Ingredients for a rear bumper

[pfran42]

What would be on your (realistic) list for a 100 Series rear bumper if you were given a clean slate? Also, consider that every feature added incurs additional parts, materials, and labor that must be rolled into the price of the final offering. Finally, keep in mind that custom requests slow down the entire manufacturing process. The idea here is to come up with a bumper that most would agree on.

I will be taking suggestions from this thread and adding them to this post so that we can all get a good idea of what the collective has to say.

Here are some suggestions to get you started: (Material thickness, 100% bolt-on, rear cross member must be cut, hitch configurations, latch types, bearing types, dual swing-out, single centered swing-out, offset single swing-arm, light tabs, recovery point locations, swing-arm struts, safety mechanisms for full open/close, departure angles, aux light cutouts, jack mount, shovel mount, etc.).

Remember, this is for a 100 Series only.

1. As high clearance as possible without having to cut into frame
2. Recovery points located directly behind the frame rails
3. Capped wheel well ends
4. CB mount
5. Hi-Lift Mount
6. Embedded LED lights
7.
8.
9...

 

[2000UZJ]

My dream bumper consists of these things:
-High clearance (maybe a little snugger than Slee).
-integrated hitch (similar to BIOR), spare tire on the driver side (won't block your rear vision as much).
-removable carriers (if I want to remove it when I'm not wheeling for a while, I live in the city, in and out alot, I'm sure you know what I mean).
-Locking pin on swing out (I know it's a pain in the ass to pull it up each time but that one time you don't have it and the latch fails...).
-Recovery points that are located directly behind frame rails.
-Capped wheel well ends (I know you love those)
- CB mount on rear tire carrier (similar to Slee)
- Small tabs for rear lighting above tire carrier
- Hi-lift mount


I think a swing-arm strut is a great idea, I like it better than the safety pin, but is it more reliable and what is stronger in the event of a latch failure? I don't think anybody has had one happen on a 100 yet. But I'm sure most would like to have the safety system just in case. If a bumper requires cutting the cross member, I could care less. I'm all about clearance, that is what the 100 has the most trouble with in my eyes. A bumper with great departure angles and sits very close to the body would be perfect.

 

[Taylor O]

My dream bumper consists of these things:
-High clearance (maybe a little snugger than Slee).
-integrated hitch (similar to BIOR), spare tire on the driver side (won't block your rear vision as much).
-removable carriers (if I want to remove it when I'm not wheeling for a while, I live in the city, in and out alot, I'm sure you know what I mean).
-Locking pin on swing out (I know it's a pain in the ass to pull it up each time but that one time you don't have it and the latch fails...).
-Recovery points that are located directly behind frame rails.
-Capped wheel well ends (I know you love those)
- CB mount on rear tire carrier (similar to Slee)
- Small tabs for rear lighting above tire carrier
- Hi-lift mount


I think a swing-arm strut is a great idea, I like it better than the safety pin, but is it more reliable and what is stronger in the event of a latch failure? I don't think anybody has had one happen on a 100 yet. But I'm sure most would like to have the safety system just in case. If a bumper requires cutting the cross member, I could care less. I'm all about clearance, that is what the 100 has the most trouble with in my eyes. A bumper with great departure angles and sits very close to the body would be perfect.

100% agree plus add a rear winch mount

 

[OregonLC]

Embedded LED lights (amber flasher, red brake) a la ARB.

 

[pfran42]

-integrated hitch (similar to BIOR),
-Spare tire on the driver side (won't block your rear vision as much).

I thought the BIOR hitch locking pin was kind of a pain to get to if you do a lot of towing? Please correct me if I am wrong.

Would you be cool with notching your frame in order to get a bumper with a BIOR type hitch installed?

Also, wouldn't the spare on the driver side add to the "Cruiser lean"?

100% agree plus add a rear winch mount

I think that would fall under the "customization" category. I bet at least 8 out of 10 people would not need/want this feature. There is a thread out there where Mike (BIOR) added that feature for his brother-in-law's 100:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series...ar-bumper-storage-installed-bump-offroad.html

Very cool bumper!

Embedded LED lights (amber flasher, red brake) a la ARB.

Noted.

 

[Taylor O]

I thought the BIOR hitch locking pin was kind of a pain to get to if you do a lot of towing? Please correct me if I am wrong.

Would you be cool with notching your frame in order to get a bumper with a BIOR type hitch installed?

Also, wouldn't the spare on the driver side add to the "Cruiser lean"?



I think that would fall under the "customization" category. I bet at least 8 out of 10 people would not need/want this feature. There is a thread out there where Mike (BIOR) added that feature for his brother-in-law's 100:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series...ar-bumper-storage-installed-bump-offroad.html

Very cool bumper!

Noted.

I saw that thread that bumper is sick! The storge idea was an awesome addition too

 

[pman]

I think that would fall under the "customization" category. I bet at least 8 out of 10 people would not need/want this feature. There is a thread out there where Mike (BIOR) added that feature for his brother-in-law's 100:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series...ar-bumper-storage-installed-bump-offroad.html

Very cool bumper!

I want a winch in the rear bumper. Also you cant say people dont want or need it when the only way to get it is a custom build.

