Darksteel165
Legendary member
Considering he backed into someone... I would assume so.
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Aftermarket rear replacement bumper revisited
- Thread starter Farmhandz
- Start date
Got the Wolfstorm in the mail yesterday, gonna need some cleanup grinding, welding, and repaint, but it's still a nice unit.
Backup lights came with it, but I don't think I'll bother with them at the moment. No comments on backing into somebody again!
Anybody know if Tradesman has a key module in the OEM rear bumper? What does it do, open the tailgate with the fob? Is that it? I don't think I ever had that option. I think it only locks/unlocks with the doors. What are your thoughts?
Backup lights came with it, but I don't think I'll bother with them at the moment. No comments on backing into somebody again!
Anybody know if Tradesman has a key module in the OEM rear bumper? What does it do, open the tailgate with the fob? Is that it? I don't think I ever had that option. I think it only locks/unlocks with the doors. What are your thoughts?
No module in rear bumper. Just park sense sensors, if you have them, license plate lights, and trailer wire harness.Got the Wolfstorm in the mail yesterday, gonna need some cleanup grinding, welding, and repaint, but it's still a nice unit.
Backup lights came with it, but I don't think I'll bother with them at the moment. No comments on backing into somebody again!
Anybody know if Tradesman has a key module in the OEM rear bumper? What does it do, open the tailgate with the fob? Is that it? I don't think I ever had that option. I think it only locks/unlocks with the doors. What are your thoughts?
Maybe a 4th gen thing? Or that's not a Ram bumper, just generic instructions as a catch all?
LaxDfns15
Ram Guru
Might be for the trucks that allow you to open the tailgate with the truck locked if the keys are in your pocket/next to the tailgate. I don't know where the module is, but I do know if you have the truck locked and shut the tailgate with the keys in the bed and far enough from the back it won't open again. I tried looking on mine real quick, but the spare tire was in the way.
Darksteel165
Legendary member
My truck does that for the mft, I don't recall seeing that module though the several times I've been working in that area I'll go take a look and see what's there.
Darksteel165
Legendary member
Nope not on my truck.
I don't think those are 5th gen instructions, doesn't even look close.
My MFT unlocks if I have my key in my pocket.
Note I have a splitter for my tailer hitch in the first picture, not that it matters.
LaxDfns15
Ram Guru
It's in their video on what appears to be a 5th gen, although the cut away before going back to the bumper.
www.addictivedesertdesigns.com
2019-2023 RAM 1500 Stealth Fighter Rear Bumper with 6 Backup Sensors
Upgrade your Dodge RAM 1500 rear bumper with the Stealth Fighter steel plate bumper. The unique styling transforms the look of your truck while retaining the utility of your factory tow hitch and trailer plug. Made in America and Free Shipping!
www.addictivedesertdesigns.com
LaxDfns15
Ram Guru
Found it. Think you have it too. Look directly between the tire and license plate *above* the bolts. I thought it was below. *Disregard zip ties that I'm too lazy to cut.
Darksteel165
Legendary member
Hm, is the picture of the bumper upside down?Found it. Think you have it too. Look directly between the tire and license plate *above* the bolts. I thought it was below. *Disregard zip ties that I'm too lazy to cut.
View attachment 182752
Based upon that picture looking from the inside it's to the left of the trailer plug.
My pictures are to the left from under my truck.
Maybe their picture is from the bumper upside down, which would mean it's behind the license plate\tire like you said?
Like this?
Edit: their picture is inverse AND upside down
The cutout on the top of the picture is the BOTTOM of your bumper.
But yes I do have whatever that part is on my truck.
This is how their picture should be to be accurate
Last edited:
LaxDfns15
Ram Guru
Yep! I kept looking at their picture wondering why it was so weird, and it's because it was all flipped around. You found it! I wonder if there's enough wire for me to relocate it a bit nearer to the tailgate/bed. I had my keys in my golf bag one time, rolled it into the bed of the truck where the keys were on the cab side, shut the tailgate, and got locked out of my truck. Had a very angry wife drive for 45 minutes to click the unlock button on my spare key as she drove by in the parking lot with a very grumpy face.
