Top 10 Reasons for Off-Road Bumper

[LJ75 Driver]

Reason 1, winch mount. If you're gonna go through the trouble to put a winch on, why bother with a stock bumper and hide away?
Approach angles and looks are distant seconds. But I'll take them any way!

 

[tS_kStin]

Front bumpers are really just $1,500 mounting points for bottle openers...

Rear works well for that as well. Mounted mine in my Jerry can holder.

Other than that my reasons for building my bumpers was strength/protection from animals, rocks and other bad dinners, clearance, recovery, utility like tire and Jerry can swing outs, light mounts, and finally looks in that order.

 

[itr1275]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...IIHDAA&usg=AFQjCNH4K2j98yB3Kj313Eq5KNLxtGgYeg

Ouch! Sucks to be that guy.

Looks like you squish is bike a bit?

 

[itr1275]

Summing up the list a bit.

Pro's

• Looks totally cool and tough.
• Protection if you hit large animals accidentally.
• Mounting winch.
• Protection from trail hazards.
• Mounting lights, antennae.
• Appraoch/Departure angles
• Can have integrated bottle opener
• Recovery points
• Made from metal (not plastic)
• Recyclable
• Room for larger tires

Cons

• Weight
• Expensive, very expensive
• More after market parts to fail
• Aggressive look is not cool with cops or chicks
• Might require a leveling kit to keep stock height
• Not all bumpers fit correctly
• Did I mention weight?
• Most of the time it's need vs want

For ~$3K total on front and rear bumpers, that's pretty nice suspension upgrade. For < $3K you can get the ICON Stage 2 lift.

XO has traveled the world with a stock front bumper and a hidden winch.
2015 Toyota 4Runner Builds - Expedition Overland

 

[kcdehart]

Damnit, this thread is reminding me just how much I want a front bumper. Especially after screwing up the stock plastic/skid plate during my last offroading trip...

To stay on topic...my reasons for wanting one are:

• Protection from idiots. A friend of mine with has a Jeep Wrangler with a steel bumper. Someone pulled out in front of him in a small car at 35mph. The car was totaled and the bumper barely got scratched.
  
• Protection from all the damn deer around here
  
• Protection from rocks/trees
  
• (did I mention protection?)
  
• Somewhere to mount copious amounts of fog lights
  
• Space for bigger tires
  
• And damn does the Relentless Offroad Summit bumper for 4th gens look good...

 

[CoMtn4Runner]

I don't have an aftermarket steel bumper but plan on getting one for the following reasons:
1. recovery points/winch
2. approach angle
3. protection
4. additional lights
5. General bada$$ery

 

[wadle5]

As others have said mounting point(winch lights)/hi lift jack point. personally for me after getting hit in the front end it only cost $200 more to get a plated bumper over a plastic one.
The approach angle also comes in handy in downtown parking in the winter when snow piles cover half a parking spot. Was so used to my bumper that when I rented an suv and pulled into a half snow covered spot I backed out and ripped off the front bumper on the rental...whoops!

 

[DK327]

I am considering a rear bumper for the swing out capability though...

Same here; patiently waiting for the Shockworks Winter Group Buy for 15% off the rear bumper with swing out and jerry can holder while slowly saving up for it...

 

[zzdocxx]

Great lists.

Love the bottle opener!

:beer: