It’s hard to go on an off-road adventure without making a few changes to your vehicle. The rough terrain can cause problems for any stock car or truck, and getting into an accident in the middle of nowhere is the last thing you want to have happened, especially when you’re alone.
Fortunately, there’s no shortage of aftermarket parts and accessories that can give your vehicle the advantage, such as off-road bumpers. This guide will explain the nuts and bolts of off-road bumpers and how to consider one for your vehicle.
Different Types Of Bumpers
Off-road bumpers come in many forms, each with its pros and cons. Choosing the right one depends on your off-roading vehicle, the type of off-road terrain you plan to tackle, and the accessories to be mounted on it.
- Heavy-Duty
As their name implies, these off-road bumpers can add a lot of weight to your off-roader. But their outstanding protection offsets such a disadvantage, as they’re built to take the abuse that off-roading can throw at you.
- Modular
Unlike most off-road bumpers, modular versions can be tweaked any way you like them. For example, you can elect to have the base bumper accommodate a winch mount or grilles to mount off-road lamps. However, these bumpers focus a bit more on utility than protection.
- Tubular
Striking a balance between utility and protection, tubular off-road bumpers have cylindrical bars for a more minimalistic feel. They can accommodate some accessories such as lights and winches while still taking a hard hit or two.
- Pre-Runner
Pre-runners are of a lighter build than tubular bumpers, usually designed to match the off-roader’s frontal curves. Their sleek design provides the most clearance, useful for trails with many ups and downs. Consequently, it also makes them ill-suited to take impacts.
- Grille Guard
Whatever bumper you choose, you’d want to protect your radiator from unexpected crashes. A solid grille guard provides enough forward clearance to spare any critical engine components the trouble of hitting a tree or boulder. Some feature brush guards to prevent foliage from entering the engine.
- Bull Bar
While grille guards offer overall protection, some people prefer to make their grille letters more visible. For that, they install a bull bar, which extends halfway up the grille from the underside. They typically come with a skid plate.
- Base Bumper
Base bumpers lack the guards and other parts that most bumpers in the market have. They only have a few places to accommodate accessories, but they can be a cost-effective option for trails that aren’t too unforgiving. Think of them as stock bumpers but way tougher.
- Winch
Anyone who’s spent enough time off-roading can vouch for the fact that you can expect to get stuck a lot. Having a winch handy, along with other recovery gear, can save you a lot of grief. Fortunately, many bumpers either come with a built-in winch or can accommodate one.
Factors to Consider When Buying Bumpers
With so many off-road bumpers available, finding the right one might be difficult. As a general rule, focus on maximizing protection and recovery for your front bumper, and utility for the rear. As mentioned earlier, you’d want to protect your engine in case of an accident along the trail. At the same time, extra equipment at the back makes sure you’re ready for anything.
For the front, it’s better to have a heavy-duty bumper with grille guards, a mounted winch, and some off-road lamps. If cost is an issue and the terrain doesn’t warrant heavy-duty protection, modular and tubular bumpers make great alternatives.
For the rear, get a bumper that will maximize the amount of gear you can carry in your off-road adventures. It should accommodate, among others, a tire carrier, tow hitches, D-ring attachment points, and another mounted winch.
Approach and Departure Angles
One benefit of getting an off-road bumper is that it’ll help your vehicle clear most obstacles, from steep inclines to rocky trails. However, some bumpers do a better job than others. Knowing the ideal approach and departure angle to navigate off-road trails is critical.
The approach angle is the maximum angle required for the front bumper to clear an obstacle, whereas the departure angle is the same thing but for the rear bumper. To measure this, get a long stick, putting one end at the bottom of the tire and the other end just below the bumper. Then, measure the angle from the ground using a protractor.
The larger the bumper, the less your vehicle’s approach and departure angle. In terms of this, bumpers fall under one of three types.
- Full
The off-road bumper provides as much coverage as your stock bumper, stretching up to both corners. As far as forward clearance goes, it doesn’t stick out like other bumpers.
- Mid
The bumper’s coverage comes short of the corners and headlights. Midsized bumpers are pretty common among Jeep Wranglers.
- Stubby
The shortest of the bunch, stubby bumpers cover the area around the grille and hood. They provide the most clearance but the least protection.
Bumper Finishes
Manufacturers finish bumpers in one of two ways:
- Powder Coating
The bumper undergoes a three-step process: sandblasting, coating with textured powder, and baking. Powder-coated bumpers withstand chipping and rusting better in most environments. However, you can’t apply a fresh powder coat on damaged areas, only paint over them.
- Paint
This option is less expensive, albeit it doesn’t protect against chipping and rusting as much. Unlike its powder-coated cousin, painted bumpers can be recoated as much as necessary.
Accessories and Add-Ons
Lastly, off-road bumpers need to be kitted out with the proper equipment.
- Bumper Brackets – For replacements, as they tend to break with heavy off-road use
- Bumper Guards – For filling in blind spots in a bumper’s protective screen
- D-Rings – For recovery and towing
- Can Adapters – For carrying extra fuel in a jerry can
- Light Kits – For mounting off-road lamps and lights
- Skid Plates – For protecting the bumper’s underside
- Tow Hooks – For recovery and towing
