Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Building a bumper... what about cooling?

[TCluff]

Going to build a big steel bumper for the truck and was just curious about the coolers mounted on the radiator. The stock bumper has pretty big cooling vents that direct flow onto the coolers, will i need to make some for the new bumper or should they be fine?

 

[HGreen]

I have a Trail Ready brand of front bumper on my Dodge, it has cutout on both sides of the winch and also the top is open for access to the winch. I had the same concerns and likes their design because of the added air flow behind the grill. Check out the photo gallery on their web site for ideas of what I am describing.

 

[BarryG]

I have a Denver Off Road bumper and it has no provisions for additional air flow and heat has been a non issue for me (water, oil and trans temp seemed no different after the install). The link below shows a picture of it for comparision to your design.

Denver Off Road Aluminum Winch Bumper

 

[2broke2smoke]

i put two 4x6 vents in approx the same place that sport bumper had the opening ...



in my case it made a big difference ...



my truck ran noticeablably cooler with the factory bumper off ...



tried no vents and it heated the transmission 75 additional degrees ...

 

[TCluff]

Thanks for the inputs... looks like I will try to incorporate some vents into it! I also figured out a way to wire up some 24 V HID headlights that our Hitachi 5500 shovels at work use! Should be a full moon everywhere the ole dodge goes!

 

[2broke2smoke]

just thought about it ... if you still have the stock bumper on just duct tape the openings shut and run her for a week to see ... if it gets hot just hop out and take the tape off

 

[CPG]

A Reunel severe duty non/winch bumper is mounted on the front of our 04. 5 Dodge Cummins.

This May We traveled Via Stovepipe Wells on the west of Death Valley in temperatures of 118 degrees to Pahrumph NV. This bumper is vented on both sides of the center with heavy welded in vents. No over heating was experienced with this well designed bumper. There is an old saying, " one usually gets what he pays for. " I know little about the other brands but I would not hesitate to go with the Reunel brand again. Lots of quality.



Chuck

 

[SSolderitch]

my truck was bought with a custom bumpers. the front was a 2 x 10 piece of tubing with a steel plate on top to fill back under the grill & headlights. the front had another steel plate that bent back at 45 degrees across the whole bottom at the bottom to the 10" tubing. Total bumper height is 16-18" with no holes. I do have a manual transmission, engine temps seem ok. I hate that half of the intercooler is blocked. I guess I'm giving up a few ponys with extra air temps but I still have more that enought HP. It is a very strong steel box. If I was to build one, I would add holes as free insurance, as they can only help and never hurt. They can always be closed off for the winter if needed.