Is anyone making good bumpers anymore?

K-rover

Well-known member
Jan 15, 2010
2,163
62
Raleigh, NC
He never actually made them himself. A fab shop does all the work. I picked up my bumper from that shop. It was badass, they had all kinds of custom race/street cars in there.
 

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
but is Greg Davis still making bumpers?

He has historically done them in limited runs, and I don't recall hearing anything about stopping.

Of course, everyone will get tired of that sort of thing eventually.

That production scheduling was a good idea on his part. It's like the McRib.

Cheers,

Kennith
 

pdogg

Well-known member
Jul 18, 2005
1,216
29
Phoenix, AZ
He built mine about 2 years ago, during one of the said limited runs, he usually posts here about making them... haven't seen one since.. Mine was also made by a custom frame shop that he uses to manufacture them.. very well made.. He did tell me that he used to make them himself, but doesn't have time any more..
 

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
I highly recommend Rockware.

Can anyone out there show me pictures of their stuff? Something that's not for a Defender and not on the site?

Defender bumpers aren't too interesting. I find it cooler when people have to work around a more complex shape. That D1 bumper on the site looks good, but for all I know it looks completely different now. They've had almost two decades of practice since that shot was taken, after all.

They took that picture in fucking 2002. Odds are that's the largest version of the file they have. We've had a number of wars, a social justice movement, I've traveled to more countries than I can remember, we landed on an asteroid, electric cars went from a pipe dream to full production, and we went from the P4 to quantum computing.

That picture was taken five years before the iPhone existed. Hell, the iPod was still over a half inch thick with a monochrome display, and the Zune was still four years away. Grand Theft Auto was still on the Sega Dreamcast, and I could still smoke a cigarette in Red fucking Lobster. Circuit City, Blockbuster, Radio Shack... They were all still around, and Craftsman hadn't moved to China yet.

A year after that picture was taken, the human genome was mapped, over a decade later the cosmic microwave background radiation was mapped, the Hubble deep field shot was taken, robots managed to walk, we deployed fucking rail guns...

All that happened since that picture was taken. Just consider that lunacy for a minute. The entire world had time to turn on it's heel in the intervening years.

So, I'd like to see something that was taken a bit later. Businesses change in that much time, and so do fabricators and their designs.

Cheers,

Kennith
 

jastutte

Well-known member
Nov 10, 2009
461
71
Can anyone out there show me pictures of their stuff? Something that's not for a Defender and not on the site?

Defender bumpers aren't too interesting. I find it cooler when people have to work around a more complex shape. That D1 bumper on the site looks good, but for all I know it looks completely different now. They've had almost two decades of practice since that shot was taken, after all.

They took that picture in fucking 2002. Odds are that's the largest version of the file they have. We've had a number of wars, a social justice movement, I've traveled to more countries than I can remember, we landed on an asteroid, electric cars went from a pipe dream to full production, and we went from the P4 to quantum computing.

That picture was taken five years before the iPhone existed. Hell, the iPod was still over a half inch thick with a monochrome display, and the Zune was still four years away. Grand Theft Auto was still on the Sega Dreamcast, and I could still smoke a cigarette in Red fucking Lobster. Circuit City, Blockbuster, Radio Shack... They were all still around, and Craftsman hadn't moved to China yet.

A year after that picture was taken, the human genome was mapped, over a decade later the cosmic microwave background radiation was mapped, the Hubble deep field shot was taken, robots managed to walk, we deployed fucking rail guns...

All that happened since that picture was taken. Just consider that lunacy for a minute. The entire world had time to turn on it's heel in the intervening years.

So, I'd like to see something that was taken a bit later. Businesses change in that much time, and so do fabricators and their designs.

Cheers,

Kennith

do you drink caffeinated coffee?
 
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kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
do you drink caffeinated coffee?

I don't drink coffee. I simply refuse to throw away the whole of an idea and logic in general, and I have to carefully guide people to a proper conclusion.

You go ahead and keep getting more ignorant every year if you like. I'll be the last man standing for reason in this stupid fucking world.

People type far more than I do trying to have a conversation in the modern manner, as many more misunderstandings are present; then they bitch that I type too much... I've got to give foundational knowledge out in every damned post to make sure people are up to speed.

That's a fact. If you don't like it, feel free to try another planet. This one is full of idiots.

It's that kind of response that keeps people in the dark. It encourages ignorance and foolishness. It's every dummy that was ever born poking fun at the guy who promotes reality; and that would make them laughable if they didn't affect anything aside from their little empty lives.

Cheers,

Kennith
 

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
On the bright side, Rockware seemed to be pretty darn good stuff. Aedofab used to make cool stuff, but they don't seem super responsive at this point.

If Rockware has updated some of their designs or fitted a DII with anything, I'd like to see it.

Cheers,

Kennith
 

mgreenspan

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2005
4,723
130
Briggs's Back Yard
On the bright side, Rockware seemed to be pretty darn good stuff. Aedofab used to make cool stuff, but they don't seem super responsive at this point.

