bumpers, bumperettes and steps/sliders

farmershort · Mar 11, 2016

Hi All,

I thought I'd lump all 3 of these things into one thread to save everyone's sanity.

as part of my 110 rebuild, I need a new bumper, some side step (3 door), and some sort of protection for the rear corners.

bumperettes: I've seen a few around and the ones made from 2 tubes seem to be cheapest, at around £60 a pair on ebay. I think there's even a galv set on there for a similar price. Then from there the prices seem to creep upwards to near the £300 quid mark for ones with fancy diagonal bits of plate. In terms of look-and-feel I'm always on the side of "as original as possible", and in terms of use it's smallholding work and road/towing use.

bumpers: now here's a mine field! everything from the £60 or £80 paddocks/craddocks jobs up to £900 for that german brand who's name escapes me. The one thing I am struggling with it options on bumpers without the holes for end caps. Mine is a 1998, so wouldn't have had end caps, and I want to keep it that way. Devon 4x4 do a very very nice tapered non-winch bumper, but it's in the £250 region from memory. Any top tips for suppliers?

Steps/sliders: I have before now managed to slide a defender sideways on a wet steep gateway and managed to scuff the sides up when I eventually made contact with the gate post. whilst this isn't an everyday concern, I'm interested to know what my hybrid step/slider options are. I notice that some of these more modern tubular oem steps (fire and ice???) look like they may double as basic sliders at a push. any thoughts? I'm not greenlaning at all, so the oem foldable jobs will be my default.

FlyingPete · Mar 11, 2016

I have the original fold-up steps on my 90 and they do the job nicely for most stuff. Just make sure to fold them up before you do any off roading or you're likely to either bend it or tear them off. Folded they're within the wheel track so reasonably safe from damage.

flat · Mar 11, 2016

What about rear military bumperettes - should be able to pick up a pair 2nd hand in good nick and paint them.

Likewise front bumper - has the extra benefit of a central tow point

farmershort · Mar 11, 2016

flat said:
What about rear military bumperettes - should be able to pick up a pair 2nd hand in good nick and paint them.

Likewise front bumper - has the extra benefit of a central tow point

I've not found anyone selling new military bumpers - or at least not without space for a winch and a load of daft tow hooks stickout out of the front to nobble pedestrians. I like the idea of the tow point on the front, but I would also worry about the extra wind noise it might add. Perhaps that's a daft concern to have with a defender, but I am going to try my best to soundproof and seal the crap out of it.... so long as I can still hear my v8

flat · Mar 11, 2016

farmershort said:
I've not found anyone selling new military bumpers - or at least not without space for a winch and a load of daft tow hooks stickout out of the front to nobble pedestrians. I like the idea of the tow point on the front, but I would also worry about the extra wind noise it might add. Perhaps that's a daft concern to have with a defender, but I am going to try my best to soundproof and seal the crap out of it.... so long as I can still hear my v8

Dude, come on, it's a central pin, it won't add sod all wind noise.

I doubt you will find any new but 2nd hand probably - get them blasted and hot zinc dipped. Both the bumper and the bumperettes that is

Try blanchards, drop zone military etc they may have the bumpers and the bumperettes.

farmershort · Mar 11, 2016

flat said:
Dude, come on, it's a central pin, it won't add sod all wind noise.

I doubt you will find any new but 2nd hand probably - get them blasted and hot zinc dipped. Both the bumper and the bumperettes that is

Try blanchards, drop zone military etc they may have the bumpers and the bumperettes.

oh the pin wont make any noise... it's the whacking great rectangular hole

it's an option if I can't find a nice suitable new option.

elan23 · Mar 11, 2016

Rimmer, Trek Overland, John Craddock.....all have military bumpers at the £100 mark, you didn't look far!
As for the 'wind noise' I wouldn't mention it again as it makes you sound like a n*b (a friendly whisper in the ear).

farmershort · Mar 11, 2016

elan23 said:
Rimmer, Trek Overland, John Craddock.....all have military bumpers at the £100 mark, you didn't look far!
As for the 'wind noise' I wouldn't mention it again as it makes you sound like a n*b (a friendly whisper in the ear).

