$150 Rear Bumper "Upgrade"

[MFP2241]

I know this swap has been covered in detail before... But, after a bit of searching I found a take-off steel rear bumper (from a Black Diamond) for my BaseSquatch and installed it this weekend.

It was super simple and took all of about an hour to complete. All in all, it was well worth the time and money. The hardest part was really just finding one without sensor holes.

Yes, there are plenty of great aftermarket rear bumpers out there, but for about $150, the OEM take-off is hard to beat. It is not bulletproof by any means, but it's definitely a huge improvement over the full plastic one that looks like its made from recycled Coleman coolers. At the very least, it's sturdy enough to stand on to reach the roof.

Anyway, my message is just this, don't sleep on these when you find them.

Sponsored

 

[Mjasi3]

Good find for $150. In my area (Chicagoland) they go for $350. Been looking too.

 

[therokonkid]

Looks great! I also found one for $150 and snapped it up. Along with the modular bumper on the front, steel skid plates and bull bar; my Wildtrak finally looks...wild!

 

[JL8jeff]

I found one locally for my base Sas but it had the sensor holes so I had to find some rubber plugs for the holes. Those plastic bumpers are horrible. I paid less than $150 so I guess I got a good deal and I was able to sell the plastic bumper which netted it out to around $30.

 

[therokonkid]

Those rims are legit! Very nice!

 

[23OBX2.7]

I love the plastic bumpers so light but I also love the OE steel bumpers which I'm sure don't weigh more than 50% more.....anyone guess on the weight difference?

 

[therokonkid]

The plastic bumpers feel like they could float. Especially the rear. The steel are significantly heavier. Don't have actual numbers but I am guessing by a factor of two or three times.

 

[Mjasi3]

I want a rear with the sensor holes. man that sounds bad.

 

[TheShark]

I think you made a smart and cost effective upgrade. Honestly most of the aftermarket rear bumpers leave a lot to be desired in the looks department. Love your AMB, reminds me of my old '21 AMB OBX.

 

[MFP2241]

I love the plastic bumpers so light but I also love the OE steel bumpers which I'm sure don't weigh more than 50% more.....anyone guess on the weight difference?

Man, I wish I had thrown it on the scale before I put it on. If I had to guess... the steel is somewhere between 30 and 40ish. The plastic maybe 10.

 

[23OBX2.7]

Still very light, Ford uses AHSS for the steel bumpers.

 

[JL8jeff]

I weighed the steel rear bumper and it was around 40 lbs. The plastic bumper might weigh 10 lbs if that.

 

[ThunderFlash]

How many of the brass threaded inserts in your plastic bumper spun while removing the bumper retaining bolts? I was shocked to see threads into plastic to attach a bumper on an "off road vehicle". It's nothing short of idiotic. Catch that thing ever so slightly on a rock or stump or get it tangled in a bramble or a garage door frame, and chances are pretty good it is departing the vehicle and taking a chunk of the wiring harness with it. The harness connectors seemed far stronger.

 

[23OBX2.7]

How many of the brass threaded inserts in your plastic bumper spun while removing the bumper retaining bolts? I was shocked to see threads into plastic to attach a bumper on an "off road vehicle". It's nothing short of idiotic. Catch that thing ever so slightly on a rock or stump or get it tangled in a bramble or a garage door frame, and chances are pretty good it is departing the vehicle and taking a chunk of the wiring harness with it. The harness connectors seemed far stronger.

The whole point of a plastic bumpers incl the ones on race vehicles - sacrificial so don't bend metal body and chassis mounting parts though hopefully hear or feel any mild contact first before rip it off.

In many cases they are as strong as the steel one, as bumpers, thus the DOT approvals but flexible. The structural is behind the plastic any way a single ultra light weight high strength beam....


I see so many trucks with bent bumpers makes me cringe.

 

[ThunderFlash]

@23OBX2.7, threads in plastic on a truck bumper is stupid. Probably fine in a rear end collision being in compression or for a lifetime of service on your average Civic or Corolla, but the Bronco is a body on frame truck and should be a bit more rugged than that. Matt's Off Road Recovery put a new Bronco WT they bought for Jeff up against their Jeep Banana. No surprise, one of the first things that happened is the Bronco rear bumper became partially detached.

Sponsored