If the Slee or BIO made a production bumper with the winch mount, you would probably see more people with them. And anyone who says it is too costly or difficult to build a production bumper with a winch is a

Just go look at the road armor and expedition one rear bumpers. They offer rear winch mounts for different vehicles.

 

[OregonLC]

I want a winch in the rear bumper. Also you cant say people dont want or need it when the only way to get it is a custom build.

If the Slee or BIO made a production bumper with the winch mount, you would probably see more people with them. And anyone who says it is too costly or difficult to build a production bumper with a winch is a

Just go look at the road armor and expedition one rear bumpers. They offer rear winch mounts for different vehicles.

Seems like there's no 'perfect solution'. Either you build out the bumper to accommodate the winch and suffer departure angle or you go with a hitch mount and suffer strength.

 

[TheFuzz]

Just echoing off of what has already been said:

I like the idea of integrated LED lighting, both white light (that can be tapped into the reverse circuit AND be activated manually for working around the rig at night or hooking up a trailer) as well as red/amber for brake and signals, respectively.

As for CB antenna mounts, I am no electronic guru but doesn't mounting the CB stick at the bumper level reduce your range significantly? Or are you suggesting mounting it higher up on the tire carrier so that it clears the roofline?

Edit: Just saw Nick's post RE the tire carrier CB mount. That makes more sense.

 

[pman]

Seems like there's no 'perfect solution'. Either you build out the bumper to accommodate the winch and suffer departure angle or you go with a hitch mount and suffer strength.

True, you can only optimize the design, never perfect it. That said, from the measurements I have made, the loss in clearance over a non winch rear would be very minimal. Assuming you go with the design I've come up with. Hitch mount winches are a bad joke in my opinion.


I would like to have a place to atleast put back up lights in the rear bumper. Brake and turn signals as well would be nice too.

 

[coveboy]

Why not instead of a hitch mount winch have a removable winch cradle option similar to a hitch mount but much stronger? Almost like twin hitch mounts for added strength that the cradle slides into and secured with a couple pins, much like a hitch mounted winch, just strong.

 

[pman]

Why not instead of a hitch mount winch have a removable winch cradle option similar to a hitch mount but much stronger? Almost like twin hitch mounts for added strength that the cradle slides into and secured with a couple pins, much like a hitch mounted winch, just strong.

It sounds great in theory, but a 9.5xp alone is like 90 pounds. Add the cradle and you have well over 110-120 lbs to lug around. Also that means when you dont need the winch to you have to find somewhere to keep it, unless you leave it hanging off the back of the truck all the time. Which completely murders any clearance you had.

 

[nakman]

Easy to use latch system for the swing-out.. needs to be easy enough for the wife to do with one hand, while holding a baby in the other. In my travels the Kaymar has done the best job with this, if there others I'd like to see them. I hate those red handle things that most of the majors use.. they are a deterrent to using the back door, which defeats a big reason why you bought a wagon in the first place. give me a swing-out your momma could open.

 

[wildsmith]

The OEM swing out is a one handed operation, but it isn't a bumper swing out.

 

[moooooooo]

when i get around to it, the Slee rear bar is what i want.
Even if our dollar goes back to $0.50c USD...still the best rear bar in my opinion.
cheers
peter

 

[sleeoffroad]

Winch in the rear bumper can only be done if the cross member is removed. Then it can be bolted to the face of the bumper. Otherwise you have to put a box / cradle between the frame rail and cut two slots in the rear cross member for the wire to exit. We have done that, but it is a major pita. For a variety of reasons we do not advocate cutting the rear cross member out.

As for easy latch, ARB is the only one that has this, but their bumper is overly complicated. The have a slam latch with what should be a one hand pull to open. In all the ones we installed the adjustment was a PITA and you have to slam the think like crazy to get it shut. It is the closest to a easy system there is, but I have my doubts on all the adjustment pieces and how they are going to fare with corrosion as well as vibrations on the long term.

Believe me, I have racked my brain about a better latch, but still no perfect solution has sprung to mind.

 

[hoser]

I'm happy with my Slee rear bumper. But for version 3.0:

-I'd like the 80 series side-wing bars carried over to the 100 series version
-the option of gas struts (already welded mounts) and just use the safety lock when in the closed position. This would also allow one handed operation.
-since I can wish for anything, I'd like the bumper to be suitable for stock body height and adjustable for 1" body lift.
-and as already mentioned several times, an easier to use latching mechanism

 

[TheFuzz]

-since I can wish for anything, I'd like the bumper to be suitable for stock body height and adjustable for 1" body lift.

That little bit right there would be awesome. Not sure how possible it is, but it would be really great to have that kind of adjustability.

 

[spressomon]

Love my Slee rear bumper (front too!); its certainly taken a beating over the years...but they'd be even better/perfect for me if they were built for 1" body lift. Special run Christo? Don't cha just love us here?

maybe have to fire the Spectrum 625 up...

Although I'd certainly like and utilize a rear bumper with a bit less overhang I wouldn't off my 25-gallon aux tank to facilitate it...

 

[pman]

For a variety of reasons we do not advocate cutting the rear cross member.

Since you have more experience than most of us, can you give some of the reasons? Obviously there is the rigidity factor, but other than that I can't really see anything else.