Toying with Aluminum Rear Bumper Swing Out Set Up

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maxdog1969

maxdog1969

Joined
May 3, 2009
Threads
47
Messages
266
Location
San Diego, CA
Thinking of getting my fabricator to design me an aluminum bumper set up similar to the ARB rear design with dual swing out but with better Departing angle, with the weight saving factor. I know the steel vs. aluminum debate, perhaps for the rock wheelers out there steel would be better choice but for an overlander and camper like myself, aluminum would be a better fit. Ofcourse if the costs would be too prohibitive, steel it is. Any thought on this. Aluminess had been making beautiful stout bumpers for the Sportsmobile for years but damn they are ultra expensive, my buddy had a conversion 4x4 van and he dropped nearly 10k on front/rear/top rack and bumpers. The weight that he saved was tremendous plus no rust factor.

Will be doing home work with my fabricator if feasible, it is on. I will probably have him design/ fab me an aluminum roof rack also.
 
Interesting. I always wondered why no one made Aluminum after market products. Seeing the new alum skids that Slee sells makes me wonder if others will enter into that space. I'm interested to see how much more $$ it will cost for a rear bumper.
 
Guessing the swing out is the challenge for alum design, lot stress in one spot. But $$$ can overcome must challenges. ;)
 
Aluminess is 15 minutes away from my house, I contacted them about designing me one but it would be the prototype design and costs would be too prohibitive as the 100 is not a common platform/demand. They make some awesome products though. As such, I will talk to my professional metal fabricator to see if he can design me one that is "affordable". Keeping my fingers crossed, he is currently busy with fabricating mods on my offroad trailer. Once he is done with that, we will sit down and figure out the details of rear bumper, maybe front too since my Sahara bar is still on order until another 8 weeks, I still can cancel.
 
I dont know enough about the fab required to make it a weight saving deal and safe. But, my BOIR isnt "that" heavy.

I am not into rock crawling by any means. But even with my BIO bumper giving better departure angles, the back ends on these things still find a way to scrape and bang on things. Now, if you stick to gravel roads and Forrest service roads you will probably never have an issue. I look forward to see what you come up with. Especially the roof rack.
 
Agreed.
There are tons of good & affordable options out there that don't weigh a ton. You're looking a saving a few tiny pounds on a 6000 pound land yacht. The cost benefit does not compute.
 
Absolutely, this will come down to financial analysis as to dollars versus per pound saving. My preliminary communication with my fabricator also confirmed with you guys that "the weight saving between the two won't be that significant".

As for the roof rack, I would like to "borrow" the Front Runner slim rack design. I like the profile and the aesthetic of it. The Front Runner rack is priced about $1500 with tax which is a sizable cost. Trying to save a dollar here and there to meet my build out budget.
 
maxdog1969 said:
As for the roof rack, I would like to "borrow" the Front Runner slim rack design. I like the profile and the aesthetic of it. The Front Runner rack is priced about $1500 with tax which is a sizable cost. Trying to save a dollar here and there to meet my build out budget.
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I definitely hear you on that. And since you are local I am really interested to see what you come up with. By chance have you looked at the Gamiviti racks? He has a flat version that is $480.

Gamiviti - roof racks
 
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