Aluminess front bumper with vent water test

[Gnarvan]

I've decided to run the front bumper for a while as is with the front vents open. I want to see how much water stays in the winch box. I don't have the winch installed yet but I did close up the four winch mounting holes in the bottom of the box. The front receiver hitch bolts to the same holes as the winch so I bolted the hitch on. It was raining off and on all day today but I didn't expose it to any sustained highway miles where the road splash from other vehicles would factor in.

So far, so good, it seems to be draining well. The real test will be on a sustained drive on I-5 in traffic on a heavy rain day.

The photo shows the extra round hole I drilled for winch cable access and the two small holes up high in the center for the center light mount. You can see the stock drain holes at the back of the winch box (not the front like I posted earlier).

The look of the front bumper vents is kind of growing on me and I hope I'll be able to leave them open.

[Ford_6L_E350]

So, are you thinking the water never got in? Or that it somehow drained? How would it drain if you have the bottom holes filled?

Mike

[Gnarvan]

The box comes stock with two drain holes in it. You may have to squint a little to see them in the picture. The holes are on the bottom plate and are lined up with the bumper to frame bolts on the back sidewall of the box. If I don't close off the front vents I'll probably drill at least two or four more drain holes on the bottom plate.

[PatO]

But like you said, with out vents in the back what good are the vents in the front. This front bumper is also on my list and since I would not be planning on having a winch the compartment would be for storage. I already have the Aluminess back bumper and its a handy compartment. No vents for me.

[Gnarvan]

Yea I hear ya on the no vents in the back thing. I was kind of scratching my head about that when I talked to Kenny. A buddy of mine was betting Aluminess just got a new water jet cutting maching and needed something to test it out on.

The same guy has an Aluminess bumper and keeps stuff like gloves in with his winch. He says the gloves have never been wet. He runs a Warn fairlead cover to close off the fairlead hole. He drives in more rain than I do too.

Waterproof storage for tools and things like oil on the front bumper would be nice.

[OttoVolcomSMB]

I have the (older) alluminess bumper for the rear but neither the (new or old) for the front. Stock for now and the rear bumper compartment has ropes, bungees, and used to carry a pair of gloves but I found out that it isn't water resistant. After a week or so after the rain stopped I had opened it to get out the gloves and thru were still wet. I could only imagine having vents in the front.

[Roonie]

For those who are thinking of buying the aluminess front without vents I find the front gets wet more often then the rear aluminess. I have the bumpers on front and back and the water seeps in from the top cover and maybe up through some holes on the bottom where the winch mounts. I use both bumpers for storage but the front is consistently more water than the rear.

[ANZAC]

Originally Posted by Gnarvan

The box comes stock with two drain holes in it.

Mine which I got a few months ago had no drain holes. (see other thread)

[Gnarvan]

Did your bumper without drain holes have the front vents?

[ANZAC]

Originally Posted by Gnarvan

Did your bumper without drain holes have the front vents?

Nope. Just the fairlead hole