Torn between bumpers

Plate or Tube?

  • Plate

    Votes: 58 73.4%

  • Tube

    Votes: 21 26.6%
  • Total voters
    79
yc4runner

yc4runner

New member
Ok so tax season is pretty much came and gone and i'm getting back a substantial amount this year and i'm in the market for an aftermarket off road bumper for my '97 t4r. Anyways i've looked and searched and scowered the internet for different options and best prices.

From what i've found:

ARB: $600-900

Shrockworks: ~$1000

Addicted Offroad: $550

Outdoorlogic: $982

4xinnovations: $430

Savage Offroad: $521

I was at first looking mainly for a plate bumper because I really like the style, and I don't like how the tube bumpers show off all of the ugly that the plate or stock bumpers hide. So what i'm mainly asking here is, should I just balls up and spend the extra cash on a plate bumper what I really want, or should I save my money and just get a tube bumper and try to make some fill panels to hide all the ugly. Also if there are any other good companies out there that are decently priced that I have missed post em up so I can check them out.

What I would like to know is:
Quality of bumper vs price
Strength overall of the bumper
Your honest opinion of the bumpers

Thanks,
E
 
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I vote plate bumper. I think the tube bumpers suit older trucks, not ours. Tube bumpers make our vehicles look old. Get what you want in the first place, you'll end up regretting afterwards anyway!
 
I would add CBI to your list too!

I am heading down there today for them to let them start fabing up there Moab 1 bumper from there Taco line to fit out 3rd gens. pic will fallow sometime by the weeks end hopefully.

there also planning on sliders too.

I already want there rear bumper, but some how I got the front in line first. lol
what I like about the plate bumper is if you go with a winch its more protected from the elements.

plate is usually heavy though
 
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I have the outdoorlogic bumper and it's awesome. It's 100% bolt on which was a plus for me in ordering/installing myself.

If you want to save some money, get it bare metal and then buy $30 worth of paint and paint it yourself.

I have the single-hoop and get a lot of compliments on mine all the time.
 
auxiliary said:
I have the outdoorlogic bumper and it's awesome. It's 100% bolt on which was a plus for me in ordering/installing myself.

If you want to save some money, get it bare metal and then buy $30 worth of paint and paint it yourself.

I have the single-hoop and get a lot of compliments on mine all the time.
Click to expand...

Yeah I have been leaning hard towards the outdoorlogic bumper, I really like the styling of it and it looks like top quality craftsmanship too. The main thing that was pushing me away is the price but I guess I should go ahead and get what i want now and that way I wont regret it in the future.

I agree that the tube bumpers make our trucks look older and are not as sleek as the plate bumpers.

And I completely forgot about CBI, but dont you have to take your truck to them to have a bumper built for it or do they do build to order and the ship it to you?
 
I am very partial to ARB. They are just classic. But if you want something more custom then that Outdoor one looks pretty nice.
 
Ive looked at the ARB bumpers and have found them for decently cheap, but then again the arb does somewhat play the same part as the tube bumpers in they look more at home on a 2nd or 1st gen 4runner, or pickup. The ARB would probably be a last option resort for me.
 
i have the addicted offroad bumper and love it, im partial to tube bumpers myself anywhere, i think they look good and function as they should with less weight which is nice... also alot of the "uglies" get covered up if you have a winch filling up the middle, i was worried about the radiator being a little exposed when i didnt have a winch in there but not that i have a winch in there it covers just as much as the stock bumper did only better lol
 
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well weight is not a huge factor for me, I do some offroading but not an everyday thing, im not a mallcrawler but not a hardcore offroader either, so I would say this bumper is gonna be 50% looks 50% function if you know what I mean
 
i would say then that you would be happier with the plate bumper then because they do look more aesthetically pleasing to the eyes and are plenty strong and they hide the "uglies" alot better
 
Well from everyones opinions it looks like more than likely ill be going with a plate bumper, probably the outdoorlogic which is the best priced IMO. Thank you everyone for sharing your opinions and helping me out its much appreciated.

Ill post up pics whenever i can get it ordered and get it here.

Thanks,
E
 
i like my tube bumper from badland

DSCN2221.jpg~original
 
I love my tube bumper too.

DSC_6058-1.jpg~original


Same maker as Elton's, but with a little different bar setup. Badland Bumpers.

And what looks better is really subjective. I personally like the tube look a lot better on the 3rd gens (as long as they hide the under ugly). I just don't thing the sharp lines of the plate bumpers fit the more rounded body style of them. That being said, I still really love the look of plate bumpers on there too. If I had to go tube, I love my Badland bumper. It's built like a tank, hides more than most (especially with the plate on the top) and just looks great in my opinion. The Addicted bumper is awesome too. If I was going to go plate, I'd go OL or Shrockworks.

PS - Good thing Izz is out of the counrty... ;)
 
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Did Savage fix their mounting issues? Originally wasn't the way they were mounted weak?

Tube bumpers are typically lighter. They do expose more junk behind. It's not too bad when you rattle can everything black behind them. (mine is tube)
 
I was in the same boat as you, was going to go tube because of the price but just couldnt do it. Not that tubes are bad, they just arent for me. I had a hard time shelling out $700 for an ARB too so I placed a Wanted ad on here, expo, Tacoma World, and CL and whithin a few days I picked up my used ARB for $460.

The way I figure it is my truck is old and has miles on it, may as well get a used bumper with some miles on it too to match up :wink2:
 
I'm gonna vote for tube or plate. I think you should really decide what YOU want our rig to look like then deal with whatever price the bumpers you like come with.
Poll this site and you will surely come up with an overwhelming plate response. Poll other sites and you might see a different outcome toward tube.
I personally like both.
I refuse to get into a pissing match over this, but for me the ugly is easily covered up when you black everything out behind a tube bumper and trust me you won't even notice it after a day or two. I get tons of compliments on my non stinger tube bumper.
If you're going for the stock look then go plate. If you want the off road look with the very same capabilities go tube.
That said... If I went tube... I'd go Addicted of course. If I went plate, I'd go OL with NO TUBES. There my $.02:biggrin2:
 
Plate bumper for sure. Either Outdoorlogic or Shrockworks if you can wait that long. I think they both great on our 4runners. I'm not a huge ARB fan though.
 
I have purchased a Shrockworks yet to be delivered. Should be here 1st week of April. They have a 3 month lead time. I think for the money and looks the outdoor logic would be the way to go. Cheaper, less lead time and still looks as good if not better?!? very similar designs.
 
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