Expedition One willing to make 200 series bumpers! Looking for a Utah volunteer...

[40Man]

I heard from Exp-One that bumpers for the 80 are in the works, and they are willing to make them for the 200 if someone will leave their 200 with them for 3 or 4 days (Ogden, Utah).

They said whomever does this will get bumpers for cost (around half off).

I had one on my Tundra and it was amazing. Any Utards out there looking for a sweet deal for armored bumpers???

 

[TonyP]

Hah! I'm 10mins from Ogden too. They can measure my 200 but I don't need four bumpers and I'm stoked at what Jason and I have come up with for my 200.

 

[Atwalz]

Very nice. I like their Tundra bumper.

 

[40Man]

Hah! I'm 10mins from Ogden too. They can measure my 200 but I don't need four bumpers

Want to leave it with them for 3 days?

I grew up in Logan. Spent a lot of time in the Ogden area, mostly in the river or driving up to Powder or Basin. I would jump all over this if I still lived there. Exp-One makes a great product.

 

[40Man]

This is what I had previously (stock photo):

 

[TonyP]

Sure when I get it back from Jason I can let them do their thing while my Trail Tailor bumpers are getting coated. I don't know what they can offer me though. Maybe a couple free shackles or a snatch block.

I know exactly where expo one is too. Just an industrial complex. Logan is pretty nice though. I generally carry when I go to Ogden though. Way too many shady characters.

Edit: or they can arrange to coat my bumpers. I just don't want them in possession of them for design integrity.

 

[ntsaint]

I want/need a 200 series bumper right now. Pending design i would be ready to pull the trigger immediately.

 

[Markuson]

I called them... 5 months waiting on a TJM is getting old, so I would consider it even though I'm not close. Curious about their bull bars though. The ones I saw looked pretty light. Wondering if they would create a heavier version...and how they are anchored...?

 

[mark71]

I called them... 5 months waiting on a TJM is getting old, so I would consider it even though I'm not close. Curious about their bull bars though. The ones I saw looked pretty light. Wondering if they would create a heavier version...and how they are anchored...?

Hang in there, bud. I think you'll love your TJM (when it finally arrives).

Good luck on the starter issue.

 

[40Man]

I called them... 5 months waiting on a TJM is getting old, so I would consider it even though I'm not close. Curious about their bull bars though. The ones I saw looked pretty light. Wondering if they would create a heavier version...and how they are anchored...?

I had the stinger, and it was stout. They are quick to answer any questions.

 

[Markuson]

Hang in there, bud. I think you'll love your TJM (when it finally arrives).

Good luck on the starter issue.

Ya, I agree, and I'm patient. I do like the TJM.
Seems to be a bit less forward-extending than the ARB, but we're talking small differences.

I just get the impression that so many of the custom builders tend to add bars as afterthoughts. I want them for protection from animal strikes and more.

I had the stinger, and it was stout. They are quick to answer any questions.

Did you have opportunities to test its strength, i.e. impacts, etc.? I'm looking at the bars in partucular...

 

[TonyP]

I called them... 5 months waiting on a TJM is getting old, so I would consider it even though I'm not close. Curious about their bull bars though. The ones I saw looked pretty light. Wondering if they would create a heavier version...and how they are anchored...?

Let me know if you come by Utah. We'll snag a breakfast burrito.

 

[40Man]

Ya, I agree, and I'm patient. I do like the TJM.
Seems to be a bit less forward-extending than the ARB, but we're talking small differences.

I just get the impression that so many of the custom builders tend to add bars as afterthoughts. I want them for protection from animal strikes and more.



Did you have opportunities to test its strength, i.e. impacts, etc.? I'm looking at the bars in partucular...

Not a lot of opportunities to test the stinger itself other than as a push bar to move brush and light obstacles. Plenty of hard/rock impacts on the bumper itself.

 

[40Man]

The rears are cool too

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

The rears are cool tooView attachment 1425509

I have to comment on that FJ rear bumper. Please don't take me as a hater for this.

That was a terrible bumper. The mounting system to the frame was to squeeze around a crossmember, not actually bolt to the frame other than 4 bolts on the bottom of the frame rail, but to hold on my simply trying to grab around the frame. it would would dance around, because it didn't have much real connections to the frame. They also used a low grade heim joint for the tire carrier to swing with the door that rattled SO BAD that I stopped wheeling for the weekend. It was a joke of a bumper.

I then used it as a shell, and built real brackets to the back to tie into existing thread hole on the frame, and got rid of the rear for pivot and added a traditional tire carrier design (that keeps it off the body) for a de-sta-co latch. After that, it was rock solid.

My buddy had one of their bumpers on his Tundra. One good rock hit of the corner, the bumper flexed enough to damage his fender, nothing like adding weight without the protection. Top it off with after i built a better mounting for that bumper, I did like their RotoPax carrier attachment, and decided to buy it. Once I had it, some girl from Expedition One , called me and said they need me to pay another $70 because "they shipped it to me too fast". Are you kidding me, no not how that works. So they dropped that terrible business plan and left me alone.

