Front Bumper Recommendations

[nevwild]

Hey all,
Looking to upgrade the front bumper on my 2003 E-350.
I take this van offroad fairly regularly, and would like to have a winch.
Also, I am freaked out about hitting a deer and totaling the van, and I would love to have a full grille protector.
Anything I should be actively avoiding?
Not really sold on any bumper in particular at this point.
Any pros/cons on aluminum vs steel?
I like the weight savings on aluminum, but dang its expensive and i'm not convinced it would fully protect the vehicle as well as steel in the event of smacking an elk or deer.

Looking at Aluminess, Move, WeldTec, or Ujoint

 

[Twoxentrix]

Interesting timing on this question. I (unfortunately) hit a Deer early this morning. Impact was directly in front of the driver - just off-center on the bumper and traveling about 50mph (just snowed here)
Some people in the past have commented on the strength & integrity of an aluminum bumper (believing steel is stronger).
I can with say with certainty the Aluminess front bumper’s integrity need not be questioned.
Full sized deer, and when I got out to inspect the impact area there was no evidence of any damage…other than the small section of the front bumper that is located just below the cut-out for the fog light. It was pushed inward ever so slightly - about 3/8”. I’ll easily be able to push that back out using my bottle jack and a piece of 2x4. I’ll prop the base of the jack against the ground and the front tire, then cut a piece of 2x4 so it meets that small section and just push it back out. Didn’t affect the seams on either side at all.
Fortunately I have the ‘extra’ cross bar (which Aluminess offers - easily installed by myself) located across the front of the grill. Without that bar I may have had some damage to the front grill area…I know the bar absorbed some of the impact because of the location & size of the Deer, but it happened so quickly I can’t say to what degree…in any case, no damage to any of it.
So, I’ll gladly endorse Aluminess, coupled with the fact you don’t have to worry about rust…ever.

 

[carringb]

Also check out Buckstop.

 

[vandiesel]

I also hit a deer (4 point mule deer) going around 65. I saw it and down shifted and punched it. His head hit the winch and full body hit the driver side of my aluminess bumper. I concur that the aluminess was up to the task. The rear aluminess also was hit as it ripped off all my driver side things. Water fill, fender flare, shore power, and step all torn off. There was a full rump roast in the rear bumper.

 

[1der]

The Aluminess bumper has many benefits compared to steel -
weight and storage capacity are the main ones. Having a flat surface to stand on or be a work surface is a great design feature. Minor bends can be be pushed/pulled out. One person install.

A minor downside is they look a bit funky without Bushwacker flares.

The steel bumpers are like tanks. It is a two person installation for any of the larger units.

Either way - probably a good idea to move very quickly before tariffs drive the price further up.

 

[1der]

I also hit a deer (4 point mule deer) going around 65. I saw it and down shifted and punched it. His head hit the winch and full body hit the driver side of my aluminess bumper. I concur that the aluminess was up to the task. The rear aluminess also was hit as it ripped off all my driver side things. Water fill, fender flare, shore power, and step all torn off. There was a full rump roast in the rear bumper.

Punched it with the new 7.3 and 6 speed ?? If so, dang, you must have been hungry!!!!


Glad you guys are okay:d8:

 

[doublevan2]

Wow Felix - glad you and van survived without major damage - hope it won't "tweak" that back any !? You gotta get some "deer whistles ?" On the bright side - venison for the freezer !?

 

[dan76-SMB]

Anyone have a top/side profile picture of their aluminess front bumper 92-07 body style? Not sure if I can handle how far it sticks out from some of the pics I’ve seen.

 

[1der]

Anyone have a top/side profile picture of their aluminess front bumper 92-07 body style? Not sure if I can handle how far it sticks out from some of the pics I’ve seen.

