Bumper

[garrett]

Is this stamped steel? I always thought it was forged, but I'm easily confused by such things. I'd like to learn. (rear suspension shot):

not sure what in particular you are asking about, but yes there is lots of stamped steel in that pic. looks like the control arm.

i am with Noe on this. why spend all the money and time on a really nice bumper when the rest of the truck pales on comparison. just seems silly to me. would be like doing the same to a Freelander. it boils down to bling.......it can come in chrome or other aftermarket items to make something appear to be something it's not.

it's like trying to put a square peg in a round hole.

 

[JohnK]

I see some improvements that can be made.....but no one has yet to mention them.

A RTE sticker?
A bottle opener?
Stick on mirrors (like the Element owners buy instead of fog lights)?

 

[gmookher]

ya know thats a BRILLIANT idea...nxt time I have a RTE product to order, I shall ask steve if thy can weld on a Bottle opener..

 

[D Chapman]

i am with Noe on this. why spend all the money and time on a really nice bumper when the rest of the truck pales on comparison. just seems silly to me. would be like doing the same to a Freelander. it boils down to bling.......it can come in chrome or other aftermarket items to make something appear to be something it's not.

it's like trying to put a square peg in a round hole.

It could be nothing like your what, 5 trucks with ARB winch bumpers and one winch to divide between them?? Want to talk about "bling"?

I'm thinking the front bumper, or at least a skid plate, on a LR3 is as equivelant as a diff guard on a D1; you've got to have it. The pic is worth a 1000 words.

But I'm still not sure what you think the bumper "makes" the truck "appear".... Does it "appear" to be a D-90 now? A Hummer? A Lexus? I'm not getting it. The truck is what it is and I personally do not see any "bling" to the bumper; unless you call the chrome roller fairlead bling....The bumper actually serves a purpose in this application. If someone was going for looks, or "bling", I think the stock bumper looks pretty good on the truck. If anything the new bumper takes away "bling".

 

[nwoods]

not sure what in particular you are asking about, but yes there is lots of stamped steel in that pic. looks like the control arm.

Well the photo is taken just in front of the left rear wheel. It shows the fully boxed steel frame rail, and the tubular steel upper and lower control arms, the rear sway bar, and you can just see the drive shaft CV boot where it exits the frame.

I guess my confusion is just in recognizing what is stamped steel. I always thought it was something like the paper towel dispensor in any public restroom, where it's a thin sheet of metal bent to the desired shape.

I see a lot of Honda Pilots in my area, those clearly have what I would consider stamped steel rear control arms. They look nothing like the control arms on the LR3.

The control arms appear to be solid cast elements on my truck. If it is KNOWN that they are stamped steel, then i really confused on what stamped steel looks like. If it's speculation that they are stamped steel, then perhaps they are not.

 

[noee]

Frankly, I was guessing just from looking at the pics that the lower control arms are stamped. I've really only been under and LR3 once at the dealership and I was only able to drive it around town a few miles, so my experience with them is essentially zero.

I still can't tell 100% for sure, but they sure do look like stamped. How 'bout an LR3 owner step up and give confirmation one way or another?

 

[garrett]

It could be nothing like your what, 5 trucks with ARB winch bumpers and one winch to divide between them?? Want to talk about "bling"?

I'm thinking the front bumper, or at least a skid plate, on a LR3 is as equivelant as a diff guard on a D1; you've got to have it. The pic is worth a 1000 words.

But I'm still not sure what you think the bumper "makes" the truck "appear".... Does it "appear" to be a D-90 now? A Hummer? A Lexus? I'm not getting it. The truck is what it is and I personally do not see any "bling" to the bumper; unless you call the chrome roller fairlead bling....The bumper actually serves a purpose in this application. If someone was going for looks, or "bling", I think the stock bumper looks pretty good on the truck. If anything the new bumper takes away "bling".

hehe. well now i do like my ARBs. they have treated me well. especially the one i've had on my truck for 8 years and hit rocks, trees and Jags with. it's certainly no RTE, but they are what they are. a good bumper for the money and for the average wheeler. not to mention ARB gave me a sweet deal with i bought 4 OME suspensions and bumpers.
as you know i only really drive the one DI and RRC, so the other trucks only get used lightly for the biz.

i am certain Steve did a great job on the bumper as he does with just about everything he produces. and like John said it looks as good as it is going to considering the application. but to me a bumper like that seems out of place with an LR3. maybe i am getting too old or something, but it would be like putting an ARB on a Honda Pilot. the LR3 is ugly as sin to begin with and looks like an aborted minivan of sorts. honestly i think a color matched ARB might look better, because the angled lines and bruteness of RTE contrasts with the sissy lines of the LR3. at least the sissy color matched ARB would blend better.

no doubt it is a badass bumper. but a badass bumper belongs on bad ass truck. the LR3 ain't.

i dunno. but you are freaking me out now with all this LR3 rahrah talk. i guess she is damn good in bed! haha

 

[D Chapman]

You're both right; the lower control arms are stamped, and the uppers are cast.

The lower arms are two pieces, stamped, and welded together. I would say this is very strong. But, it at least look weak at the ball joint - I would question that area....

The uppers are cast. Probablly not ever going to break those as the ball joints appear to be the weak link.

 

[D Chapman]

Actually, the uppers may be stamped, too. The pavement is too fucking hot to lay on to get a good look....

