heavy steel bumper vs oem bumper damage

[Wildcat]

backed into a roll off dumpster the other day this is the result.

if i had had a 3/16” steel bumper on the truck would i have just bounced off or would the damage have transferred into the frame of the truck? the mount to the frame is right behind the led light.

 

[rruff]

A heavier gauge bumper would be damaged, too, just less.

One thing that's sure is that the heavier bumper will do more damage to the thing you hit! 🤪

I think ideally, bumpers would have strong and stiff outer piece with a flex element between that and the frame.

 

[plainjaneFJC]

One thing that's sure is that the heavier bumper will do more damage to the thing you hit! 🤪

I think ideally, bumpers would have strong and stiff outer piece with a flex element between that and the frame.

Like an ARB or Ironman

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

In my new build, I have taken a lesson from modern cars.
The original bumper is a folded/welded C section from 3mm steel.
It looked OK, but is actually not very strong at all.


The replacement bumper is fabricated from 6mm high density polyethylene sheet plastic that is hot bent and hot air welded into a rectangular tube and attached to the front chassis cross member at multiple points.

The hatch is so I can get access to the attachment points and to use it as a storage box, maybe for fishing rods?



Much lighter and much tougher, and no rust, ever!
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

 

[gator70]

Look at the prices for these heavy bumpers. Think twice. OEM bumpers are cheap to replace

 

[dstefan]

In my new build, I have taken a lesson from modern cars.
The original bumper is a folded/welded C section from 3mm steel.
It looked OK, but is actually not very strong at all.
View attachment 851294

The replacement bumper is fabricated from 6mm high density polyethylene sheet plastic that is hot bent and hot air welded into a rectangular tube and attached to the front chassis cross member at multiple points.
View attachment 851289
The hatch is so I can get access to the attachment points and to use it as a storage box, maybe for fishing rods?

View attachment 851290View attachment 851291View attachment 851292View attachment 851293

Much lighter and much tougher, and no rust, ever!
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

Is that a one off (and did you make it?) or does some company make them?

I used to have a 5/8” UHMW tranny skidpate on my built Tacoma that was great. It would deform a bit on hits or rocks, but slide over and bounce back. It was just a flat sheet, well anchored, but I can see how a well formed and welded 3D bumper could be good. That stuff is super tough and a lot lighter than steel.

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

One off that I made.
I can do shorter hot bending and simple welding, but I got some help with that one.
I am a big fan of fabricated HDPE. Light tough and almost indestructible.


Likewise with tanks.
All my water and fuel tanks are rotomoulded HDPE.
I make the sheet metal moulds and get a local moulder to rotomould them for me. That way you get exactly what you want at any thickness you want.
This is a 130L water tank.






Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

 

[dstefan]

One off that I made.
I can do shorter hot bending and simple welding, but I got some help with that one.
I am a big fan of fabricated HDPE. Light tough and almost indestructible.
View attachment 851403

Likewise with tanks.
All my water and fuel tanks are rotomoulded HDPE.
I make the sheet metal moulds and get a local moulder to rotomould them for me. That way you get exactly what you want at any thickness you want.
This is a 130L water tank.
View attachment 851404

View attachment 851405

View attachment 851407

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

Very cool! Thats some great DIY.

 

[yfarm]

Different perspectives on the same issue. Here in Texas one of the most common accessories on trucks are Ranch hand Bumpers, personally know of a sales rep who drives the Hill Country 2 lanes daily year round. Kills at least 50 deer a year with no damage to his superduty. Little in common between a full Ranch Hand bumper and the usual aftermarket grill guard. Many Ford dealers routinely advise the snow plow prep package on new trucks to deal with the 400 lb weight of the bumper.

 

[rruff]

In my new build, I have taken a lesson from modern cars.
The original bumper is a folded/welded C section from 3mm steel.
It looked OK, but is actually not very strong at all.

Low strength steel is actually very good at absorbing energy through permanent deformation. This is a nice feature if you are trying to reduce G forces on occupants, but the steel gets mangled in the process.

If we want to reduce damage to the vehicle and the bumper itself for low speed impacts, which seems like a good goal, then the plastic bumper may work quite well. I wonder about how much energy it absorb before it cracks though.

I have 2" tall, slightly hollow loading dock bumper made of rubber... backed by a 2"x1/8 6061 Al tube, which is backed by a 2"x1/4 Al tube.

 

[gator70]

I needed to build a wide rear bumper. I bought a stock steel bus bumper new. (85"x9") Not expensive. The steel was good but not enough for my needs. I cut 2x3" 1/4 tube, and welded it to the back. Now I have two tubes welded to the back side, with a trailer hitch welded below.

Now I am thinking how to hang it on the truck frame.

 

[IdaSHO]

Personally, for front bumpers its all about safety and the ability to take a hit and still get home.
And around here animal strikes are far more of a concern than anything.

So it needs to be engineered with factory crumple zones and air bag sensors in mind.
It also needs to protect the front end enough, mainly headlamps and radiator to allow the truck to remain drivable.

So Im all about ARB front bumpers these days. Well engineered, tough, built for big winches, and properly coated to last.

And rear bumpers? Whats that? Never have seen the need. Hope I never do.
And havnt been called out on it yet..... yet.... if I do Ill build a receiver mounted bumper to be "legal"

 

[Ozarker]

backed into a roll off dumpster the other day this is the result.

if i had had a 3/16” steel bumper on the truck would i have just bounced off or would the damage have transferred into the frame of the truck? the mount to the frame is right behind the led light.

Cost a lot less to drive more carefully!

I agree with Gator 70, OEM bumpers are cheap to replace.

Now, if what you really want is to try and look ************ at a stop light, I'd begin with a different truck, it will look better stock.