HEFTY Fabworks Rear Bumper Wings!
- Thread starter ardentyota
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As someone with 1 foot in the market exploring "inexpensive" rear bumper with tire swingout options, the "separate wings with swingouts" idea is a great one, and it seems to have been very well implemented- very solid. I hate to keep bringing up pricing, but I think the main advantage people would expect with this setup vs. a full bumper would be price. For example, Kaymar used to offer a tire swingout that mounted to additional bracing attached beneath one of the stock plastic end caps- IIRC it was around $500-600, and I seriously considered it because the price difference was big enough vs. a full bumper. However, with the HFW wings at $725 + $300 for one swingout = $1025 + powdercoating = $1125 on a good day? -- this approaches the realm of the cheaper full bumpers with swingouts. If I'm already spending $1125 for the wings w/ 1 swingout, and if $225 more gets me a BumpIt full bumper with swingout (already powdercoated), then I don't think it's surprising that I might lean toward just getting the full bumper.
And this is where the price point difference I was expecting comes into play- because the price difference is not enough to justify just getting side wings when a full bumper is not that much more. That, and the fact that the side protection isn't compatible with my LX (seems to me these should've been designed for the LX- that way they'd work on both the LC and LX) is what is making me look at other options.
Please understand that I'm not trying to bash your product, just giving you honest feedback from someone with a foot in the market looking for an inexpensive rear bumper with swingout solution. I think the idea is great, the implementation is great, and it definitely serves a niche market, but IMHO that niche market consists mostly of people looking for a real price advantage over a full bumper, to the point that they're willing to sacrifice getting a full bumper to just get wings instead. But pricing as it is comes too close to the full bumpers. I'd compare it to spending $4 for a 6" Subway sandwich when $5 gets you the footlong.
And this is where the price point difference I was expecting comes into play- because the price difference is not enough to justify just getting side wings when a full bumper is not that much more. That, and the fact that the side protection isn't compatible with my LX (seems to me these should've been designed for the LX- that way they'd work on both the LC and LX) is what is making me look at other options.
Please understand that I'm not trying to bash your product, just giving you honest feedback from someone with a foot in the market looking for an inexpensive rear bumper with swingout solution. I think the idea is great, the implementation is great, and it definitely serves a niche market, but IMHO that niche market consists mostly of people looking for a real price advantage over a full bumper, to the point that they're willing to sacrifice getting a full bumper to just get wings instead. But pricing as it is comes too close to the full bumpers. I'd compare it to spending $4 for a 6" Subway sandwich when $5 gets you the footlong.
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I can have pics soon.
As far as the price goes. To be completely honest I wouldn't build a set of these for a penny less! The reason is that they are a total pain in the butt to build and take a ton of time to get them right. Honestly We build full bumpers for the Ford, Chevy, Nissan, Jeep crowds and make more money on them in less time. If I had my way I would raise the price but then again I could just build a full bumper to and be like everyone else. I'm happy to fill a niche but the bottom line is you get what you pay for. I would be happy to put the strength of our 80 series wings up against any other aftermarket bumper. This wasn't meant to sound snide or anything but I have a business to run and times are tough enough as it is. I can't give them away.
As far as the price goes. To be completely honest I wouldn't build a set of these for a penny less! The reason is that they are a total pain in the butt to build and take a ton of time to get them right. Honestly We build full bumpers for the Ford, Chevy, Nissan, Jeep crowds and make more money on them in less time. If I had my way I would raise the price but then again I could just build a full bumper to and be like everyone else. I'm happy to fill a niche but the bottom line is you get what you pay for. I would be happy to put the strength of our 80 series wings up against any other aftermarket bumper. This wasn't meant to sound snide or anything but I have a business to run and times are tough enough as it is. I can't give them away.
Hefty- I understand the sidewings you've designed for the 80s are more intricately designed vs. other manufacturer's bumpers and other products you produce, esp. because they are not being supported by a center piece, and this drives up labor cost. You've got what looks like a great product, and I hope it does well for you.
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Last set we shipped was 130 lbs with the tire carrier. But that included the wood crate. I would bet the wings weigh about 80lbs. The tire carrier about 30 lbs. The other swing out is between 20 and 30 lbs depending on the options chosen. Unfortunately strength requires weight in this situation.
This looks like a solid well made option for those considering a rear bumper tire carrier solution.
Why can't you offer an 80 series rear bumper for $595 like you can for the F series / bronco? Are the wings that much more of a pain in the butt to build? Would building a full bumper instead be easier? And still make money by selling it at the same price as the F series / Bronco bumper?
Why can't you offer an 80 series rear bumper for $595 like you can for the F series / bronco? Are the wings that much more of a pain in the butt to build? Would building a full bumper instead be easier? And still make money by selling it at the same price as the F series / Bronco bumper?
- Thread starter
- #89
Chris will probably have better details, but the main reason comes down to complexity. The F-series rear bumpers are a sing piece of steel with 3 bends, and some brackets. Weld them together, and some D-ring mounts and some finishing and you're done. He probably has 4-5 times the amount of work and time into the LC bumper wings. The wings are made from 6-8 pieces each IIRC, 3 bends on each side, plus brackets and the kicked-out tube if you want one. Then the Tire carrier adds the same amount whether the F-Series or LC.
I'll let Chris comment on the full bumper part.
Chris will probably have better details, but the main reason comes down to complexity. The F-series rear bumpers are a sing piece of steel with 3 bends, and some brackets. Weld them together, and some D-ring mounts and some finishing and you're done. He probably has 4-5 times the amount of work and time into the LC bumper wings. The wings are made from 6-8 pieces each IIRC, 3 bends on each side, plus brackets and the kicked-out tube if you want one. Then the Tire carrier adds the same amount whether the F-Series or LC.
I'll let Chris comment on the full bumper part.
That is the exact reason. They really are that much more complicated. The Ford and chevy bumpers are literally 3 pieces of steel. The 80 series are 10 separate pieces that have to be absolutely perfectly assembled or they don't fit properly. I put about 5 times the amount of time into a set of 80 series wings. The cost is a reflection of the labor involved in building them not the materials. We should be coming out with a tube style front and rear bumper that will be much more affordable in the near future. As far as building a full bumper. We will build what ever you want. We build each bumper to order so feel free to contact us with what your looking for and we can probably work it out.
Chris
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- #92
- Thread starter
- #94
It depends on how much work Chris has going on. I talked to him yesterday and he had one set of these, a set of FR+RR bumpers for an XTerra, a rear bumper for a 70's Bronco and 2 or 3 Front bumpers for a k-5 Blazer to build.
I don't know how long all that will actually take him, but I know they're worth the wait!
I ordered a set yesterday. Chris seemed very helpful and answered all of my questions. Said it would be between four and five weeks for my order. Guess I have to wait. I ordered the wings with the driver side tire swingout and a stud on the passenger side incase I want to add another swingout down the road.
Yeah we build to order in the order they come in. Right now we are getting ready for a huge event in Moab in 2 weeks that we are sponsoring so our lead time has been slightly extended. Normally we try to build and ship within 3 weeks. Right now we are at about 5 weeks. Powder coating requires an extra week. kz thanks for the order!
your math is wrong on the 4x4 labs bumper, like he said, it is much more expensive, especially when you start adding ladders and gas can carriers
That makes them even more of a pain but we did it. We use a filler piece that attaches to the lower opening of the mudflap to fill the gap left by the plastic factory wing things. They still look kinda funny though. The factory mud flaps look huge with our bumper design.