Thoughts on Off Road Bumpers?

[Clutch]

I've seen these before. I must admit...part of the reason for wanting aftermarket bumpers is looks. I'm so vain...

Ha! ...and I hate the way they look. Prefer the stock over a modded appearance (draws less attention)...only bought because it is practical, mainly for animal strikes...seems like I am always showing up late at night for camp.

It does make a good coffee cup and tool stand I will admit...

 

[Clutch]

The bumper that came off my '91 was all chrome plated steel but I'd be surprised if it weighed as much as 40 lbs, but I dunno, maybe if you include the thin stamped chin valance.

Even the bumper on my '85 4Runner was rather weak, compared to the American vehicles at the time and earlier. I recently sold a 60's era bumper...that thing was substantial...little sad that we have to look to the aftermarket now to get a "real" metal bumper. Yes...I know we have crush zones and all...but the old stuff, could take minor hits and bumps without needing to replace the whole plastic bumper.

 

[DaveInDenver]

They are no longer bumpers, you know for bumping things, but energy absorption devices. They have to deform because if they didn't hitting shopping carts could trigger the air bags. This is one of many reasons why cars are relatively more expensive now. People point to an airbag costing $300 or whatever but adding airbags requires the whole vehicle design to change. So instead of a $50 hunk of stamped steel you need a plastic, foam and steel system that additionally took a few months of simulations and crash testing to dial in. The total cost on the vehicle is much higher than just an airbag.

 

[bkg]

They are no longer bumpers, you know for bumping things, but energy absorption devices. They have to deform because if they didn't hitting shopping carts could trigger the air bags. This is one of many reasons why cars are relatively more expensive now. People point to an airbag costing $300 or whatever but adding airbags requires the whole vehicle design to change. So instead of a $50 hunk of stamped steel you need a plastic, foam and steel system that additionally took a few months of simulations and crash testing to dial in. The total cost on the vehicle is much higher than just an airbag.

Agree with you on this. I'll take a solid bumper and boxed frame any day...

 

[MojaveMadMan]

I never understood why you see so many people building big 1/4" plate bumpers, or even 3/16" for that matter. For overlanding specifically, or even alot of the recreational folks that is a lot of steel for the off chance you might come into contact with something. I personally am building a plate/tube hybrid bumper for my 3rd gen 4runner from 1/8" plate and 1 1/2" tubing. With the right design (which is not that complicated) it can handle any of the requirements most people need, protecting the "vital orgins" of the rig in the case of contact with an object. I don't know why we don't see more people building more light duty bumpers like this. Gets the job done, and keeps weight down so you can pack more gear/essentials you may need.

Still in work, but this is where I am going, just an example of one of many ways you could do a lighter duty bumper.

 

[GhostRing]

I agree.
3/16" seems too much in my opinion for most whole plate bumpers.
Aren't ARBs 1/8" (well, metric equivalent) for most of the skin?

 

[Rockhounder]

After my wife in our 94 suburban hit a Montana rat, I decided to see if I could design a bumper system that could literally slide over an existing bumper, then bolt on to the frame behind the oem bumper. I tried it on our 88 suburban.

First, I took cardboard, tape, and made a mockup onto the truck, then spread out all the pieces, laid it out on steel stock and plasma cut the pieces out, then welded together. The verticals are 1/4" steel, while the box is 2" tubular steel with 1/16" box to solidify the look. It has steel pipe that goes to tabs located over the oem bumper bolts, just unbolt the original bolts, slide this bumper over, re-attach bolts through the 1/4" tabs/holes of the new bumper.

Also put a diamond steel screen on the center to protect the radiators from rocks and debris strikes.

Total weight, estimated, is about perhaps 80 pounds (used 40 pounds of 1/4" plate, 20 pounds of tubing, 20 pounds of sheet steel)
Already "broken in" by a wonderful Ford Fusion, who hit us in the parking lot, she went into her spot too fast, and hit our parked truck head on.
Came out from home depot, to see the aftermath... .her airbags went off, pushed our sub about a foot back, her bumper, hood, and one headlight pod totally destroyed, windshield cracked from airbag, radiator punctured, coolant all over..... our bumper, intact, except for lots of paint scraped off, and had to repaint.

If you drive any new econobox vehicle, you are soooo boned, at some time in the future, guaranteed......

 

[voodoojk]

If it wasn't for the fact that I can get a full bumper at a good price I would definetly get one of these. I still might ... I love my 2012 front end. ( yes this is a 2005-11 front end) but it's a great idea. Basically a full bolt on mini bumper with recovery points and winch mount. No affiliation btw..

 

[MojaveMadMan]

I like this one, almost looks factory but provides a little protection if you hit something head on. The only issue I see is if you hit something on the corner, or something bigger that will go over the top of it. I am sure you could get creative and help address these areas. Or as other mentioned in previous posts, a lot of the carnage happens at night. If you are not a night time explorer then this would work for day trips very well.

If it wasn't for the fact that I can get a full bumper at a good price I would definetly get one of these. I still might ... I love my 2012 front end. ( yes this is a 2005-11 front end) but it's a great idea. Basically a full bolt on mini bumper with recovery points and winch mount. No affiliation btw..

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[Martinjmpr]

After my wife in our 94 suburban hit a Montana rat, I decided to see if I could design a bumper system that could literally slide over an existing bumper, then bolt on to the frame behind the oem bumper. I tried it on our 88 suburban.

Looks rugged but it doesn't do much for your approach angle. With a solid front axle that may not be as much of an issue but I wouldn't want something like that on a trail where you had to climb a lot of rocks.

 

[DaveInDenver]

I agree.
3/16" seems too much in my opinion for most whole plate bumpers.
Aren't ARBs 1/8" (well, metric equivalent) for most of the skin?

Yup, the plate steel on ARB bull bars is 3mm, so just a bit under 1/8", and the hoop tube walls are 2.6mm, roughly 3/32". Their rigidity and strength comes through the use of shapes, folds and gussets, not brute material. I've been in an accident with mine and it buckles and deforms more than you'd think it would, they are not some immoveable ramming device at roadway speeds. While winching or at slow speeds the forces are not nearly as high as when you're traveling at even a modest highway speed.

That's actually one reason I prefer the ARB, they are a large enough company that they can crash test their designs because I do want my bumper, especially the front, to absorb some energy. If it doesn't the energy in a crash will go into the vehicle and passenger compartment. So there is a trade-off. The factory bumpers are not enough, super stout aftermarket is too much, so the ARB is just right IMHO.

 

[Clutch]

Yup, the plate steel on ARB bull bars is 3mm, so just a bit under 1/8", and the hoop tube walls are 2.6mm, roughly 3/32". Their rigidity and strength comes through the use of shapes, folds and gussets, not brute material. I've been in an accident with mine and it buckles and deforms more than you'd think it would, they are not some immoveable ramming device at roadway speeds. While winching or at slow speeds the forces are not nearly as high as when you're traveling at even a modest highway speed.

That's actually one reason I prefer the ARB, they are a large enough company that they can crash test their designs because I do want my bumper, especially the front, to absorb some energy. If it doesn't the energy in a crash will go into the vehicle and passenger compartment. So there is a trade-off. The factory bumpers are not enough, super stout aftermarket is too much, so the ARB is just right IMHO.

Do the other aftermarket plate bumpers offer crush zones on their bumper horns, like on the ARB?

 

[SGTCap]

Yup, the plate steel on ARB bull bars is 3mm, so just a bit under 1/8", and the hoop tube walls are 2.6mm, roughly 3/32". Their rigidity and strength comes through the use of shapes, folds and gussets, not brute material. I've been in an accident with mine and it buckles and deforms more than you'd think it would, they are not some immoveable ramming device at roadway speeds. While winching or at slow speeds the forces are not nearly as high as when you're traveling at even a modest highway speed.

That's actually one reason I prefer the ARB, they are a large enough company that they can crash test their designs because I do want my bumper, especially the front, to absorb some energy. If it doesn't the energy in a crash will go into the vehicle and passenger compartment. So there is a trade-off. The factory bumpers are not enough, super stout aftermarket is too much, so the ARB is just right IMHO.

I've the super stout aftermarket. I like overkill I guess. THe winch cradel is 1/4" and the wings are 3/8. With winch I'm guessing its about 170lbs. It's probably too much, but thats kinda my style anyhow.

 

[SGTCap]

Installed this weekend. Still have some gussets to build, winch to wire and hoops to add.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

 

[Rockhounder]

Looks rugged but it doesn't do much for your approach angle. With a solid front axle that may not be as much of an issue but I wouldn't want something like that on a trail where you had to climb a lot of rocks.

True, but then this was never intended for rock climbing..... just to nicely turn any obliging deer into cut-n-quartered steak fillets without killing my front end (like what happened to my wife in our other suburban when she hit a deer in Montana)