A bumper upgrade is one of the best things to bestow upon your truck if you’re planning to take it off the beaten path. While an occasional off-road enthusiast venturing on mild trails can get by with the factory bumpers, purchasing a set of aftermarket metal bumpers for trucks is necessary if you’re getting serious about off-roading. There are many advantages to the aftermarket bumper route, including better ground clearance, improved approach and departure angles, a stable platform to mount a winch and auxiliary lights, a safe step to climb on, and of course, better protection for your truck.
However, there’s a debate that’s been brewing for as long as aftermarket bumpers have been available on the consumer market, and that’s the steel vs. aluminum battle. In this article, we’re going to try and settle this age-old duel once and for all — and help you choose!
Spoiler alert: both have their pros and cons, so you won’t find us saying, “X is better than Y, hands down.” In the end, you’ve got to decide for yourself. If you’re having trouble picking a bumper for your truck, visit our dedicated off road bumpers section and browse away.
Benefits of Steel Bumpers
First up, steel bumpers. These are made from, you guessed it, steel, which is one of the most plentiful resources for manufacturing vehicle parts. Let’s look at some of the benefits of a steel bumper.
- Steel bumpers are cheaper than aluminum ones because the metal is generally cheaper to produce than aluminum, as less raw material is required for a defined amount. If you’re on a budget, a steel bumper is your best bet.
- The higher density of steel (a solid cubic foot of the stuff would weigh 490lbs, versus 169lbs for the same amount of aluminum) means that it’s much stronger and tougher than an aluminum bumper, able to take greater shocks and more pummeling. It’s also more ductile, meaning that it’s likelier to bend rather than break.
Of course, we can’t make an objective comparison without the cons of steel, and these include:
- Steel is prone to rusting, despite most high-quality steel bumpers being treated, undercoated, or powder coated. You also need to bear in mind that if you’re drilling holes in your steel bumpers, such as when installing a winch or lights, you’ve effectively punctured its protective layer, and the edges of the holes need to be protected, such as with rust-resistant coatings and a layer or two of paint on top.
- As a result, a steel bumper’s lifespan is lower than a comparable aluminum one, although a properly looked-after steel bumper can easily last the lifetime of your truck.
- The higher weight of steel can also play against it, as a larger steel bumper may place a fair weight penalty on your vehicle. Mounting points may need beefing up, and the suspension may also require an upgrade. It also detracts from the amount of cargo weight you can carry.
Benefits of Aluminum Bumpers
Aluminum is a shiny silver material that’s mined from bauxite. It all but totally replaced steel in many industries and uses. The benefits of aluminum bumpers include:
- Aluminum bumpers are much lighter than a comparable steel bumper. In fact, if you look at our comparison of densities, you might glean that an aluminum bumper might be one-third the weight of a similar steel one. That’s quite nice, as you most likely won’t need to upgrade your bumper mounts or suspension.
- Aluminum doesn’t rust, so you can treat it in a much rougher fashion than steel. You can drill holes safely and not worry about corrosion.
- This resistance to corrosion also means that an aluminum bumper will last longer than a steel one and may outlive your truck.
Now let’s see what’s not so good about aluminum – yes, it does have some cons too. These include:
- Aluminum is more costly than steel because it requires a higher quantity of raw material as well as a more labor-intensive process to produce. Therefore, an aluminum bumper will be appreciably more expensive than a steel one.
- Aluminum is not as durable as steel and is more prone to damage as a result. Furthermore, while a steel bumper will bend and deform under impact, aluminum’s brittle nature means that its mode of failure is to break, rather than bend. You can’t really repair an aluminum bumper so you’ll find yourself searching for a replacement.
What Fits You Best?
So what fits you best, based on what we’ve presented so far? Will it be a steel bumper or an aluminum one? Another tip we can offer you is work trucks that don’t see much off-road use tend to have aluminum bumpers, while serious off-roaders tend towards steel bumpers, coupled with a myriad of other upgrades.
If you’re upgrading your bumpers, why not add some extra protection on the sides in the shape of fenders and fender flares? These complement a great set of aftermarket bumpers and increase your truck’s armor.
If you’re looking to pull the trigger on your choice of bumper, why not browse our selection of front and rear bumpers and make a purchase? We’d be glad to help you out. We’ll also tell you what’s compatible with your truck, and many of our offerings are universal fit, making installation easier than ever. Be sure to check your state’s laws pertaining to aftermarket bumpers and additions too.
Bumpers and Everything Truck and Off Road at 4 Wheel Parts
With over 100 stores scattered nationwide, we at 4 Wheel Parts are dead serious about offering the best products from established brands to as many Americans as possible. Even if you can’t come by a store, shop online and view thousands of options that cover every conceivable area on a truck or off-roader. You’ll also reap the benefits of great prices, friendly expert advice, and receive the best after-sales service that includes any applicable warranties.
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