal/repair if needed in the future. Some stainless hardware here would also look very nice and function well.
It allows for the clean integration of the plastic inner fender with the front bumper, resulting in a seamless fit.
With that last addition, the bumper upgrade is complete! It has now transformed into a full bumper with high clearance, extra protection, and a subtle yet prominent appearance. It is everything I wanted in a bumper for the 4Runner, and retains (as much as should be expected) the OEM+ theme of my overall build.
Final Thoughts
The kit itself was well-labeled and very straightforward to install. They provided some great installation tools and additional parts to really bring everything together, as you can see in the article from an installer’s perspective, 10/10 for execution.
If you’re looking for a smart and well-built bumper for your 4Runner, the Dissent Off-Road High Line Wing kit gives your Modular Winch Bumper the right features to take your build to the next level! I have been running this combination for months now, and have been very happy with its look and function!
Will this fit other brands of hybrid bumpers?