Steel or Aluminum Pelfrey bumper? Help me decide

Help me decide! I am going to be purchasing a bumper from Pelfreybilt. I damaged mine so why not replace it with one of their awesome bumpers!

The steel is bumper is about 50-55lbs heavier than the aluminum and needs stronger springs up front to handle the weight. The price difference is about $350. So do I get the steel and put the money saved towards the Nitrocharger or Bilstein/886 and do the lift at the same time? Or do I save the weight and go with aluminum and do the Nitrocharger or Bilstein/885 (still deciding between the Nitro's or Bilstein's) lift down the road?

Anyone running a 55lb bumper on stock suspension? In my case 4x4 non TRD.

Any major disadvantages to going with the steel? Has anyone actually experienced a loss of mpg's with a steel bumper?

 

I've also been interested in getting a bumper and can't decide on aluminum or steel. I'm curious about their strength difference, the weight difference and the effect it will have on my OME 887s. Good questions sir! Subbed for info!

 

Hello,I prefer aluminium,with stock suspension

 

i went aluminum. someone hit n run me and left my bumper looking like crap. i coulda just went oem but i would regret spending money on oem instead of a pelfreybilt. for me the deciding factor was

1. i just put 884s on and would be crazy to buy steel and need new coils lol
2. no hardcore trails where i live, so i wouldnt need to worry about bashing the aluminum

 

I am subed for thoughts too. I orginally wanted alum. But then hear it is much weaker. Kind of defeats purpose of buying a replacement bumper unless it is just for looks. Hell i cant even pick what fabricator I want...

 

Pretty sure that they use 1/4" aluminum to match the strength of the 3/16" steel but aluminum is a softer metal so it will gouge more easily. If you do any trails and hit the bumper a little bit you could gouge the metal and it's hard to refinish. The steel is more protective in my opinion and much easier to just take a flap disc to and remove scratches and repaint over it. However the aluminum is lighter and won't take as much of a toll as far as weight goes. But it's also significantly more expensive for aluminum! Just some thoughts. Throwing some things out there to think about.

 

Well, I really really like my setup and this weekend everything had a good workout and came through with flying colors.