Is 50-70 lbs saved from bumper weight worth the extra 600 bucks??

[sloowhand]

I believe the OP mentioned diesel, which already has significant weight over the front. Aluminum is expensive but gives you some payload back-just a thought?

FWIW I went with Rockhard aluminum bumper and synthetic Warn winch and have been very pleased with it.

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[AjMac]

I believe the OP mentioned diesel, which already has significant weight over the front. Aluminum is expensive but gives you some payload back-just a thought?

FWIW I went with Rockhard aluminum bumper and synthetic Warn winch and have been very pleased with it.

Nice looking ride!

Yea, Diesel, so I'm already making up for some weight (in my mind at least). Im really digging the GenRight and spoke to a rep today...now time to get the green light from the wife ?

 

[WXman]

Bumpers are insignificant in any crash over 10mph and sometimes even over 5mph. It'll make zero difference.

But if your grandmother's Pinto backs into your Jeep in the driveway, maybe. But even then it depends on the bumper design and thickness of the metal.

Aluminum, pound for pound is stronger than steel. That's a fact. The main advantage to aluminum is that you can get the same strength with lighter weight. And they don't rust. Crash talk is silly, as neither will matter in more than a driveway or parking lot fender bender.

We'll have to disagree there. I've seen crashes with Jeeps and pickups running aftermarket steel bumpers and it's NIGHT AND DAY different in terms of damage. I've also seen Jeeps with steel aftermarket bumpers hit deer and not get any damage whatsoever. Can't say the same for the factory, plastic, lightweight, designed to crumple for pedestrians, joke of a bumper.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

We'll have to disagree there. I've seen crashes with Jeeps and pickups running aftermarket steel bumpers and it's NIGHT AND DAY different in terms of damage. I've also seen Jeeps with steel aftermarket bumpers hit deer and not get any damage whatsoever. Can't say the same for the factory, plastic, lightweight, designed to crumple for pedestrians, joke of a bumper.

Here when talking deer, bumpers aren't even a consideration. They hit at angles, usually the deer run into the vehicle and the damage is above the bumper. You bust their legs and the bulk of the animal hits the hood or windshield. Ask me how I know about deer damage.
I've seen them go OVER car, mash up the corner, go through the windshield, but I've yet to see a vehicle where a bumper prevented deer damage. Maybe the bumper survives, but the grill or fender or both do not.
The mass of the animal is above the bumper. All the bumper will do is bust legs.
The DNR here also says - rightly so - the majority of the time the deer hits you, not you hitting them.

 

[DanW]

We'll have to disagree there. I've seen crashes with Jeeps and pickups running aftermarket steel bumpers and it's NIGHT AND DAY different in terms of damage. I've also seen Jeeps with steel aftermarket bumpers hit deer and not get any damage whatsoever. Can't say the same for the factory, plastic, lightweight, designed to crumple for pedestrians, joke of a bumper.

Not in a serious crash that threatens injury. A deer is not the level of acciden that threatens the structure of the vehicle. And how many aluminum aftermarket bumpers have you seen in big wrecks? Probably none.

And we're talking aftermarket bumpers. I've never said factory stamped steel bumpers will hold together in any kind of hit. They are not meant to.

 

[dcmdon]

Hey all, just like the title is asking, is it worth spending an extra 600 bucks on an aluminum front bumper just to save 50-70 lbs? A few things:

- I'm going factory plastic to steel or aluminum, so its gonna be heavier no matter what
- I am NOT gonna have all sorts of bed racks, fridges, tents, etc. on my JTR, so im not limited on my weight budget
- I am in a diesel, so I'm already heavier, so should I be trying to make up for that?
- Finally...I am going with a stubby, so even a steel bumper wont be crazy heavy.

So...is it worth spending twice the money on an aluminum bumper? How noticeable is weight like that (first aftermarket bumper search)? TIA

Are you putting a winch on the front bumper? otherwise, why not leave the OEM one and stay light?

(I understand the sex factor. Just curious)

 

[redfish]

been shattering a few beer cans tonight ,

would love to see the pics of shattered aluminum ( not clear aluminum) Aluminum also absorbs impact better than steel from a mineralogy standpoint but as anything it really just boils down to the individual choice.

a steel bumper will crush an aluminum bumper will most likely shatter.

 

[AjMac]

Are you putting a winch on the front bumper? otherwise, why not leave the OEM one and stay light?