so I think I was trying to suggest a quality question when it comes to the likes of paddock/craddock/rimmer, but don't worry if you didn't pick up on that. Also, I dont tend to call people nob's when I'm being friendly... just an fyi. It has been noted on the forum perviously, how much extra wind noise a snorkle adds, and a rectangular hole in the bumber is not dissimilar in profile.

god this place is exhausting sometimes.

elan23 · Mar 11, 2016

I've not found anyone selling new military bumpers - or at least not without space for a winch and a load of daft tow hooks stickout out of the front to nobble pedestrians 'quote'
http://www.johncraddockltd.co.uk/ot...ender-military-bumper-black-with-tow-jaw.html
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/1519...ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=122&ff19=0&ul_noapp=true
Etc. nothing about quality issues that I can see. As for comparing a snorkel with an iddy-bitty hole in a bumper, ffs!!

farmershort · Mar 11, 2016

That you for your contribution elan.. Now please sod off and let a few less arsey people contribute.

blue beasty · Mar 11, 2016

Is this a get arsey over nothing competition?

Can I play?

Tbh snorkel wind noise is due to them being mounted on the leading edge of the brick you drive at head level just the other side of a pane of glass.

A hole in the bumper is a little different

farmershort · Mar 11, 2016

Understand that BB.

If you check the OP, I've not really mentioned anything about military bumpers, so I'm not really sure how this got so excited. Perhaps these topics are just more controversial than I realised.

blue beasty · Mar 11, 2016

farmershort said:
Understand that BB.

If you check the OP, I've not really mentioned anything about military bumpers, so I'm not really sure how this got so excited. Perhaps these topics are just more controversial than I realised.

I've read the thread. You said you liked the idea of a towing pin and you were helpfully pointed in the direction of suppliers.

They are useful, I use to tow backwards in the woods a lot but with a front mounted pedestrian knobbler.

Rear quarters are a bit more tricky. Wrap around tubulars are good but look far from standard...so does anything else that gives much real protection.

farmershort · Mar 11, 2016

Perhaps least non standard would be a more fitting description of the aim them, given that the standard corner protection is nothing.

I considered the nas rear step, but it looks like it limits options on height for towing, which would be a concern when towing a Sankey wide track.

flat · Mar 12, 2016

A snorkel does add noise but that's more position, bumper pin hole is not in an area where that noise would carry so readily.

It's a really useful addition IMO that I think you will find outweighs any potential noise disadvantage.

Rear bumpers, I personally think the wrap around ones look a bit rubbish.

The rear bumperettes don't provide any corner protection though.

flat · Mar 12, 2016

farmershort said:
oh the pin wont make any noise... it's the whacking great rectangular hole it's an option if I can't find a nice suitable new option.

I meant to quote this, it's no that whacking a hole, it's about 8 X 4 inches at a guess but I can measure later if you want me to?

farmershort · Mar 12, 2016

Cheers for the offer chap, but no that's about the size I expected. Yeah, perhaps the position is the bigger factor.

I've asked on the Sankey fb group whether or not it's possible to get the height right with a nas rear bumper, but I worry the trailer would nose-down too much (camping trailer).

I used to have some of those steps which go either side of the tow bar on a previous defender.... Absolutely horrible when you're trying to load anything in the back... I was forever scraping my shins.

blue beasty · Mar 12, 2016

I doubt an nas bumper is going to suit. Unless you have a massive lift the hook is usually mounted directly on the cross member. To put a hook at the same height on a nas you'd need a plate to lift it above the line of the bumper which would look kinda horrible.

Does give any real rear quarter protection either.

farmershort · Mar 12, 2016

Ok. Good to know. Looks like I'm back to bumperettee or nothing at the back then. Lots of comments saying they don't offer real corner protection.... Is that because they're limited in surface area, or because they're just structurally weak?

flat · Mar 12, 2016

farmershort said:
Ok. Good to know. Looks like I'm back to bumperettee or nothing at the back then. Lots of comments saying they don't offer real corner protection.... Is that because they're limited in surface area, or because they're just structurally weak?

No the military bumperettes only protrude backwards if you see what I mean.

If you have a sankey get the bumperettes and a Dixon Bate adjustable drop hitch with two plates - one a ball and one a NATO

Or is your sankey converted to ball?

bumpers, bumperettes and steps/sliders

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