Opinion on Aluminum Bumpers...?

[just eric]

I have been debating which bumper I want to outfit my 2012 JKU with for some time now. I want the bumper to provide good front end protection (think deer), have a decent approach angle, and be able to house my Warn 9.5xp. I recently came across the Genright Trail Series bumper (see below) and am curios what you guys think. This bumper is made of aluminum but said to be very strong. I can mount my 9.5xp with minor modifications and the approach angle is great. I spoke with Genright yesterday and was told that the entire bumper only weighs 19 POUNDS!!!

My question for is this:
Can a 19 pound aluminum bumper stand the tests of time and provide the kind of durability and protection we need while traveling the backroads of America?

Thanks for your input.

 

[redthies]

Absolutely! If aluminum bumpers were less costly, waaaaay more people would have them. The one you posted pics of looks like a solid design. Please buy two, and send me on for my wife's JKUR!

 

[nuclearlemon]

i had aluminum bumpers on my old datsun 720 4x4 and was very surprised how well they held up in an accident. would do it again in a heartbeat if i could afford it

 

[Hilldweller]

That's a heckuvva bumper, sir. All business.

 

[Revco]

That's a great looking bumper. I looked them up, the price is great and they are 3/16" plate aluminum which is fine for trail use. We built an aluminum bumper for a friends XJ out of 3/16" and it has held up well over the years.

 

[southpier]

two posts, same syntax, different location.

how is that possible?

 

[Revco]

Spam, moderators aren't paying attention...that one guy has been a member since 1/11. His first posts on this board were normal, then somewhere down the line his words sound like a robot...which means his account was hacked, the other is a copier....just copies and pastes random posts from other members, probably has a link to a porn site in his profile, but i'm not going to find out.

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

I would do aluminum if the cost were not an issue.

 

[Plannerman]

I've been considering aluminum, as well. The weight savings is phenomenal.


Sent via fat thumb

 

[haven]

"Spam, moderators aren't paying attention..."

If you report 'em, we'll ban 'em.

 

[shmabs]

Having worked at new england truck design, road-craft.com, and done a lot of aluminum fab i will throw in my two cents. Aluminum certainly has different metallurgical properties than steel, most of that stuff is still way above my head. But with proper design and fabrication aluminum bumpers can be a great alternative.

The caveat being that proper design and fabrication isn't within the realm of all shops. Having TIG'd and MIG'd aluminum and steel, aluminum can present a challenge for most people, myself included. It's a lot more susceptible to contamination, overheating, and has no visible color change when becoming liquid in the weld pool. For these reasons, its very easy to get an inferior weld with aluminum. Great care must be taken to keep aluminum tools 'clean' that is only using aluminum tools for aluminum, including grinders, dies for presses, shear blades etc. This, more often than not drives up the cost of aluminum, additionally aluminum is generally more expensive than steel. Not to mention jigging, aluminum is a great heat sink, if not jigged properly aluminum is very prone to twisting and bending.

To answer the OP's question: do your research, call the shop ask them about their process for building aluminum products, ask them about failed or returned bumpers, ask them about their jigging process. If they are doing it right, it will most likely serve your needs quite well. plus 19 pounds is nothing!

Mike