running with NO bumper

[muddybuddy]

u should cut the back off and put a k5 top on it like this one: except he shortened it as well
http://www.msnusers.com/shortsub/shoebox.msnw?albumlist=2

that is so sweet, and that would save alot of weight.

 

[AZ79K5Project]

You need some front support. Your front bumper bolts directly to the frame and adds support across the front of the truck. Normal movement from daily driving and frame flex while off road without that front support can break stuff. It possibly can cause radiator problems from the front flex as well as the other stuff already mentioned. You may be able to shave a little (not much) weight by removing the bumper and welding a cross member across the front.

I would go with a tube front bumper and winch. Screw the weight. You have one of the heaviest 4x4's made compared to the jeeps and custom tube frame jobs. I think the only thing that weighs more is a Peterbuilt.

 

[78Suburban]

its amazing to see how the poll slanted in clearly one direction
33% for each choice. Holy Indecisive Batman

 

[Jishory]

I'm seriously thinking of cloneing your exact setup .. do you still have the bumper scraps laying around? I know its asking alot, but it would be AWSOME if you could weight the ends you cut off so that I would have an idea how much weight I will shed before I go to the trouble of breaking out the
thanks,
james

they are long gone but i really dont think its more then 40-50 pounds. The stock bumper is kind of flimsy anyways on the edges, i really didnt do it for the weight.

Oh yeah like the ratchet strap hood latch? i got that fixed last week

 

[78Suburban]

Oh yeah like the ratchet strap hood latch? i got that fixed last week

Yeah, that was pretty pimpin.

So have you had the steering box or any essential parts get squished or banged up? I'm not sure what all the stock bumper really protects, I guess I need to crawl under there and see, but its dark and cold out and I'm about to go to bed. I may hack the stock fender before its over just dunno yet.
Thanks,
James

 

[justinf]

If you are just mud bogging, or mud drags, then take it off. I used to compete in local mud drags with an '80 K20, ran it for years with no bumpers front or rear. However, I will add the truck was not driven on the road, always trailered to events. But as far as just running in the mud, I never had a problem without the support from the bumper, no problems with the radiator either, even when the track was rough.

 

[roadnotca]

its amazing to see how the poll slanted in clearly one direction
33% for each choice. Holy Indecisive Batman

There you go; yank it off and see how it works. If you look for it you can tell the difference. You can always put it back on.

 

[jk3078]

Ditch everything, doors,back glass,carpet... I did all of this and chopped the back, shortend the frame and ditched the front clip. Kind of extreme but I now have a "Sub" that weighs 3600#'s. To be honest I dont think just pulling the bumper is going to make any difference on a truck as big as a Sub. If you do pull it get some good tow hooks bolted on the front so when you get stuck theres something there to pull on.

 

[BranndonC]

ohh. i just have to vote to make it even...lol

 

[roadnotca]

ohh. i just have to vote to make it even...lol

Dude, this thread is old, so we don't how you voted

 

[BranndonC]

i know, but it was even earlier today cause of me... lol 13 13 13 I know its old, I didn't bring it back, someone else did by voting

 

[roadnotca]

OK, so no one knows a good argument either way. All I can think of is the forces that rip the steering box out of the frame, are only going to be amplified by softening-up the front end. I going to unsub this one now.