deer and elk front bumper

[chuckscap]

Hi, moving back into the mountains from the flatlands (Colorado Springs), and I want a front bumper for my 2000 LX470 that primarily will be to prevent injury to the car and occupants in the unlikely event that I hit a deer or small elk. Not that I want to, but my rule has always been brake, but do not swerve for animals. It has served me well for many years and I've only hit and killed one deer. I've had friends seriously injured who swerved and hit a culvert. Not going to do that. I do light off roading so I don't really need a bumper for that. I like the Kavik aluminum bumper but am concerned it might not be strong enough? I have the OME 1.5" medium lift on my truck with OEM shocks, would prefer not to have to change that, but would if necessary. I'm also looking at the ARB bumper (not the Sahara) and Mike's bumper at BIOR

Thanks!

 

[geanes]

Someone posted recently about the success of the ARB full bull-bar bumper. They hit a 200lb deer and nothing happened to the truck. I'm pretty much sold on that as here in TX, white tail deer are EVERYWHERE and don't get out of the way for any vehicle. Deer strikes are very common here. I believe TJM and even BIOR make/offer identical versions. I believe BIOR sells the IronMan version.

 

[TXSunDevil]

I have hit 2 deer head on in my F-150. I use a bumper similar to this one.
Toyota Land Cruiser used grill guard 98-07

The one shown is for a Land Cruiser. The bumper on my pickup was mildly bent both times. I think I had some hoof scuffs on the door and some blood but it saved me big body damage. Both of the deer were knocked into the bar ditch. I would want something a little beefier if I was worried about hitting Elk though.

 

[nissanh]

Unless you reinforce the grill guard to the frame, it can do nothing to protect the front end from animals.
A real bull bar is the only way to keep the truck safe.

 

[paflytyer]

I chose the ARB Deluxe for those exact reasons..... late night returns from fishing. Deer, elk, sheep, moose and bear seem to enjoy the same places that I do.

_

 

[Idaho Savage]

I chose the ARB Deluxe for those exact reasons..... late night returns from fishing. Deer, elk, sheep, moose and bear seem to enjoy the same places that I do.

_

I'm in Idaho and agree.

 

[chuckscap]

I chose the ARB Deluxe for those exact reasons..... late night returns from fishing. Deer, elk, sheep, moose and bear seem to enjoy the same places that I do.

_

I think that's the one I want. I may have to change shocks but my OME torsion bars should be fine?

 

[geanes]

I think that's the one I want. I may have to change shocks but my OME torsion bars should be fine?

Since you have an LX, you might need to just crank the torsion bars three or four times on each side to increase the spring tension. I had to add 2 complete rotations on each torsion bar when I added my sliders to get the ride back to where it was without them. On an LX, the torsion bar adjustment will not change ride height like it will on an LC. It only balances the suspension (puts more or less balance on the torsion bars vs the hydraulic AHC element)

 

[paflytyer]

I think that's the one I want. I may have to change shocks but my OME torsion bars should be fine?

I installed this bumper years ago when I had OEM shocks and t bars and had zero issues. I adjusted the tbars a little, but the bumper doesn't weigh that much. Once you add a winch, you'll want to start upgrading things.

 

[TheForger]

I smoked a 6pt. deer at 55mph with my BIOR bumper and it ended up splitting the deer in half. I drove away with no damage to my truck, just a few hairs stuck in the grill

 

[Greenbean]

Dang!

What lights are on in that pic?

Any more pics?

 

[TheForger]

I just have my Rigid fogs on in that pic, not my center lightbar. But I don't have anymore pics of that incident because I was more focused on making sure everything with my car was alright, but here's another pic of the bumper as well as a link to Mike's website with better up-close pics.

BIOR New Front Bumper

 

[chuckscap]

Nice, Mike did my sliders and skid plates

 

[hovers]

I have a DISSENT front bumper on my 100, but I can vouch for BIOR's work as well. I had a BIOR bumper on my 80, and it's probably the only reason that the clown who borrowed my truck and wrecked it is alive. He basically went off of a 10ft embankment and landed on the nose. Walked away.

 

[benc]

Dissent has my vote
Full bar and not to heavy.

 

[chuckscap]

Hi thanks all and just to be clear, the AHC was removed by Slee when I bought my truck (I had a $3000 repair credit from the dealer and used all of it) and I had Slee install their OME 1.5" medium lift suspension replacement, including diff drop and SPC UCAs. I did replace the Nitro Sport shocks with OEM because the ride was so bad. So my torsion bars should be fine, may need to be cranked a turn or two, the shocks may have to be upgraded not sure.

 

[Muddy Bean]

Don't get a brush guard. Damage multiplier. Just get proper armor. You won't regret it:

 

[STIGPIG]

I had an ARB on my 99 that was a major piece of crap.

The winch mount twisted under load and it broke my brand new winch in half.

It also crumpled like a soda can when I hit a small dirt ledge at low speed. Shoved my bumper into the fender and damaged the body in a few areas.


In that thread with the ARB that hit a deer you can see it's still possibly totalled because it folded into both fenders and the hood.

They also don't have recovery points and stick out way too far. I hit on almost EVERYTHING with it.

They offered to replace it at cost but it was backordered indefinitely.


I sold mine and will be installing a Slee Blueberry soon. They have them on hand so shipping is lightning fast and they are built tough.

The Slee has reinforced wings and a MUCH better approach angle.

Hope this helps.

 

[geanes]

I had an ARB on my 99 that was a major piece of crap.

The winch mount twisted under load and it broke my brand new winch in half.

It also crumpled like a soda can when I hit a small dirt ledge at low speed. Shoved my bumper into the fender and damaged the body in a few areas.


In that thread with the ARB that hit a deer you can see it's still possibly totalled because it folded into both fenders and the hood.

They also don't have recovery points and stick out way too far. I hit on almost EVERYTHING with it.

They offered to replace it at cost but it was backordered indefinitely.


I sold mine and will be installing a Slee Blueberry soon. They have them on hand so shipping is lightning fast and they are built tough.

The Slee has reinforced wings and a MUCH better approach angle.

Hope this helps.

We're neighbors fellow 78664'er. When you get the Blueberry, I'd love to see it. I'll be doing a front bumper by end of year and have a few on my mind: ARB, TJM T13, Dissent (with bullbar) and Blueberry

 

[chuckscap]

I'm starting to lean towards Mike's original BIOR front bumper I don't understand why the loops are slanted forward, I'm sure there's a reason, can anyone enlighten me?