It is safe to say that my Tacoma build has gone through some serious transitions over the past couple of years. From a Magnuson supercharger to a GFC Topper and even upgraded armor and protection, it is always evolving to meet my needs for wheeling and traveling.
With upgrades comes experience and knowledge. I have tested their strength, durability, and overall quality by running different bumpers on my Tacoma and testing them out in real-world applications. Also, what looks the best on the truck!
Table Of Contents
Who Is DRT Fab?
DRT Fabrication is owned and operated by Derik Thoma, who founded the company in December 2022. It was founded in Gilbert, Arizona, out of his garage. Throughout high school, Derik had a 2005 Ford Ranger Prerunner, which ultimately drove him into the fabrication world. He had a passion and desire to learn how to build those types of trucks, which led him to enroll in a fabrication school in California.
After graduating, he moved back to Arizona and landed jobs as a fabricator for companies like GSI and Rev B, building full chassis for early model trucks. Ultimately, this is where Derik honed his skills as a welder and made a name for himself. At this point, he decided to create DRT Fabrication, and in its relatively short existence, the company has grown substantially.
When DRT Fabrication hit the market, it went from a seemingly unknown new company to one of the top contenders in aftermarket high-clearance bumpers and accessories. In addition to bumpers, DRT makes accessories like bed racks, bed stiffeners, shackle hanger kit, and more.
Alongside his products, DRT is a third-party parts dealer for major companies, including Baja Designs, ADS Racing shocks, and BTF.
DRT Fabrication is consistently growing and ever-expanding. It is quickly becoming a one-stop shop for all your offroad and aftermarket parts needs! The amount of growth he has had in such a short time speaks volumes for the quality of the products he is putting out. He is putting out extremely high-quality products built in America while sourcing almost every part exclusively in America.
My Previous Setups
My build has always revolved around overall functionality and aimed for a fully capable rig that could withstand anything I put it through.
As time progressed, so did my build. Since the Tacoma was my dedicated adventure vehicle and I would be traveling out of state with it, it needed to be durable and reliable. With that came various types of armor over the years. I went from no bumpers to low-profile bumpers and, eventually, high-clearance.
Each served its purpose for the given phase of my build. Eventually, my needs changed, and the truck evolved. My current one is DRT’s hybrid. It has unique features that I believe make it the best choice on the market! Keep reading to find out why this piece of armor is like no other.
Unique Design
When I first saw DRT’s Hybrid, I knew I needed it. After running C4’s hybrid for the past couple of years, it was time for a change. DRT’s bull bar design is next level, with aggressively angled gussets that increase its overall strength. On top of that, I had never seen such clean welds – it’s like a work of art!
One of the most notable features is the recessed 1/4″ thick aluminum skid plate bolted down front and center on the bumper. It is secured to the steel core in (6) places using 5/16″ stainless steel hardware. This is where your fairlead will mount for your winch.
This gives the bumper an extremely sleek look and design that stands out from the others on the market.
Construction
The bumper is constructed from high-quality US materials, ensuring maximum durability and longevity. It comes with four different options:
- No bull bar
- Low bull bar
- Mid-height bull bar
- Full-height bull bar (what I have)
The core structure is 3/16″ steel with 1 3/4″ .120 DOM steel. The overall weight is around 108 lbs., making it (likely) the lightest high-clearance on the market. When it comes to strapping armor to your vehicle, saving weight where you can is huge!
Most Tacomas utilize TSS in the grille, and some bull bars can interfere. While the low-height bull bar isn’t compatible with TSS, the mid-height and full-height models are compatible and have 1.5″ x .120 side support tubes.
Features
This bumper provides exceptional protection and a wide array of practical features. Of course, we can’t get enough of bumper-mounted lights! Equipped with integrated light mounts, you can easily add Baja Designs XL Squadron, Squadrons, smaller S2s, or any other brand of pod light. Additionally, there is a cutout in the center for a single-row 30″ light bar.
What is an aftermarket bumper without a winch cradle? It also features a winch mount for 10k and 12k winches. I have my 10k Smittybilt X2O and an Agency 6 winch shackle mounted on mine.
The D-rings are machined from 1″ thick billet steel and are welded completely front and back. They are designed around the common 3/4″ shackles with a 7/8″ pin. In addition, DRT includes their frame support brackets standard. Something that is not standard with many other options.
A key feature of the frame support brackets is that they mount through the frame rather than on it. This provides superior strength and avoids fitment issues from reservoir mounts like those provided with King, Fox, and ADS Racing Shocks. For example, C4’s frame support bracket interfered with my Dobinson’s reservoir bracket and made it an absolute pain.
Why Buy DRT
Derik’s welds are some of the best on the market. What captivated me the most was his attention to detail. He has such high personal standards that if something doesn’t come out perfect, in his eyes, it’s not ready to sell. The self-discipline he has to never settle for “just good enough” is admirable.
I saw him scrap a project because a measurement came out 1/64″ off. Something that wouldn’t affect the project or even be noticeable to the human eye, but because he had such integrity, he scrapped the whole project.
To me, that type of practice should be industry standard! Too often, I have ordered products from various companies that come in slightly off, or the mounting holes don’t align properly, and I had to do custom fabricating and notch holes on products I paid for.
Final Thoughts
If you are in the market for a high-clearance front bumper and love the hybrid tube design, DRT should be at the top of your list. Its features, lightweight, and price point are nearly unmatched.
This is easily an 11 out of 10; I’ve been running it on my truck for nearly a year. It has exceeded all my expectations and protected my truck on numerous trips. Don’t assume that larger brands have superior products because of their name. DRT consistently pumps out high-quality, unmatched products. I can’t recommend this company enough!
