Steel vs. Aluminum! Front bumper

I have an al demello front bumper & reAlly like it.

 

What do you think of this front package?



I like the external drain system, flows from the floats down to the button storage. Practical setup.

 

Hot chick

 

Throwing our hat into the ring. There are a lot of good choices for from bumper.

We feel aluminum is best used for a more overlanding type of wheelin. Rock crawlers and heavy trail use should consider steel bumpers. That said we build both the same, just with thicker metal but being that we know aluminum is the future we started redesigning our bumpers from the inside out. We wanted to make sure when you pull on the bumper it pulls on the whole bumper. You can see here the inside of the bumpers and how the shackle isn't just welded to the front it's welded and key locked into the whole inside structure.

As far as crash test go, we've been doing this a while and have seen plenty of accidents with our bumpers and other makes of bumpers. They all seem to fair well. I believe ARB bumpers are stout but they get their Air bag compliance from a series of "collapsible" mounting points. We as do other US manufactures sacrifice the air bag compliance in favor of ground clearance and approach angle. In short, there are a lot of good choices, go with which one you like the best


Shackles 1in thick aluminum.



up the skirt shot.




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I was given a $300 dollar ticket on my old 84 Toyota. Trail gear front bumper and 3 inches of lift on small 33s. Bumper was to high off the ground and did not meet the min bumper spec.
The cop passed up a couple reckless drivers that took off when they seen him coming.

 

Definitely in the market for Al. SOS, Pelfry, DeMello, CBI...who else?

 

I’ve been wondering about the strength of the aluminum plate bumper but after reading these comments it sounds like it would hold up to some bangs and bumps. Makes me want an aluminum one

 

Yup, aluminum is plenty of strong if built right. He has my old bumper, you can see the passenger side recovery point bent over from an accident I had where I T-boned a guy who ran a stop sign in OR. Bumper saved my ass and besides the one minor issue the aluminum held up just fine. I put that bumper through its paces, Insurance paid for a new one so really thats the only reason I got another one. My wife rear ended someone a couple months ago and only a couple of scratches were had

 

@ChandlerDOOM , that’s what I’m talking about. I was thinking “are the hoops gonna bend back if I bump into a tree?” Thanks for the picture.

 

Nah, I’ve pushed againsted trees squeezing through small trails in my area without issue. Honestly don’t think I’d ever go back to a steel front bumper, I bought aluminum skids but with too much abuse they become pretty beat so maybe those are best left steel if used properly, same goes with the rear bumper just because coming off high ledges they take some serious hits with all the weight coming down on one point

 

I debated aluminum skids but ultimately went with steel because I didn’t like the idea of sliding across a rock or something and ripping it up with the weight of the truck on it.

 

I went Al on the skids (just ordered the trans and transfer case to complete my set) because I spend most of my time commuting to work 60 miles a day. No need to have all the weight when I'm more of a trail guy anyway. I do like to haul ass down dirt roads and I had already had a flat bottom on the stock y-pipe. Now I'm running a URD Y-pipe and I really don't want that damaged.

 

Something is off here... can’t put my finger on it...

Anyway, I got ARB and am very happy with it. That being said, pelfrey aluminum was at the top of my list until I got a deal I couldn’t pass up.

 

Does anyone know who makes Aluminum sliders as well?

 

No one. Aluminum sliders would not be functional for anything excuse maybe side steps.

 

My SOS looks badass.

 

Is there an aluminum bumper that offers as much coverage as the ARB? So many seem to be built for clearance for rock crawling, and I'm looking for something more for overloading, but also protection from deer and other things I'd rather not collide with. Driving home a few nights ago I saw at least fifty green lights blinking at me from the side of the road. With the snow melting, deer are taking to the ditches and embankments to eat. I stopped counting at 25 deer just in one spot! I dropped my speed to below the limit for the rest of the drive home after that.

 

@RelentlessFabrication ‘s bumpers have such a good look to them and are very well built. IMO way better looking than the ARB and just as burly, hard not to pass up.