 

[D Chapman]

I moved the solenoid pack from the top of the winch today, and fab'ed up a little "light bar" from 3/16" and 1/4", laminated. I think she is about set to drop coin on the Hella 4000 Compact lights that will sit on top. I think this will surfice until RTE has enough time to fab up some sort of light bar(s).

 

[D Chapman]

but to me a bumper like that seems out of place with an LR3. maybe i am getting too old or something, but it would be like putting an ARB on a Honda Pilot. the LR3 is ugly as sin to begin with and looks like an aborted minivan of sorts. honestly i think a color matched ARB might look better, because the angled lines and bruteness of RTE contrasts with the sissy lines of the LR3. at least the sissy color matched ARB would blend better.

I'm not sure what you're trying to say, again. Either you're saying drive the LR3 back and forth to the mall and leave it off the trails. Or, you're saying the Lr3 needs a bumper but one with a little less protection will surfice. Or, you're saying the LR3 is fine in stock form...

The LR3 is never going to be as flexible as a D1/90/rrc or even as cool as a Series. But it does make a decent moderate trail truck. Recovery points, winch, sliders, f/r bumpers, and gas tank guard are going to make it a little more capable off-road.

 

[JohnK]

I'm not sure what you're trying to say, again. Either you're saying drive the LR3 back and forth to the mall and leave it off the trails. Or, you're saying the Lr3 needs a bumper but one with a little less protection will surfice. Or, you're saying the LR3 is fine in stock form...

The LR3 is never going to be as flexible as a D1/90/rrc or even as cool as a Series. But it does make a decent moderate trail truck. Recovery points, winch, sliders, f/r bumpers, and gas tank guard are going to make it a little more capable off-road.

Or one could buy a second vehicle (D1/90/RRC) to thrash off-road.

 

[D Chapman]

Or just thrash the LR3.....

 

[garrett]

thrash an LR3 hard enough and you'll be hiking or hitching a ride with a buddy. a Pelican with spares won't be needed when and if it breaks. that's what i hate so much about "technology" laden off road vehicles. you've now got a dumbed down vehicle for the user. maybe more capable for some people in a few ways, but always at a price. for me it's not worth the price.

 

[D Chapman]

If you really belived that logic, Garrett, you would be driving a Series or a Willy's.....or riding a bike.

If you're refering to the type of wheeling you do at BDS, then you're right. But, if you're talking about the type of wheeling you do in your personal vehicles, then an LR3, RR, RRS, or Kia would suit you just fine.

 

[noee]

Or just thrash the LR3.....

Me likey this idea....

...or Kia would suit you just fine.

Eeeewwww, ew, ew, ew, ew. Daniel, this makes everything you said about Steve Young seem like a compliment.

fwiw, while I'm no LR3 fan, good for sideview for bowing up and making it happen with the bumper. Kind of like overclocking your CPU. You really don't know where that fucker will shutdown unless you push it past the limit. I'm pulling for her to keep on pushin' it.

 

[garrett]

of course we'd all love to own a series, but that can't always be the case. the D1s being compared to a series, would be like comparing an LR3 to a D1. night and day.

i've taken my trucks on just about all the trails i have taken the FJs at The Cove with BCDS. i don't particularly want to run some of those trails too often or i'd be paying for busted diffs and tires every month. i'd rather bust someone elses truck. not to mention an FJ60 is far more stout than a D1 hands down.

there is one particular trail that would cripple any LR3 and leave you with your thumb up your ass. it's not a particular hard trail as all the students run it without a problem. some flat tires and minor body damage, but they get back. just large rocks for about 1/4 mile down a stream.

it's funny that your on the other side of the fence about the LR3 now. soon you and Steve Young will be be playing mock military games on Play Station together.

but my point above was not about what is a better wheeling truck, etc., but that you won't be patching an LR3 back together on the trail like a D1. i feel a bit better knowning whether i am driving out to Montana or some some sissy trails that i will make it back home thanks to what i have in a Pelican case. not on a flatbed with my mini van.

 

[JohnK]

Which has a better approach angle - the LR3 or a Subaru Outback?

 

[D Chapman]

I'm still not understanding you, Garrett. You're saying a LR3 is inferior do to the way it's built. Then, you claim the bumper is a waste of time and money. Yet, wouldn't the new bumper help protect some of the downfalls of the LR3??

I'm in no way "changing over" to the LR3. There is no way you can compair this truck to a D1 or the like. It's night and day. A d1 and D2 are night and day, for that matter. I would NEVER take this truck where I take my big D1. But, stock for stock, the LR3 would kick my "stock" d1's ass.

The LR3 and RR are much more capable than a D1 or D2 off the show room floor. No, you may not be able to trouble shoot some of the CPU crap or patch a blown air bag. But I don't think that's the point here.

Adding the bumper to the LR3 gets rid of several problem the LR3 has from the factory. There is no question the bumper from ARB or RTE will add a little more flexibility to the truck by protecting vulnerable areas, better approach angles, and with the RTE you now get usable recovery points.

It will never be a rock crawler, but it will allow you to tow your boat to the lake and give you the ability to take a side trip into the MTN's.

As for your trails at The Cove, if any of your D1's will finish the trail, so will this LR3. I 100% guarantee it. Its just as capable as your trucks and my Black D1. Trail side repairs are a different story, but again, that's another ball game and stuff like that will become accessible with time.

 

[D Chapman]

Which has a better approach angle - the LR3 or a Subaru Outback?

Depends on how much beer is involved