| Author |
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Brad Bradford (Brad)
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 02:02 pm: | 
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Ok, not that i really care that my rear bumper is smiling, but who makes the best rear bumper. I have seen a few different ones, but i want to know who makes the best for my money. Being that I am not very wealthy, I don't want to spend a fortune. I just want one that will work. |
gp (Garrett)
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 02:10 pm: |
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haven't seen that TJM in person, but for $500 i cannot see a better one out there for the money. EE is selling them. talk to the big Ho about them......i am sure he can give you the low down. |
Kyle
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 02:12 pm: |
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I have to agree that the TJM is the most realistically priced so far and it does retain a somewhat factory look.... I havnt seen one get the shit knocked out of it yet but they are pretty sturdy...
Kyle |
Blue (Bluegill)
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 02:51 pm: |
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check it out, I'm still diggin it the most - and still diggin in my pockets, Ho 
TJM rear bumper |
Leslie N. Bright (Leslie)
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 02:57 pm: |
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Ditto...
-L |
Robbie Donaldson (Robbie)
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 03:15 pm: |
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wow, that's almost a full consensus, and on this board that is amazing!
I have not seen it in person either, but it does look really nice, and the cost is down right tolerable! |
JRoc
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 03:40 pm: |
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In My Honest Opinion (IMHO), the TJM is a sturdy replacement for the OME bumper. If your primary concern is Wheeling, and you live in a predominantly rocky environment, then you might want to consider the OUTRAGEOUSLY EXPENSIVE other options! I'm not sure if the TJM increases departure angle from the original, but I'm curious. I still can't believe that the TJM can be made in Australia and shipped here cheaper than someone can make a comparable piece HERE! This baffles me! I think someone could clean up if they could make a rear bumper similar to Sodomy Guard's at a reasonable price!
Don't want to start a rumor but I've heard that if you look up the word rape in webters english dictionary, you'll see a pic of a Disco owner bent over the hood of his truck with his pants around his ankles and a SG salesman behind him checking the strength of his "Bumper"! Is this true??? I also find it amusing that the people who started SG can't even spell. I'm no spelling b champ, but isn't guard spelled g U ard??? |
Leslie N. Bright (Leslie)
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 03:52 pm: |
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Mass production, lower cost.
Also, mass shipment on a slow boat, and you can get it from Aus to USA cheap enough. Send a bunch of 'em and it doesn't cost much more than sending one... split the cost over the # of items, and it's really reasonable.
FWIW....
-L |
steveII
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 03:54 pm: |
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brad
i have a tjm hanging off my ass (of my truck that is LOL!) - and i have to say - i no longer fear about anyone parking behind me or backing up into my truck - knowing full well they will be destroyed in the impact...
the tjm is nicely built and very strong. atleast as well built as my arb front bumper.
it's nice to drive a 'tank'!
steveII |
JRoc
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 03:57 pm: |
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Hey Leslie, I understand why people who make one at a time have to charge you more, but why can't someone Mass Produce a bumper here cheaper??? I try and buy American when I can and can't understand why someone can't Mass Produce a rear bumper here! |
Leslie N. Bright (Leslie)
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 04:00 pm: |
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Who here "mass produces" a bumper?
Someone could, but all of the ones I can think of that are made in the US are made-to-order...
-L |
JRoc
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 04:15 pm: |
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My point exactly! Why doens't someone mass produce a bumper HERE? There appears to be a market for them. |
John Lee
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 04:34 pm: |
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JRoc,
People do mass produce bumpers here. If you look at the Jeep market, you'll see dozens of makers selling bumpers and other fabricated pieces at reasonable prices. Their example clearly shows that it can be done. |
Blue (Bluegill)
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 04:54 pm: |
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yeah, but mass-produce for Rovers is the issue - is there really a mass market here for aggressive Rover bumpers? |
Mike J. (Mudd)
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 05:02 pm: |
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What obout the lack of rear 1/4 pannel protection? Does that bother anybody? Mike J. |
JRoc
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 05:13 pm: |
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Mike, I noticed that as well and was going to look into adding to the TJM bumper. I think adding 1/4 panel protection shouldn't be too costly. I'd be interested in hearing someones opinion on this that has seen the bumper. Is it feasible? SteveII, John Lee, Ho, anyone??? LOL |
Ho Chung (Ho)
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 05:19 pm: |
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i am sure someone can fabricate something to extend and protect the quarter panel.
from the numerous bashed stock bumpers i've seen on the trail, the end cap casualty and smily bumper is most common. rarely i see the quarter panel bashed... if ever.
i am sure there are trails and instances you could benefit from a panel protection.
