Off road bumpers??

[White_4x4Ranger]

Hello, I'm looking for an off road front bumper for my 03 4x4 ranger. Any suggestions? I've looked at and I like some of the Affordable Offroad DIY ones but I don't have access to a welder. I've also seen some on Amazon that look good, I'll link it below.
Thanks

Bumper On Amazon

 

[Curious Hound]

I don't Know. I’ve heard that most of the eBay or Amazon bumpers are cheaply made and the powder coating rusts off fast. Try to make sure you find something made in USA.

 

[JoshT]

Can you weld? If so there are some flat pack, assemble yourself off-road bumpers that I've seen around. They look sturdy and I think some money is saved by you doing welding. IIRC one company is MOVE, but I don't remember if that was for the Ranger or the F-250.

Edit: sorry should have paid more attention to your post.

 

[Blmpkn]

The one on Amazon is a nice price compared to most I've seen.. but it definitely isn't as tough as the big money options. I've seen too many pictures/videos of the cheapo bumpers folding up quicker than a meaningless campaign promise during a recovery.. which is a good portion of why a guy would want to buy one.


That being said... for less money than a "real" steel bumper would cost... you could buy that Amazon bumper, a little bit of steel, AND a Flux core welder along with a helmet from harbor freight...

Once you're done welding that little bit of steel you bought to the bumper in some smart locations.. that's the payday. The bumper would probably be 90% as durable as the big money brands, you'd have saved a meaningful number of hundred dollar bills, AND you'd then be set up with a very functional welding setup for the future.

Thats most of the issue with the China bumpers.. they don't give it enough.. skeleton. The front side usually looks decent.. but a lot of the strength comes from what they've done with the parts of the bumper you can't see. Gussets.. ribbing.. boxing.. easy stuff to add yourself.

Flux core welder, Helmet, and steel would be taken care of with 200$.

 

[White_4x4Ranger]

Can you weld? If so there are some flat pack, assemble yourself off-road bumpers that I've seen around. They look sturdy and I think some money is saved by you doing welding. IIRC one company is MOVE, but I don't remember if that was for the Ranger or the F-250.

Edit: sorry should have paid more attention to your post.

I can weld, courtesy of highschool metal shop classes, but I don't have access to a welder I could use.

 

[White_4x4Ranger]

The one on Amazon is a nice price compared to most I've seen.. but it definitely isn't as tough as the big money options. I've seen too many pictures/videos of the cheapo bumpers folding up quicker than a meaningless campaign promise during a recovery.. which is a good portion of why a guy would want to buy one.


That being said... for less money than a "real" steel bumper would cost... you could buy that Amazon bumper, a little bit of steel, AND a Flux core welder along with a helmet from harbor freight...

Once you're done welding that little bit of steel you bought to the bumper in some smart locations.. that's the payday. The bumper would probably be 90% as durable as the big money brands, you'd have saved a meaningful number of hundred dollar bills, AND you'd then be set up with a very functional welding setup for the future.

Thats most of the issue with the China bumpers.. they don't give it enough.. skeleton. The front side usually looks decent.. but a lot of the strength comes from what they've done with the parts of the bumper you can't see. Gussets.. ribbing.. boxing.. easy stuff to add yourself.

Flux core welder, Helmet, and steel would be taken care of with 200$.

I've thought about that, but at the moment I don't have the money to buy the bumper and the welder, as I am in high school and have a part-time job. Not to say I couldn't save for it though. I like some of the Affordable Offroad brand DIY ones' and I like the customizability available.

 

[Curious Hound]

I've thought about that, but at the moment I don't have the money to buy the bumper and the welder, as I am in high school and have a part-time job. Not to say I couldn't save for it though. I like some of the Affordable Offroad brand DIY ones' and I like the customizability available.

Affordable off-road is good stuff. If you can be patient and save up for it, you won’t be sorry.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I've bought 2 bumper sets (front and rear)... front skid plate and the rear heavy duty bumper brackets from AOR. They make some really nice stuff. They've earned my recommendation with quality and service. Best part... Made in USA.

I have to just shake my head when I see that China bumper on Amazon. Not only did they steal the AOR design... they even stole their picture from the AOR website. I hope they don't steal the picture of my Bronco II rear bumper to promote an inferior knock off of that.

When I bought the front bumper... I didn't have the cash up front. I used affirm... and made a few payments. Sure it cost a few dollars to do that... but it was mine.

AOR also supplies all the grade 8 hardware you need to just bolt in on.

