Trail-Ready: Overland Bumper Selection Tips

Adding an aftermarket front bumper to your overland rig adds protection from trail hazards and a great style, too. But how do you know which bumper to get for your vehicle? There are a few things to know to ensure you get that just-right bumper for your adventure rig.

Find The Features You Want

Start by asking yourself: What features do I want in an overland front bumper? There are several things to consider. Do you want a winch mount, grille/headlight guards, recovery points, auxiliary light mounts, integrated lights, etc.?

Overlanding has different needs than, say, rock crawling. As overlanders, you may want to have a high-clearance bumper with a place to use your off-road jack if you get a flat in the outback. Also, a place to mount big lights for night-time travel can be good, too. Conversely, you might be looking for a lightweight, minimal application to keep weight down, as many overland vehicles can get heavy very quickly. So first decide on the features you want and go from there.

Another thing to consider are the modifications you have or want to make to your overlander. This includes things like skid plates, fender flares, lights, antennas, or other accessories. Will your overland front bumper work with these items?

Scope Out the Style

Next, you’ll want to consider the style of your overland front bumper, as some vehicles have a number of rugged looks to choose from.

For example, some bumpers are very minimal only offering a place to mount lights, but they could have a place for an integrated skid plate. Others are big and beefy and cover nearly the vehicle’s entire fascia and can drastically alter the original style. They may have winch mounts and grille guard tubes and offer more protection but can be heavy. Perhaps you’re looking for something somewhere in the middle.

If you are going to add a winch, ensure the bumper you choose will accommodate the unit you want. Also, do you want the winch totally hidden, partially hidden, or out front?

Think about your overland lighting setup. Some bumpers have integrated LED light bars, others allow a place for 3” cube lights, and some have spots on top of the bumper for lights.

Adding an overland front bumper is going to change the look of the vehicle. So, before you bolt on a bumper, make sure it will look the way you want.

Find Your Application

Once you’re ready to shop, you can visit sites like Ironman4x4america.com and use the year/make/model selector to find out what’s available for your vehicle. You will find that, depending on your rig, there might be a variety of styles and choices. On the other hand, you might find you only have one choice.

A Bunch of Bumpers: Choose Wisely

There are loads of overland front bumpers on the market. But bumpers aren’t a product you want to skimp on, and doubly so if you’re putting a winch bumper on. Bumpers, such as those from Ironman 4x4, have top-notch engineering, design, and manufacturing behind them, along with years of history. So whether you’re out for a few days, or living life on the road, finding that perfect bumper for your overland vehicle is totally doable, and can prove to be an excellent addition to your rig.