SG has the quarterpanel protection... give them a call. |
Blue (Bluegill)
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 05:21 pm: |
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>"What obout the lack of rear 1/4 pannel protection? Does that bother anybody?"
only if you come down on an exposed quarter panel! LOL
seriously, if you have to hack apart the quarter panel to add protection to it, what's the point? Kind of like front bras on sports cars - the bra protects the paint from stone chips but covers that paint you want to protect so you can't even see it; and the bra usually ends up rubbing the paint off at the corners...what's the point of protecting it from stone chips? If you add protection below the qp to keep the qp intact, then you're creating a needless hangup point. Personally, I think that the rear looks fine without the body-colored qp hanging down below the rub strip (matches the appearance fo the front - no body color hanging down below the waistline up front). But some purists can't abide by removal or rear qp. To make a long story longer, I think that the TJM looks stout enough to withstand controlled slides on it's "endaps"... |
Danno
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 05:31 pm: |
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"from the numerous bashed stock bumpers i've seen on the trail, the end cap casualty and smily bumper is most common. rarely i see the quarter panel bashed... if ever. "
unless your wife guides you right into a tree |
RVR OVR (Tom)
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 06:02 pm: |
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How much would this fabrication and subsequent powdercoating cost? And then, you have something that may or may not work and you have upped the $$$.
If you want to protect your panels, maybe you should go with one of the ones out there that do it out of the box.
If the quarter panels are not an issue to you, go with the TJM. It has the good qualities of keeping the stock appearance while not making you modify your truck to fit it if that is good for the type of wheeling you do.
Tom |
Keith Armstrong
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 06:09 pm: |
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So you got that fixed, right Danno? |
steveII
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 08:10 pm: |
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interesting point on the rear 1/4 panel protection. it's the old "nest o' sharp rocks syndrome" - if you are bashing your rig that hard - then the tjm is not for you to begin with IMHO. if you want a good, no a GREAT rear bumper that will handle itself in 96.33% of the wheelin that most of us do - then 'bob is your uncle.'
the tjm is VASTLY superior to the factory set up and should prove to be great on the trail.
the added bonus is the if any (lesser) vehicle in the urban jungle taps the back of your disco - they will be MAULED, and you for the most part unscathed.
the pot metal of the stock bumper is only good for stopping heavily armed charging squirrels....
steveII
ps - i get no kick backs from EE on tjm - only a very satisfied customer!!! |
Danno
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 08:17 pm: |
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nope, still there. think it's going to be a project for the vocational students at my wife's high school. she's taking it in so that they can check it out again (they checked the fluids last week). i think they might be using it for detailing, to see how to get the scratches out of the paint |
John Lee
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 08:41 pm: |
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"yeah, but mass-produce for Rovers is the issue - is there really a mass market here for aggressive Rover bumpers?"
My point was that while the mass-produced bumpers were for the Jeep market, those bumpers were still being mass produced in the United States and being sold at reasonable prices. If these Jeep shops can do it, then so can the Rover shops. If they want to.
"I noticed that as well and was going to look into adding to the TJM bumper. I think adding 1/4 panel protection shouldn't be too costly. I'd be interested in hearing someones opinion on this that has seen the bumper."
I concur with all of the comments above regarding quarter panel protection.
First, I believe quarter panel protection is more fluff than real, at least with most of the bumpers out there. The SG quarter panel guards are affixed to the thin sheetmetal wheel wells. The Trek Ouftitters quarter panel guards are similarly affixed. On a hit to both of these "guards", the guards either flex upward and/or inward. So they're not really guarding anything except a light hit. They're more for poseur value than actual protection. If they were for protection, they would mounted to more solidly to the vehicle.
