Crack Think3 2009 Dodge

1. Crack Think3 2009 Dodge Challenger
2. Crack Think3 2009 Dodge Ram

3/16 or 1/4 inch for bumper (now my bumper build) Working on a rear bumper template right now, hope to get the steel this week possibly. Should I got with 3/16 inch or 1/4 inch thick steel plate? The frame seems to be about 3/16, if I go thicker, will the frame end up bending if the bumper is built too strong?

Friend of mine was saying not to build it so strong that there is no give. On the other hand I want it to be super strong so that if someone rear ends me I might just have to get the spray paint out.

Crack Think3 2009 Dodge Challenger

You will get a lot of opinions from people and not one is right or wrong. So my $0.02: A bumper, regardless if it is front or rear, is meant to protect the passangers first and maybe the vehicle second, by absorbing impact in the form of bending, collapsing and even cracking and breaking. Technically this idea is great, it will absorb the shock of the impact.

ARB is a bumper manufacturer with a winch mount. Body armour is a different story, the 'bumpers' built to serve the purpose of being trail armour are not meant to absorb impact, they are meant to protect the vehicle from dents, or worse. They are meant to be strong, push obstacles over and slide over things. Vehicle frames are built with usually 1/8' metal, they are either 'C' channel or full framed, and gusseted and reinforced but meant to be flexible, light enough, strong enough to absorb some impact and are not meant to be the primary line of defence on a trail. Yes, if you build a bumper out of 1/4' or thicker material it will likely never bend, and if you hit something hard enough the next weaker point likely will. So what's better, personally, I prefer to have body armour that is durable and strong, the frame can put up with a lot before you end up permanently damaging it.

In reality, if you build a vehicle that does not absorb impact and get hit by one that does, the other guy will lose and you'll need a can of spray paint - been there, it's true! So build a bumper to suit your trail needs and use the other guys impact zones during the accident Keep in mind that if you are building a rear bumper with a trailer hitch it will need to be strong enough to haul whatever you are going to connect to it. Most things I build, 1/4' main center section, 3/16' ouside wings, 1/8-3/16' gussets. Ask Drew (BCFJC) how much the bumper I built for him moved after he was hit by a Dodge Ram. If you're going to do the typical tire carrier on a spindle addition, go fairly thick on the bumper end. If not, I think you can use lighter material and gain a lot of strength with bends, ribs, boxing and gussets.

Crack Think3 2009 Dodge Ram

But if it's just there in case one day someone rear ends you, I would not go 1/4' or even 3/16' for that matter. I'd just leave the clean stock bumper your california truck came with, maybe leave the reciever hitch under it for extra protection in a collision. No sense adding an extra 100lbs of steel to your truck unless it serves an actual purpose.

A boxed in bumper is much stronger than an open (channel) type bumper for the same material thickness. I used boxed in 3/16'for my rear bumper to support my fuel swing out and 1/8' on the corners and sides. A super strong component simply transfer the impact to the next weakest component - which could be the frame. Steel is easy to fix if you dent it and all that iron you hang on your rig is dead weight costing more fuel down the road. Oh yeah - I reinforced my wings underneath with some 3/4' pipe to protect the body seam underneath - this added a lot of strength to the rear wings. Round pipe reduces mud hang-up as well. I build my 80 series bumpers out of 3/16' plate, and they have stood up to some severe abuse.

There's even a lamp pole in Abbotsford with a pretty good dent in it from some poor backing up (oops!). Frame tie-ins at 1/4' are not a bad idea. Boxing in the area that supports the tire carrier spindle is pretty well a must to eliminate flex, but it doesn't need to be thicker than 3/16'.

For wings going towards the wheel wells it really helps to brace them to the frame at their front edge. Again, this is opinion which you are welcome to take or leave, though a somewhat educated opinion. Good luck with the project, looking forwards to seeing the finished product!