Feedback from Buckstop Bumper owners

[dresslered]

I just had a run in with a deer at about 55-mph which did a number on my OEM bumper. If it weren't for the Smittybilt Outland brush guard, I think that the damage would have been extensive. As it stands, I'm looking for a new bumper and requiring substantially more strength. Could I hear some feedback from those of you that are using the buckstop bumpers. These appear to be very well built and have the look that I am after. I'm interested in "fit" and "finish". How do the fender liners fit this bumper? Thanks in advance.





http://www.buckstop.biz/index.html

 

[CDegner]

I have seen one on a truck. It is one of the better looking bumpers I have seen. It looks to be very well made. Have not crawled under the truck to look there.



Disclaimer: The guy that owns the truck I saw one on works for or with (not sure which) the company.



Carl

 

[willyslover]

David. . for some reason my brain says Steve St. has one. . might want to look at readers rigs . . then ask him about his

 

[24V-DSL]

Yes, Steve has one and has posted pics and other info.



I have the rear bumper and really like it.



I have been to their shop and seen several of the front bumpers in person. Finish and overall quality is excellent. Haven't looked at specific fit issues you ask about. These are very sturdy units... . just hose off the blood and hair when you get home. Good people to work with.



no affiliations.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Yes, I have both the front and rear buckstop bumpers. Here's a post I did on them with pics - https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=64537 . Construction is EXCELLENT as well as fit. I can't really tell you about finish because I had mine shipped to me raw and I had them powder coated locally. 10 days after I installed mine I was cut off by a woman in a cavalier (no chance to stop and not my fault at all) and totalled her car with not a scratch on my truck! The fender liners fit right inside the bumper but they do hang down below the bumper as you can see in this photo:



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I just trimmed them even with the bumper and they look great. The mounting brackets for the front are extremely stout (the mounting brackets weighed more than the entire stock bumper). The rear bumper isn't nearly as strong as the front bumper as it uses the stock bumper frame but it's stronger than the stock one. Overall I'm extremely satisfied with mine and I get positive comments all the time on them.

 

[drrhoades]

Steve,

Have you noticed a decrease in mileage after you added your bumper.



Thanks,

Doug

 

[dresslered]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I think that they are a very sharp looking bumper, but I am really interested in the strength. Steve, did your bumper come with the light kit or did you have to add that? Also, any feedback on the winch option (are they sturdy enough to support a winch)?



willyslover-

Your brain seems to be working right!

 

[Oil Burner]

Steve,

Is it a lot heavier, or did you not notice the additional weight (front end sag?)

-Jason

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Didn't notice any change in mileage but I get pretty poor mileage (mid 15's to mid 16's) to begin with since I have 4. 10's and a heavy right foot.



I added the lights although they sell them as well but I got them cheaper through the net. The light buckets came with the bumper (I think that may be an option). The front bumper is definately sturdy enough to mount a winch to - I wouldn't have any qualms whatsoever mounting a winch to it. This bumper is bar none the strongest aftermarket bumper I've ever seen.



It is a LOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT heavier! Shipping weight on the two bumpers was around 370 lbs, I'd guess both stock bumpers together weighed maybe 80 lbs. In anticipation of the extra weight I put 2. 5" skyjacker coils up front and they leveled the truck nicely - got about 2 inches of lift out of the 2. 5" coils. I don't notice the extra weight up front at all.

 

[willyslover]

David. . you might want to check out the Hansen [or Hanson ??] Bumpers in Salinas also



I have seen these also VERY NICE HD bumpers !



not trying to speak negatively about the Buckstops just showing you a "local" source of a quality one

 

[dresslered]

Thanks again to Steve and Gary. I found it interesting that Buckstop stated that the front bumper weighs 200-lbs which they claim is 190-lbs more than the OEM. Who ever heard of a 10-lb truck bumper anyway! C'mon DC!

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I think they meant for under 200 lbs ADDED weight although they don't state that very well.

 

[dresslered]

Heavy duty protection under 200 pounds. The Super Duty Ford weighs 175 pounds over stock and the Dodge weighs in at 190 pounds over stock including beefy frame mounts/tow hook mounts.



Regardless, it sounds beefier than stock.

 

[Brian-NX9O]

Here another Buckstop, but on a 2003...



