Let's talk bumpers

Will · Post by **Will** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 9:03 am

My factory front bumper is trash now due to a deer. I wanted an Aluminess front but after seeing the total cost and discovering the 7-8 week lead time, I'm looking elsewhere...

I've seen a couple of you running the Smittybuilt M1, is it worth it? You can find them for $999 right now. How does the winch line up, is it relocated or simply weave the cable through the factory rollers and the winch rollers?

I dont like the "winch bumpers" that stick out 2 feet in front of the truck, but I am limiting my funds to below $2k total so some of the other options are out of the question.

I could and would build one myself but I'm short on time at the moment and my welder and tools are in storage due to a house building project.

Final option would be grab a factory replacement for $400 and rock on but I think I'd rather get the Smittybuilt for something different.

thanks for any pointers

Black Pearl · Post by **Black Pearl** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 10:03 am

There are some nice options out there for sure. But they are not cheap. I like the Addictive dessert design tube style power wagon specific model with the panels. Maybe no the best for bumping into rocks frequently but it does increase clearance quite a bit and is priced about right

loveracing1988 · Post by **loveracing1988** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 10:04 am

Will wrote:My factory front bumper is trash now due to a deer. I wanted an Aluminess front but after seeing the total cost and discovering the 7-8 week lead time, I'm looking elsewhere...

I've seen a couple of you running the Smittybuilt M1, is it worth it? You can find them for $999 right now. How does the winch line up, is it relocated or simply weave the cable through the factory rollers and the winch rollers?

I dont like the "winch bumpers" that stick out 2 feet in front of the truck, but I am limiting my funds to below $2k total so some of the other options are out of the question.

I could and would build one myself but I'm short on time at the moment and my welder and tools are in storage due to a house building project.

Final option would be grab a factory replacement for $400 and rock on but I think I'd rather get the Smittybuilt for something different.

thanks for any pointers

As I have been trying to find a stock 2500 with fog lights for my truck I have to ask, where are you finding a stock bumper for $400? Dealers want over $600 for just the shell around here and junkyards want $400 for the assembly, I'm going to coat it in bedliner anyway so a new one wouldn't have much benefit but if I can get one new for the same price as used I would go that route.

cruz · Post by **cruz** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 10:19 am

My $0.02.
You need a bumper now, find one in your price range that you like, put it on and give it a try, if you find you don't like it down the road, take it off and sell it, and finally build or buy the one you really want.

Will · Post by **Will** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 10:41 am

loveracing1988 wrote:
Will wrote:My factory front bumper is trash now due to a deer. I wanted an Aluminess front but after seeing the total cost and discovering the 7-8 week lead time, I'm looking elsewhere...

I've seen a couple of you running the Smittybuilt M1, is it worth it? You can find them for $999 right now. How does the winch line up, is it relocated or simply weave the cable through the factory rollers and the winch rollers?

I dont like the "winch bumpers" that stick out 2 feet in front of the truck, but I am limiting my funds to below $2k total so some of the other options are out of the question.

I could and would build one myself but I'm short on time at the moment and my welder and tools are in storage due to a house building project.

Final option would be grab a factory replacement for $400 and rock on but I think I'd rather get the Smittybuilt for something different.

thanks for any pointers
As I have been trying to find a stock 2500 with fog lights for my truck I have to ask, where are you finding a stock bumper for $400? Dealers want over $600 for just the shell around here and junkyards want $400 for the assembly, I'm going to coat it in bedliner anyway so a new one wouldn't have much benefit but if I can get one new for the same price as used I would go that route.

All I would need is the bumper shell itself, here's one for cheap... http://www.buymoparpartsnow.com/dodge/r ... ame=bumper

Will · Post by **Will** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 10:43 am

cruz wrote:My $0.02.
You need a bumper now, find one in your price range that you like, put it on and give it a try, if you find you don't like it down the road, take it off and sell it, and finally build or buy the one you really want.

I agree, but if I got one now and installed it, chances are, I wouldn't mess with it again unless something happened to it.

Will · Post by **Will** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 10:55 am

Black Pearl wrote:There are some nice options out there for sure. But they are not cheap. I like the Addictive dessert design tube style power wagon specific model with the panels. Maybe no the best for bumping into rocks frequently but it does increase clearance quite a bit and is priced about right

I looked at that one but I'm not really sure I'm digging the tube design. I like their ranch style but they like keeping it a little more than I want it per the price.

04Ram2500Hemi · Post by **04Ram2500Hemi** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 10:58 am

I like the weight of the Aluminess Bumper and the fact that it can be made Power Wagon specific, I'm just not sold on the look. I really like the looks of the AEV Bumper, but it's freaking heavy. I've yet to find the exact bumper I like, so for now I'm hoping my factory bumper won't get destroyed for a long time.