If Rockware has updated some of their designs or fitted a DII with anything, I'd like to see it.

Cheers,

Kennith
Rockware does lots of custom stuff, too. If you are local or get your truck there they’ll make you anything. There was a guy I used to wheel with that had a RRC with custom bumpers from them. Pics are on an old hard drive somewhere in my “things”. Just take your DII to Pikes Peak rovers and then there. Or JC Rover in Denver if he’s still around.
 

CORover

Well-known member
Jun 11, 2007
745
65
Colorado, USA
I have the Rockware pics, I just need to offload them. I have been stuck down a few rabbit holes the last couple of weeks. Hopefully some time this weekend I can them posted.
 

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
I have the Rockware pics, I just need to offload them. I have been stuck down a few rabbit holes the last couple of weeks. Hopefully some time this weekend I can them posted.

It'll be cool to see them. I remember them being damned good.

Hell, look at this:

rwwfb.jpg


Who here would argue if I said that was stamped and assembled by machines?

I know it's a tiny picture, but you can tell. That thing is clean. Well, aside from that little drip on the right, but shit happens. It's a Defender bumper, though, and they're boring. There's only so much you can do with a skinny rectangle.

Cheers,

Kennith
 

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
What I find most interesting at the moment is what Equipe is doing with their modular bumpers.

Okay, so they don't seem to understand certain things, or simply don't care about certain aspects of structure, but the intent is there to push the envelope.

That's what I really want to be seeing. I mean, not specifically that, but that level of attempted engineering.

Even if you fail, it's better than not trying at all.

Denny was really edging in that direction with his stuff. It was next fucking level in this little Rover bubble, and I know it would have become even better.

Cheers,

Kennith
 

disco_drum

Well-known member
Jan 27, 2006
1,990
13
41
Woodstock, GA
What I find most interesting at the moment is what Equipe is doing with their modular bumpers.

Okay, so they don't seem to understand certain things, or simply don't care about certain aspects of structure, but the intent is there to push the envelope.

That's what I really want to be seeing. I mean, not specifically that, but that level of attempted engineering.

Even if you fail, it's better than not trying at all.

Denny was really edging in that direction with his stuff. It was next fucking level in this little Rover bubble, and I know it would have become even better.

Cheers,

Kennith

I have an older equipe front bumper and absolutely love it. sure its tube and not everyone's cup of tea, but the approach angles are awesome and its strong and purpose built. And a lot has changed since they built my bumper so I am sure their newer stiff is amazing!
 

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
I have an older equipe front bumper and absolutely love it. sure its tube and not everyone's cup of tea, but the approach angles are awesome and its strong and purpose built. And a lot has changed since they built my bumper so I am sure their newer stiff is amazing!

I always liked the look of those Equipe tube bumpers, but it's not the best choice for me from a practical level. I stand on my bumpers too often, and sooner or later I'd end up slipping off the thing reaching for something.

This needs a bit more time in the oven, but it's getting there:

56936

56937

She's got a bit of an early '80s cop mustache going on at the moment, as they don't seem to have made the best use of the modularity; at least not when that was taken. The corners of the vehicle up there are almost entirely unprotected.

Obviously they're going for a "look" and light weight, and that's great, but finish the job. They're a couple of longer wings away from having something really interesting. I just question the locations and shapes of some of those holes, and I don't know what they're using to make the things.

Depending upon what it's made of and the overall weight, I wouldn't mind just having that center section to play around with; and then make the rest myself. It's got some similarities in concept with what I want to build, actually; though it's got quite a bit more "Call of Duty" going on visually.

I think they did an outstanding job, but potentially for the wrong vehicle. The style features are more appropriate for a Toyota in general, and the width is clearly still for a D1. That last bit kind of defeats a major obvious purpose of the modularity. They've done it before, so I'm not sure what the heck they're getting at, there.

Trimming it on purpose where you can is good. Weight sucks. That said, it's obvious what they've done here. They've made a modular bumper, and then assembled the D1 version to hang from a DII, rather than using separate DII patterns for the sides. This strikes me as odd, because the primary benefits of modularity relate to design, production, and fulfillment. They've ignored that; instead calling it a feature.

You've got to give people a reason if that's supposed to benefit them, and if you can't think of one, make sure it's fully benefiting you as a manufacturer.

One thing that's awesome is the ability to run the same center without a winch by dropping in a top plate they offer. It gives you a full box look (bumper won't look empty), and I should think some useful space if you're clever about it. If you get a winch, simply remove the plate. I know it's not rocket science, but it may as well be compared to other offerings.

It's a production benefit, but they're trying to sell it as a feature again. They don't have to manufacture two center section designs. They make the same thing, and the sell a separate cover. Done. Fuck it, sell plans for light mounts, an air compressor bracket... Use those modular mounting points as a value-added feature for the end user, or at least point them out as a place to get creative.

Look, I know these guys have some fancy equipment and do higher dollar stuff; not everyone is going to be able to crank out all those little bends and cuts within any amount of financial reason. You'd have to be hooked up with a few different shops, and typically it's hard to get even two getting along well enough to share production.

