Bumper problems and solutions

[AC7X]

Hey hey,

Following a brief visit to the North Lakes 4x4 Club for their "Road Trim Vehicle" event (Read: outrageously modified vehicle event) I've torn most of the remainder of the plastic rubbish around the front bumper and have a more serious problem at the back.

The rear bumper (passenger side) must have got a whack on something hard and it is dented underneath. This must have contorted the bumper shape, or just moved it upwards, since I can no longer open the rear door! How can I go about fixing this - can I just remove the bumper and re-position it so that it isn't level and the door will open? And if so, is this a hard job?

As for the front - now that most of the plastic has been ripped off, the car is looking a little wrecked and is need of a solid off-road bumper. I'm probably not interested in putting on a winch - so I just want something solid which will give me as much ground clearance and as little overhang as possible. Recovery points built in would be a bonus, as would the option to add a nudge bar/spotlights at a later date. Any suggestions? And, again, is it a big job to replace the front bumper?

Disco 1 btw.

Cheers lads (and ladies),

Alec.

 

[shorty]

first four do a heavy duty non winch replacment with two recovery points underneath on the front not sure about fitting lights to it though could prob drill some holes hole to mount spots easy enough hope this helps good ground clearance too!

 

[Disco Moneypit]

Guardian 4x4 do some excellent kit that fits like a glove. decent prices as well.

They do front & rear bumpers, rock sliders, sump guards and roof light bars.

Edited to add; That's my Disco in the picture beside this reply. You should be able to make out the front bumper and rock sliders despite the small amount of mud.

 

[V8_Disco]

i bent my rear bumper on nearly every outing, so i made one that works perfectly and has never dented even dragging along the floor on Strata

 

[muddy j]

hello have a look on ebay for discovery tubular bumpers ive got a couple on ther i make them to order 75 front with recovery and high lift rears 40 very heavey duty 5mm steel tube

 

[paul_c]

I had the same problem but I did a £0 solution - cut the ends off, turned the edges into a curve and welded the corners up, and painted.

The problem with aftermarket bumpers is, they're strong - the bumper is your only crumple zone in a crash, on a car with a chassis! So hitting something is gonna hurt otherwise!!

 

[AC7X]

Thanks for the links guys.

These bumpers seem very expensive - £200+ without a winch seems kind of pricy for a lump of metal (maybe the Scot in me coming out!). I've removed all of the plastic around the front and I have just the metal bit of the bumper remaining, which, I guess, gives me as much ground clearance as one of these off-road bumpers.

Are there any other advantages to these specially designed 4x4 bumpers besides jacking and recovery points? If it's only strength, I might as well wait until I bash the original one off, right?

Car is in for a new clutch with my friendly local mechanic who (I'm hoping) will sort out the rear bumper whilst he's at it.

Cheers,

Alec.

 

[AC7X]

Infact, if I was going to replace the front bumper with a non-winch bumper for £200+, wouldn't I be as well to fork out a bit extra and just get a winch?

Like this...

Winch bumper kit for Discovery 1 / Range rover classic on eBay (end time 28-Jun-10 11:45:31 BST)

 

[Paul D]

"A bit extra" £200+ to £500 ... more like double the cost ...

 

[paul_c]

These bumpers seem very expensive - £200+ without a winch seems kind of pricy for a lump of metal.

You're not wrong there.

 

[bobbler]

Non winch off road bumpers can be had for less than £100 but it depends on what you want. The main problem I am finding is getting one with end caps because I am not keen on the look of the disco wing where it is usually tucked away behind the bumper.

 

[Dewin]

Non winch off road bumpers can be had for less than £100 but it depends on what you want. The main problem I am finding is getting one with end caps because I am not keen on the look of the disco wing where it is usually tucked away behind the bumper.

There is a tubular one on fleabay for about £180, a tad expensive considering one without the 'end bar' is only £120!

 

[Urban Panzer]

You're not wrong there.

Jeez, £200 is not a lot "imo".........

 

[bobbler]

There is a tubular one on fleabay for about £180, a tad expensive considering one without the 'end bar' is only £120!

Have seen tubular bumbers as low as £70 front (with a-bar & spot mounts) and about £30 rear but neither have end caps.

 

[Dewin]

Have seen tubular bumbers as low as £70 front (with a-bar & spot mounts) and about £30 rear but neither have end caps.

Aye ditto, it's a tubular/A bar one without the end's that's being made up for me by a rather decent member off here at the moment.

 

[bobbler]

Aye ditto, it's a tubular/A bar one without the end's that's being made up for me by a rather decent member off here at the moment.

Could you take some piccies when its fitted? I have been thinking about possible wing mods to tidy them up a bit but no one shows the side view in the adverts

 

[Dewin]

Could you take some piccies when its fitted? I have been thinking about possible wing mods to tidy them up a bit but no one shows the side view in the adverts

Will do