It is still a "new" truck at about 8600 miles, but after the bumper I have seen a couple of tanks near 20mpg running empty.



The clincher to getting the bumper was Steve's post about the "first test" of his Buckstop. Her first question after reading that post was, "So when are you ordering your bumper?"



If you are curious about the mileage on my truck go to:

Brian-NX9O's 2003 RAM Mileage



This is a relatively comprehensive spreadsheet, but a no frills web posting of it. It is not even linked off of my woefully out of date website.



I also posted some notes about the truck and the driving activities at:

Brian-NX9O's 2003 RAM Mileage Notes



The Buckstop serves as a great intimidator for Atlanta traffic. There are also a lot of deer in my neighborhood, even with all the people.

 

[dresslered]

Brian-

One thing that I noticed about the Buckstop was their attention to detail. I saw how they curved the bumper to flow with the new lights on the '03's. Looks great! Is your bumper their standard powder coated silver with clear coat? Do you have any idea how this would match with a drftwood color truck (mine) which is basically silver as well? Buckstop recommends that if I want a "true" match that I should have them send me a bumper with powder coat primer only and then have a local paint shop spray it to match the truck once mounted. My feeling about this is that the finish wouldn't be as durable.

 

[Brian-NX9O]

David,



Yes, the detail on the lights is great. My bumper is their standard silver. It seems to be a close, but not perfect, match to the silver bottom paint on my truck. In my case it is not so critical as the front tire separates the bumper from the lower panel visually. I am not sure how it would look with the driftwood, mostly since I have not looked at the older(?) paint colors as closely. I'll watch to see if I can find a driftwood RAM around here and compare my bumper to it. I'll try to keep a camera handy too.



On all of the important outside surfaces, the finish is still perfect. I expect to be looking around underneath the front section this weekend. I want to make a decision about whether to drill the airbox and route a psuedo-RAMair tube(s), or just buy one of the 'box replacement kits. I'll let you know what the backside and edges look like on the bumper after I do that looking around.



I have one small problem with the bumper. I was not watching my father closely, and he got curious about the oval winch access cover. He unlatched it and managed to drop it on the driveway. If you buy the Buckstop, I suggest you consider replacing their standard twist latch with a weatherproof locking latch. I will probably go one step further and add a handle to the plate. The plate is not hinged so removal is quick and easy for winch access. The down side is that the "curious George's" of this world are likely to drop the painted steel plate. On the upside: Dorian said he would send me a new one when I first picked up the bumper as the plate they gave me was not perfect. Now I just need to remind him...



One of the other reasons I went with the Buckstop was convenience. I bought the truck in Corvallis, Oregon where my parents live and my Aunt lives in Tualatin, Oregon, just up the road from Buckstop. I was able to get the bumper without shipping charges!



I hope this wasn't too long a message and that some or all of it is useful.

 

[CKruse]

These are an awesome looking unit. How much for the 03 before shipping? Web site doesn't say. I wonder what the possibility would be to have one chromed? Just thinking out loud again!

 

[dresslered]

Brian-

Thanks so much for the reply. I am convinced and ready to order! Need to wait for the wife to get back in town for final approval--she's usuallygreat about these things. Since my previous post, I received yet another answer from Buckstop. I was concerned that a painted finish would be no where as tough as a powder coated finish (they said that the "driftwood" truck on their site was painted). They suggested that if I wanted a powder coated finish, they recommend the steel grey color. They even sent me a picture of one. I think that it will be close enough. Hopefully, I will have one shipping fairly soon.



CKruse-

I think that the current TDR rules prevent us from posting the price. If you email them (from their website) they will send you a response the same day. I had already asked about a TDR discount, but they said that the price is designed to be affordable.

 

[DODGEDADDIE]

BUMPERS COST??

I couldn't find ANY THING at there site on COST???

Do THEY (or any one else) make a rear one??

Or does ANY ONE know who/where (or has a SPORT bumper). . that SELL's GOOD LOOKING "PAINTABLE" bumpers???





THANKS



Mike In Maine



P. S. ,,,, the BUMPERS DO LOOK *****ING tho guys... ..... :--)

 

[krs]

This is the Buckstop rear, painted. It comes with sorta' hokey looking 1/8" aluminum panels rivetted on top that llook fine once painted. There's a better price on the rear if bought with the front; Four bills alone.



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