![7 Types of Vehicle Bumpers : [ Including Pros & Cons ]](https://myvehicletalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/car-bumper-image-720x405.jpg)
As a car owner, you would naturally prioritize the passive safety mechanism of your vehicle. The bumpers of your car happen to be some of the primary components that strengthen this safety.
Over the years, branded automobile manufacturers have come up with innovative bumper designs. However, the end goal of all these components is the sake: to secure the vehicle from physical damage.
Now, it is imperative to choose the right type of bumper, so that car owners can benefit from the additional perks. Whether you own a car or a truck, you need to prioritize elements like your driving style, lifestyle, and the size of the vehicle while customizing the bumpers.
With proper knowledge of the different types of bumpers available on the market, you can make the right choice. So, we have eased up your decision-making process by presenting different types of vehicle bumpers in this article.
Types of Vehicle Bumpers
Bumpers of cars and trucks come in different designs, materials, and styles. The manufacturers prioritize the nature of the vehicle, their respective risk potential, and design aspects while coming up with these bumpers. So, you can categorize bumpers into several segments under different heads.
Firstly, we have explained four types of vehicle bumpers based on their design.
1. Standard bumpers
These bumpers are the most common ones in trucks and cars. You would notice these bumpers stretching directly from the right end of the vehicle to the left.
The manufacturers integrate these bumpers right under the grille in the front. In trucks, you would find the standard bumpers on the OEM parts. Moreover, some manufacturers customize the design of their bumpers to fit the design or body of the corresponding vehicle under consideration.
In general, you will come across standard bumpers in passenger vehicles.
These bumpers come devoid of any hitches or steps. The plastic or metal bumper has a coating of paint over it. Inside the outer surface, these bumpers contain different mechanisms to absorb the shock or energy.
Mostly, the manufacturer of the car or truck directly designs the vehicle. However, these bumpers may not be of the best quality all the time. The manufacturers may use cheap materials in the bumpers. So, in case of a collision, they might not be adequate to secure your vehicle.
2. Deep drop bumpers
For trucks or cars that need high towing capacities, deep drop bumpers might be the right pick. Often, you would notice deep drop bumpers on larger trucks, which help these powerful vehicles haul other vehicles. In some places, you would come across the term ‘cowboy bumpers’ that refer to the same design.
In general, deep drop bumpers are taller than the average or standard ones. Besides, you can identify these bumpers by their typical trapezoidal shape.
These bumpers also have a low-ball height. The manufacturers design these bumpers in such a way that they can manage powerful towing duties. Besides, they look visually appealing with the trucks, as they seamlessly go with the grille.
As deep drop bumpers are heady-duty integrations, they come with a powerful chrome plating. You would notice these bumpers mostly in older trucks. They can also haul heavy trailers.
Apart from providing additional towing capacity to the trucks, they work perfectly to secure the trucks from physical damage arising from collision.
3. Roll pan bumpers
In general, roll pan bumpers are comparatively more streamlined than other types of bumpers. This makes the trucks look visually appealing and neater.
Particularly, the owners appreciate the uncluttered and evened-out look of the bottom of their vehicles. You will come across roll pan bumpers extensively in compact trucks. Manufacturers like Toyota integrate these bumpers into their trucks and cars.
Mostly, these bumpers have fiberglass in them, which offers a seamless blend of defense as well as looks. However, they do not serve towing purposes, so they are different from deep drop bumpers.
These bumpers can also complement the design of your truck. So, if you want to prioritize the aesthetic essence of the vehicle you own, it would be wise to go for one with roll pan bumpers.
4. Tube bumpers
The function of tube bumpers is to provide more defense to protect the grille of your car or truck. This explains why these bumpers have such a nomenclature.
The bumpers come with a metallic tube structure. These tubes are present below the lights, covering the grille in the front section of your truck or car.
When you explore the bumper market for trucks in the US, you would notice tube bumpers to be the most common variant. Most importantly, they come in several designs that can blend with trucks of different models and sizes.
Truck or car owners prefer tube bumpers that come with a good height. This ensures that the protective mechanism shields the grilles as well as the headlights.
So, you would have a single defense mechanism to protect both your grille and headlights. It is possible for the owners to customize the design of tube bumpers based on their car or truck model.
Usually, you will come across tube bumpers integrated into lifted trucks and jeeps.
Rather than the plastic or fiberglass materials, these bumpers come with strong steel tubes to mitigate damage arising from collision. Apart from being lightweight, they are stylish. Most importantly, they add to the elegance of jeeps and trucks.
5. Step bumper
Step bumpers are similar to standard bumpers. However, they come with a step somewhere around the middle part.
You would come across step bumpers in trucks, SUVs, and some cars. in the center, you would notice a design that resembles a cut-out step. Particularly, when you observe the area just under the license plate, you would find this specific feature.
With step bumpers integrated into your truck or car, it becomes easy to get onto the bed of the truck by putting a leg. The step provides additional support to the driver or other people climbing onto the truck.
