Why does every winch bumper for new trucks look like optimus prime's helmet?

Enthusiast III

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Grand Falls-Windsor, NL, Canada
First Name
Steve
Last Name
Adams
I have been shopping for a winch bumper that looks like this, for our 2015 F150 crew....

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But all I can find is crap that looks like this....

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Anyone know of anything like the ARB for a 2015 F150 or am I having to have it custom built?
 
Because hydro-forming costs a metric shit ton of money, and every chucklehead in the world can find something to weld with?

I agree with you though, and irrespective of function I find most of the aftermarket bumpers to be tragically ugly.
 
Because hydro-forming costs a metric shit ton of money, and every chucklehead in the world can find something to weld with?

I agree with you though, and irrespective of function I find most of the aftermarket bumpers to be tragically ugly.

I would tend to agree with you, but you would think ARB could do it since they make them for lesser models. There are millions of modified F150s out there.
 
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I have been shopping for a winch bumper that looks like this, for our 2015 F150 crew....

But all I can find is crap that looks like this....

Anyone know of anything like the ARB for a 2015 F150 or am I having to have it custom built?

This thread is so true! Even some of ARB's new stuff looks a little plump in size as compared to their old products.
I wish you could still find the look of the LC ARB style bumpers for all new vehicles.

Even this looks a little much as compared to.....
ARBToyota200Series0717_094-2140x1427-1.jpg


... to this!
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I'm sure a lot of it has to do with bumper regulations now but there has to be a way to trip it down.
 
So I always wanted the ARB but just can't justify the money. So, I bought a Westin brush guard and built my own bumper. Love it. I'll make some changes later but it works great for me.
Zim
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Look at hammerheadarmor.com American made, Plus I know the People in charge over There

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Leaning toward Hammerhead myself when I get around to bumpers and a winch. I like the look of the ARB bumper but they don't put recovery points on it and they don't make a rear bumper for my RAM.
 
It took me forever to find a bumper that wasn’t so bulky and eventually found a RPG one. The CX is terrible but I am very happy with the bumper.
 

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Buckstop Bumpers made in Oregon, not a budget bumper by any means, but super well built and will stand up to a large animal strike. They only make this version for the 2015 F150, but they do offer a few options and can finish in a bunch of different colors. We have their Outback bumper which has a beefier grill guard on our Ram and they color matched the bumper to the factory trim color, and did an aluminum powder coat finish for the grill guard. We had the front receiver deleted and added in the two outer fog light holes (comes with just the 6 inch driving light holes stock) Love that the winch is fully hidden under a removable hatch so sunlight does not get to the synthetic line. As we live close by in Washington we had them supply the winch and lights and we drove down and they did the install in a couple of hours rather than shipping it.

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Part of it is that winch bumpers and eco boosts don’t work, add in adaptive cruise and you’ve removed a huge chunk of F150s in the market.
 
I would tend to agree with you, but you would think ARB could do it since they make them for lesser models. There are millions of modified F150s out there.
Lesser models than a 150? Don’t get me wrong, as I am a lifetime Ford pickup guy, but in the world wide market the 150 is scraping the bottom of the barrel and ARB is interested in maintaining a world market share.
 
You’re probably already aware but you’ll need to relocate your intercooler to mount a winch. Eventually I’d like to do that and mount a winch but with a more Baja’ish style bumper to give more approach angle especially at the tires.