Great question!
I chose SSO for a few reasons. First and foremost, I like the design, simplicity, look and the reduced weight of the slim line bumper. I do not rock crawl, take my rig in areas that necessitate a lot of clearance upfront or would be considered ‘high risk‘ for front impact damage so I went with something that would keep my weight and profile to a minimum - sometimes, and especially when building an overlanding rig, less is more. The slim line does a great job of maintaining the factory lines of the 4runner while providing added protection and a platform for my winch. Finally, I wanted to go with a single company from which I could get all my armor (front and rear bumper, tire carrier and sliders). In my search I dealt with several great companies but by far, SSO had the best customer service. That means a lot to me, particularly for a build. I built my rig to go to remote places, so having good customer service means that I have confidence in their product, and that means I have confidence in my rig. Pretty important when you’re hundreds of miles off the pavement. I hope this helps!