Front bumper question

I've been looking over some of the awesome projects you guys are into, really like the design of some of the front bumpers: Reinforce the the steering box mount, front frame horns, add a recovery point. Then I started to wonder; if my wife hits a light pole or something, is she going to tweak the front subframe because the bumper didn't absorb some of the impact energy?

What kind of experiences have you guys had in that regard?

I didn't make my bumper, but I purchased it from a guy who did a bunch of testing on that subject. Rigid Co out in Utah. Terry, the owner, will talk your ear off, but he's a good guy and knows what he's talking about. He designed the bumper to be strong, but to also break off in sections or fold rather than destroy your frame. The front bumper is made of 3 sections. He has pictures of a bumper that was in an accident that performed just as designed. The wing distorted itself instead of transfering all the force into the frame. Don't quote me on this, but this is what I remember from our converstions from a few years ago. The bumpers look sweet and are strong as hell. The mounting system is top notch as well. Not a plug for Terry, but I hope that answers your question.

The stock front bumper is only slightly thicker than your fenders. If you hit anything now you will be looking at the unibody sub frame for damage also. A well made aftermarket bumper that uses a stronger than stock mounting system should do two things, 1) resist damage through the extra mass of the bumper, 2) transfer the damage energy over a larger area of the unibody instead of concentrating it in the area the 3 stock bumper bolts occupy.

Hypoid said:

Then I started to wonder; if my wife hits a light pole or something, is she going to tweak the front subframe because the bumper didn't absorb some of the impact energy?

Click to expand...

How about telling her to PLEASE not run into a light pole?

cstilesiscool said:

How about telling her to PLEASE not run into a light pole?

Click to expand...

:laugh2: :roflmao: :laugh2: :roflmao: That's like telling me to not get dirty! hasta

Honestly, she only inflicted intentional damage once. Almost time for an appointment with a specialist, she made the old wagon fit the parking stall. Concrete 1, car 0, kid on time for the appointment.

Besides, if it weren't for all the curb checks, I wouldn't have suggested a little 4 wheel drive for her next vehicle. ;~)

This past summer I rearended a Grand Cherokee with my Cherokee Sport. We both lost. With a stock bumper, the thing that saved me was the aftermarket towhook kit for the front.

The frame was bent but just a little. If the supports for the towhooks weren't there the subframe would have been history and I wouldn't have been able to rebuild it.

New: grill, fender, bumper, A/C condensor, radiator, paint, fan, airbags, etc.

The punchline to the story is that my inlaws (from England) were in the car at the time of the accident! How many people can go home after a vacation and tell their friends they got to experience and airbag deployment?

Without some very extensive testing and analysis it's really a crap shoot. On one hand you've got people who want a bulletproof bumper, on the other you don't want them to hit a tree/rock/telephone pole and end up causing damage to the framerail. When I first started I was always thinking "bulletproof" but then when I did hit a sizeable object in an accident and caused framerail damage I was thinking...maybe not such a good idea. Believe me, it's a lot easier to fix or make a bumper than it is to get your unibody straightened back out.

Anymore I just try to balance both ideas and do the best I can.