Aluminum or Steel Front bumper

everything stayed square, i tigged it instead of spool gun, and moved around a lot doin 4-5 inch welds at a time. then stitch welded the inside

 

1. The stock bumper is aluminum. The bumper cover is plastic.
2. These trucks do fine with weight. My truck weighs over 5,000 pounds as a daily driver and I usually average 18 mpgs for my daily driving. I also tow, haul, and wheel with it regularly.
3. Tacoma lean is a body mount bushing issue, not a suspension issue. Put on a beefier suspension and it does not go away.
4. The stock suspension is designed for the stock truck - if you make changes, you need to change the suspension accordingly.

 

Do you feel an increase in body roll when you have a passenger? Because a passenger is more weight at a much higher COG.

Sliders aren't stiffening your frame on a perceivable level, either. Roll cages, engine cages, bed cages stiffen frames because they connect to both sides of the frame.

 

1. My stock bumper is plastic.
2. These trucks do not do well with weight, or we would not have two sides to this debate. This issue would not come up if we were on a full size truck thread. we would all just run steal bumpers. The curb weight of a tacoma is between 4000-4500 lbs. Compared to an F-150 for example that has a curb weight from 4100-5200lbs. The tacoma is a fat pig for its size. (not that I don't love it)
3. Fair enough, I will take your word for it. Though, I thought toyota would have had a little higher fit and finish then that. Seems like an easy fix, but I am not an engineer.
3. I agree 100% with you.

 

i think on the number 1 he was talking about the aluminum crush bar behind the plastic

 

Honestly I have no idea anymore. I've had the sliders on for long enough I've changed my habits. Since posting this I have driven somewhere and was feeling for body roll, and I only felt a tiny bit on a sharp right turn. Maybe it was all in my head, but I swear it made a slight difference! Oh well.

My take on the OP.

He spent a few days doing recon on TW. He found out that any thread comparing two things that are popular turns into a semi heated debate. He pulled the pin and ran! I don't think I've seen himpost since #1.

 

Do you think that could have anything to do with the majority of trucks on this forum having rock sliders?

Talk to me about body roll when you ditch your sway bar.

 

Damn this thread. Now I want aluminum bumper

 

No thank you.

 

Mustang?

1/4" Aluminum plate bumper will eat sheet metal.

 

I just purchased aluminum bumper and a steel regular rear from sos concepts... I weighed my options (no pun intended) on steel vs aluminum.. a lot actually.. my reasons for aluminum were :
1. Weight.. I have 885x and dakars and sliders already.. didn't want to change suspension again. I am a firefighter and usually have to respond quicker
2. Doesn't rust.. my sliders I have to touch up a few times a year as is.. I didn't want to have to touch up my front bumper as much in fear of rusting if I couldn't get to it right away
3. Air bags... as much as I don't want to have a wreck if I have one I want it to fold and keep the same shock absorbing characteristics to allow my air bags to deploy and save my life. I also would rather my bumper shear of than bend my frame.
4. This is my daily driver like most mpg are important to me
5. Protection... The off-road driving I do is not hardcore.. it's trail riding.. I wanted a little more protection up front and ability to winch if needed. Aluminum holds up well from what I have researched contact with animals...
Now granted steel is stronger and has its benefits but my opinion and for my life style I choose aluminum .

 

Well said!! The airbags deploy off of inertia, but having it crumple and absorb that energy is a big plus.

 

But I thought the object of these bumpers was to try and inflict as much damage to the other participant in the accident as possible.

 

That's going to be my goal with my steel one! I'm an advocate for both bumpers as they both have the their place. For me, I want inexpensive and super tough, because at this point I don't really are about the weight. At least not $400+ worth. My main factor is just the price point. If they were both equal, I'd go aluminum

 

And with the steal bumper you and Jnelsen can go head to head on the trail to find out who does it harder! haha

 

Aha! Or play chicken and end up jacking up the line-x on it. That wasn't their brightest moment.

 

I'm scared now....my 2 dogs weigh a combined 140 lbs. Acording to some of the comments in this thread, when my dogs are in the truck...I get about 2 mpg, my truck might tip over while turning, and I need to upgrade my suspension....

 

God forbid I pack the truck with 4 adult friends...it might implode

 

Clearly you lack understanding of fulcrum points in suspension design. 140lbs suspended between the wheels is in no way remotely equal to 140lbs hanging off the nose of the truck. Unless you like riding on your bump stops you will need to upgrade your suspension.

 

I got an aluminum pelfreybilt front for the same reasons as @Jeffvt0508 . I have home built steel sliders and pelfreybilt steel HC rear, because those are the parts i usually hit on stuff.

otherwise, having less weight on the front was a big plus. more clearance has come in very handy. doesn't rust. running a winch was a main reason. and way more protection over stock. fuel economy as my truck is my daily. crumples in an impact unlike steel. I'm not big into rock crawling, or purposely smashing my truck into stuff "just cuz", but going through a very steep cross ditch i did drag the front end pretty good and it did leave a couple light gouges, but nothing bent. just adds character.

If i were into rock crawling, or more hardcore trails, i would definitely get steel. but as it is my wife and i just love getting out into the more remote reaches... typical "overlanding" (did i use that right?) so aluminum was the right choice for us!