Will · Post by **Will** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 12:48 pm

The ADD Stealth is sort of growing on me...

Post by **Cactus Red** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 1:33 pm

Evan makes some nice stuff at decent prices http://backwoodsbumpers.com/

azracer · Post by **azracer** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 2:28 pm

Thuren has a bumper now and is looking for someone to let him use a PW to mock up the winch cable and fairlead locations.

3 and 4 G

4G

The under side shows a stout construction.

Will · Post by **Will** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 3:13 pm

Yeah, I already asked about that one but not sending my PW DD to Cali

Stickman · Post by **Stickman** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 10:15 pm

I'm in the same boat as far as finding something that hugs the body and still gives good protection on and off road without costing 2k+. Not much out there that I have seen, I did see a new (to me) company called Go Rhino that had a decent looking bumper, but there aren't any side shots of it on a 4th gen to see how much of an over bite it gives the truck, but they might be worth a look. They start at $1,200.
http://www.gorhino.com/Bumper-Replacements

adeluca73 · Post by **adeluca73** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 10:32 pm

Stickman---that's a really nice looking bumper. Can't tell how much it protrudes in the front to accommodate the winch tray, but it's nice. When you add the bumper cost + winch tray + light bar + the fog light plates you're at about $2K, then you have to pick a the LED light bar & the LED fogs too.

It's made of mild steel, so not sure how strong it is, but the weight will be around 225lbs based on shipping weights. The more I contemplate bumpers, the more I lean towards just Line-x the factory bumpers, seem to have the least over hang & saves have to fool w: pulling the winch, reconfiguring it, rewiring it etc.

2011TXPowerWagon · Post by **2011TXPowerWagon** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 10:37 pm

Check out Iron Cross

Will · Post by **Will** » Fri Oct 23, 2015 8:24 am

Good stuff folks, A few have listed ones that I hadn't seen before. I'm really picky I guess, thats why my truck is a 2010 and still had the factory bumper. The Go Rhino looks good, I really dont want to relocate the winch, I've actually been trying to find one that is not for a winch and then modifying it with a hawse fairlead to keep it nice and tight. I dont need a seat on the front of the truck

I looked at the Iron Cross and the design is ok but I can't get past the "Iron Cross" in big letters on the front. I dont remember the brand but I saw another I liked but it said "Magnum" in big letters. I dont care for that loud of announcing a name brand. I'm almost to the point of just getting the factory shell and moving on until I can either find the right one or build my own.

Jnallison · Post by **Jnallison** » Fri Oct 23, 2015 2:53 pm

azracer wrote:Thuren has a bumper now and is looking for someone to let him use a PW to mock up the winch cable and fairlead locations.

3G Thuren bumper.jpg
3 and 4 G
bumpers from Thuren.jpg
4G
4G bumper.jpg
The under side shows a stout construction.
Underside 4G Thuren.jpg

Ill send mine to him. Not sure how to get a hold of him though. I can live without my truck for a few weeks. My thing is, I am only interested a high clearance bumper that retains my factory winch mount and there just isn't much on the market.

TommyG · Post by **TommyG** » Sat Oct 24, 2015 8:04 am

My thing is, I am only interested a high clearance bumper that retains my factory winch mount and there just isn't much on the market.

I am with you. I don't want to move my winch. It Thuren gets this sorted, I will be all over one of his bumpers.

TommyG · Post by **TommyG** » Sat Oct 24, 2015 8:05 am

My thing is, I am only interested a high clearance bumper that retains my factory winch mount and there just isn't much on the market.

I am with you. I don't want to move my winch. It Thuren gets this sorted, I will be all over one of his bumpers.

Jnallison · Post by **Jnallison** » Sat Oct 24, 2015 8:54 am

The only other one I have been able to find out there is the Addictive Desert Design. I like the way it looks but would like just a little more "beef" to it for protection when rock crawling, since that is mostly what I do. If I cant find what I like soon, I will probably just build like I had to with my sliders.

adeluca73 · Post by **adeluca73** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 12:37 am

Soooooooooo....other than Aluminess & AEV (sort of) are there any others that can accommodate the stock winch as it currently sits in the factory cradle?

Will · Post by **Will** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 6:42 am

Considering the price of the very few options available, I have decided to get a factory replacement for now and use the additional money elsewhere. My Ranchos have pretty much reached the end of their life so I'm looking at shocks now. An Aluminess would be awesome but I'd rather have a better ride until some other time.

GunniPWguy · Post by **GunniPWguy** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 10:41 am

Been considering this run of the mill Ranchhand bullnose legend.

Juday · Post by **Juday** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 11:18 am

It's worth the wait.

Will · Post by **Will** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 11:20 am

Juday wrote:It's worth the wait.

Believe me, I looked at your bumper install thread many a time. Then got to thinking about shocks so I'll pass on the bumper this time and see what Don comes up with.

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