DueNorth's Build

From what i understood, you can still winch and everything with the aluminum, its just it can bend easier on the side if you hit something. I still have time to change my order, so steel is still an option. I was thinking powder coat but I thought it was next to impossible to touch up. I ended up getting my sliders and skids sandblasted and painted with some industrial like stuff that they put on tractors. see how it holds up when it comes time for bumpers . So far so good.

 

I really didn't think aluminum bumpers could take heavy winching but good to know. You'll definitely save a lot of weight tho. Lemme know long term how that industrial paint works out. I was considering doing my underbelly armor in POR15 but usually all i do is touch everything up near the end of the season or after wheeling trips. Its a little bit of work, but the rust usually never gets that bad for me. My sliders and both bumpers are powdercoated and have stood up great against rust. I just touch up scratches as they come with paint that closely matches the finish.

 

Finally got around to editing some videos from a trail run last spring...I'll post more as they upload.

Here's a nice washed out section of trail in Milton.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tz10NsUwLw&feature=share&list=UUy1O99CyWQS0DQVyAUs3ZtA

 

interesting. Well if powdercoat holds up that well, and you can still touch it up, i will just go with steel. Better safe than sorry exspecially when it comes to winching. Also, i did a little more research on the aluminum, and once it gets damaged, or bent, thats it, time for scrap. With steel you can still fix it.

Nice video btw. Which trail is that at?

 

Yea, the type of wheelin we like to get into, i'd go with a full steel bumper as well. If you were doing more prerunning type stuff or just the occasional fire road an aluminum bumper would do just fine. I'd just be worried about banging off of trees and rocks up north with one...

That video i posted was in Milton. I'm gonna post a video for each trail section so people that are coming to the m&g know kinda what they are getting into when we decide to get to the trail.

 

Yeah i figured. Better to have more than less right. Can always get it painted every few years. Even with the Arb bumpers you have to do that. I ended up going with front and rear to save on shipping. Went with a HC rear with hidden hitch and bedside protection. Ultimate goal is to have the truck able to handle the arbdeg trip without too many issues .

Yeah the milton trail isnt to bad. Obviously the trench is a whole different animal, but to just run everything else shouldnt be too bad, even if your stock.

 

and a few more videos....

http://youtu.be/cN_xidat11Q

different camera angle

http://youtu.be/XgB_lO5bk7k

http://youtu.be/KG82dPiy0aM

http://youtu.be/YtAPUH2BWxA

 

2nd one is unavailable?

 

Youtube is being stupid, should load up soon. My cell phone will play the video but it wont play from my browser on my laptop....

 

Oh you'll be able to handle Ardbeg alright, and then some! Compared to the rest of the trails we can run, Milton really isn't that much fun actually. Just a whole lot closer than the rest....

 

any updates on the bumper? lol

 

Yeah, armoured wise i should be fine, but still dont have the much needed lift... In time though. Going to be putting the lift and bumpers (maybe tires) on all at the same time. Should be one hell of a transformation haha. Could go with adjustable coilovers, but figured the OME lift should suit my needs. Just sucks that i got to wait for the armour because of the spring rate ill be ordering. Got to worry about the those CV's . lol

 

Ok Corey, second video is working now...

No updates yet.. Was told it should be less than 4 weeks and that was a month ago. Couple more weeks and i'll be bugging him all over again...

 

Bah, you could just throw the armor on when we go wheelin then just take it off when you get home.. Till you get your lift installed. I'd rather have armor underneath my truck when wheelin ardbeg than a lift. Definitely much more peace of mind that way.

Your truck is gonna be a "transformer" now. hahaha

 

Be too much trouble to throw the bumpers on everytime to wheel. I have the skids and sliders on all the time though. Would definatly get a bad ride and sag with the bumpers on though without the suspension.

The peace of mind of having the armour on though is sooo nice. I use to worry about every little noise i heard when something hit the floor board, thinking oh shit hope that wasnt something important. lol

 

Your going through Kevin? or Eric?

 

Hey Mike, I'll be ready for that bumper any time after next Friday!

 

This will be Kevin's last project from ATO....

Don't worry Anthony, i still gotta get all the way thru your build thread lol

Well lets hope someone calls me with some good news then! *fingers crossed*

 

Lol 90% of his build thread is BS