One of the most aggressive, most noticeable, and most helpful modifications for a dedicated off-road F150 is getting an off-road bumper. Given that we're going full-on loony with our 2012 F150 EcoBoost FX4 Project Truck build, we decided to invest in a little something-something from our cross-town neighbors over at Addictive Desert Designs (ADD). We grabbed ourselves one of ADD's awesome 2011 to 2014 F150 EcoBoost Stealth Front Bumpers to help keep our truck protected off-road, give it an awesome look, and serve as the base for a bunch of future off-road LED lighting. Basically, the bumper was everything we could ever want, and when it arrived, we were like kids on Christmas Day. In any case, the bumper was totally awesome, and was perfect for our aggressive truck.

2011-2014 F150 EcoBoost ADD Stealth Paneled Vented Front Bumper Install

To get ADD's bumper onto our F150, we strapped it into the bed and headed out to Dyno-Comp out in Scottsdale, Arizona, to get some help with the install. Matt, Clay, and the other Matt (they serious have three Matts working there) were there to give us hand. Luckily, the bumper install is pretty simple. The only real issue is to get enough muscle power to do the lifting.

2011-2014 F150 EcoBoost ADD Stealth Paneled Vented Front Bumper Install

The guys got the truck up on the lift and ready to in the no time. The first step was to pop open the hood.

2011-2014 F150 EcoBoost ADD Stealth Paneled Vented Front Bumper Install

Next, the guys unbolted the secondary hood latch from its bracket on the bumper, before unbolting the bracket.

2011-2014 F150 EcoBoost ADD Stealth Paneled Vented Front Bumper Install

Clay then went underneath the truck and disconnected the wiring connectors for the truck's fog lights and just let them hang.

2011-2014 F150 EcoBoost ADD Stealth Paneled Vented Front Bumper Install

2011-2014 F150 EcoBoost ADD Stealth Paneled Vented Front Bumper Install

Matt then came through and loosened the first bumper mounting nut from the frame horn.

2011-2014 F150 EcoBoost ADD Stealth Paneled Vented Front Bumper Install

The second mounting bolt is diagonally across from the first, but is out of view due to the position of the frame.

2011-2014 F150 EcoBoost ADD Stealth Paneled Vented Front Bumper Install

Matt then loosened the two bolts on the driver's side.

2011-2014 F150 EcoBoost ADD Stealth Paneled Vented Front Bumper Install

With the four mounting bolts and two upper latch screws removed, the guys were easily able to lift our F150's stock bumper off of the truck.

2011-2014 F150 EcoBoost ADD Stealth Paneled Vented Front Bumper Install

2011-2014 F150 EcoBoost ADD Stealth Paneled Vented Front Bumper Install

ADD's bumper does not come with mounting bolts, however, the bolts for our truck's tow hooks were long enough to do the job, and since the tow hooks were fairly useless behind the bumper, we removed them and harvested their bolts for our Stealth Bumper.

2011-2014 F150 EcoBoost ADD Stealth Paneled Vented Front Bumper Install

Once we had the tow hook bolts and nuts, it came time for the trickiest part of the install: getting the ADD bumper on the truck. All you really have to to is line up the mounting holes on the frame horns with the ones on the bumper and then slide the bolts through. That's easier said than done while trying to juggle a fairly large, 175-pound bumper. Matt and the other Matt were in charge of bumper maneuvering, while Clay got underneath the truck to fit on the mounting bolts.

2011-2014 F150 EcoBoost ADD Stealth Paneled Vented Front Bumper Install

2011-2014 F150 EcoBoost ADD Stealth Paneled Vented Front Bumper Install

2011-2014 F150 EcoBoost ADD Stealth Paneled Vented Front Bumper Install

It took some doing, but the guys got the bumper fitted on and the bolts installed on the frame horns. We were a little concerned about the bumper's mounts fitting over the protrusions on the frame horns, but once Clay and Matt torque the bolts down, they popped right into place.

2011-2014 F150 EcoBoost ADD Stealth Paneled Vented Front Bumper Install

2011-2014 F150 EcoBoost ADD Stealth Paneled Vented Front Bumper Install

Matt then grabbed some zip ties and tied our fog light connectors out of the way.

2011-2014 F150 EcoBoost ADD Stealth Paneled Vented Front Bumper Install

2011-2014 F150 EcoBoost ADD Stealth Paneled Vented Front Bumper Install

Clay then unbolted the hood switch bracket from our truck's stock bumper and installed it onto the two plastic valance on our truck's front end.

2011-2014 F150 EcoBoost ADD Stealth Paneled Vented Front Bumper Install

Once the bracket was in place, he reinstalled the secondary hood lever back into the truck.

2011-2014 F150 EcoBoost ADD Stealth Paneled Vented Front Bumper Install

With the latch back on and the bumper bolted down tight, our ADD Stealth front bumper install was complete.

2011-2014 F150 EcoBoost ADD Stealth Paneled Vented Front Bumper Install

Last, but certainly not least, we had to mount our Rigid Industries 40" E-Series LED Light Bar, which we installed in our bumper's upper hoop tabs using Rigid's supplied nuts.

2011-2014 F150 EcoBoost ADD Stealth Paneled Vented Front Bumper Install

2011-2014 F150 EcoBoost ADD Stealth Paneled Vented Front Bumper Install

Add Comment

Mailing List

Scroll to TOP