C4 Rock Runner Front Bumper Review For 5th Gen 4Runner

The long-awaited Rock Runner bumper is finally here for the 5G 4Runner. This front bumper was launched last year on the 3rd Gen Tacoma, and I’ve been waiting for C4 to finally release this for the 5th Gen. That time has come, and we finally have it installed.

So why the Rock Runner? Weight. Starting at only 100lbs – this is one of the lightest, if not THE lightest full-width front bumper options on the market for the 5th Gen. It comes in a handful of different configurations. You can opt for the plate wings (pictured in this post) or their classic hybrid wings that C4 is known for. You can also opt for a bull bar or no bull bar. It also has a crazy amount of clearance.

What’s the difference between the plate version and the hybrid version? 

The plate version has a plate cover over the front, and the hybrid is left open. The hybrid allows you to mount lights, whereas the plate version does not come with welded-on light mount tabs. That said, we were still able to mount a few lights on each wing… a KC Flex Era 1 as a fog light and two KC Cyclones as marker lights and/or rock lights.

It’s a modular front bumper as well. If you ever decide at any time you want to change the wings from plate to hybrid, you can. Just unbolt the wings, and bolt the new design on.

This is one of the cleanest high clearance lightweight bumpers on the market. Let’s break it down by the features that matter most.

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• C4 Rock Runner Bumper: Check Price

All-New Design From C4

The Rock Runner takes a new approach to front bumpers.

Not only are the wings modular, but you can configure the center winch plates as well. All Rock Runners ship with center winch port covers, so if you choose not to run a winch, you can cover up that center section. I can also see people powder coating these winch port covers different colors in order to further customize the look, which could be cool on the right build.

The new design is higher clearance than the hybrids in the past, even though the hybrid was already sitting pretty high. The only potential downside to this is that much more of the sheet metal behind the bumper is exposed. Fortunately, I have Underground paint, so after I painted the sheet metal behind the bumper, there was zero contrast in color – everything is blacked out.

If you have a white 4Runner, you may have to do a bit more work behind the bumper to black everything out. Even then, you’re still going to see much more exposed sheet metal with the Rock Runner over the hybrids in the past. I always recommend painting this part regardless, with any bumper.

Weight

The real difference here is the weight reduction from the previous hybrid.

• C4 Rock Runner: 100 lbs. – 108 lbs.
• C4 Hybrid: 120 lbs. – 135 lbs.

Weight is always a concern; in fact, it’s the enemy. We’re always looking for ways to reduce the weight whenever possible and the new Rock Runner offers just that, a huge weight savings up front.

• Plate sides: 100 lbs.
• Plate sides with bull bar: 106 lbs.
• Tube sides: 102 lbs.
• Tube sides with bull bar: 108 lbs.

It’s not a PreRunner featherweight, but definitely manageable for most overland rigs looking to save a bit of weight up front.

Price

Starting around $1000 – it’s not a bad price for a C4 unit. C4 has never been known for competitive pricing because they’re in a league of their own when it comes to design and fabrication. They’ve always made really high-end products. So, to see a full-width front bumper for them at this low of a price is pretty wild.

Even though the bumper starts around $1000, after lights, a washer tank skid, a winch, and powder coating, you can easily be into it for much more. It really just depends on how far you want to take it.

You can also just blast all the parts with some STEEL-IT (or any rattle can) out of the gates and install the other parts at a later time.

The cool part about the plate version of this bumper is that it doesn’t offer direct light fitment, so it looks great with and without lights. This is the only bumper of its kind on the market. Every other bumper has integrated light cutouts, and if you don’t fill those holes, sometimes they can look unfinished and awkward.

Regardless of how you build the Rock Runner, it’s a great entry price for a full width front bumper.

Hybrid Vs. Plate Sides

Do you want that classic hybrid look or something else?

The plate version is like a blend of classic overland plate design mixed with a bit of hybrid. It’s more aggressive, in my opinion, and looks like literal armor, the way the front plate wraps around the tube work. It’s honestly incredible.

The hybrid is designed to fit a few lights, so in addition to direct mounting lights, it’s going to cover more of the sheet metal behind the actual bumper itself.

Both versions include bolt-on wings and work with the modular frame, the same winch mount & winch access ports, along with the same bull bar option. The only difference is in the actual wing design.

They’re both great options; it really comes down to looks and what lights you want to mount.

Plate Side Light Compatibility

The hybrid version of the Rock Runner is obviously designed to hold lights, so what can the plate version fit?

C4 Fabrication states the plate version is not light compatible, but after looking at the prototype version, I figured something was possible.

