Why does every bumper look the same?

[DeckerT4R]

Why does every winch bumper look exactly the same?

Ok ok, the VPR is different and ARB is just slightly different, but TJM, IRONMAN, Dobinson, etc look identical. Are these all the same and are just being rebadged?

are these all just Chinese knockoffs with a different sticker on them? I tried searching about but couldn't find anything.

 

[Willy beamin]

interesting because my perception is the Dobinson and Ironman both took styling points from the ARB.
The VPR and the TJM have not been replicated

I do think I remember finding a made in China sticker on my TJM...I could be wrong on that but something makes me think I did see that

Only so many ways to compliment the face of this truck and still achieve structural integrity - any tube frame bumpers you like?

 

[200 Custodian]

Only so many ways to compliment the face of this truck and still achieve structural integrity - any tube frame bumpers you like?

That's a big part of it. Another part of it is the cost and ease of manufacturing. There are many compound curves on the vehicle, however material is most often sold in sheets, and tubes of various shapes. One can only do so much with sheets and tubes. To go beyond that, you need specialized equipment to make shapes. For example, if you want a sheet rolled into a curve, you need a plate roller. To make various radius curves with various materials, you need various dies. Not only is the equipment expensive, the tooling to make the equipment do what you want it to do is expensive.

I have a friend who makes Jeep bumpers as a hobby. He's in that market because Jeeps are pervasive. The equipment necessary to make some relatively simple pieces, in volume and repeatable, exceeded $50,000, and his stuff has no curves to it.

The big players with the money to invest in equipment set the trend in what's made and how it looks.

 

[DeckerT4R]

So does anyone have like a dobinson on their 200 or even 100 for that matter? How's the quality? On my Tacoma prior to my 200 I had an ARB and I lean that way again but the cost of an ARB for this truck seems crazy. I think I paid $14-1500 for my Tacoma and it's like $2300 for the 200 and looks practically identical.

 

[Willy beamin]

@RS6tofj80 is running a Dobinson

 

[Atwalz]

I like exp-one.com bumpers. But they don't make one for LC.

 

[DeckerT4R]

@RS6tofj80 is running a Dobinson

Thanks. I'll ask him what he thinks of it.

 

[RS6tofj80]

just responded to you.... I'll be passing by you coming down rom Kooks shop in NC on Friday if you want to check it out....

 

[Chocolate]

@Ali FJ80 put the Dobinson's bar on his LX. I think it looks great.

Dobinsons Front winch bumper options

 

[40Man]

I like exp-one.com bumpers. But they don't make one for LC.

Agreed. I had an Exp-One on my Tundra, and it was awesome. I did inquire with them about the possibility of making one for the 200, but haven't heard back. They make a great product that was easy to install.

 

[Atwalz]

Agreed. I had an Exp-One on my Tundra, and it was awesome. I did inquire with them about the possibility of making one for the 200, but haven't heard back. They make a great product that was easy to install.

I contacted them last year. And they said no based on the small market they don't want to pursue.

 

[marketShark]

Do ARB, Dobinsons, Ironman, TJM replacement bumpers ever go on sale? I prefer not to pay MSRP if I can avoid it

I found an overseas ad for Dobinsons inventory reduction sale, but that was last year.

 

[Markuson]

interesting because my perception is the Dobinson and Ironman both took styling points from the ARB.
The VPR and the TJM have not been replicated

I do think I remember finding a made in China sticker on my TJM...I could be wrong on that but something makes me think I did see that

Only so many ways to compliment the face of this truck and still achieve structural integrity - any tube frame bumpers you like?

My thought exactly (@Willy beamin).
The Dobinson is far more similar to the ARB than the TJM.
-TJM opens up the grill with angled uprights, vs. ARB/Dob's perpendicular uprights.
-TJM is a full replacement bumper, where the ARB involves cutting and partially using the factory bumper.
-Finally, the TJM does not use rubber bumpers like the ARB, opting instead for solid metal pushers (might be messy if you used them as pushers for that reason).

TJM T13 has a new design for 2016+ 200’s. Mine, Willy's and @MScruiser’s are the less angular T13 compared with the update for the latest 200 facelift.

 

[LALC]

I don't know why TJM doesn't have a web page with pictures for any of their 200-series bumpers on their website.

 

[RS6tofj80]

I liked the TJM but their US service and reliabilty left me cold...... Dobinson really excelled on that front, and I am very happy so far.... and the Price was excellent - and I almost never buy based on price. I think the dobinson is a cross of the ARB and TJM....

Maybe Slee could do a "mulberry" for the 200 .....or a "peach".... ?! I suspect as the used market hits the 20-30 range there will be more but there are alot less 200's then LX.... and unlike the 100's they're not interchangalble for the msot part so it's a much smaller audience....



Cheers

 

[Markuson]

I don't know why TJM doesn't have a web page with pictures for any of their 200-series bumpers on their website.

The last couple of years for TJM have been turbulent. They went though (I believe) a sale of the company...and have a new US import office that is still fairly new. They also went through manufacturing changes, including some issues where they replaced a manufacturer. All of these issues (and probably more I know nothing about) led to a huge delay in getting bumpers in the US. I waited QUITE some time for mine--despite the fact that their new distributor is only 15 minutes from my house. 5 T13's came stateside with my order, and I believe 3 or those were bought by Slee (likely long gone now). My understanding is more are available, but lead time is needed.

My impression of the T13 is that it is every bit as robust as ARB if not more...but with a little less refined look. The bull bar extends all the way through the bumper for additional bracing/leverage/strength, and I personally like the somewhat more utilitarian look of it compared to some other options. I have nothing bad to say about the competition. Just a personal choice this time around.

 

[brasskey]

TJM does have pictures of their 200 series bumpers on the AU website. I think the US site is lacking because of the distribution issues mentioned. They have three full bumper replacement models for 2008-2015 vehicles. For the newer 2016+ models, they have two models (a full replacement and bumper cut).

2008-2015
Front Bumpers | TJM Australia | 4x4 Accessories


2016+
Front Bumpers | TJM Australia | 4x4 Accessories

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

I liked the TJM but their US service and reliabilty left me cold...... Dobinson really excelled on that front, and I am very happy so far.... and the Price was excellent - and I almost never buy based on price. I think the dobinson is a cross of the ARB and TJM....

Maybe Slee could do a "mulberry" for the 200 .....or a "peach".... ?! I suspect as the used market hits the 20-30 range there will be more but there are alot less 200's then LX.... and unlike the 100's they're not interchangalble for the msot part so it's a much smaller audience....

Cheers

Depends on the pricing the consumer is willing to pay.... The front I built for @TonyP would require a 34 stem/leg jig to repeat that bumper with laser cut pieces. That jig alone would be upwards of $8K to build, with time and materials and then to test fit the first 4-6 bumpers on customers rigs for a quality repeatability.

I looked at a production run for that front and the best case scenario would be 1800$ per bumper. It would take around 16-20 orders to break even.

J

 

[Romer]

Bull bars look similar because it is the tried and true design. I will always get a Bull bar. Sarah has a TJM Bull bar on her 100. I know a friend who hit a deer on the highway and just had to wash it off. It is the upper supports that gives you the extra piece of mind

you can see where the car scraped against the upper bar as it slide down the side in the below link. Without that I am sure the fender etc would have been damaged

Daughterofromer learned the value of Armor - Accident

 

[TonyP]

I, personally, wasn't interested in a bull bar. Not yet at least. Maybe in the future I'll add one when the need arises, but I'm happy with what I have for now. It's done it's job already.