If you upgrade the rear bumper... spend the money and get their heavy duty rear bumper brackets... they're pretty beefy compared to the factory ones. In fact... there is a member here that bought a set and didn't use them on his Bronco II. I'll give you the info to contact him.

 

[Blmpkn]

I've bought 2 bumper sets (front and rear)... front skid plate and the rear heavy duty bumper brackets from AOR. They make some really nice stuff. They've earned my recommendation with quality and service. Best part... Made in USA.

I have to just shake my head when I see that China bumper on Amazon. Not only did they steal the AOR design... they even stole their picture from the AOR website. I hope they don't steal the picture of my Bronco II rear bumper to promote an inferior knock off of that.

When I bought the front bumper... I didn't have the cash up front. I used affirm... and made a few payments. Sure it cost a few dollars to do that... but it was mine.

AOR also supplies all the grade 8 hardware you need to just bolt in on.

If you upgrade the rear bumper... spend the money and get their heavy duty rear bumper brackets... they're pretty beefy compared to the factory ones. In fact... there is a member here that bought a set and didn't use them on his Bronco II. I'll give you the info to contact him.

Oof. Didn't know it was a ripped off design.. the stolen pictures are just salt in the wound too -__- that's super scummy.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Yes it is...

 

[Blmpkn]

I've thought about that, but at the moment I don't have the money to buy the bumper and the welder, as I am in high school and have a part-time job. Not to say I couldn't save for it though. I like some of the Affordable Offroad brand DIY ones' and I like the customizability available.

Right on. Like has been suggested already.. save save save. Buying as quality of an item as you can really pays off in the end... Buy once, cry once and all that.

 

[Roert42]

second what bump said, the Amazon link is a knock off of the AOR bumper.

Also, the AOR bumpers are already welded together, just not painted. At least all the ones I looked at.
I know some brands with sell the kits to weld yourself for a little cheaper, but I don’t think AOR does.

 

[Uncle Gump]

second what bump said, the Amazon link is a knock off of the AOR bumper.

Also, the AOR bumpers are already welded together, just not painted. At least all the ones I looked at.
I know some brands with sell the kits to weld yourself for a little cheaper, but I don’t think AOR does.

I don't think they did offer DIY kits before... but they do offer the Elite Front bumper now.

 

[JoshT]

I can weld, courtesy of highschool metal shop classes, but I don't have access to a welder I could use.

You're in a better position than me. I can't weld, but I have access to a welder. Back in tech school I had to take a welding class, the main goal of the class was teaching us to identify a good weld from a bad and spot problems. IIRC it was a tig welding setup and the instructor welding basically told me that it was a good thing that I didn't actually need to be able to weld. He said I could probably get it with enough practice, but there wasn't enough time alotted for the class.

Dad has a MIG welder I can use any time I need it, but any time I've needed something welded he typically just does it for something to do. I've done it a little, but not enough to get comfortable or confident in my welds.

I've thought about that, but at the moment I don't have the money to buy the bumper and the welder, as I am in high school and have a part-time job. Not to say I couldn't save for it though. I like some of the Affordable Offroad brand DIY ones' and I like the customizability available.

Ok, so you are a high schooler and you learned in a high school class. That would imply that your school has welders. Are you on good terms with the shop instructor? Maybe you could use the school's equipment as an extra cirricular after school activity, if you provide the materials. We had a wood shop at my high school and the instructor would do stuff like that, but that was about 20 years ago.

I have to just shake my head when I see that China bumper on Amazon. Not only did they steal the AOR design... they even stole their picture from the AOR website. I hope they don't steal the picture of my Bronco II rear bumper to promote an inferior knock off of that.

Did they steal it, or is it the same bumper made with inferior metals and welds? The AOR website says built in USA, but that would be built in USA from Chinese parts. Some companies will out source material cutting and supply jobs like that overseas to save cost, then do welding and assembly in house for quality control. They could have sent the patterns over to be cut from material they specified. The Chinese could be throwing a cheaper metal on the samecutting table and having a kid in a sweat chop buzz it together with an under powered welder.

Not excusing the knock off, just saying...

 

[Uncle Gump]

Did they steal it, or is it the same bumper made with inferior metals and welds? The AOR website says built in USA, but that would be built in USA from Chinese parts. Some companies will out source material cutting and supply jobs like that overseas to save cost, then do welding and assembly in house for quality control. They could have sent the patterns over to be cut from material they specified. The Chinese could be throwing a cheaper metal on the samecutting table and having a kid in a sweat chop buzz it together with an under powered welder.

Not excusing the knock off, just saying...

I'm pretty sure they're a full blown metal fab shop that does all work in house.