Tube bumpers rock! Nice job, if there's a price I would consider especially if it were a weld together kit. I am working on one similar to the Frankie's design with Adam from 4xinnovations. It's fun stuff!
MetalTech front bumper!
- Thread starter CreeperSleeper
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Not being critical at all, I like the design a lot, but what is the thinking with airbag compatibility? Just curious. Doesn't matter to me since my '93 doesn't have airbags, but I'd still like to know if the airbags really don't matter with something like this or if this will still work just fine.
- Thread starter
- #43
The production bumper will be airbag compatable. Not sure if mine is because we cut and welded to the frame... I'll let you know if they ever go off! As for the cost and when it will be available, you will have to start pestering LT about it. (He is the one doing this project, not Mark, as I understand it.) For those who don't like the open tube look, you could just plate between the tube with sheet metal... I'm sure it wouldn't cost too much more to have that as an option.
My feeling is as long as it doesn't make them go off easier, I'm good with that. They require service after 10 years anyway that no-one gets, and even the newest 80 series is 10 years old.
Stingers: We have a customer thast hit a 5 point buck with our med. Stinger on his FJ40 (its about the same size as what’s on Chads 80s) It shoved the animal under the truck 100% , he just had to hose off his axels.
Nope, no aftermarket bumper for the 80 is “air bag approved”. Not even the ARB ones that have been crash tested by ARB. You have to move to the 100 series to start getting into “air bag approved”. When you start putting crumple zones into a bumper, you start removing its ability to work well with a winch. (Mainly side loads with a winch)
Yes Eric has been on me for the last three years to make such a bumper. He ran the proto (non stinger) I made over two years ago. The concept for that bumper came from one he had help make a few years earlier. This new version is a combination of that, LT’s input and Chads. Personally I am not a big fan of welded on bumpers, this was what Chad wanted and what LT had time to do. A production version has always been on the list to build, looks like we will just push it forward a bit. The winch it will be made to hold will be a 9000lb planetary style. I completely agree with what was earlier said on this post, a light weight, high performance bumper is complemented by a similar winch. (My personal favorite right now is the 9.5xp. I have ran a 9.5ti on my 80 for the last two years with no need for a bigger winch.)
Mark
I like it a lot over the arb. As much as I hate the the "football helmet face guard look", I would like to see a hoop wrap around over the headlights and turn signals. It might offer protection to some parts that are not going to be chopped off and would further reinforce the ends.
The Can Opener flop was before the bumper... You can tell by the way my pass fender looks in this pic:
Oh, crap. You have like 10 threads going back from the dead. I have no clue, so I'll shut up. I can't keep up with this while sitting on this miserable conference call
- Thread starter
- #54
I am in for one too! I recently got my MetalTech sliders and there are the s***! I love them! So I am looking forward to having one of there bumpers. Now, if they could make it a DIY like some of there cages to keep the cost down. This would make management 
happy. Just a thought! I have been bugging LT about this for a while. Dave
Yes please do!
X2 .. and looking forward on the price ..
I have finished the beta version of the FZJ80 tube bumper. It will have a winch mount integrated into it but you will only be able to use a limited number of winches. Winches with a remote solenoid are the only ones that can be used. I made this bumper as high clearance as possible, I believe it sticks out about 4" past the frame rail... could be a little less. I have added a 30* ramp to the face of the bumper for added clearance and the ability to act like a slider going up or down a rock.
The tubing is very similar to Chad's but with some slight twists to it. I have lowered the wing supports down for the ac canister and possibly might be making the main wing portion all one piece instead of 3 individual ones like Chad's. With that thought in mind it would allow us to offer different stinger sizes or no stinger at all. The one on our 80 series I made about the size of Chad's, might be a little bigger.
We are looking at around a ballpark price of $800 but that is not solid. We will know when we have definite numbers from laser cutting and time to assemble one.
The tubing is very similar to Chad's but with some slight twists to it. I have lowered the wing supports down for the ac canister and possibly might be making the main wing portion all one piece instead of 3 individual ones like Chad's. With that thought in mind it would allow us to offer different stinger sizes or no stinger at all. The one on our 80 series I made about the size of Chad's, might be a little bigger.
We are looking at around a ballpark price of $800 but that is not solid. We will know when we have definite numbers from laser cutting and time to assemble one.
LT, I just got my sliders from Mark right before GSMTR last week and I love them. Can you put me on the list to notify when the bumper is available? Do you have an expected date? Next month, next winter, next year? Thanks in advance.
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