After market bumper worthwhile or not

[BSkinner]

On another forum I participate on, the topic of crash/deer protection of brushguards and heavy duty bumpers came up. As I have a Buckstop on my truck, I happen to believe that it is much more crash worthy than the factory bumper. There were several folks on this other group that maintained they were a waste of money and wouldn't do you any good. I think that point of view is nonsense. I do think that the "for looks only" bolt on "brushguards" aren't going to do much good in a crash and might bend back and cause possibly more damage than if one had not been installed.



It occured to me I've never really seen a compilation of any data concerning this subject on TDR and thought it might be interesting to start a thread here and get people's experiences concerning crashes with other vehicles, stationary objects or deer. Are you glad you had an after market bumper or was it a waste of money? After awhile (whether this thread agrees with my point of view or not), I'll post a link to this thread in the other group.



I have yet to hit anything with my truck but my friend who picked up my bumper in Oregon and had one installed on his ton dually has already hit a deer with no damage. He was pretty tickled that he let me talk him into the bumper. This guy can not afford to have his truck laid up for repairs so he figured the bumper paid for itself in full.



Bob

 

[Cowboy Medic]

In 2002 I hit a deer on my way to the station for an ambulance call. $6000 dollars worth of damage to the front end of my truck. Intercooler, radiator, grill, headlishts, bumper, ac condensor, steering box, the list goes on. When it was at the shop and we were doing estimates I was quoted $1500 to replace the factory plastic bumper. I checked around and found a guy with a half ton dodge that he bought in texas that had the Ranchhand bumpers on it and he was selling them because he was getting terrible tire wear on the front because of the weight. I bought the front and rear as a combo for just under $900. About a year later I hit another deer with the new bumper. I literrally got out looked and could find no damage other than some scrapes on the paint. I went home and used some gloss black spray paint on it. This was hitting the deer at about 40 miles an hour. Deer was dead. I clipped another one about two weeks ago, just that piece that comes out around the headlight. Deer ran away, but I am convinced that the headlight at least would have been busted if I had not had the bumper on.



So in my opinion I would much rather have the aftermarket bumper instead of the p. o. s. plastic ones that come with the truck.





#ad

 

[JoshPeters]

I've got an aftermarket bumper. After my truck was hit in a parking lot by a new car transport it had sustained $4000 in damage. I got the bumper, installed it, and low and behold... . it was hit again! $2800 in damage to the transport..... NONE to my truck. I'll keep my bumper.



Josh

 

[Straight6Jeff]

Three deer, one bambi, two geese, one turkey, two toyotas and a crow so far with my Reunel. all taht has happened was a scratch in the powder coat. A waste of money. . you be the judge?

 

[Hammer]

Three deer, one bambi, two geese, one turkey, two toyotas and a crow so far with my Reunel. all that has happened was a scratch in the powder coat. A waste of money. . you be the judge?

Are you putting confirmed kill emblems on the drivers door below the mirror like the WWII fighter pilots did?. For some reason I'd bet there is a pair of stories behind the Toy-OH-Tas that would be worth telling,LOL.



Got to wonder if Reunel would give you a discount on a new one and buy your old one back since it has been so,let me see here what is the word I am looking for,SEASONED,yeah,seasoned :-laf :-laf :-laf ..... Andy

 

[JGK]

Aftermarket heavy duty bumpers are a total waste of money...



... until you hit something, or get hit my something. Then they are worth their weight in steel (at today's prices!).



I guess even if you don't hit/get hit, they still have a decent intimidation factor for the guy in the little car just in front of you looking at you through his rear view mirror!



I wish I had them!



-Jay

 

[scotty1]

Last fall on my way back from Denver I pegged an antelope with my Road Armor bumper... not even a scratch.



Recently I had a kid turn across in front of me. I had nowhere to go as I had kids in the crosswalk to my right and a vehicle right beside me on the left.

So I hammered the brakes and braced myself for impact.

Totalled the 03 van and did over 10K damage to my truck. However, even the insurance adjuster said, I would've had a lot more damage and possible a write off if I had the stock bumper.



http://www.scottyairsystems.com/accident.htm



I would;ve lost the radiator, intercooler, fan, air bags and who knows what else with the stock stuff.



Now I await my new satin black front and rear Road Armors. :{



Scotty

 

[Timbeaux38]

Ive run mune off in a ditch to avoid killing a carload of morons on a dirt road- If it hadn't been for my ranchhand, I would have lost a hood, fender headlight and maybe even the door.



Hereis a pic

 

[RDelissen]

nothing major has been hit yet, but I bet the bumper will stand up to it in case I might ever need it. Recently got a question from a fellow CTD owner about where to get the bumper like mine, since it's got the beefy stuff right in front of the fenders and headlights (definitely not a 'for-looks' bumper) ...

 

[wcjp]

The Australians do lots of research on bumpers. They also do vehicle crash testing with the aftermarket bumpers. The Aussie's seem to hit alot more than we do. A search of Aussie sites might provide some good info.

 

[pwerwagn]

thats true. ARB (aussie company) does some tests to support their TJM bumpers. Some good info. Forgot how to find it though.

I would have a Red Reunell or Road Armor stealth series on my truck if I didnt have the 01-02 sport conversion. I know the sport bumper is worthless in a crash, but i figure the insurance would have to pay for it anyhow.

Back in the day in highschool, The woods teacher hit an elk with his chev. He had a warn classic winch bumper/M12000 winch and a pushbar that I built for it out of 3" channel. It saved his truck from serious damage.

 

[Hammer]

Ron,

You front on yours looks like either a Ranchhand or a Browns Welding bumper and with you being in Texas I bet I am guessing correct.



Scotty,

With the way that the Road Armor is twisted on your truck I could opnly imagine what the driver of the other vehicle said when they crawled out of their destroyed van. Their eyes probably looked like a deer in your headlights when they came to the realization you could drive away and they couldn't. Nice flame job and I'll bet when finished it will be sweet looking. Trying to not make the thread go the wrong way here but I have to ask,What company or who made the hood on your truck?... ... . Andy

 

[scotty1]

Part bumper part hood post...



The kid in the van had to get out of it via the drivers side rear slider.

All the other doors were jammed. The windshield blew out, engine broke loose, front right wheel broke off and the two tabs on the Road Armor bumper ripped the side of the van open from front to rear like a tin can. You could see the inner workings of the doors and the inside fender. whoops.



I am currently finishing a shaker hood for the 3rd gens. I tested it now for a year and have a few bugs to work out of it. I am also going to test it with forward facing inlets as I feel that its too far from the windshield to get maximum effect from reverse cowl induction. I am trying to get it to fit singles and twins.



Sorry I strayed but you asked.



Back to our regularly scheduled program.

 

[Doubleclutch]

Got my first door ding in the new truck... it was in the front bumper. 'nuff said.

Greg

PS REALLY!

 

[rmrc]

A few years ago I hit a small deer at 55 mph. The bumper, grill, headlights, fender ( which also creased the passenger door), A/C condenser, transmission coil, radiator, fan, shroud and associated brackets,,,,,, all shot.



I'm currently waiting for a DOR ( Denver Off Road ) bumper.