Big or little bumpers

[Schattenjager]

In my quest for frontal protection I have come across a lot of options. Some, like the ARB (I have owned one in the past) are big, strong, and heavy. Others, like the All Pro are smaller and lighter and probably not as strong. My question is: how much strength do I really need? My Tacoma is a daily driver. When I am in the wilds I am not looking to challenge my lack of skills or the limits of the machine. Rather, I am looking to go a little further than the next fellow wants to go in order to get the premo camp spot etc. This may require some ‘wheelin.’
My overly taxed brain cell seems to think that a lighter bumper would be better for a few reasons: 1) less weight for improved handling, braking and gas milage 2) requires less suspension mods to support, 3) I am not really going to put my Tacoma thru anything requiring super duty protection 4) unfortunately I spend more time driving to the trail than on it.
Have any of you ever wished you had more / less bumper? If so why?
Thanks for your sage input.

 

[asteffes]

Ya know, the ARB bumper on my '06 really didn't seem that heavy. It didn't change the handling characteristics appreciably with the Donahoe coilovers installed. It really wasn't a big deal. Even after adding my 90lb. Superwinch EP9.0, it didn't feel much different. Also, my mileage is *unchanged* after adding the ARB, winch and 32" BFG ATs.

 

[Bella PSD]

My truck is full size but same comparisons. The bigger bumper that I have was only 175 LBS more than stock. If you stand on the front of your truck does the suspensions far apart?? I bet not. (I am about 175 lbs) That’s about how much extra weight a bigger bumper was on my truck. I measured before and after the new bumper and the front did not drop 1 cm.

I was also in a rear ender a few months ago. The bigger bumper had almost no damage at all. The truck that hit me from the rear….TOTALED and they both went by ambulance to the hospital. As a daily driver, give me big, heavy and strong. After being hit, I am glad I have them.

Louie

 

[crawler#976]

here's some thyme advice...I'm not quite up to the sage level.

I like your reasoning. Less weight is alway a good thing, especially on a daily driver. I try to pare my daily load weight to the essentials, and throw in a container of spare parts/tools/etc when heading out for day trips or other adventures.

As far as tubing not being as "strong" as a plate bumper, I'd be willing to take bets on that. A well constructed DOM or 4130 Chromo tube bumper is plenty strong enough to take the load of winching or the flat out brutal abuse like I give my trail beater. Take a look at BajaTaco's front and rear bumpers for a fine example.

 

[DaveInDenver]

As far as tubing not being as "strong" as a plate bumper, I'd be willing to take bets on that. A well constructed DOM or 4130 Chromo tube bumper is plenty strong enough to take the load of winching or the flat out brutal abuse like I give my trail beater. Take a look at BajaTaco's front and rear bumpers for a fine example.

Tubing is much stronger than just about any other shape. But I think the point is not absolute strength per mass or size, but the overall frontal size. It seems there are two schools of thought regarding bumpers, particularly front. One is that it's just a place to hang a winch and anything more takes away approach angle. The other is that your front bumper protects the radiator, hood, headlights and occupants in the event of an animal or other object strike. If it carries a winch, that much better. I subscribe to the bigger area the better, thus the ARB. I'd rather give up some approach clearance to give me a fighting chance of surviving and driving away from a deer or elk strike. I've seen the results of someone hitting a head of cattle at around 50MPH with a stock bumper, I'll stick with the bull bar. I've seen nice all tube bumpers, like the Demello with that skid plate looks like it provides good coverage. But in the end I think the point is you either end up with a lot of tube work or plate steel or you don't. I have a bumper on the front more for traffic (and mall) collisions, open highway and higher speeds on dirt roads than for rock crawling anyway. If the target purpose for your truck is purely rocks, then the type of bumper you use should be different.

 

[flyingwil]

I too have gone over this in my head and ended up posting up for advice...The thread is here.

 

[Digger]

I would vote for light weight. A bumper constructed properly can be both light and strong. I have a tube bumper up front with a winch mount on it. It has been slammed into MANY rocks. It has not even dented the tube yet, although it will need a repaint this summer.

 

[vengeful]

I'm pretty much stuck with what's available for the Unibody Pathfinder....the TJM T-15 or T-17 (both discontinued in 2001), or the ARB Sahara bar (wayyyy to expensive). Kennesaw Mountain Accessories has produced a bumper for them, but I don't trust it, the mounting is only 3 bolts per side. The TJM is 9.

I managed to find a used TJM T-15 that I scarfed up. Hoping to have it installed next weekend. :luxhello:

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

I have traditionally been a light weight fan but am going with a bigger bumper this time for animals. I am custom making it for both clearance and grill protection...