To facilitate ball hitch installations, such bumpers sometimes come with holes. These holes help the truck tow trailers, provided that they are light enough. Therefore, step bumpers also serve versatile functions and happen to be a common integration on cars and trucks.
Based on the location, you have two primary categories of bumpers, front and rear.
6. Front bumpers
Front bumpers are invaluable integrations into cars and trucks. They go a long way in defending your vehicle against collisions. Besides, front bumpers help to protect the paint, fending off occurrences like brushing.
Again, if your car or truck falls into a roadside ditch, the front bumper would lower the impact, mitigating damage. Therefore, front bumpers serve as valuable components in the defense mechanism of your vehicle.
7. Rear bumpers
Just like securing the frontal part of your truck or car, you need an equally robust system to protect its tail. Rear bumpers come with several applications, which go beyond securing your vehicle from crashes coming from the back.
For instance, these bumpers provide more ground clearance to the vehicle. When you scale up hills or slopes, the rear bumpers angle up. Apart from impact protection, they infuse your truck with a rugged look, most importantly, these bumpers allow you to attach more lights as they come with more hooks.
Now, we are going to discuss two types of bumpers for cars and trucks based on their respective materials.
Steel and aluminum bumpers for vehicles
For cars and trucks that operate primarily for off-roading purposes, you can go for both aluminum and steel bumpers. However, if you want to use your car for adventurous activities such as rock climbing, aluminum wouldn’t be the best choice.
The impact arising from the terrain can easily weaken these bumpers. Particularly, the welded parts and rivets sustain damage in case you have aluminum bumpers.
On the other hand, steel bumpers may also sustain dents. However, this type of impact wouldn’t rob the bumper of its strength.
Cars or trucks that often navigate through muddy terrains would be fine with aluminum bumpers. Steel bumpers are susceptible to rust faster than their aluminum counterparts.
Therefore, under these situations, it would be wise to go with aluminum bumpers. Comparing the respective weights, aluminum turns out to be lighter.
However, in general, when you go for off-roading adventures, it would be logical to have steel bumpers in place. The additional weight of steel wouldn’t make any significant difference on your ride.
Advantages of aluminum bumpers
- No rusting issues when you navigate through mud or water
- They have mounting hooks and other necessary accessories
- They are reasonably lighter, which delivers a better ride quality
Disadvantages of aluminum bumpers
- They are not the ideal pick for off-roading since they don’t perform well against boulders and rocks.
Advantages of steel bumpers
- Steel bumpers are extremely durable, and can even outlast the rest of the vehicle
- They come with customized features like holes, hooks, towing features, and off-road lights
- With steel bumpers, you can comfortably go off-roading
- It is easy to personalize steel bumpers depending on your car or truck
Advantages of steel bumpers
- They are heavy and you might need additional help to install one
What is a car bumper?
You would notice the rear and frontal sides of cars integrated with shrouds of metal or hard plastic that protrude outside. These are car bumpers that protect the body of the vehicle from bumps, dents, scratches, or other physical damage arising from the collision.
Reputed manufacturers design car bumpers to absorb the shock of impact and minimize damage in case any other vehicle bumps into your car, or your car collides with an object or another vehicle.
Currently, most bumpers that you will come across in standard cars or trucks come with a strong reinforcing bar. Outside this bar, the bumpers have an external cover.
Below the bar, you have layers of foam or plastic, which is compressible. This effective buffering is capable of absorbing shocks arising from collisions or bumps, thereby securing the vehicle.
As per the established standards in the US. The bumpers of passenger cars should be capable of absorbing an impact at 5 mph from a different vehicle, and the body of the first car shouldn’t sustain any damage.
The appropriate integration of plastic and foam makes this possible. Following the impact of the crash, the foam or plastic might squish between the body of the vehicle and the reinforcing bar.
Why is a car bumper important?
The prime purpose of having a bumper in place for your vehicle is to secure its parts from external damage due to collision. Particularly, the front and rear sections of your car or truck contain some of the most vital mechanical parts.
Besides, you need to secure the grilles and headlights of your vehicle from collision damage. Most importantly, it’s imperative to protect the engine of the car which remains under the hood.
So, the bumpers go a long way in securing the engine from external damage in case of an accident. Currently, the manufacturers use different types of materials in the bumpers of cars and trucks. These include aluminum, plastic, fiberglass composites, and steel.
Bumpers absorb most of the shock following an accident. So, the bumper protects the vital components of your car, including the engine, alternator, radiator, and battery.
Damage to these crucial parts of the car can prove to be disastrous, and it may render your truck useless. Replacing them would also be an expensive affair for most owners.
Conclusion
Now that you are aware of the different types of bumpers that might suit your car or truck, you can choose the right one. When you select the design or type, make sure to balance the safety of your truck with the functional value of the bumper.
Remember, the bumper secures some of the most vital mechanical parts of the car, including the engine. So, you cannot afford to overlook the protective capabilities of these bumpers.
Whether you own a car, a pickup truck, or a heavy-duty truck, it’s imperative to integrate it with a quality bumper. This ensures that you can enhance the aesthetics of your car or truck, while keeping it protected from external damages.