TLDR: If the truck senses when you have the keys and allows you to open the tailgate with the truck locked you should have this module right behind the license plate.
Thanks for the clarification guys. I don't think I have that piece anywhere else then either, and I guess I don't know what my tailgate does with the door locks.
And the reason I had to change it:
All the cracks made the bumper too floppy to use.
And the reason I had to change it:
All the cracks made the bumper too floppy to use.
LaxDfns15
Ram Guru
So basically if you have your truck locked and try to open the tailgate with the keys in your pocket it should stay locked. My truck will allow me to open the tailgate without unlocking the whole truck because I have that sensor.
Got the Wolfstorm preliminarily installed Saturday, I'll try to add pics later today. In summary, it is a very low quality unit. It has about 40% of the needed welds missing or incomplete, shipping wore off paint in many places, and there is no primer under the paint. You get what you pay for.
Now, I can weld or get a neighbor to weld, so that's in the plan. Also, the bumper wraps tight to the body at the "front" of the sides, like 3/16", which is much too close for a jiggling off road truck. So, I will cut half of the wrap off and make a new endcap. I didn't remove all the optional brackets not used on my Tradesman, but I'll do that also. Of interest, the Wolfstorm does not use the trailer hitch bolt locations, so I will drill those and install probably carriage bolts because the license plate bolts flat to that face. I "may" get rid of the gasket between the three sections of bumper and simply weld it solid as well. Lastly, a coat of rustoleum and a top coat of bedliner to finish it off.
Is that amount of rework worth $400 more for a name brand? Probably, especially if you don't have a welder or a good place to work on it. But, it got me into it cheap and I see plenty of places for improvement, at least that's what I tell myself...
Now, I can weld or get a neighbor to weld, so that's in the plan. Also, the bumper wraps tight to the body at the "front" of the sides, like 3/16", which is much too close for a jiggling off road truck. So, I will cut half of the wrap off and make a new endcap. I didn't remove all the optional brackets not used on my Tradesman, but I'll do that also. Of interest, the Wolfstorm does not use the trailer hitch bolt locations, so I will drill those and install probably carriage bolts because the license plate bolts flat to that face. I "may" get rid of the gasket between the three sections of bumper and simply weld it solid as well. Lastly, a coat of rustoleum and a top coat of bedliner to finish it off.
Is that amount of rework worth $400 more for a name brand? Probably, especially if you don't have a welder or a good place to work on it. But, it got me into it cheap and I see plenty of places for improvement, at least that's what I tell myself...
Realized I owed a pic to this thread.
Zoom in to see the 2 small button head screws above license plate light. 2 more hidden per side to bolt together 3 separate pieces, with foam in the joint. Not much welding on the face, but does need additional inside. Needs a couple of carriage bolts behind plate to hitch as noted previously. The lower tube is 5 pieces with deficient welding, so it's not very strong as delivered. BUT, it has potential with extra work to be decent, and it's half the cost of OEM plastic. Note that it does come with backup LEDs and shackle mounts and shackles, as well as the aforementioned backup sensor mounts and key prox mounts. I will be going for lightness. The OEM weighs about 20 lbs and this stripped of extras will probably be 40-50? Also note my truck is side exit tradesman hemi, but it is advertised to fit rear exit dual exhaust as well.
Zoom in to see the 2 small button head screws above license plate light. 2 more hidden per side to bolt together 3 separate pieces, with foam in the joint. Not much welding on the face, but does need additional inside. Needs a couple of carriage bolts behind plate to hitch as noted previously. The lower tube is 5 pieces with deficient welding, so it's not very strong as delivered. BUT, it has potential with extra work to be decent, and it's half the cost of OEM plastic. Note that it does come with backup LEDs and shackle mounts and shackles, as well as the aforementioned backup sensor mounts and key prox mounts. I will be going for lightness. The OEM weighs about 20 lbs and this stripped of extras will probably be 40-50? Also note my truck is side exit tradesman hemi, but it is advertised to fit rear exit dual exhaust as well.