So, I wouldn't expect that level of detail out of a smaller operation, but I hope to eventually begin seeing that level of design again; slightly faulty or not.

I know that's polarizing as hell, and it's not perfect, but they really did put some effort in. I just wish they'd cross the finish line one of these days, or at least find out what they're missing and hire/buy it.

I find that company extremely confusing, but they're always doing something cool one way or other, whether or not it makes sense. That's a good thing.

Cheers,

Kennith
 

fishEH

Well-known member
Jan 26, 2009
6,927
201
Lake Villa, IL
Those look like trash. Looks like someone opened up a JC Whitney catalog and bolted a Jeep bumper on a Disco. There needs to be finishing on the side back to the wheel opening.

I always liked the look of those Equipe tube bumpers, but it's not the best choice for me from a practical level. I stand on my bumpers too often, and sooner or later I'd end up slipping off the thing reaching for something.

This needs a bit more time in the oven, but it's getting there:

View attachment 56936

View attachment 56937

She's got a bit of an early '80s cop mustache going on at the moment, as they don't seem to have made the best use of the modularity; at least not when that was taken. The corners of the vehicle up there are almost entirely unprotected.

Obviously they're going for a "look" and light weight, and that's great, but finish the job. They're a couple of longer wings away from having something really interesting. I just question the locations and shapes of some of those holes, and I don't know what they're using to make the things.

Depending upon what it's made of and the overall weight, I wouldn't mind just having that center section to play around with; and then make the rest myself. It's got some similarities in concept with what I want to build, actually; though it's got quite a bit more "Call of Duty" going on visually.

I think they did an outstanding job, but potentially for the wrong vehicle. The style features are more appropriate for a Toyota in general, and the width is clearly still for a D1. That last bit kind of defeats a major obvious purpose of the modularity. They've done it before, so I'm not sure what the heck they're getting at, there.

Trimming it on purpose where you can is good. Weight sucks. That said, it's obvious what they've done here. They've made a modular bumper, and then assembled the D1 version to hang from a DII, rather than using separate DII patterns for the sides. This strikes me as odd, because the primary benefits of modularity relate to design, production, and fulfillment. They've ignored that; instead calling it a feature.

You've got to give people a reason if that's supposed to benefit them, and if you can't think of one, make sure it's fully benefiting you as a manufacturer.

One thing that's awesome is the ability to run the same center without a winch by dropping in a top plate they offer. It gives you a full box look (bumper won't look empty), and I should think some useful space if you're clever about it. If you get a winch, simply remove the plate. I know it's not rocket science, but it may as well be compared to other offerings.

It's a production benefit, but they're trying to sell it as a feature again. They don't have to manufacture two center section designs. They make the same thing, and the sell a separate cover. Done. Fuck it, sell plans for light mounts, an air compressor bracket... Use those modular mounting points as a value-added feature for the end user, or at least point them out as a place to get creative.

Look, I know these guys have some fancy equipment and do higher dollar stuff; not everyone is going to be able to crank out all those little bends and cuts within any amount of financial reason. You'd have to be hooked up with a few different shops, and typically it's hard to get even two getting along well enough to share production.

So, I wouldn't expect that level of detail out of a smaller operation, but I hope to eventually begin seeing that level of design again; slightly faulty or not.

I know that's polarizing as hell, and it's not perfect, but they really did put some effort in. I just wish they'd cross the finish line one of these days, or at least find out what they're missing and hire/buy it.

I find that company extremely confusing, but they're always doing something cool one way or other, whether or not it makes sense. That's a good thing.

Cheers,

Kennith
 
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kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
Those look like trash. Looks like someone opened up a JC Whitney catalog and bolted a Jeep bumper on a Disco. There needs to be finishing on the side back to the wheel opening.

As noted, there are some concepts they seem to be unable to grasp. There are many, many problems with that design, seemingly because they just tried everything at once and used their D1 parts; a common error on their part. Much of what they make looks like an early concept you imagine before you drag a project back to production reality.

To be fair, though, they go for a different segment of this market. I've never been entirely sure what that segment is, but it's got to exist somewhere. They've been around a while, after all.

That particular bumper is not appropriate for that vehicle, but it could be; the base ideas behind it could be outstanding, efficient to produce, and useful.

Cheers,

Kennith
 

CORover

Well-known member
Jun 11, 2007
745
65
Colorado, USA
I have the integrated skid plate too, it just isn't installed right now. Just a trapezoidal piece of aluminum or is it aluminium? The leak is from my new project, not this one.
IMG_3866.JPGIMG_3867.JPGIMG_3868.JPGIMG_3869.JPGIMG_3870.JPGIMG_3871.JPG
 
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rovercanus

Well-known member
Apr 24, 2004
9,643
244
I got the last Bill Muetze D2 rear bumper that will be made. He's out of the game and has gotten rid of his equipment and drawings. We may see a come back for the RTE/Safari Guard type bumpers in the near future hopefully.