If you go with the hybrid wings, you’ll get direct light mount tabs designed to fit:

• 1 Baja Squadron
• 1 Baja S2
• 1 Baja S1

If you go with the plate wings, we managed to fit:

• 1 KC Flex Era 1
• 2 KC Cyclones

For the plate version, we used tube clamps. I ordered three different tube clamps off Amazon to see which ones I liked best, and they all somewhat served their purpose, given the variety of space we had to work with, as the tube support gap goes from wide open to tight up against the wing.

As you can see in the photo above, the KC FLEX Era 1s do stick out a little bit in front of the bumper, which could be a deal breaker to some but with some new tube clamps on the way, I think we will be able to tuck those lights just flush with the front of the bumper. The Cyclones fit perfectly, though. That’s a great little light to fill up the wings on the plate version.

If you’re a Baja Designs guy, you might be able to pack 1 S1 and 2 Baja rock lights, but don’t quote me on that.

Install

Like all full-width bumpers, you will need to cut the factory plastic bumper to install.

The winch install is very simple on the Rock Runner, thanks to the recessed mounting tray, massive access cutouts, and plenty of bolt clearance underneath the bumper with the plates off. I think more and more companies are starting to make the winch install portion easier these days. I can appreciate that.

The winch plate and integrated bridge skid connect cleanly to factory crossmembers or aftermarket skids. We’re running a CBI front skid, and it mated up where it needed to with ease.

High Clearance

One of the highlights of the Rock Runner is how high and flat it sits on the 4Runner. It’s built with clearance, weight, and approach angle in mind, hugging the factory body lines and maximizing approach angle without hanging too far out front.

Just look at the photo below where the D-rings are mounted and then reference the old C4 Hybrid bumper. The D-rings sit almost flush with where the winch shackle sits on the old hybrid, whereas this new design tucks the d-ring mounts further back, closer to the three 14mm bolts that mount the bumper into place.

That’s how much steel material weight you’re dropping, in addition to less contact with rocks on the trail.

The bumper just fits tighter all the way around on the front end of the 4Runner.

Bolt-On Wings

This is where the modular design shines.

Whether you go plate or tube, both styles use bolt-on wings that are easy to install or swap down the line.

You’re not locked into one style forever. Run tube sides now, switch to plates later if you want.

They also might have done this to save weight on shipping costs, too. Not sure. Either way, a pretty cool new concept from C4.

Winch Access Ports

One of the biggest problems with front bumpers is access to the winch.

There is nothing worse than being on the trail and not being able to reach the clutch, plug your winch remote in, or turn the winch on. Ask me how I know.

Rock Runner features a MASSIVE set of cutouts on the front face that gives you direct access to the winch clutch lever. No need to jam your hand between steel or remove anything, just freedom to spool the line, plug in your remote, and turn the winch on.

Also worth noting… If you aren’t planning to install a winch, the aluminum fill plate is included, so the bumper still looks complete.

After installing the bumper, I stood back and looked at it for a while. Something was off.

You could clearly see the winch safety warning stickers on both sides of the winch, and it was pretty distracting to the overall appearance. After I took both of the stickers off, everything came together. I know you’re not supposed to take those stickers off, but it was driving me crazy, so to each their own here.

Rock Runner Badge

The all-new signature Rock Runner badge… what an amazing new addition/accessory to the Rock Runner line.

I think other companies should take some notes on this. It’s such a cool detail on the build that takes the product and the vehicle to another level. We rarely see branded badges like this on products and I’ll admit, I’m a big fan. I know there are some people out there, though, who don’t like logos all over their parts, so maybe an option to have the badge or opt out would be cool, too.

Material & Build Quality

The center section is made from 11-gauge steel with 3/16″ inch thick mounting and winch plates. The D-ring tabs are 3/4″ thick and fully welded front and back.

If you go with the hybrid wings or bull bars, you’re getting 1.5″ tubing with a .120 wall thickness.

Every bumper includes a bridge skid to tie it all together underneath, and there’s an optional washer tank skid available for additional coverage.

TSS relocation brackets are available for 2020 and newer rigs.

The only potential downside of this unit over previous versions in the past is its strength overall on impact. There is no doubt that a solid steel front bumper would be stronger than a modular bolt-on front bumper. If both the classic hybrid and this Rock Runner were hit in a side collision, I’m sure the hybrid would hold up better. That said, the Rock Runner is still made of the same materials; the wings are just bolted on, not welded throughout.

If the most possible strength is what you’re looking for in a bumper, I’d opt for a C4 Overland plate bumper with full hoops. That bumper would take an insane hit and still hold strong.

Time will tell what the Rock Runner will look like under an impact.

Final Thoughts

Something new from C4…. and it’s amazing.

I’m super stoked on the look of this new unit and the functionality as well.

If you’re building a rig that sees lots of overland/off-road use and you’re looking for a lightweight bumper, this is a killer option.