Finally broke my Protofab rear bumper!!!

[Rockin69er]

Well not the bumper, just a weld%) I have hauled several Elk and many rounds of camp wood like this. As Mike and Keith from Protofab have stated " I think you have exceded the design specs on that" These bumpers are tough!! For those who are counting this is my stepsons first Elk and it scores 336 7/8's. Bigger than any I have. I don't have another hunt until December and its for Coues whitetail and they don't weigh enough to worry about.

 

[deltarat]

Damn nice elk!! There was a lot of leverage with it hanging that far back. If it had held, I bet it would have made the front end really light.

 

[Skiddy]

weld didn't break the metal did which is the way it should. If i was going to break a bumper couldn't of thought of a better way Congrats on the nice elk

 

[broncomitch]

2x
That metal seems rather thin to me..or should be braced better

 

[sprdv1]

Now that's a Big Sum Beetch!!! What better way to break a weld, hauling that monster out..! Congrats!!

 

[JohnJohn]

Wow. Great bull. I cant beleive you got it on the bumper rack.

 

[Rockin69er]

Not the first animal that bumper has held Yes the metal broke not the weld. It is 1/4 inch. I went WAY beyond design but, Ya gotta try. These pics are a friends bull from 07, my bull from 09 and my youngest sons first Javelina. I don't have pics of the 3 cow Elk it has hauled. I think its time for a little beefing up in that area.%)

 

[Izzy]

Curious, did it break as soon as you loaded the elk or did it break from driving with it on and possibly bouncing up and down?

Either way, that bumper held up to a lot of abuse before finally giving way. Can't complain about that at all. Glad I got one now as well.

 

[broncojames]

Damn now I'm kicking myself in the azz for not getting my elk tag

congrats to your son

 

[TTTGOWYO]

this post hurts me... Now I miss Wyoming and Elk hunting even worse.. I have had some Elk in the back of mine.. I wish I had pics. Nice Elk..

 

[socofn]

Congrats to your son. Both mine are to busy to go anymore. That is one impressive Bull Elk. Great use of your bronco. JP

 

[azcharlie]

Good thing thats all you broke, Rusty and I would have come to the rescue though.

 

[Bundy]

wow! I can't get over how big that f@#kin elk is! that is nuts!

 

[lonesouth]

Love the pig in the cooler rack pic!

 

[BroncoBrummet]

Great bull, and the bumper held up to its end of the deal too with the others its hauled. Someday I'll draw a tag here in Nevada!

 

[needabronco]

I think that elk is going on a wall in the near future! Congrats. As for the bumper, I say it's done it's job over the years... Maybe Mike will weld it back up for a bottle of Jack for you?

 

[Rockin69er]

Curious, did it break as soon as you loaded the elk or did it break from driving with it on and possibly bouncing up and down?

Either way, that bumper held up to a lot of abuse before finally giving way. Can't complain about that at all. Glad I got one now as well.

Most of the roads were average two trackers with a little rough stuff on the previous Elk. However this one was real bad!! Which was the reason for hunting there. It was about 6 miles from Elk to camp which took 1.5 hours to drive in the Bronco. Like everyone said, thats alot of weight hangin' out there. Protofab changed the design after about 5 bumpers so that the pin was on the outside of the bumper. The one I have you have to reach up inside to put the pin in. Mike said to bring it down (I live 40 minutes away from Protofab;D) and they will retro-fit the new one.
I have pics of all the weight of the Bronco up against the cooler rack without bending and once fell 4 feet onto one corner and did not bend anything!! Without a doubt this is a tough bumper and I am glad for it.

 

[Bronco Biff]

....where's Uncle Ted? I sure he is proud of proper Brounco usage!! Might have to consider one ton running gear and springs if you get the bumper up to snuff and drop another one of those monsters! That thing was HUGE!!

 

[Rockin69er]

I think that elk is going on a wall in the near future! Congrats. As for the bumper, I say it's done it's job over the years... Maybe Mike will weld it back up for a bottle of Jack for you?

A bottle of Jack and a new screen saver for him.;D I send him pics everytime I do, excuse me, overdo something to his bumpers. He calls them Rock Solid and Elk tough. And yes the bumper has done is job ++++++.

 

[BigPrince]

I am jealous. I want to go Elk hunting so bad. I'm flying up to Idaho for a week next month to the Idaho National Labs DOE site and was going to try to piggyback a week of hunting but it hasn't worked out. I hope one day I'll have a picture just like that. Thats awesome on the back of the bronco.