Aluminum Bumper fabrication?

[73azbronco]

Seeing as the easiest way to bolt on horsepower is to take-off weight, has anyone built bumpers out of aluminum?

I'd figure it should be easy, they would be very strong per pound. Cost a little bit more?? And shave a good amount of weight.

Anyone know anyone in Phoenix area who does Aluminum Fab?

 

[broncnaz]

The cost and the fact that it really wont be that strong VS the zero gain in performance it will gain you is not worth it. But I would think that you could make a nice looking bumper out of aluminum.
I believe it takes 100 lbs of weight reduction to make it feel like you gained 1 HP. I doubt if both stock bumpers come close to 100 lbs together.

 

[TJK74]

I personally would like to see someone or a vendor start making some stout aluminum stuff from bumpers to skid plates and body armor. If I had a pure rock rig I would care less about the weight of things but I spend alot of time flying out in the dunes and desert and the added weight sucks especially in the rough stuff at speed. As it sits I have 700lbs of sprung weight added to my rig not counting gas, that with a 24gal tank can be just shy of another 200lbs making it 900 now add some tools and trail gear plus me and a passenger and I'm toting around near 1350 or so extra pounds which is even alot for a rock rig.

Front Bumper 80lbs
Rear Bumper/Carrier 120lbs
BC Rock Ski's 90lbs
BC Rear Quarter Guards 70lbs
Skid Plate 40lbs
Main Tank Skid 30lbs
Winch 70lbs
Family Cage 200lbs

totaling 700lbs

I would totally be up for some stout aluminum stuff that offered decent body and rock protect and saved some weight

 

[broncojack]

Being an old retired mudracer I could not bring myself to bolt 200lbs. of steel on my rig, so I went with 2.5" alum. conduit. The ends were capped and brackets were made to attach to the frame. Then they were all Tig welded together.

 

[ztoolman44]

Try Denver Off-Road. He makes custom aluminum bumpers for full size trucks but does some custom work also. I haven't bought one yet but have talked to him a few times on some ideas. Seems pretty heads up.

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/reviews/4rnrfrontbumper/

http://dodgeram.org/bill_s/front_bumper.htm

Not sure if he has a web site. Do a google search for Denver Off-road and you can see a few of his designs.

Maybe he would be interested in doing a mass buy once he has a design for our rigs?

 

[bmc69]

On my gf's '67 'street and show' rig, we are making the bumpers AND the 'cage' out of aluminum. The full cage will look similar to a 'real' one but since its not going to see any hard trail action, it's more for show. (we build T-tops and towers for boats..using that anodized marine tubing for the cage.)

Since its powered by 'only' a 4.0L V-8 with EFI and a small centrifugal supercharger, the 150HP mill will appreciate any weight we save. I'm figuring about 200# total savings in the cage and both bumpers over steel...but it's all going to be aluminum just as much - or more - for the looks really.

 

[Heus33]

broncojack - those bumpers look purdy!

 

[RajinCajun]

One word of caution about an aluminum bumper I have seen first hand is they are hard to keep tight. My cousin had one on his F150 with an 8274 mounted in it.. It looked great and was real light, but the mounting bolts even with large washers, and lock nuts(tried several types) it would vibrate loose in about 2 weeks and need tightened..

 

[Broncobowsher]

In Phoenix there is a Jeep outfit "toys by Troy" that does a lot of aluminium work for Jeeps. But be warned. I have seen many of his vehicle limping off the trails over time. He is a great salesman, not necessarly a great engineer.

You could try him, but I know he is proud of his work as well. Doubt he would be willing to get into the Bronco market. Last I knew he was milking the Jeep cow for everything it was worth.