Heavy Duty Bumpers for Expedition/Overland Use: Practical Necessity or Superfluous an

[911regular]

bumper front.jpg

definetly see the benefits to a massive bumper, but something like this seems more practical for a full size seeing off highway use. But,,,,a massive Mad Max front end looks pretty bad ***** too.

[Sergeant_V]

But I agree, as many have pointed out, that some stock bumpers these days may as well be made of cardboard. And I also agree with you, toymaster, and some other posters here that heavy duty, full coverage steel bumpers probably make sense if you often bash big things including animals (assuming that driving at slower speeds is not a viable option).

One problem, as several of you have pointed out, is that sometimes you don't know that you need a heavy duty bumper until after it's already too late... kinda like insurance.

The kind of off-road trails you drive also may determine your need for a heavy duty bumper. There are occasional obstacles that beg (or require) you to rub up against them to get over them or force you to drive the nose of your rig into the dirt or rock at the bottom of them. I've done several trails that included such obstacles and I am always much less concerned about my heavy duty bumper being scratched than my companions running rigs with stock plastic bumpers are.

[98dango]

I agree that stock bumpers suck. But they don't half to be heavy to be useful. Just remember that improper mounting and extra weight can also cause damage all on there own. I will post pictures in the am of good light weight bumpers.

[toymaster]

Just to take the opposing view (since most people seem to be supportive of heavy duty bumpers), one could argue that there are often lighter ways to create recovery points and winch mounts then installing a full-sized heavy duty steel bumper. Same with swing out tire holders, fuel can racks, etc...

Yes, the argument is there and valid. With this scenario you are only giving up protection for the vic's body.

I by no means am advocating going over a reasonable GVWR.


Family-on-motorcycle-Herat.jpg



Nor do I like a person that buys a ton and half truck derates it by putting on lessor tires and only carries around 3-4K in payload. (for reference a 1 1/2 truck i.e. F550 or dodge 5500 have a rear axle rating of 13,500lbs and a GVWR of 19,500). Why would you spend the extra money for a heavy truck then neuter it? Same with the opposite example of someone buying a small SUV or 1/2 ton truck and overloading it.

The overland magazine article you linked is a good example. The other article you linked was geared toward making a specific type of sport jeep that does not really apply to overlanding. On another forum there is a dude giving his jeep anorexia he has even removed his sway bars for the sake of weight savings; this is just as unsafe as driving on public roads overloaded.

I say form should follow function. For your chosen vic you have a limited amount of available payload use it as your activities dictate. Costs and benefits must be weighed. You show awareness of the trade-offs if your activities are set and your vic is overloaded well, it time to upgrade .

[XJINTX]

Sorry I did not read all posts However, I also run rock sliders on my off road / expodition vehicles. Yes very seldom needed but on a recent trip the leader was in a nice new jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ. We rounded a corner and there was a rock slide and rocks we had o cross. He spent a long time getting spotted over those rocks and still ripped and damaged both rocker panels and his wife was pretty mad. I followed with sliders and drove right over / past the rocks... scratches no damage.

I too have winch bumper for reasons stated and rear bumper for spare tire... NO REGRETS!!!!

[FellowTraveler]

I have a fabricator building up tight fitting rock sliders for my Burb the drivers side will include a skid plate for my aux fuel tank then some drive-shaft hoops will be installed to prevent tank damage if u-joints on drive shaft fails, I think that will just about cover my custom goodies under vehicle.

Next, I plan expanded alloy guards installed over windows outside of vehicle w/interior release on each.

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

I had my rear bumper designed to eliminate the bulk found on so many bumpers. It's functional, strong and practical.

Here's a side profile picture. The bumper fits much closer and provides more ground clearance than the OEM bumper while also being stronger.


Rear shot.


I would agree with the above statement regarding usage dictating the need... It's like the story about the cowboy that brags about never being bucked off a horse. He hasn't ridden many horses then.

[Detslider]

My truck came with aftermarket front and rear bumpers when I bought it.
I considered ditching them to save weight (which really isn't that much when you subtract the weight of a stock bumper beam and skin) but ended up keeping them because the stock system didn't offer any reasonable recovery points.

I can probably do without the winch that the aftermarket bumper has but if the stock system doesn't even offer a place to hook a snatch strap it's no good to me.

[zidaro]

I had my rear bumper designed to eliminate the bulk found on so many bumpers. It's functional, strong and practical.

Here's a side profile picture. The bumper fits much closer and provides more ground clearance than the OEM bumper while also being stronger.

nice looking bumper

[Terrainist]

After backing into a few campsites at night.... wish I had taken off my previously straight rear bumper and sold it. Now have to scrap it and replace with something worth while. A stock bumper will crumple at 3 mph when hit head on by a 30" diameter tree. Disgraceful really, so much window dressing... something called a "bumper" that you can't bump into things with.