Front bumper Vs. Sliders (1 Viewer)

[Cruiserhead05]

So i've gotten a decent amount of graduation now and will have enough to get either a front bumper, most likely arb or a pair of sliders for the 80. i dont wheel very hard but do get out and am looking for more protection. Just wanted your opinions on what would be the best route:

Option A: Get sliders, either slee, hanna, or custom ones from my area so i dont have to pay shipping. Sliders will come in handy im sure as i dont have running boards anymore so my rockers could easely get smacked.

Option B: Get an ARB or TJM front bumper. most likely arb thought as it is more stout and i can get it at a good cost locally(4x4connection). ARB would also offer some nice protection from the tons and tons of deer on the virginia back roads, better approach, and more help on case i hit someone.

Option C: Save all the money and dont buy anything for the 80....i may have a 1FZ rebuild sometime in the future....

I'm leaning towards the ARB but wanted some input.

Thanks, Brandon

 

[alvarorb]

Brandon,


I don't know where you go wheeling. But if it was up to me I would get sliders and t-case skid plate. Sliders are worth many, many times their price as they protect your rig.

Regards

Alvaro

 

[Cruiserhead05]

Alvaro, what your saying is really my gut feeling, i guess its just when im young this is alot of money and at around 700 bucks i want to spend it on something i will see and enjoy most. i the sliders i know will protect my rockers very nice....i guess i just need to think it all through. thanks. I guess my thinking was that 95% of my driving is on-road so a front bumper might be of more value and in VA i dont see very many rocks, much less ones that will damage me and that i cant get over with a lifted 80.
There's pros and cons to each...

 

[Hants]

sliders b4 bumpers

Option A: Get sliders, either slee, hanna, or custom ones from my area so i dont have to pay shipping. Sliders will come in handy im sure as i dont have running boards anymore so my rockers could easely get smacked.

My plan is to get sliders before bumpers.

A) I don't want body/rocker damage to my beautiful rig

and

B) My wife and chillun will need the step to get in

For these reasons, Slee SliderSteps will likely be the way I jump.

Hants

 

[MTNRAT]

Get sliders first! If you get someone to make a set for you get a FIRM quote. A one off is usually more expensive than getting them from someone who makes many. Cost overruns will more than cover shipping.
Cheers,
Sean

 

[firetruck41]

I would think, sliders first. It will protect your rocker panels (big $$$ to repair). Whereas as the stock bumpers may get dinged up pretty good (probably) without causing body damage, and then it's a good excuse for an ARB

 

[NorCalDoug]

OEM bumpers can be tossed and replaced when damaged. Rocker panels...not so easily.

Get the sliders AND transfer case skid plate as Alvaro suggests. You're looking at about $1k total

 

[reffug]

OEM bumpers can be tossed and replaced when damaged. Rocker panels...not so easily.

Get the sliders AND transfer case skid plate as Alvaro suggests. You're looking at about $1k total

Being as how he is the Pres. I have to agree with Doug. Rockers are not ea$ily fixed. The ARB is something you can get down the road, sides that when you do the ARB you will want to have the money to put something in that gaping hole in the front of it also. If your gonna get slee or hanna you better hurry as the the clock is ticking.

 

[tarbe]

The key to answering this question is how you use your rig, and how practical are you willing to get.

If you go off road in the rocks at all (even once), the sliders could pay for themselves. It is much more common to chew up an unprotected rocker than to mash a stock bumper into sheet metal.

Having said that, it is obvious you want the ARB now because of the esthetic impact it makes on the vehicle (very common feeling!).

You can go either way. Just beware of your limitations off road without any rocker protection if you get the ARB first.

 

[rgsiii]

Having hit a deer while driving a Sequoia, I might lean towards the ARB. Even a "minor" deer hit is pretty impressive. I would want both eventually.

 

[Fochdog]

Go with sliders! I would echo most of the comments above. I was in your same spot a few months ago & went with the slee slider-steps first.

Good Luck!

 

[Romer]

I agree with the Sliders and Xfer case skid plate. In Moab I scrapped my bumper a few times, the stock bumper may not have gotten scrapped, but like others said, you can replace it any time. The sliders saved me from serious damage several times. I don't remember who originally posted this photo, but it helped convince me (and the wife), Damage to the body can be very expensive

 

[ginericLC]

I believe that is Cruiserman's Rig and I believe I was with him in Carnage Canyon, Idaho when that happened. His other side is similar but I wasn't around for that action.

I would definitely vote for sliders first. Bumpers are expendable and usually don't cause body damage when they are removed by rocks. Rocks and Rockers are not a good combination.

 

[concretejungle]

I went through this exact debate. Went with sliders and am glad i made that choice. I have used them several times and if i didn't have them would have had to bypass some fun spots or had damage like the pic above.

 

[Doc]

I agree with sliders first, but if you do want a front bumper take a loser look at slee's front bumper. It's very nice. No 'face mask' look either. Better approach angles (it appears) for wheeling too.

 

[rgsiii]

I agree with sliders first, but if you do want a front bumper take a loser look at slee's front bumper. It's very nice. No 'face mask' look either. Better approach angles (it appears) for wheeling too.

I think if deer are a major concern, I'd go with the ARB. In my hit, the bumper, grill, fender, driver side lights and hood were damaged. I have lived in a couple of the states with the greatest deer densities in the country and few rocks.

Brandon, I think you will have to figure out if you are more likely to go deer hunting or rock hunting with your 80.

 

[Cruiserhead05]

Well truth be known, i deer hunt far more than i wheel and uncounter rocks. i drive home almost everynight at around 12 on back rounds that are filled with deer. i have already replaced one stock bumper b/c of deer be i think i would be dumb to ignore all these opinions. coming this august i will be moving up to northern VA where i will seldom see deer anymore. i think i will end up going with sliders, now the question is can i get them installed before CMCC.

What other choices do i have besides:
Slee
Hanna
MAF- dont think i would go that route though
Marlin crawler- emailed them but no reply yet.
Iron Pig
Custom

Thanks, BD

 

[rgsiii]

I think if time is part of the factor, I'd go with the Slee siders/skid plates. They are very fast in shipping. I think Ken Hanna makes his stuff as it is ordered--at least that is the way he is on bumpers. If Ken has one in stock, they would be a good choice.

The IronPig bumper stuff looked sturdy, but not as well finished as some of the others. It is hard to go wrong with Slee.

 

[Cruiserhead05]

I emailed christo just now and asked about some step sliders. gonna wait to hear back from him. I also emailed ken at hanna a few days ago, no word yet. If i had my first choice i would prob go marlin crawler as i could save 300 bucks would would pay for the T-case plate but i havent heard anything from them. I will also look into iron pig as they are local which is really nice.

 

[cruiserdan]

I did the opposite, bumper and winch first. Bumper because I had the oppourtunity and winch 'cuz I pinched it off of my Dodge truck....

I did not get rocker protection 'til I started to get agressive and run trails that I normally would not.