Propickup Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/150744
TrailReady Full Guard Well-designed heavy-duty winch bumpers have provisions for the OE running lights as well as mounting tabs for off-road lights and other accessories. This Fab Fours bumper on ProPickup's Big Red project GMC was coated with Line-X Ultimate prior to installation. example, bumpers and grille guards made with stout material is critical to good front (and rear) vehicle protection; 1/8-inch tubing is better than 1/16-inch, 1/4-inch steel plate stronger than 3/16-inch. Also look for bumpers that have fully welded construction of internal gussets, "D"-rings and grille guards. In most instances you'll have to read the product description closely to learn what material and what thickness is used in a manufacturer's bumpers. Bumpers with upward-angled "wings" are nice because they provide additional tire clearance. This is an advantage particularly when running over-size (33to 35-inch) tires, or when driving over terrain where the suspension is being maxed out while the tires are sharply turned. OTHER ACCESSORIES When you're buying an aftermarket bumper, make sure it has all the tabs and brackets you'll need to use the OE turn signals, add auxiliary lights, and off-road accessories. It's also wise make sure the new bumper will reuse the stock mounting locations, which makes mounting the bumper much faster than having to drill new holes in the frame or frame-horn extensions. As for the stock bumper(s), keep them. Cover them in plastic, put the factory bolts and mounting hardware in plastic bags, and TrailReady Bumpers now offers an all-new Full Guard Styling. These U.S.A.-made bumpers are angular, tight fitting, and compact, with an over-all smooth appearance. They are excellent as stand-alone, clean base bumpers (no tubing) or with the Full Guard. Rectangular lighting or round lighting is optional; winch capacity to 16,500 pounds. Bumpers available for all full-sized vehicles back 20 years. www.trailready.com; (888) 910-2999 Spyder Pro Bar Spyder Industries Black Venom Bull Bars are the most unique heavy-duty bars on the market. They protect the grille with angled steel tube and powder-coated with a durable fine texture powder coating. They offer four light mounts with holes for internal wiring. www.spyderindustries.com; (877) 665-6705 BUMPERS: HEAVY DUTY PRODUCT SHOWCASE Fab Fours Black Steel HD Fab Fours' Black Steel HD line allows you to meet the needs of Ford, GM and Ram heavy-duty pickups. The factory-replacement front and rear bumpers come standard with grille guards and mounts for OEM fog/backup lights and sensors. Options include bolt-on winch mounts; 3/4-inch D-ring mounts; and 2-inch bolt-on front receiver. fabfours.com; (866) 385-1905 Body Armor 4x4 Ford Rear Bumper Need a tough bumper to protect the rear of those 1999-2013 Ford Super Duties? Look no further than Body Armor 4x4's 3/16-inch plate steel rear bumper. It's strong enough to handle the abuse around any jobsite. Features include a recessed pocket in the center of the bumper for the license plate, retains the OEM trailer hitch, and dual "D"-shackle plates for recovery points. www.bodyarmor4x4.com; (951) 808-0750 Bulldog Winch Grille Guard Bulldog Winch, a value leader in the winch and accessories marketplace, now offers the modular Pickup Grille Guard. The powder-coated, bolt-together three-piece design allows for more flexible mounting options when up-fitting a pickup: grille guard, headlight guards, and winch mounting plates for winches up to 15k. Mix and match as needed. Three-year limited finish warranty. www.bulldogwinch.com; (623) 581-0121 Buckstop Bumpers Buckstop is a premier manufacturer of front and rear heavy-duty bumpers for trucks, vans, and SUVs with applications from the mid-1980s to current model vehicles. Buckstop prides itself on a smooth, clean, OEM looking product coupled with extensive options for customization. Each bumper includes trailer receiver, OEM tow hooks, latching winch access door, 6-inch built-in light mounts and powder-coat finish. Made in USA. www.buckstop.biz; (800) 431-6978 store in a safe location. Put the OE bumpers back on and transfer the heavyduty bumper(s) to another truck, when it comes time to trade-in or selling that truck. SAFETY CONCERNS When choosing an after-market bumper, look for models de- signed to work with the factory occupant protection (air bag) systems and any "proximity" or parking sensors – front and rear. OE parking sensors are very propickupmag.com PROPICKUP 29 ProPickup_2013BB_Bumpers.indd 29 8/6/13 9:56 AM