Second, I agree with Ho that the mangled rear bumpers far outweigh the number of mangled quarter panels. On the vast majority of trails, even the hard core trails, it is the corners of the rear bumper that take the vast majority of hits and not the quarter panels. There are also more smiley face bumpers and missing end caps than damaged quarter panels.
Third, it's a little absurd to hack away the quarter panels under the guise of protecting them. Most designs I have seen hack away so much of the quarter panel the guard that there's little or nothing left to protect.
Fourth, I think it's best to go with a bumper that already has quarter panel protection than to get a TJM and fashion your own quarter panel protection. Such an endeavor will cost enough that you won't save any money by going with the TJM bumper, and you'll ruin the stock look of the TJM anyway, so why not go full boat and get a non-stock-looking bumper? |
Marc
| | Posted on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 03:33 pm: |
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I just got my TJM on, and it is very nice. Just as solid as my front ARB, and a nice match. Also, it was very easy to put on, once I realized I did not have to use most of the included hardware.
I rewired my signal lights into the rear pillar assembly, and filled the holes in the TJM with some homemade reflectors (1/16 alum plate with red reflective tape). I did this because my stock assemblies kept filling up with mud. It was easy, free, and looks fine.
I am very happy with it. |
RVR OVR (Tom)
| | Posted on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 03:38 pm: |
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Nothing like "spare parts". What did it come with that you didn't need?
Tom |
John Lee
| | Posted on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 07:10 pm: |
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Tom,
The TJM comes with some pieces to reinforce the "chassis support bracket" pictured here: http://www.expeditionexchange.com/tjm/DCP_1035.jpg
The chassis support bracket is the piece between the blade and the mounting hole for the lashing ring. The additional pieces that Marc alluded to are reinforcing pieces for the chassis support brackets. To install these pieces, one must drill a hole in both the chassis support brackets and the frame. The chassis support brackets are left undrilled for additional strength in case the customer does not want to drill his frame to install the reinforcing pieces. So TJM basically gives you a choice on how you want to mount your bumper. |
Blue (Bluegill)
| | Posted on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 07:16 pm: |
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In that picture of MadDingo's TJM, those "reinforcing pieces for the chassis support brackets" are not installed, right? I only see bolts from lash rings to blade... |
John Lee
| | Posted on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 07:17 pm: |
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Correct. Just the chassis support brackets are installed in that pic. I don't have a pic handy of the additional reinforcing pieces. |
cheap jeep
| | Posted on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 08:29 pm: |
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rover sold 30,000 rovers in the U.S. last year jeep sold 30,000 yellow wranglers in the month of december. Thats why jeep stuff is mass produced and less expensive. |
JRoc
| | Posted on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 08:41 pm: |
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That explains it! And as far as a sucker born every minute, I guess they were off! It seems there's a sucker born every 15 seconds, and most of them are driving yellow wranglers! |
Mike J. (Mudd)
| | Posted on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 10:37 pm: |
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As far as 1/4 panels, I asked because I dented mine already and have seen several $whatever bumpers using that back protection when I wish I had it. Less worries coming dowm over the boulders. Mike J. |
RVR OVR (Tom)
| | Posted on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 10:41 pm: |
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Same here, Mike, I dented mine in sand of all places. Pulled the famous "rover wheelie" and as the front drivers side when up the passenger rear side went down as the tire dug in. Bent my fender in a hurry. Of course, now my bent part has been removed. Cheap bodywork!
Tom |
RVR OVR (Tom)
| | Posted on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 10:46 pm: |
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John, the ones that are on there in that pic look like they would help in preventing a twist of the bumper. That is a good idea. Some front bumper makers should learn from that, as the front of the Disco frame is similarly acessable for reinforcement.
tom |
Marc
| | Posted on Friday, March 15, 2002 - 09:15 am: |
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John,
How about EE making and selling a fueltank skidplate to mount on the TJM? The brackets in your pic look like they are begging for one. |
Scott MacGregor (Spm)
| | Posted on Friday, March 15, 2002 - 09:45 am: |
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I just want to thank EE for creating competition and good pricing. 4x4 Connection used to be offering this bumper for $615 "on sale". After seeing EE had picked it up and priced it at $500 I checked back at 4x4 Connection. It has dropped to $500. Ahh, the market at work, it is a beautiful thing! |
John Lee
| | Posted on Friday, March 15, 2002 - 11:55 am: |
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Marc,
"How about EE making and selling a fueltank skidplate to mount on the TJM? The brackets in your pic look like they are begging for one."
