I've been thinking about designing some bumpers and rails. Today I met with the fabricator and our plan is in the works. What I wanted to do was ask you guys and gals what it is that others are lacking that you wish you had whether it's design or style or functionality.

I have a few ideas in my head but wanted to get other people's ideas and opinions before I start.

-Aluminum or steel
-Stubby, mid or full
-Flush mount LED light bar, 10" 20" inserted?
-Recessed License Plate mount
-Synthetic winch fairlead area
-Stinger, hoop
-Possible built in storage for recovery gear
-Recovery points
-Steering box skid plate


Feel free to post pictures of what you've got and things you like about it.

 

Less can be more when it comes to bumpers. Try to do too much with the bumper and it becomes too big, too bulbous, and too heavy. I would leave storage out of the bumper. Mid width or stubby is fine. A hoop preferred over a stinger. Mounts for the stock lights mandatory, and mounts for LED lights optional. Aluminum fairlead perferred. Recovery points mandatory. Steering box skidplate optional.

Here's what I'm running front and rear. They meet my wishes stated above. It would be better if I could get them in aluminum.





For rock rails, a design that doesn't fill with mud flung up by the front tires would be fantastic. It also needs to be high and tight against the body. It doesn't need to function as a step. If people want a step, that is something different than rock rails.

 

Really? Your body mounted sliders will result in body damage when hitting rocks and flexing into the rocker panel where my LoDs with a step won't flex at all.

To the OP - real rock rails can come in all shapes and sizes, but they need to be frame mounted. I think beyond that, most people would like a small flat surface to be able to step on. Looking at it from a market perspective, the market is full of flexy body mounted and body bolt mounted sliders. There are a handful of frame mounted, and some of those require welding. Another unique set of bolt-on, frame mounted sliders is where there is a hole in the market. And think ahead to fitment issues with long arm suspensions and such.

As for bumpers, take a page out of LoDs book and focus on the material. People want light and strong. Get a hold of high stretch steel and make steel bumpers with all the strength and 25%-30% less weight. Aluminum is too expensive and not resistant enough to hard hits.

 

An alloy option IMHO would be the next logical step in any of these items and frankly I'm surprised that we haven't seen a ton of products already available as such and I'm not sure why. Maybe cost vs strength but that's just my amateur guess.

Rear bumper and rock rail options are whatever to me, but I'm a little picky about the cosmetics of the front of my vehicles. Obviously copying an existing design is out totally out of the question. Having acknowledged that, my perfect world front bumper would be an MW3 edition style winch bumper in a lighter alloy if it can be done with sacrificing strength.

Jer

 

Don't need a steering box skid on a jk, so I'd say you're off to a good start on the R&D.

 

I'm actually surprised that there aren't a lot of companies making lightweight options for bumpers and sliders, regardless of material used. I see people asking the question over and over again, about how to shed pounds or keep things light.

I agree with an above comment about keeping it simple when it comes to armor. I see some of the front and rear bumpers out there that look like they were stolen from an F-350 or Diesel RAM.

As for sliders, that's a tricky one. Some people want lightweight and sexy, others want sheer protection. I think Nemesis Billy Rocker is the more innovative of the lightweight sliders, and still seem to work well. Everything else seems to weigh in near (or over) 100 pounds for the protection. One of my personal favorites is the Poison Spyder Rocker Knockers.

Take a look and see what you think! Keep us posted on any prototype photos or design concepts. I'd love to see a new product on the market

 

I agree light and strong is what will put you at an advantage over many others. I kind of feel like bumper designs have been done to death. Finding something no one else offers will help set you apart. Maybe if you pick a particular niche in the market and try to dominate it. For overlanders for example, maybe an enclosed bumper with a internal plastic liner that could be used for a high-pressure water system. Don't need a water washdown, then don't fill it. The weight difference would be minimal. Good luck!

 

For front bumper I'm still looking for the perfect one. I like full width with the rock crawler ends. Factory fog lights are a must bull bar or stinger and recessed winch mount. As light as possible yet affordable...
For sliders I don't want something that sticks out to far to the side because I'm tall enough to lot need it as a step so I get clean spots on the wider rails from the back of my pants. However flat spots that little feet can use as a step is also cool cause my wheeling "buddies" are 10 and under so getting in isn't easy.
Good luck guys!

 

MOPWR2U, what bumpers are those?

 

Poison Spyder Brawler Mid-width on the front, and a Poison Spyder BFH on the rear.