Worried a steel aftermarket bumper might be too heavy?
Are you someone who always wanted to put an aftermarket bumper on, but you’re afraid the extra weight will make your front end sag, affecting performance and drivability? Here are some tips you might find helpful before you invest in one of our aftermarket bumpers.
Everyone knows that a steel bumper can give your truck extra protection and make it easier to mount your Winches and bright off-road lights, but adding an extra hundred pounds might scare you at first. That’s why checking your suspension’s specifications is very important before you pull the trigger and decide to buy an Aftermarket Steel Bumper from us. Sometimes, adding a steel bumper might not affect your driving or suspensions at all.
For example, one of the most popular aftermarket bumpers on the market, the ICI Magnum Front Bumper, weighs 170 lbs. It might seem like you’re adding a lot of extra weight on your front end, but you’re not. Once you take the stock front bumper off, you’re only adding around 100 lbs, since the average stock bumper weight 70 lbs. However, adding extra 100 lbs might affect your driving experience differently base on the model you are driving.
If you want to add a Front Bumper, rear bumper, and a winch and mount some light bars to the bumper, we would recommend you get your truck lifted at least 2” to prevent a heavy weight sag in your truck’s suspension. A heavy duty front and Rear Bumper plus a winch can weigh up to 350 lbs.Typically,they will weigh your truck down between a half inch to an inch, and you will notice a big difference while you’re driving.
You might have done enough research and figured out that getting your suspension updated is critical before putting on a heavy duty steel bumper. However, updating the suspension and adding a heavy duty steel bumper at the same time might be a little too much. It sounds like a chicken or egg situation, but it’s not. Building a solid foundation by updating the suspension should always be your top choice. We all know you like your bad-ass steel bumpers, but you don’t want them to ruin your suspension and your driving experience, right? So, always check your suspension and see if you need to upgrade it before putting those heavy duty bumpers and winches on your rig.
After you finally pull the trigger and decide to shop for a lift kit for your heavy duty truck, never forget to ask for the option for heavy duty coil springs for handling extra weight.The price is similar to the regular option.
Speaking about the winch, it’s always a good idea to use a synthetic line to save some extra weight on your truck if you’re not driving your truck for extreme off-road situations.
At BumperOnly, we are persistent in helping you really transform your truck without forgetting about reliability and safety. Below we have listed our bumper brands, their approximate weight, and other important details to further guide you in finding your best option.
Ranch Hand Bumper Weight
Approximate weight: 255 lbs.
Material: 12-Gauge Steel
The Ranch Hand Legend Series offers a high-quality grille guard. A crafted and powerfully welded one-piece, on-road and off-road bumper that custom-fits your OEM’s specifications. Although grille guards are known for their complex designs, they offer greater all-round protection. Grille guards protect your radiator and other engine components. This steel bumper is compatible with your Chevy Blazer, Ford Excursion/F150, Dodge 1500, GBM Suburban/Sierra and Toyota Tacoma.
Iron Cross Bumper Weight
Approximate weight: 160 lbs.
Material: 10-Gauge Steel
The Iron Cross Base is one of your best options among the steel bumpers available, because of its lightweight design that prevents suspension fatigue. Iron Cross Base is laser-cut with CNC (Computer Numerical Control), which is a precision machining process that uses computers to reliably make welds, grinds, and mills. Perfect for your Ford Superduty and GMC Sierra, this bumper is winch-ready and accepts up to 12.5K. It also includes 3.74” lights and is powder-coated with a textured gloss.
Truck Defender Bumper Weight
Approximate weight: 100-125 lbs.
Material: ¼” Marine Grade Aluminum
Even if this is the lightest due to its aluminum material, this American-made bumper is crafted to last. Aluminum is a lighter alternative to steel and yet more expensive. It suits both off-road and on-road vehicles, working as a fully welded boxed mounting system that works hard to provide the strongest mount. You can add winches and lights and it’s compatible with Toyota Tacoma/Tundra, Ford F150/Superduty, GMC Sierra, Dodge Ram, and Chevy Silverado.
Hammerhead Bumper Weight
Approximate weight: 205-245 lbs.
Material: 3/16 inch A36 Steel (front), ¼” Think Plate Steel (rear)
The X-Series of one of the top brands for aftermarket bumpers - Hammerhead, is ready for both off-road and on-road driving. In a powder-coat finish, this steel bumper is ready for additional fog lights and a winch that can carry up to 12000 lbs. It's also installation-ready for a D-ring mount and compatible with Chevys, Ford F150/Excursion, Dodge Ram, and GMC Sierra.
Fab Fours Bumper Weight
Approximate weight: 175 lbs.
Material: 3/16” Plate Steel Construction
The Fab Four Matrix offers the killer look with its premium materials. This bumper provides additional tire clearance and lower cutout for increased airflow. Fab Four finished it with a 2-stage black powder coat and is compatible with your GMC Sierra, Dodge Ram, Chevy Silverado, Jeep Wrangler, and Ford Superduty.
Steelcraft HD Bumper Weight
Approximate weight: 280-290 lbs.
Material: Diamond Plate & Schedule 40 Pipe
Considerably the heaviest on our list, but the weight comes with remarkably great features. This bumper is engineered for the perfect fit, easy installation, strength and durability. It's able to support emblem cameras and has adaptive cruise control. E-coated and powder-coated, it also offers a punch plate grill and apt for your factory tow hooks and fog lights. This heavy-duty bumper is best suited for Ford F150/Superduty, Dodge Ram, Chevy Silverado, Toyota Tundra, and GMC Sierra. Additionally, it comes with a warranty of 2 years.
Road Armor Bumper Weight
Approximate weight: 215 lbs.
Material: Constructed from High-Quality Steel
Integrated with LED lights, adaptive cruise control, and parking sensors, the Road Armor Identity is designed extensively for more customizations. This high quality, USA-made steel bumper can allow your Dodge Ram, Chevy Silverado, and Ford Superduty a multitude of lighting options, and has interchangeable light pod inserts.
For any vehicle, weight is a matter of fuel consumption and performance. Light aftermarket bumpers increase fuel mileage but aren’t ideal for off-roading. Heavy aftermarket bumpers are great for off-road journeys but bad for your gas mileage. If most of your trips will be light and over-land, an aluminum option might be a good choice. If you’re going to do adventurous rock climbing and require the added tire clearance, a high-quality steel bumper might be a better option. Weight will let you experience a considerable difference in the handling of the vehicle. So when choosing a bumper, you shouldn’t forget about the suspension. This is where things get a little tricky. Ask yourself: “What do I want to do with my truck?”. Are you building a buddy for short trail runs or a beast for long-distance trips where there are long highway stretches? The answers to these questions should help you figure out where to go next. Your purpose will tell you which bumper you will need.
If you’re still not sure about how our Heavy Duty Bumper’s weight will affect your truck and suspension performance, please feel free to Contact Us.
