Front Bumper Ideas?

I'm trying to decide on a front bumper, but it seems the choices change daily. I'm thinking about a lighter weight possibly hybrid bumper with a winch mount and LED fog lights. I like the looks of lots of them, but am concerned with the overall weight added to the front of the truck and resulting front suspension upgrades that might be needed. What are you guys running? I'll be using the winch to move trees around occasionally as I clear my property.

 

I went with an aluminum bumper this time to keep weight down. If i need to push anything i have the heavy bull bar. Tow hook for pulling. I used to build steel bumpers but my mind set has changed to keeping the front weight at an absolute minimum. The bumper weighs maybe 10lbs it is LIGHT. There are a whole lot of bumper builders out there but they are usually pretty heavy to ridiculous. If your bush crashing stick with steel.
This is the only shot i have.

 

Personally, I don't think a light weight bumper does anything special functionally. I mean, isn't that essentially the stock bumper?

I'm sure there is middle ground by getting just a winch mount insert but the whole point of a large bumper is to protect the nose. I don't think you can do that without adding weight. Otherwise you would just keep the stamped steel one from the factory right?

 

Get a lower winch mount from Relentless Fabrication, love mine.

 

I built my own and without lights or winch weighs 80 lbs, which is on par with aluminum bumpers. For a hybrid or full plate bumper you're looking around 115-140 for the most common ones.

If you're wanting to save weight then I recommend a low profile bumper, such as SSO. Those weigh not much at all.

 

Here is one of the companies that makes a low profile for earlier second gens.

https://www.usoffroad.us/store/bump...ma-2005-2011/tacoma-05-11-winch-mount-bumper/

 

i got a bull bar myself

 

I think I'll go with a steel bumper as it's my intention to have a solid winch mount and protect the front of my truck at the same time. If front suspension mods are needed, so be it!

 

I vote arb

 

I hear the best to hit a deer with is ARB.

Would hate to add weight (steel), even though steel can be strong and fixable/weldable.

It seems easier to not add weight with the rear. Because steel rear (standard) bumpers claim to be the same weight or less than the stock 2-piece setup that has a separate bumper and tow hitch.

Whereas most aftermarket front bumpers seem both heavier and less aerodynamic due to their shape.
Even the front low profile tow hitch piece might add weight, messing with ride height and fuel economy.

Another option is portable winches that have a carry handle. If you reverse the truck, then carry the winch and connect it into the receiver, then connect wires to the battery to operate it.

Wow. You fabricated that?

 

As the old saying goes, no man can tell another what to do. Truer words were never spoken.

I'm not much of a fan of winches mounted on the front of a vehicle, or the rear for that matter. Too much in the way of water and dirt when on the road traveling (highway) and when off road this issue is compounded. When you go through water crossings and the winch is submerged it is necessary to take it apart and clean it; something no one does. Well, that is, until they try to use it and discover that the gear box has had so much water in it for so long that it will no longer operate; this usually calls for a new gear box because the rust in the original has destroyed the gears to say nothing of the housing.

Now, having said that, if you are on trails all the time and using a winch on a daily basis perhaps you are willing to deal with the above mentioned risks. I look at recovery services to see how they deal with winches. Every one I have seen that knows what they are doing have their winch stored inside in the back of the Jeep and bring it out when they arrive on the scene and either insert it into the hitch receiver on the rear of the vehicle, or the hitch receiver on the front of the vehicle.

I much prefer having the option of using the winch front and rear. A winch is not something that I use often. I have no desire for it to spend 90% of its life exposed to the elements and requiring major service work in four or so years. It is much easier to keep it stored where it is clean and dry and bring it out when I need it. This is the main reason I have no desire for a rear bumper that kills the towing capability of the stock hitch. The time may come when I need to use the winch on the rear of the vehicle. If I have given up one third of the capacity of the hitch, or worse deleted it, I have no option about using a winch on the rear of the vehicle. There are options for the front of the vehicle that will provide a receiver for a hitch that will give you the same capability of a front mounted winch.

Good luck no matter what you decide to do...

Regards,

Jim

 

Weird. the warn on my quad has been under water more times than I can count, when I finally took it apart last year to change the solenoid there wasn't a drop of water in it. I highly doubt truck winches that are marketed to survive extreme weather aren't sealed.

 

I’d check out SOS Concepts streamline.
Not super heavy. You can put lights on the bull bar. And add a winch
http://sosoffroadconcepts.com/2012-15-tacoma-streamline-bumper/

 

I'm hoping to pick up an ARB thats for sale locally, I have a high deductible on my insurance so I figure even with upgraded suspension (which I was doing anyway) it will still save me money in the long run if I end up hitting lord knows what.

Plus IMO they look gooooooooood

 

ARB bumpers are heavy.

 

I'm okay with that. I'm planning on doing OME 886 coils and firm struts if it all works out.

 

Hybrid steel for sure.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/bamf-2nd-gen-hybrid-front-bumper.654184/
http://bayareametalfab.3dcartstores.com/2012-to-2015-Tacoma-front-Hybrid-bumper_p_155.html

 

Best looking option for Tacoma’s in my mind.

 

Allow me to solve your problem:

 

Point taken on Jim's comments. I can see where a removable winch might be useful. That said, most winches are sealed and decently protected from the elements as someone else pointed out. I dont plan to off road much except to get back and forth from the work site.