What's wrong with your bumper?

[Kevin B.]

I picked up a Trailgear winch plate/front reciever yesterday that I'll be using as a base for a front bumper. I've got a lot of half-formed ideas floating around my head that I need to start sorting through. I know it's going to be plate, or a plate/tube hybrid, and I know it's going to wrap back to the fender well and brace to the side of the frame so run tube between it and the slider to protect the fenders. I haven't made up my mind about anything else.

Those of you that built your own front bumpers, what are you glad you did? What do you wish you hadn't done, or what do you wish you had?

 

[sixstringsteve]

I'm very happy with mine. There are a few things I'd do differently (I'm sure you read it in maldito's build thread). I'd leave more room for winch wiring. It's not too late for me to make more room, it's just a pain to remove it. I'd also get thicker d-ring tabs, mine are too thin (soon to be remedied). Other than that, I love my bumper. I spent about $250 in materials on it, the rest was just time (and a lot of it). I spent too much time mocking it up in 3-d modeling software. That was slowing my progress too much, so I finally just started making cardboard cutouts, and trimming from there. I also researched, took measurements, and photos of every bumper I liked until I found a design of my own that I like.

The one bummer about my bumper is that it requires disconnecting the winch wires to remove it, which is a pain. That being said, how often do you actually remove your bumper?

 

[1993yj]

I added some flush mount LEDs to mine last winter and as far as bumper modifications go, that is my favorite one this far (out of maybe 3, but nonetheless)

 

[ricsrx]

Mine does not protect the fenders around the front marker lights

 

[lewis]

the one I made wasn't to the legal requirements, I would change that
about my next one.

 

[Kevin B.]

I'd also get thicker d-ring tabs, mine are too thin (soon to be remedied).

That brings up a question - I have the reciever mount to slot a shackle into, am I going to miss them if I don't put D ring tabs on the sides?

 

[blznnp]

the only thing I don't like about mine, is that I haven't put any recovery points on it. Which will happen this winter.

 

[sixstringsteve]

That brings up a question - I have the reciever mount to slot a shackle into, am I going to miss them if I don't put D ring tabs on the sides?

I haven't had to use mine yet. It's impossible to build a bumper that's perfect for every single situation, but I don't think you'd miss them. The only place I could imagine it being a problem is if your bumper digs in and the center of it is buried. You'll probably want to be pulled BACK, not forward at that point, but having one on each side could help with that. It could also be handy in a recovery where you want to attach a strap to both recovery points to make a triangle for a bit more leverage. But I don't think those situations are worth redesigning your bumper.

The reason I have two is because they align with my frame. By attaching to my recovery points, I'm not taxing the bumper at all, just the mounting points. A big recovery point in the center will pull the bumper from the center, wanting to cause it to bow outward. That being said, all winches are mounted in the center and do exactly the same thing.

 

[ricsrx]

the one I made wasn't to the legal requirements, I would change that
about my next one.

Yes I have this problem also, i get away with sliding a stock bumper in my receiver for the inspection, and if i was to daily drive the truck i should probably have it installed.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I think those are the best way to go for recovery points.

 

[Kevin B.]

Those are beefcake! Did you make those or are they for sale somewhere?

I like the whole bumper, too, that's a sleek design. Do I spy a TrailGear winch mount there?

 

[BCGPER]

I have the tabs as well as a front receiver. If I were to build it again, I'd skip the tabs. I have the receiver, if I ever want to hook a strap to it. Plus, I have a winch so I doubt a strap will ever be hooked to the front anyways.

The thing I hate about the tabs if having them stick out, and I'm always bumping into them. Not a big deal to some, but to me they're right at junk height if you catch my drift.

 

[skippy]

I like the tabs on the front bumper off to the sides, I have been in situations with a rig when they are getting really tippy coming up an obstacle and its really nice to be able to have the strap over just the little bit farther to the side to help keep them on the rubber side

 

[B2-Bomber]

it's big, and ugly. my complaint is that it is too ugly