The odds of you contacting the crush cans only become very remote.

My personal opinion...... Crush cans on an aftermarket steel bumper are to pacify the lawyers and spiff up the marketing brochure with a little FUD.

 

OK. I'm no longer confused but many say I'm ignorant. I went out to the garage and looked at my old bumper and saw the ''cans''. I thought the cans where the ripples at the ends of the frame rails.


JK Howdy

 

I believe the ripples on the frame is a crumple zone. But I could be wrong.

 

How many different bumpers are available now? Has arb come out with one yet? Whats your favorite?

 

I just mounted the mopar winch bumper Saturday. Call your dealer, if you are priceing Quadratec, thaey are almost $200 over dealer list and the dealer will probably give you a discount if you ask. My only beef is the factory fogs, somthing that I'm trying to figure out right now.

 

check the thread a few posts up titled " Front bumper comparisons"

 

I called Quadratec on that difference and the salesman was surprised, but said he will price match.

 

Interesting debate regarding "crush cans". With my 22 years body shop experience I've gotta tell you that they have a very minimal effect on whether or not an airbag will deploy. Of course every manufacturer is different as are their individual models but I'd have to say they are just there to satisfy some stupid DOT regulation and have no real purpose as such.

Case in point, I've seem cars hit super hard in the front with no deployment and then in other cases I've seem cars just lightly tapped with a deployment so go figure. Just repaired a 2002 F-150 front hit with deployment and it didn't even bend the bracket that is welded to the frame. I replaced all the brackets in the bumper itself because of some visible distortions but nothing too bad.

I've seen some Unibody cars that have these sort of sandwiched steel tow hook thingys hanging down and then go over a curb and deploy. Then I've seen cars get completely mangled and airbag sensors smashed and still no deployment. The majority of the time they seem to deploy properly but you never know. Currently working on another vehicle: 2003 Honda Civic front hit with no deployment. Pretty hard hit, close to total but fixing. Needs bumper cover, foam absorber, reinforcement, braces, headlamps, core support, a/c condenser, radiator, hood, hinges, both fenders and about 4 hours on each rail end and guess what? no deployment. Go figure?

On a weird note, I've seen airbags kill and airbags save lives. When the Windstar first came out old guy is driving without seat belt, probably accident speed at less than 25 mph, airbag deploys, brakes old guys neck and severs spinal cord so I was told. Pool of blood on the carpet and on airbag. I welded on a reinforcement, installed a new hood, foam absorber, bumper cover, headlamps and blended fenders. Simple front hit and dude is dead, insuranse fixes car and get repo.

Another case, guy has nearly brand new F-150. Gets ran off road at like 65 mph and hits an oak tree dead center. Truck got dropped off after 5 and I walk out and check it out. It got hit so hard that the engine and transmission have split open the floor tunnel and are sitting exposed inside cab. Airbags deployed with no sign of blood or hair. So I'm checking it out shaking my head and dude walks up, I say hi and proceed to find out he was driving and it happened about an hour before.

Bottom line... don't base your bumper buying decision on "crush cans". I would go for functionality and looks. Needless to say, if you are worried about an accidental deployment out on the trail, disconnect the battery and unplug your airbags. You'll have an SRS light on in your cluster to look at every day but at least your airbag won't ever go off... heh heh

 

not new to Jeeps just new to this internet thing. Wanted to add a little thought that no one has brought up. Air through the radator. A low mounting winch will allow more air through. Our Jk,s already have a heat issue why add to it. I am also looking for a front bumper and reading any and everything possible that will help me decide. I had to come up with a wish list

Here is my wish list for a front bumper.

1) must have fog light cut outs
2) must allow same or better approach angles
3) must have winch opening
4) winch must ride low between rails
5) must have a grill guard
6) my state requires a front license plate
7) must add to the looks of the front end
8) must include a skid plate for front end ( plastic just won't do)
9) must have tow bar hook ups that can be also be used for recovery
10) wife has to approve price

So what is really out there that has it all.

 

AEV, if you can sell the wife on it. :-) You'll have to get one of those roller fairlead clip mounts for your license plate though.

js.