Realistically, you can't see out the blind spot on these trucks if you have a camper shell. For me with the rear head rests up, which they are 100% of the time, I can't see through the cab rear window and out the shell window. So the BSM come in a damn sight more than handy.
Your average tacoverland bro with max trax or rotopax on the side of a bed rack can't see the blind spot either. And with the 90% tint that the other half of tacoma bros have you can't see it either. So yeah, I rely on the BSM, and still look back, but I can't see anything when I look back so that's probably just me taking my eyes off the road for no good reason at all.
The one day i drove without the shell on though, yeah I could see the blind spot. But with the shell, and now with a fridge in the back, yeah, I need the BSM.
Good to see Apogee is on here. That gives me confidence in that product.
I have read reviews, on 4WP own site that show mixed reviews of the BSM.
In the end, I need the BSM more than I need a steel bumper. What I'd like is something that replaced the trailer hitch with one that hides behind a flip up license plate for added clearance and also provided two recovery points cut through the stock bumper and left it all intact otherwise. It could hang down a bit to protect from dragging.
-M