I'm really sorry for that. I was going to keep my mouth shut, I sometimes feel like I' always bring up the bad in products. But when I saw that FJ rear bumper, it just reminded me of all that.

 

[Markuson]

I have no prior knowledge of, or experience with Expedition One, or any of its products. This is why I ask the questions here, because it's good to hear from those who do. Thanks guys.

I'm reminded of the fact that @sleeoffroad has taken well over a year to design...test...redesign...test and re-redesign--probably re-re-re-design--his rear bumper that we are still waiting for. I think there is a lot to be said for this approach, and also a lot to be said for the goals of the builder. I also am personally familiar with what their "tendencies" are in prior products--that being strength, and standing up to HARD use.

Reflecting on the tempting opportunity of getting a new bumper "at cost," -it occurs to me that if a shop can come up with a bumper from scratch and only needs a new (to them) model truck for "3 or 4 days..." to invent, fabricate, powder-coat and install ANY bumper...I'm suspicious of the quality ANYONE could possibly come up with in that scenario. Testing and revision would be literally impossible. This is not to say one couldn't come up with something decent, but it would seem to me that one would have to have unending confidence in any company to believe it even possible, much less likely.

Anyway... Just my 2 cents upon reflection of my own temptations, and the questions that run through my head as a pretty careful shopper.

I'm sticking with my original plan.

 

[40Man]

I have no prior knowledge of, or experience with Expedition One, or any of its products. This is why I ask the questions here, because it's good to hear from those who do. Thanks guys.

I'm reminded of the fact that Slee has taken well over a year to design...test...redesign...test and re-redesign--probably re-re-re-design--his rear bumper that we are still waiting for. I think there is a lot to be said for this approach, and also a lot to be said for the goals of the builder. I also am personally familiar with what their "tendencies" are in prior products--that being strength, and standing up to HARD use.

Reflecting on the tempting opportunity of getting a new bumper "at cost," -it occurs to me that if a shop can come up with a bumper from scratch and only needs a new (to them) model truck for "3 or 4 days..." to invent, fabricate, powder-coat and install ANY bumper...I'm suspicious of the quality ANYONE could possibly come up with in that scenario. Testing and revision would be literally impossible. This is not to say one couldn't come up with something decent, but it would seem to me that one would have to have unending confidence in any company to believe it even possible, much less likely.

Anyway... Just my 2 cents upon reflection of my own temptations, and the questions that run through my head as a pretty careful shopper.

I'm sticking with my original plan.

FWIW, as I re-read their email they need 3-4 days for 3d modeling. Then after fabrication a few more days for test fitting.

 

[Markuson]

FWIW, as I re-read their email they need 3-4 days for 3d modeling. Then after fabrication a few more days for test fitting.

I can appreciate that, and I don't mean to argue. It just that you have to multiply that time by x50 or x60 to get to time taken to come up with the rear bumper I'm still waiting for...and that's in a shop that owns, drives and wheels the vehicle in question, with it available 24/7. Just gives me major pause.

 

[TonyP]

I have to comment on that FJ rear bumper. Please don't take me as a hater for this.

That was a terrible bumper. The mounting system to the frame was to squeeze around a crossmember, not actually bolt to the frame other than 4 bolts on the bottom of the frame rail, but to hold on my simply trying to grab around the frame. it would would dance around, because it didn't have much real connections to the frame. They also used a low grade heim joint for the tire carrier to swing with the door that rattled SO BAD that I stopped wheeling for the weekend. It was a joke of a bumper.

I then used it as a shell, and built real brackets to the back to tie into existing thread hole on the frame, and got rid of the rear for pivot and added a traditional tire carrier design (that keeps it off the body) for a de-sta-co latch. After that, it was rock solid.

My buddy had one of their bumpers on his Tundra. One good rock hit of the corner, the bumper flexed enough to damage his fender, nothing like adding weight without the protection. Top it off with after i built a better mounting for that bumper, I did like their RotoPax carrier attachment, and decided to buy it. Once I had it, some girl from Expedition One , called me and said they need me to pay another $70 because "they shipped it to me too fast". Are you kidding me, no not how that works. So they dropped that terrible business plan and left me alone.

I'm really sorry for that. I was going to keep my mouth shut, I sometimes feel like I' always bring up the bad in products. But when I saw that FJ rear bumper, it just reminded me of all that.

Attached with something like U-Bolts? Wild stuff. The market for "show not go" off road armor seems to be raking in the cash. Stuff like "Iron Cross" and "Fab Fours" are all over the place around here on bro-dozers. Winch bumpers without winches are so sad.

Not saying Expedition One falls into this category but proper mounting to the frame is beyond essential.

 

[Markuson]

P.S.
On the other hand, @Atwalz built his own bumper in his own garage. Man, that thing is BEEFY and could probably take a beating from a bulldozer and survive!!!!! So I guess it is possible.