Are the people at Buckstop Bumpers Imbeciles?

[mankypro]

I saw one of these on a late model 350 at the hardware store, took the name and checked their website:

http://www.buckstop.biz/ford92-98.html

They have pictures of what would seem to be IDI's wearing their bumpers. I figure the frames cannot be that different from my 84' maybe I could get one to mount on my vehicle.

I call their 800 number. Talk to the guy on the other side of the line. Ask what the distance is between the parts that mount to the frame. He insists it's "proprietary information" and he cannot share it. After trying to reason with him about my wanting to buy a bumper and all I need to know is how they mount the repeated the same thing like 5 times.

Ok is this stupid you'd think in this economy they'd love to have another customer for their overpriced product.

Turns out they're idiots.

 

[NCheek]

I've just about decided that to get a bumper for a pre 87 body style truck, it's going to have to be home-made.

You could give these guys a call...

 

[typ4]

Proprietary huh?? Maybe he has a special tape measure!

 

[NCheek]

I would sure hate to think of how many different, proprietary frame widths are running around out there!

 

[82F100SWB]

The frame is different enough that it isn't going to be a bolt on by any means.
The 92+ frames are boxed out to the front, and are shaped entirely differently from the core support mounts forwards.
This is what the mounting side of a Buckstop looks like:

You must be registered for see images attach

The tabs with 2 boltholes bolt up to the stock bumper mounting brackets, and you use one of the 3 holes in front of it to line up with an existing hole in the frame.
This is what the 92+ Frame looks like:

You must be registered for see images attach

IMHO, for a bumper that heavy, especially one with a receiver and winch mount, that mounting is pretty cheesy. Yes, the brackets are plenty heavy, but only 6 bolts total, and where's the frame re-enforcement plates like Warn provides with their bumper mounting kits?

The one they have that says it fits 87-91 Bronco only and requires the frame mounts re-hashed to fit a F-Truck, well, that's just plain weird, the frame horns are the same on all 80-91 F-Series and BKO's.

 

[mankypro]

Interesting there would seem to be plain NOTHING under the skin of that bumper. I bet you a buck would screw it up pretty bad. Thanks for posting that. My gawd if I tapped a tree trunk it would probably dent it?!

 

[mankypro]

Hey! That looks like my truck!

You must be registered for see images

I've just about decided that to get a bumper for a pre 87 body style truck, it's going to have to be home-made.

You could give these guys a call...

 

[NCheek]

Interesting there would seem to be plain NOTHING under the skin of that bumper. I bet you a buck would screw it up pretty bad. Thanks for posting that. My gawd if I tapped a tree trunk it would probably dent it?!

If you want strong,one word: PIPE

If you build your own, you can make it plenty strong, but what happens when you get to the point where the frame is the weak part and bends upon collision...

 

[mankypro]

I've heard from more than one welder type that the Ford frames for my year leave a bit to be desired. That said I'd rather the bumper take the brunt but I don't want it to fall apart if I tap a tree on my farm (which I do from time to time...)

If you want strong,one word: PIPE

If you build your own, you can make it plenty strong, but what happens when you get to the point where the frame is the weak part and bends upon collision...

 

[f-two-fiddy]

Holy crap, For what they charge. You'd think they'd want Your business?

Those bumpers are NOT worth that kind of money. I could build one for under $500

 

[Exekiel69]

One of the members here (93turboanimal) made His own and it look awesome, maybe He'll chime in and share some info or You could get one from Him.

 

[F350farmboy]

Someone from FTE (Josh88 or something like that) built a few bumpers and he got a bunch of people asking for detailed plans.

 

[PackRat]

Scultz Welding, northwest of Luray, KS, makes a really nice looking, heavy duty bumper.

 

[93turbo_animal]

Holy crap, For what they charge. You'd think they'd want Your business?

Those bumpers are NOT worth that kind of money. I could build one for under $500

Then your time is worth nothing

 

[93turbo_animal]

Interesting there would seem to be plain NOTHING under the skin of that bumper. I bet you a buck would screw it up pretty bad. Thanks for posting that. My gawd if I tapped a tree trunk it would probably dent it?!

I highly doubt a deer would do anything to that bumper a tree of course but if you hit it hard enough to dent it you'll be picking your teeth out of the windshield anyhow

I looked at some previous threads to post links and most were started by you so you know what my stuff looks like but for the rest wanting ideas to build a bumper heres my very first one not quite step by step but pretty close
http://www.oilburners.net/forums/showthread.php?t=9691