yota-runner
New member
so i'm putting together a spreadsheet to estimate total cost of all the mods i plan on going with, but i'm split on which bumpers i want. What are the pros and cons of plate and tube style bumpers.
plate vs tube bumpers
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foxrider56
New member
I think plate look a lot better and are easier to pull off. For tube bumpers you basically have to have a badass rig and as much tubeing as possible to pull it off, if it's not a crazy rig then it just looks dumb and unfinished. And if you are budgeting a list, budget for plate and if you get tube you will have money leftover
the great him
Elite Member
plate is less weight, and can be just as strong if not stronger for the weight. not to mention they look better. and provide more protection. tube bumpers will give you better clearance and approach angles for hardcore wheeling, but they do not protect as well nor do they cover up as much as a plate will -i also think they dont look as good as plate, but thats just me.
the open design of all tube bumpers i have seen could allow for more foreign objects, such as small rocks, tree branches ect to penetrate the radiator and or other vital organs of your truck. while im not gonna say that a plate bumper will protect against this 100% they do a lot better job of it than a tube bumper. the look of plate is more of a factory finished look in most cased, and hides all the nasty typically unseen parts of the truck that the factory never intended everyone to see and hid with the factory bumpers....
the open design of all tube bumpers i have seen could allow for more foreign objects, such as small rocks, tree branches ect to penetrate the radiator and or other vital organs of your truck. while im not gonna say that a plate bumper will protect against this 100% they do a lot better job of it than a tube bumper. the look of plate is more of a factory finished look in most cased, and hides all the nasty typically unseen parts of the truck that the factory never intended everyone to see and hid with the factory bumpers....
yota-runner
New member
I was kind of leaning more toward plate since it is my DD. thanks
BrianSD_42
New member
I have a plate bumper in the front (ARB) and tube in the rear (Savage).
Some people may not like this type of combination but it fits my needs and price range ($800 + $450).
Reason: I personally am not a fan of front tube bumpers so I bought an ARB for the front. A year later I decided to go with a Savage Offroad tube bumper for the rear because it was FAR FAR lighter and cheaper than most of the rear plate bumpers yet still looked good.
Pictures are Here: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...2-photo-journal-build-maintenance-thread.html
&
Here: https://plus.google.com/photos/117503193620426682981/albums/5897970704043628961
Some people may not like this type of combination but it fits my needs and price range ($800 + $450).
Reason: I personally am not a fan of front tube bumpers so I bought an ARB for the front. A year later I decided to go with a Savage Offroad tube bumper for the rear because it was FAR FAR lighter and cheaper than most of the rear plate bumpers yet still looked good.
Pictures are Here: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...2-photo-journal-build-maintenance-thread.html
&
Here: https://plus.google.com/photos/117503193620426682981/albums/5897970704043628961
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Whitson Metalworks
New member
You left out hybrid, lil bit of both. I know I'm not ready to build another one but there are other companies offering hybrid designs
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the great him
Elite Member
nope thats the ARB, which both [MENTION=65101]BrianSD_42[/MENTION] and i have...:wink2:
yota-runner
New member
You left out hybrid, lil bit of both. I know I'm not ready to build another one but there are other companies offering hybrid designs
I like that bumper. But ill definitely be adding one of your roof racks to the list.
Hepar
New member
Yep! Best of both worlds! Count me in the minority side of liking tube over plate, but I will admit that I've been considering getting an ODL bumper just to switch things up a bit.
yota-runner
New member
If you decide you wanna get rid of your current bumper let me know :nod:
Atrox Caeda
New member
I love the looks of plate bumpers, most particularly the ARB, Shrockworks, Outdoor Logic, and 4Xinnovations. I think all of them look awesome, but with that said the least expensive one is still about $700 when it's said and done. Tube bumpers are just way less expensive. You could almost outfit front and rear for the price of just front with the plate style. If you are looking for that super clean look then you have to spend the money, if you are looking for function first, the tubes still work great. I know this isn't new, but just my opinion.
scrap metal
official vendor
I was under the impression that generally, plate bumpers were heavier than tube bumpers. ???
ARB bumpers are REALLY heavy... A tube bumper would be much less weight wouldn't it? The ARB I had for my 2nd gen was ridiculous.
I thought the pro to tube bumpers were cost and weight??
scrap metal
official vendor
Quick Examples:
Shrockworks 3rd gen plate, 92 lbs.
4xinnovations 3rd gen plate, 100 lbs.
4xinnovations 2nd Gen Tube, 50 lbs.
I had an ARB before and loved the look. anyone know the weight on those?
To the OP's question: I prefer the look of plate, but am leaning toward a Hybrid to save some weight...
...but I have no money at this date, and to be rhyming it is much too late. :sad:
Shrockworks 3rd gen plate, 92 lbs.
4xinnovations 3rd gen plate, 100 lbs.
4xinnovations 2nd Gen Tube, 50 lbs.
I had an ARB before and loved the look. anyone know the weight on those?
To the OP's question: I prefer the look of plate, but am leaning toward a Hybrid to save some weight...
...but I have no money at this date, and to be rhyming it is much too late. :sad:
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Aznwolf118
Member
I went plate after looking, the cbi plate front bumper wasn't an option when I bought mines, otherwise who knows what would have happened.
white_n_slow
Senior Member
I like both. Plate definitely looks "cleaner" while tube looks "meaner"
Other bumper-related musings:
I never liked the look of the ARB front. Too bulky, especially towards to corners--seems designed more for a farm truck with less thought towards approach and corner clearance. I really dig the way some people have modified them to look sleeker (I forget his name but a guy on this forum with a black truck)
I think most tube bumpers could benefit from some plate here and there, both functionally and aesthetically. A hybrid style like Whitson's
Other bumper-related musings:
I never liked the look of the ARB front. Too bulky, especially towards to corners--seems designed more for a farm truck with less thought towards approach and corner clearance. I really dig the way some people have modified them to look sleeker (I forget his name but a guy on this forum with a black truck)
I think most tube bumpers could benefit from some plate here and there, both functionally and aesthetically. A hybrid style like Whitson's
98OzarksRunner
New member
It's all personal preference but to me tube bumpers look unfinished. I do like the Whitson hybrid bumper.
Here's my favorite tube bumper.
Here's my favorite tube bumper.