12" out from grill to edge of bumper
add approx 2.5" for shackle mount

 

[deserteagle56]

Main reason I installed the Aluminess front bumper was to have front tow points. Without it there is NO way to pull from the front of the van. The storage is a plus. Though I've never hit an animal with it, this thing is seriously stout and I'm sure it would save the radiator, etc. if ever an animal collision happened. It does stick out perhaps 6" further than the stock bumper but to me that's negligible.

 

[1der]

Heads-up Re: Pulling and winching on any front bumper added to our rigs -

The stock bumper frame mount pads are not designed for pull loads. The bumper mounts should be reinforced with additional welds. A very strong pull point can be added on coil front ends by adding a frame mounted front hitch receiver.

 

[dan76-SMB]

Wow hey desert eagle, I sent you a PM!! Wasn’t sure if you were still active here. Scratching my head over the routing of these transmission lines to the external trans filter. my shift lever is interfering with the lines. You’re the only one I’ve seen on the entire internet with my 5r110 configuration!

Thanks 1der exactly what I was looking for. I’m still undecided, I do like the look of the American backroad minimalist style bumper. But the protection the aluminess offers with the headlight/hood protection as I do a lot of nighttime driving from wa-mt

 

[Twoxentrix]

Anyone have a top/side profile picture of their aluminess front bumper 92-07 body style? Not sure if I can handle how far it sticks out from some of the pics I’ve seen.

1der already supplied a pic, here is another from a slightly different angle:

Ray also brings up some great points I never really considered (just took for granted) which do make the Aluminess version more appealing: The flat top comes in very handy as a step, I use mine all the time.

 

[Adventure4us]

Fortunately I have the ‘extra’ cross bar (which Aluminess offers - easily installed by myself) located across the front of the grill.

I was not aware Aluminess offered different styles of their front bumper, all look identical. Can you add a picture?

 

[Twoxentrix]

The bumpers are the same, the bar across the front was an 'option' item which I took advantage of. It bolts onto the 2 vertical brush guard supports, and allows you to position at several levels.

 

[Big_ern_101]

I fabricated a MOVE bumper for my van and was very happy with the entire project. Fitment is excellent, the process was simple, and the finished product looks outstanding. MOVE said that if I wanted to build the bumper wider to match the Bushwhacker flares, just let them know at time of order and they could build a +4" wider version no prob.

I do love the protection of the Aluminess but not the James William Bottomtooth look.

Hopefully I dont need to find out how it performs from a deer hit.

https://www.sportsmobileforum.com/forums/f19/econoline-move-precision-bumper-build-32788.html

 

[Lunatickn]

I'm getting my pickup back today from the welder. I had them do a winch-capable MOVE for my 2000s Silverado. It's pretty heavy. Maybe 200lbs.



I think, like many situations, it depends on application and use-case. Where I live we have LOTS of rocks and LOTS of large critters. The consensus around here is that the weight of steel is worth it for this environment. We've seen some Als get torched including Aluminess.


JMTC

 

[nevwild]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone.

Thinking I might check the local fabrication shops here in Spokane and see if they can build out a steel bumper for me. Either that or put together a Move bumper.

Next question. If I'm going to go steel, when would I know that I've added enough weight to need to upgrade suspension?

 

[1der]

Next question. If I'm going to go steel, when would I know that I've added enough weight to need to upgrade suspension?

Weigh the van pre change- front axle, rear axle, heck, each corner. Take level ground to pinch seam measurements at each corner just aft of front wheel and forward of the rear wheel.

Measure your bump stop clearance.

Hang a couple of hundred pounds (or whatever you think the delta will be) off your existing front bumper. Remeasure, especially bump stops.

Make your decision on any changes and what you want to do for a bumper before committing.

Just one approach.

 

[Lunatickn]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone.

Thinking I might check the local fabrication shops here in Spokane and see if they can build out a steel bumper for me. Either that or put together a Move bumper.

Next question. If I'm going to go steel, when would I know that I've added enough weight to need to upgrade suspension?

Fair question. FWIW, I was mentally committed to a suspension upgrade even before doing the bumper because I find the OEM set up to be too soft and with too much roll.