(I understand the sex factor. Just curious)

I plan on it, and not considering the plastic bumper is absolutely due to sexiness lol

 

[Beowulf]

For me yes, I will always pick aluminum when structural needs don't call for steel. It isn't just one part. It is the cumulative. If you save 10lbs here, 50lbs there...etc it adds up. Plus, I hate rust or worrying about the potential for rust. yes, it is more expensive, but every lbs counts in the long run. And with rust, all you have to is replace it once or even just strip it and re-powdercoat it once and you've incurred greater cost.....and time.

 

[dcmdon]

I plan on it, and not considering the plastic bumper is absolutely due to sexiness lol

Ha.

 

[Blade1668]

Here when talking deer, bumpers aren't even a consideration. They hit at angles, usually the deer run into the vehicle and the damage is above the bumper. You bust their legs and the bulk of the animal hits the hood or windshield. Ask me how I know about deer damage.
I've seen them go OVER car, mash up the corner, go through the windshield, but I've yet to see a vehicle where a bumper prevented deer damage. Maybe the bumper survives, but the grill or fender or both do not.
The mass of the animal is above the bumper. All the bumper will do is bust legs.
The DNR here also says - rightly so - the majority of the time the deer hits you, not you hitting them.

Southern deer are shorter ? not like the mid-west deer... (from what most I've seen in TN, AL, GA and FL.) I've had a close encounters 4 or so times now in AL and GA. Thank God it's not been the mid-west ones. My LJ I had the worst case scenario of deer "close to a dz" on road the steel F. bumper saved front end (lucky I decided at last moment to put the doors on before that trip or I would have been gutted by one of the bucks antlers)
Back O.T.
I've thought about modding the OEM bumper for my winch to cut back the lbs. A quality AL. bumper would be great weight saver or cutting holes and dimple die a steel one. To shed weight.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Southern deer are shorter ? not like the mid-west deer... (from what most I've seen in TN, AL, GA and FL.) I've had a close encounters 4 or so times now in AL and GA. Thank God it's not been the mid-west ones. My LJ I had the worst case scenario of deer "close to a dz" on road the steel F. bumper saved front end (lucky I decided at last moment to put the doors on before that trip or I would have been gutted by one of the bucks antlers)
Back O.T.
I've thought about modding the OEM bumper for my winch to cut back the lbs. A quality AL. bumper would be great weight saver or cutting holes and dimple die a steel one. To shed weight.

They must be shorter.
You hit a whitetail deer here and all your bumper hits is legs.
Even most of the lifted Jeeps pictured in this forum would see the body in the grill. I hit one with my Eagle - and they sit fairly high - and I busted its legs up with the bumper, and the body shoved the fender back to the windshield and my wife couldn't open the passenger door. It was tossed a good 50 feet across a ditch into a yard and her right hind leg was pointing up instead of down.
A friend of mine hit a deer with his Eagle and it went over his roof. He had to replace the hood and left fender.

 

[Blade1668]

They must be shorter.
You hit a whitetail deer here and all your bumper hits is legs.
Even most of the lifted Jeeps pictured in this forum would see the body in the grill. I hit one with my Eagle - and they sit fairly high - and I busted its legs up with the bumper, and the body shoved the fender back to the windshield and my wife couldn't open the passenger door. It was tossed a good 50 feet across a ditch into a yard and her right hind leg was pointing up instead of down.
A friend of mine hit a deer with his Eagle and it went over his roof. He had to replace the hood and left fender.

Yep FYI I'm a F### damn Yankee.? I left IL. in 87 and said I'm not coming back but I do miss the "real" sized deer. ??
My cousin hit a "small" deer when I was still a kid in his dad's new F250 truck (around 79 or 80) totaled it due to damage. I've seen some down here that look like medium size dogs with antlers ? one of my dad's "only a" 6 pt field dressed at 186 lbs. from central IL.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yep FYI I'm a F### damn Yankee.? I left IL. in 87 and said I'm not coming back but I do miss the "real" sized deer. ??
My cousin hit a "small" deer when I was still a kid in his dad's new F250 truck (around 79 or 80) totaled it due to damage. I've seen some down here that look like medium size dogs with antlers ? one of my dad's "only a" 6 pt field dressed at 186 lbs. from central IL.

One of my neighbors who farmed across the road from me drove a huge Mercury - the size of a big Lincoln - the square front car built like a tank with the hidden headlights.
His wife drove the car to town for shopping - a 30 minute drive mostly rural roads. She hit (and killed) a deer with the car. I looked it over - not a scratch.
That evening HE was driving as they went back to town for supper - hit two deer on the way back.
3 in one day. No harm to the car.

 

[sloowhand]

But - did the Mercury have aluminum bumpers?

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