[LuckyLewk]

Anyone hook up, or know anyone, using the Detours Tailbone for the XJ? I searched for a review but nothing is posted.

I am seriously interested in picking one up this fall and am curious to see more shots of it and get some additional feedback.

[Motorcharge]

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f177/got-tailbone-d-735346/
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f177/detours-usa-654767/
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/detours-tailbone-install-714841/

[rc76]

I recently installed my Tailbone... and have wheeling with it. What do you want to know? (Short on time... I'll post back later.)

[Kettles]

That is sweet, the kicks after market bumpers a$$es! Price and looks.

[natertots]

I have not heard ONE bad thing about this bumper, or detours for that matter, and I have done a lot of research on it. On every jeep forum I know of. I would say go for it, Im going too as soon as a little extra cash comes in.

[BftXJ]

i have one, i love it

[rc76]

I personally don't think it is so cut and dry (as to whether to get or not)... first I would ask... what type of wheeling and how extreme? The reason I ask... it offers no protection... the bumper skin isn't going to do anything by look pretty until you take it out a couple of times... if you are doing hard tight stuff. If you are mudder or light wheeling... I'd say go for it! Rock crawling in tight trees is a different story though.

It does tie into the rear great! Not only does it sandwich most of the rear strip... but also has a couple of brackets. Install was easy... although I had taken the hardware out (comes pre-installed) to paint... I laid it out neatly... but my pup decided it would be a nice place to escape the heat... hardware got all mixed up. The instructions do not label which hardware where. So be careful with this.

If you are going to be doing anything extreme... spend a little extra and get a real rear bumper/tire carrier. Or you can make your own "skin".. that is what I'll be doing. Creating my own bumper skin will really metal that will tie into the tailbone as the stock skin would, but will take the rocks and trees.

[ReconMill]

You can also reinforce the stock bumper just as some people do with the stock xj gas tank skids. Get some metal and weld it to the inside of the bumper. Might take some work but would look OEM and awesome.

[LuckyLewk]

Thanks for the help and the links.

Ive been pouring over the instructions given on the site and I am convinced that this is the setup I want. One question I do have is what difference does a rear hitch make in the install and am I going to have to remove it?? The PO welded on a class III Reese hitch and I notice a small bracket/plate where the hitch is welded on.

Also, how much does this thing weigh down the rear end? My stock springs are wasted and until I get my OME lift on next year I dont want to be sagging for the sake of a tire carrier.

[TheNerd]

Here is a little description of how I had to modify my '01 factory hitch. I imagine your situation will be similar, however if your hitch is really welded on, you can probably skip directly to drilling the required holes (if there are not already there)...

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/6849682-post147.html

As for the weight, it is significantly less than a full new bumper, but it also depends on the size of tire/rim you are going to hang off the back. This is not going to help your sagging springs, but it did not make a noticeable difference in the height of my rear end.

[RitterXJ]

How bad of a situation could you use the recovery points for? Could you use them to recover a larger vehicle and stuff?

If so I think Detours may have another customer in the next few months.

I just got a reply from them and shipping for me is $45 which seems pretty good to me

[rc76]

Originally Posted by RitterXJ

How bad of a situation could you use the recovery points for? Could you use them to recover a larger vehicle and stuff?

If so I think Detours may have another customer in the next few months.

I just got a reply from them and shipping for me is $45 which seems pretty good to me

A question I have also... and I haven't looked into the max weight they set on the receovery points... as I don't plan pulling any fullsize rigs soon... but then again... I guess you never know.

After seeing the install... I am comfortable putting the weight of my fully load XJ on it.

Word of caution... they claim 20 day wait... I waited over a month... but it could have been becuase it was the beginning of the season.

Mark was VERY quick to return my phone calls when I was doing me install. Great that it comes primed also!

[Kettles]

Originally Posted by rc76

Word of caution... they claim 20 day wait... I waited over a month... but it could have been becuase it was the beginning of the season.

Says could be up to 10 days to ship it out on the site.

I would imagine that if it is strong enough to pull your XJ, say with the brake on, your not going to be able to break it pulling a bigger rig, the force physically couldn't exceed whatever it would take for them to pull you, your wheels would just slip unless you anchored your vehicle to something else. Physics says so.

[rc76]

Originally Posted by kettles

Says could be up to 10 days to ship it out on the site.

I would imagine that if it is strong enough to pull your XJ, say with the brake on, your not going to be able to break it pulling a bigger rig, the force physically couldn't exceed whatever it would take for them to pull you, your wheels would just slip unless you anchored your vehicle to something else. Physics says so.

Good point. I've had my physics lesson for the day.

[BftXJ]

depending on when you ordered it you may have had a longer wait but you should be fine now. when i ordered mine i had to wait like a month but he is in kentucky and when i ordered my they had that huge ice storm that knocked out his power and put him a few weeks behind. but he always gets back to you and he is a super nice guy to talk to.