Yes, those chassis support brackets look as though they will readily accept a rear skid. The rear skid might actually tie everything together too and strength the entire assembly. I doubt we'll make up a skid though. I just can't get past the fact that most skid plates are for sex appeal and hanging up the truck on rocks more than anything else. |
RVR OVR (Tom)
| | Posted on Friday, March 15, 2002 - 12:04 pm: |
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John,
The gas tank skid doesn't fall into this category. I guess I spent too much time wheeling w/out a lift, but my tank has true signs of contact with our friend, Mother Earth.
Tom |
John Lee
| | Posted on Friday, March 15, 2002 - 12:13 pm: |
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Tom,
My Disco's rear tank supporting strap had some dents in it as well and lots of my friends' tanks have similar dents. So a rear skid can definitely help in some scenarios. No argument there. But to me, the rear skid is something I would rather just go without. I don't like the way the rear skids accummulate rocks and dirt. All you need one day is a rock between the fuel tank and the skid and then land on the skid. While the rear skids can definitely help, I prefer not to have them. |
Blue (Bluegill)
| | Posted on Friday, March 15, 2002 - 01:23 pm: |
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I want a TJM and a rear skid. My Disco needs some kind of sex appeal.... |
gp (Garrett)
| | Posted on Friday, March 15, 2002 - 01:26 pm: |
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i would assume you driving it alone would suffice. guess not........better let me have the truck then. |
Marc
| | Posted on Friday, March 15, 2002 - 01:27 pm: |
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John,
I tend to agree with you re: skid plates in general, but I think the fuel tank skid is the most likely to be usefull (if, indeed, any are). |
John Lee
| | Posted on Friday, March 15, 2002 - 01:56 pm: |
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Marc,
"I tend to agree with you re: skid plates in general, but I think the fuel tank skid is the most likely to be usefull (if, indeed, any are)."
I certainly can't argue with that. Skid plates in general are one of those things where reasonable minds can differ. They're not like rock sliders (which have obvious benefits and no real drawbacks) in that they have both goods and bads. If people weigh the goods and bads differently based on the terrain they do, the way they drive, the way their trucks are set up, etc., there is certainly no real argument to be made either for skids or against.
So I say send me your money for the TJM and then make up your own skid for it. Same goes for Blue. Email me, I'm John Lee. Maybe I can "help" you. |
Marc
| | Posted on Friday, March 15, 2002 - 03:26 pm: |
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already got it John, thanks though, and I will always be an EE shopper. |
Moe (Moe)
| | Posted on Friday, March 15, 2002 - 05:50 pm: |
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Rear skid plate has lots of sex appeal, although I feel--out of all the skid plates--it is the most important
 |
Dave_Lucas (Dave_Lucas)
| | Posted on Friday, March 15, 2002 - 07:19 pm: |
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It seems that the general consensus is that TJM rear is of good quality for the $.
Does anyone know if the TJM front bumper for the Disco I or II is of good quality for the $?
John Lee, any plans to carry the TJM front bumper for the Disco II? |
John Lee
| | Posted on Friday, March 15, 2002 - 08:03 pm: |
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Dave,
"It seems that the general consensus is that TJM rear is of good quality for the $."
I disagree that the TJM rear bumper is of good quality for the $500 price tag. I don't see how the TJM is of any lower quality than the $1000 and $1200 rear bumpers out there. In fact, I've seen those $1000 and $1200 bumpers and I opine that those $1000 and $1200 rear bumpers are actually of lower quality than the TJM rear bumper, not better.
"Does anyone know if the TJM front bumper for the Disco I or II is of good quality for the $?"
The TJM front bumpers are just as nice as the rears. The TJM and ARB bumpers are very similar. The main difference is that the ARB bumper absorbs the winching forces whereas the TJM has a separate winch basket that mounts to the vehicle's frame. That way, the bumper is free to crumple in an accident and is a true airbag-compatible design. The ARB design for the D2 is really neither fish nor fowl in that regard, although it too is excellent overall.
