Let’s talk about bumpers

[BroncoFanBoy]

Ya stinger/bull bar and lights no prob...but winch and Drings...gotta have SOLID mounting points for those! gotta be able to handle 2.5x the weight of the entire vehicle to work!

Is this not the same bumper? Idk

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[Bmadda]

Is this not the same bumper? Idk

I cant tell somebody put white pasties w/number on it!
clearly there is a fairlead!

 

[Bmadda]

This is the "rough" type of bumper I need...styling can be adapted to suit the Bronco of course!

 

[Bmadda]

Now you can see on this truck what I did is cut a hole for the fairlead and built a platform between the frame rails to actually act as a winch cradle. It is strong enough to lift the entire truck, but what is missing? No D rings, and no good way (from a cosmetic standpoint) to mount them. So what I do when I need snatchblocks is I use an extra treehugger and wrap it around the end of the framerail where the bumper bolts on. the winch cradle acts as a stop so the snatchblock doesnt rip my bumper off...but the bumper has been bent and twisted over the years from doing this...and after recovery often the tree hugger is so tight I have to just leave it there. The next washout usually wets it down enough to get it off!

p.s. can you believe that little plastic strip on the bottom of the bumper is still there? No bs that's factory and I figured it would be long gone by now....it actually looks good?

 

[Bmadda]

Here's another homebuilt...but very functional. Instead of Dring mounts just has heavy loops welded in...but serves the purpose ok. Makes a nice place to put your beverage when stopped on the trail...as you can see in this pic...I believe that is a sunkist...must have been early in the day!

 

[Bmadda]

Probably has to sit on top so the winch won't block the intercooler

This brings up a final point I was going to make. If you look at my above pics, my Bronco, though very aesthetic, is ABSOLUTELY AWFUL when trying to recover. If you are truly stuck, your bumper WILL BE BURIED! Sure sometimes you can hammer down and get in a frt end high position...not always! Look at the 2 jeep bumpers...the winch is mounted high and easily accessable. On the red jeep it pretty much blocks off the grill! When that one is stuck (as it often is) its bing bang boom and out...The white jeep I have actually gotten stuck deliberately in order to provide anchor for others. My bronco, however, is ALWAYS the heaviest vehicle in the group and when its stuck...OH MAN is it ever! But add having to dig through the mud just to find my winch? No fun at all!

 

[lobbs611]

I'm in the minority in that I prefer the looks of most factory steel bumpers. I find the vast majority of the aftermarket options look gawdawful. Sometimes more functional but still hideous.

 

[FLSTFI Dave]

At this point I like the heavy duty modular steel bumper on the Badlands. Seems a good choice until I financially recover from the purchase. It looks good, you can add accessories. You can remove ends I believe.

 

[Stampede.Offroad]

I will have to see them in person. On my FJ I ran an ARB up front and an Expedition-1 in the rear. It will likely take the aftermarket a year or so to catch up with Bronco parts.

Bumpers are pretty simple. I'd bet at least a couple companies will have them for sale before you get your Bronco.

 

[Bronc-O]

 

[Chrome_Pony]

I like everything but the winch angle. I think it'd work better in that flat plane just under the aux lights.

Amp Research are a nice touch, too. A couple more builds like this and I might reconsider my 2DR choice.

 

[Thed]

Everyone here forgot why the winch HAS to be on top of the bumper.

THAT DAMNED RADAR (the little plastic rectangle recessed into the bumper).

And before you think: "Oh I'll just move it," then good luck. That radar will never work quite right if it's located anywhere other than the exact spot that it's calibrated for. Honestly, I wish that they would have kept that crap off the Mid Package. If FORScan can remove it, then it's absolutely coming off.

 

[bobby bunny time]

Looks like for the modular ford will sell various add on bars and stuff for protection, lights, looks... I do like the look and flexibility of it

I think peeps are gonna go nutz with the bd. have to use those aux switches for something. why not a couple of lights that can see 1/2 mile

 

[Rebel Bronc]

I’ve never had a vehicle with a steel bumper. Is the advantage of these about the strength needed to mount stuff to it? Or is this actually going to benefit me in a mad max/zombie land/ Antifa riot setting?

 

[Marine2146]

The winch bracket on the overland concept seemed to be more refined and production ready than the earlier photos. Also looks like the hoop could be an option.

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