Winching - Aluminum Front Bumper?

[TonyB66]

I haven't had a winch since my last 4x4, an FJ40 many moons ago; so my apologies in advance for what is likely obvious ignorance.

I realize 1/4" aluminum can be pretty stout, but is it up to task for winching, not just light duty? I have my doubts, but have zero experience here...

Thanks.

 

[thegipper]

1/4" aluminum will not hold up for winching. A common steel like A36 has double the tensile strength as 6061 aluminum.

Aluminum has its time and place, but I would never trust it for this application.

I should add, there are a couple manufacturers who make aluminum bumpers so they think it will work. I still wouldn't want one...

 

[TonyB66]

1/4" aluminum will not hold up for winching. A common steel like A36 has double the tensile strength as 6061 aluminum.

Aluminum has its time and place, but I would never trust it for this application.

I should add, there are a couple manufacturers who make aluminum bumpers so they think it will work. I still wouldn't want one...

That's my first inclination as well, and why I ask. Thanks.

I like that it won't rust, and is about half the weight. I can see justifying a price premium even, but not at the sacrifice of strength and safety, if that is indeed true, which seems the case...

 

[phattyduck]

For the same thickness, aluminum won't be as strong as steel... assuming you are talking about easily available grades of either.

What that means is that aluminum will have to be thicker than the equivalent steel piece to have the same strength. There isn't any reason otherwise to avoid it a a material though, aside from cost.

-Charlie

 

[Hopeless Diamond]

For the same thickness, aluminum won't be as strong as steel... assuming you are talking about easily available grades of either.

What that means is that aluminum will have to be thicker than the equivalent steel piece to have the same strength. There isn't any reason otherwise to avoid it a a material though, aside from cost.

-Charlie

Have a Rockhard 4X4 aluminum winch bumper on my Jeep. No problems. As long as it's designed right, they're great. 37lbs vs 130, big difference in weight

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[sleepydad]

1/4" aluminum will not hold up for winching. A common steel like A36 has double the tensile strength as 6061 aluminum.

Aluminum has its time and place, but I would never trust it for this application.

I should add, there are a couple manufacturers who make aluminum bumpers so they think it will work. I still wouldn't want one...

Who make sure AL front bumpers for 3rd gens? I looked and I was never able to find one. Please advise?

 

[TonyB66]

For the same thickness, aluminum won't be as strong as steel... assuming you are talking about easily available grades of either.

What that means is that aluminum will have to be thicker than the equivalent steel piece to have the same strength. There isn't any reason otherwise to avoid it a a material though, aside from cost.

-Charlie

Of the few I've seen for us, the steel ones are typically 3/16", and aluminum 1/4". This one looks to be an exception at 3/8":

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/244104-bumper-list-updated-2.html#post2800062

If anyone here has been winching with an aluminum front bumper, please chime-in...

Hopeless Diamond, to your point, if it's designed right, is huge. There is often not any detailed photos on the web to make such a determination. Testimonials would likely be the way to go here...

Thanks.

 

[thegipper]

I can't remember the name of the company that I found but they had aluminum bumpers for Tundras, Tacos, Land cruisers but none for any 4runners.

For grins, I clicked on the model for a Tundra. It was like $2,000+, no thanks. I believe they used 3/16" aluminum which I really wouldn't trust. I'm assuming they test their product but still....

 

[TonyB66]

In addition to the link I provided earlier, Coastal makes front and rear bumpers for us, in aluminum:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/241185-official-coastal-offroad-3rd-gen-armor-thread.html

I recall one or two others...

 

[Mgyver1]

[MENTION=64712]CBI OffRoad Fab[/MENTION] does a decent amount of work in aluminum. They offer their 2ng gen Tacoma front bumpers in aluminum, and I’ve wondered if they would make their 3rd gen 4Runner front bumper out of aluminum.

 

[sleepydad]

In addition to the link I provided earlier, Coastal makes front and rear bumpers for us, in aluminum:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/241185-official-coastal-offroad-3rd-gen-armor-thread.html

I recall one or two others...

Coastal makes kits that can be welded into bumpers. So it still seems like AL anything is in the high range custom phantom equipment.

It's to bad because I don't really wheel my truck like a king of the hammers guy. Would be happy with an AL setup but they are unicorns.

 

[TonyB66]

Coastal makes kits that can be welded into bumpers. So it still seems like AL anything is in the high range custom phantom equipment.

It's to bad because I don't really wheel my truck like a king of the hammers guy. Would be happy with an AL setup but they are unicorns.

Now that I reflect, I guess Coastal Offroad is the only one that makes aluminum bumpers for us, minus that one-off, Denver Offroad linked above. I believe I was confusing this with other pending aluminum purchases: roof rack and skids.