"any plans to carry the TJM front bumper for the Disco II?"
Sure. We're going to carry the blade-only and the full bumpers for both the D1 and D2. The only reason we have put those bumpers on the EE site is because we don't have any decent pics. |
Dave_Lucas (Dave_Lucas)
| | Posted on Friday, March 15, 2002 - 08:33 pm: |
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Thanks John,
It look like the departure angle is better than the ARB
What about the winch mounting system how does it compare to the ARB and others out there? |
John Lee
| | Posted on Friday, March 15, 2002 - 08:49 pm: |
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Dave,
The TJM uses a separate winch tray to mount the winch and hold the winching forces. The blade of the TJM mounts to crush cans and will the blade will thus crumple inward on a hard impact. This is good in that the bumper is truly airbag compatible. This is bad in that recovery points cannot be mounted to the blade because the blade could be yanked off in a hard pull. This is a different design than the other bumpers on the market. It's not better or worse; it just presents different advantages and disadvantages. |
Rob Liflander
| | Posted on Saturday, March 16, 2002 - 01:04 pm: |
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ARB makes both airbag and non-airbag compatible bumpers, with the main difference being the corrugated mounts in the airbag version.
It seems like the non-airbag version would be more desirable in that it will not rotate up and inward as easily.
The only disadvantage with the (stronger) non-airbag bumper is that the airbag may deploy too easily. Is this true? How likely is it that the airbag would deploy in a parking lot or light trail "bump"? |
John Lee
| | Posted on Saturday, March 16, 2002 - 01:49 pm: |
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"ARB makes both airbag and non-airbag compatible bumpers...."
For Dave's D2, the only ARB bumper available is the airbag-compatible one. |
brad
| | Posted on Saturday, March 16, 2002 - 02:07 pm: |
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I could have used a fuel skidplate about a week ago when I was out and nailed my fuel tank on a piece of tin that was left under some mud. luckly I had some gum and ducktape to get me to my machanic to put a knew tank on. |
Rick Lindgren
| | Posted on Saturday, March 16, 2002 - 08:19 pm: |
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John
Do you know if the TJM front bumper for the DII will accommodate a Superwinch Husky? Not many bumpers will so I was curious.
Thanks,
Rick |
Darryl (Smeag)
| | Posted on Sunday, March 17, 2002 - 08:50 am: |
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I feel outcast :-( I have a DII and found REAR bumpers few and far, I came to two choices, Trek and $G, went with $G because of the best departure, I like the hitch placement because I have a cargo carrier I use during deer season, keeps it high. Also never saw a Trek in person but saw John's at RTE and thought it looked great and John hadn't tore it off yet so it must be tuff.
Darryl |
Murray (Cdnrvr)
| | Posted on Sunday, March 17, 2002 - 01:13 pm: |
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Darryl,
Just wanted to let you know Mike at Aedofab is building a rear bumper for the DII. I have both his front and rear bumpers as well as the rock rails for my DI and can honestly say there isn't anything I would change about them. I live in a really rocky area and have dished out some abuse with no problems. If you need anymore info, let me know.
Murray |
John Lee
| | Posted on Monday, March 18, 2002 - 11:59 am: |
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Rick,
"Do you know if the TJM front bumper for the DII will accommodate a Superwinch Husky?"
No, the TJM's winch tray will not accept a Husky. |
Leslie N. Bright (Leslie)
| | Posted on Monday, March 18, 2002 - 12:16 pm: |
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Is the TJM winch tray available seperately? Which winches will it accept?
-L |
John Lee
| | Posted on Monday, March 18, 2002 - 12:19 pm: |
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Les,
Yes, the winch tray is available separately. It's actually sold separately.
The winch tray will accept the standard planetary winches like the XD9000 and the X9. |
Leslie N. Bright (Leslie)
| | Posted on Monday, March 18, 2002 - 12:59 pm: |
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But not the Huskys....
What about MM? or RE?
Can it be installed w/ a factory brushguard in place?
-L |
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