Plate Bumper vs. Deer

So, I drive through deer country, A LOT, about 24,000 miles a year. Most of the guys with full-size pickups around here, especially the big diesels, have big steel plate bumpers, and seem to be able to mow down deer with impunity. Now I am not going out looking for deer, but I also don't want to be stranded in the middle of eastern MT waiting for repairs, 500 miles from home, while going to or from work because a speed goat decided to leap in front of me.

I am wondering if adding a plate bumper to a Tacoma will give you the same kind of protection the big steel plate bumpers on these full size trucks do, or if it is just going to be a damage multiplier. How will an aluminum bumper fair vs. steel? I would much prefer the lighter weight of aluminum.

Let me know what you think, and I would definitely prefer to hear from people who have actually tagged deer and can speak from experience.

 

I think ARB might be the best for you, they build them to be able to take a full grown Kangaroo at 60 mph.

 

On that note I remember reading about someone with an ARB on their FJ hitting a deer in Florida doing 55-65 (don't remember) and taking no damage except their license plate.

 

ARB.

http://youtu.be/5Lugab0ehZM

 

I've never hit a deer, but I asked an experienced tow truck driver in the mountains if he sees many trucks that have hit deer. Most cars he hauls away have either crashed in the snow or have hit a deer, but he said that most pickups will mow over most deer.

I was wondering the same thing as you, so I asked him what he thought would happen if I put a steel bumper on my Tacoma and hit a deer. His exact words were, "it would eat it and shat it out." I now have a steel tube/plate hybrid bumper on my Tacoma. Hopefully I will never need it.

Now if you hit a moose, that will be another story altogether. Don't hit a moose.

 

Been to vehicle vs deer and vs moose.

Deer you'll destroy the front and you may be able to drive it away. Maybe.


Moose, you'll be lucky to walk away in one piece.

Don't hit a moose. Bad things happen.

 

This is the result of my last deer encounter, hit the first of three white tails that ran up out of the ditch while I was passing someone doing about 85 MPH. Met the deer at the passenger's side front corner, he went right up the fender, wrapped around the A-pillar and was launched off, skipping off the back window.

Luckily I walked away with minor cuts from the rearview mirror smacking me in the face. I would just as soon avoid this scenario again.



Blood smear where deer skipped off back window.

 

Moose would have caved in the entire roof.

 

Luckily not too many moose where I drive. But I do encounter the occasional cow or deer in the road.

 

Link to FJ forum where guy hit deere with ARB. http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/general-discussion/72642-arb-bull-bar-vs-deer.html

 

A Deer doesn't necessarily go under a truck. They can fly up and into your windshield. Even here in FL where they are on average smaller deer they have been known to take out windshields of pick up trucks. Just depends on the circumstances.

 

Why the hell would you pass someone doing 85? That is insanity

 

Awesome contribution to the thread as usual

OP look into the relentless aluminum bumpers. Should hold up well to a deer strike.

 

We all know that ARB bumpers are the heaviest bumpers in the market... From what I've read, they are also the ones that can handle mostly anything with a little damage...

This is a video I found ling time ago:

http://youtu.be/stJL4_gP5LU

 

I know you're only allowed to go walking pace in OR, but in MT most of our roads are 70 MPH speed limits, and I was passing a group of 4 cars doing 65 in a 70. If you've ever passed someone, you should know it's pretty important to go faster than the person you're passing, lest you spend too much time in the left hand lane.

 

Indeed it was, but only because the roof was crushed in far enough to damage the first cross member. That was my first Outback (of three), and probably my favorite of the group, it was the cheapest, and got the best fuel mileage.

The road I am working off of right now seems to be covered with mulies and pronghorns every time I go out. I saw 5 mulies and probably 20 pronghorns just in a 10 mile stretch this morning. So it's not a matter of if I hit something, but when.

 

Should've gotten a bull bar for your Subaru...

Popular in Australia:

 

Actually rolled with a guy who did have a tube bumper. That being said, I am not sure it would have saved my Subie.

 

So I guess the second question I have through all of this is, if I do end up going with a heavier steel bumper like the ARB, will I need upgraded front springs? Bearing in mind that I have the T|X Baja, not sure if the Baja's springs are higher rate, but I was led to believe they were.

 

The "external" tube bumper on that Subie would act as a damage multiplier. The replacement bullbar in my picture is beefier. It's aluminum though, so the bumper will deform and absorb energy before the crumple zones start working.

They even make them for the Yaris:

I haven't seen the Baja spring rates posted. I suspect the rates are similar to the normal TRD springs, as the truck's weight is not increased. I suspect Toyota is using longer springs to achieve the 2" front lift. Your front end will probably drop a little with an ARB bumper, maybe by about 3/4".