Which Bumper?

[CooperJohn]

I'm looking at replacing both the bumpers on the beast with something that will actually protect the truck. I've narrowed my choices to Reunel or Buckstop. The Buckstop Quote is $700 cheaper(includes shipping) than Reunel. I could pick them up if I go Reunel and they will install them. I'm looking at the Reunel with the grill guard and the Buckstop Classic. Buckstop is powder coated, Reunel is painted(whatever color I want) Black or matching. I'm looking for feedback on either of these units. Also looking for feedback on whether to go black or matching paint. Thanks!

 

[100 Proof]

My Reunel has been bullet proof and was easy to install (rear only). The paint prep, however, was pretty lousy with paint applied over the top of oil. I've had to do some touch ups.

There are a couple of photos in my gallery if you want to take a peek.

100 Proof

 

[Shelby Griggs]

A local company here Proline Bumpers builds a bumper that I think most Les Schwab tire stores carry, so you might want to look at those. I don't own one, but have seen quite a few and they look decent.



SHG

 

[Regcabguy]

Winch Ready Bumpers

Another option is Winch Ready Bumpers. They are in Redding. Winch Ready They have a large dealership network including Dave Smith Motors in Idaho. DSM could give you the lowdown. They claim to keep the weight down somewhat.

 

[AMcCormick]

Something to consider is the weight and size of some of these units. thats potentially lots of extra weight that will always be on the front your truck also decreasing approach angles and decreasing mpg. just food for thought

 

[AMcCormick]

sorry forgot, that said I would look into Hanson Enterprises in Salinas CA.

 

[pullya]

I hope you don't think I'm hijacking your thread but I have a question about front bumpers and grill guards. Has anyone heard that there is some concern about a delay in triggering the air bag in your vehicle because of a grill guard or a heavy duty bumper that won't "give" as much as a stock bumper???? Heard that from a dealer and was wondering if they were just blowing smoke or not.

Thanks

Jay

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

My Reunel bumpers have twice saved my truck from severe damage or being totalled. In neither case was the Reunel significantly damaged.

 

[LBARTLETT]

I've had friends have accidents with replacement bumpers and the airbags did not deploy and I've hit a cow and several deer. In a "serious" accident (vehicle to vehicle) I've never heard of them not deploying



I ran Southest Fabricators replacement bumpers on 5 2nd gen's I bought new and I had significant steering issues with them. On my 04' and the 01' I own now I didn't install them. I just went with a grill guard. I attributed much of my steering problems to having another 350# hanging on the front in. Never proven, just my thought and choice to not fun them anymore. Wider tires and additional weight equal stress.

 

[Regcabguy]

I've had friends have accidents with replacement bumpers and the airbags did not deploy and I've hit a cow and several deer. In a "serious" accident (vehicle to vehicle) I've never heard of them not deploying



I ran Southest Fabricators replacement bumpers on 5 2nd gen's I bought new and I had significant steering issues with them. On my 04' and the 01' I own now I didn't install them. I just went with a grill guard. I attributed much of my steering problems to having another 350# hanging on the front in. Never proven, just my thought and choice to not fun them anymore. Wider tires and additional weight equal stress.

Good points. I can't see having a bumper that is stronger than your frame. It would seem to me that the bumper would transmit all of the shock to your truck body and frame. A lot of the aftermarket bumpers seem like they'd be more appropriate on the front of a locomotive. As mentioned above having the equivalent of two 175# guys hanging off the front of your truck can't help the handling. Winch Ready's claim to be much lighter intrigues me. Dixie is the spokesperson I talked to. Baja Mike@ Carli is fabricating a real well-made Baja style pre-runner bumper. It's the same weight as the stocker. Denver Offroad has an all-aluminum one also.

 

[MickeyMiller]

I 'bumped' a transfer box while backing. Less than 3 MPH... bumper tore and folded up into the fender. $4K damage, goes into the shop next week. I will NOT be replacing the stock bumper, looking at all the options right now. Always wanted a rear mounted winch anyway...

 

[LBARTLETT]

It's all to each his own, I liked the pipe wrap around rear bumpers on my dually and I really like the way the fronts work, when I first started in 94 I could put front and rear bumpers on for $700! how times have changed. I miss the look but don't want the weight. I've looked at the aluminum but don't want to spend the $$$$, if you put something on post pics

 

[Mr.Goat]

I got tired of the cheesy stock rear bumper. So my friend and I made one in my garage using 8"x8" square chanel 1/4" thick as the base. I then had it sand blasted and sprayed with silver linex. Looks a little boxy and very heavy duty but it does it's job exceedingly well.

Folks stay away from me in parking lots, because they instantly realize they are going to loose.



A comment on the air bags. I was hit head on by a dodge stratus on the highway. Very little visable damage done to my truck considering the type of collision, it was 90% drive line.

My airbags did not deploy. When I inquired as to why. I was told the airbag sensors are mounted on the firewall and since my collision caused no damage to the firewall they would have no reason to deploy. Apparently they are mounted back there to prevent nuisance deployment in bumper bender only collisions.

 

[CooperJohn]

Thanks to everyone who replied to my inquiries! I'm confident the airbags will deploy with an aftermarket bumper in a serious front end collision with a pole or car but may not deploy as quickly in an animal incident or low speed incident. I have a couple of the Hanson Bumpers on my Jeep and they make a great product, just not for any Dodges. I'm a little leery of the Winchready bumpers as my research on different forums leads me to believe they are tied in somehow with the Alien patrol vs Road armor split up-product idea theft debacle. I am somewhat concerned with the weight issue and was told the Buckstop weighs 190lbs over the stock set up and the Reunel weighs 220 lbs with a grill guard. I'm not sure how adversely this extra weight will effect wear and tear or handling. Not quite ready to look seriously at aluminum as I don't like the look as much and I gotta think the steel is going to provide much stouter protection. Again I appreciate all of the ideas, advice and experience. Keep em coming! Thanks!

 

[LBARTLETT]

Mr. Goat, great idea on the channel, back when I was a kiid all the farmers had pipe or square metal bumpers that were welded tight on the ends, they had a valve stem in them so they could fill them with air and always have an air bubble with their truck when they carried a hose that would go from the bumper to their tires (they also used on trailers and tractors), might want to bring that idea back for some of you serious off roaders, I haven't seen one of those bumpers in years!

 

[CAPN Harley]

Frontier Bumpers

Check out Frontier Bumpers they are just as strong as the tube wraps due to bends in the metal and weigh less than half. I have both and have backed into another truck destroyed his stock grille and bumper. Hit a deer or two and nothing but hair on the front of my truck.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

The Reunel bumpers may be stronger than the frame, but they also tie the rails together, a significant complement to the idea of a boxed frame section having grat structural strength even though the material is thinner than is used in a C-channel frame. The frame is much less likely to "parallelogram" or twist in an accident because of the extra rigidity imparted by the super strong bumpers.

 

[CooperJohn]

Antone else?

Thanks for the replies so far. Anyone else out there that can offer opinions or experience with the Buckstops or Reunels and did the extra weight become an issue with handling or wear and tear? Did those of you who replaced the front bumper go with the full grill guard or just the bumper? Rear bumper is a no brainer as they only weigh 100lbs and the weight on the back is not an issue. Thanks!

 

[MickeyMiller]

CooperJohn,



I've been talking to Hansen about bumpers for my '03 Ram, Wayne is building Dodge bumpers under the Viking Steel Fabrication name in Salinas, 831 757-9778 office, 831 214-9414 cell. I just have to get down there and work out the details.



Mickey