Making a custom bumper, what to watch out for ?

[Rattlebox]

Hello all. Myself and a buddy of mine were thinking today (which isn't good). We want to make a custom front bumper for my truck. The kind of bumper we're talking about making is what I call a "Texas Style Drop Bumper", those of you familiar with the trucking business, you know what I'm talking about.
My question is, What do we have to look out for as far as the air bag sensors ? Where ? how many ? how sensitive !! ? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[Rattlebox]

I almost forgot - My truck is a 99' Sport model, Thanks !

 

[Big MAK]

I've pulled the front bumper several times (plow frame on and off). There aren't any sensors in or near it. Mine isn't a sport but they bolt up the same way.

The sensors are in the fenders somewhere.

So put anything on there you want. As far as the airbags, etc, what you're changing is the amount of force it's going to take before the crumple zone in the fender is crushed thereby causing the bag to deploy.

If you put such a big bumper on there it'll take a freight train at warp speed to crush it you probably aren't doing yourself any favors if you head on into a semi and it doesn't deploy. You'll be a nice hood ornament if you know what I mean #ad
.

- Big MAK

[This message has been edited by Mark Kitchell (edited 02-10-2001). ]

 

[illflem]

I'd be careful not to make it too heavy,the Cummins already adds enough extra weight.
Also if the bumper is so strong that it tweaks the frame in a low speed collision,you might have been better off with the chintzy stock bumper.

 

[Koa Man]

I have a custom front bumper that looks like the ProZap, made by a welding shop here. It is welded to the stock bumper brackets so as not to make the bumper so strong as to tweak the frame like illflem says. The bumper is made out of 8 inch steel channel with 1. 5 inch dia. round steel pipe grille guard. It is still much stronger than stock as I clipped a rock wall while turning around in a real tight area and chipped part of the rock off. A little touch up with a spray can of gloss black and it looks like new. The stock bumper would have been bent back into the body.

 

[Smokey Joe]

As for the air bag, the sensors work according to the G-force applied in a frontal collision. You can mount all the bumper you want and the air bag SHOULD still
deploy, hopefully. I have a warn brush guard
style winch bumper with a Mile Marker hydraulic winch. The additional weight is
definetly noticed in the ride. Good luck.

 

[David_VT]

Ask the dealer for the directions to install the OEM foglights. (comes with the kit)

That should cover your concerns about removing the bumper.

I've had mine off several times and have seen nothing to make me worry about tripping the bags.

If the question is if the new bumper will cause a problem, I suggest you contact the guy behind www.earthroamer.com. He has been banging around with a customer bumper for some time now. I think Dave Fritz would be a good person to check with also.

 

[QRTRHRS]

EarthRoamer is using the aluminum bumper (about 150lb) from Denver Off Road (denveroffroad.com). Pricy and a 4-6 week lead time. Available in anodized or black powdercoat. Setup for winch.

I have been drooling over this bumper ever since I found it but the bucks have held me back. When I wiped out my bumper on a deer, the time frame messed me up. I am also thinking about having my friend who welds aluminum make something for me as I don't need the winch setup. I just want something heavy enough that will deflect a deer off without damage. I don't want to go with steel as I am already to heavy in the front.

 

[Jeff Clark]

Smokey Joe is right about the airbag sensor. It works off G-Force. It doesn't matter what you put in front of the truck. If you stop fast enough, the airbag will deploy. As far as sensor location? Most vehicles have it in the interior like under the center console. I have seen training videos where rescue personnel were cutting a victim out of a vehicle and had the airbag go off when they hit the sensor with the speaders. In the Dodge, I think it is under the dash right in the middle and on top of the transmission hump.

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98. 5 3500 QC 4x4, Driftwood/Mist Grey, 5 spd, 3. 54, 19. 5 Alcoa's, Ranchhand bumpers, DeeZee toolbox, "Physcotty Air", TST PowerMax2, VA, 275's, Autometer Gauges, Centerforce clutch, Upgraded fuel lines (JRE and Aeroquip), MagHytec Diff Cover, PacBrake, Cowl Induction Hood