In October of 2002, an inattentive driver pulled out in front of me in a full-sized Chevy van. I pretty much T-boned the van and ruined my factory front bumper and Warn Trans4mer winch mount and brushguard.
Due to the inability of the insurance comapany to reach the lady, it was three weeks before I could even set an appointment with the body shop to fix my fenders, hood, and grill. It would be even longer after the body work was done before I received the insurance check after I instructed the body shop to leave out the bumper and winch mount and to just pay out what the replacement cost would be.
In the meantime, I was planning out what company I would use for my replacement winch bumper. I had checked out all of the well-known manufacturers, but after doing a Google search on "Heavy Duty Winch Bumpers", I ran across a manufacturer I had never heard of - Buckstop. After exchanging emails with Dorian at Buckstop, I had made up my mind that this would be the supplier of my new bumper. After comparing construction, features, and cost, there was no contest. Buckstop sells fully loaded winch bumpers for much less than what you would pay for a bare-bones Reunel or RoadArmor.
I was finally able to order the bumper right before Christmas, and I received it on 20 January. The holidays slowed things down a bit, but Dorian stated that you would normally receive your bumper within two weeks or ordering.
Installation of the bumper was fairly straightforward. The bumper brackets mount just like the Mopar Tow Hooks and Warn Trans4mer winch mount. The brushguard section bolts to the top of the bumper, and the winch mounts to the inside face of the bumper, and the mounting bolts keep the roller fairlead and licence plate bracket in place. The bumper itself then bolts to these brackets. The brackets alone weigh nearly 40lbs and are very sturdy being constructed of 1/4" plate steel, and the supplied tow hooks mount to these brackets in the same manner as the Mopar Tow Hooks. The bumper itself is constructed of 1/4" plate in the center section and 3/16" plate on the outer wings. This is similar to how Reunel, Road Armor, and ProZap construct their bumpers.
Although this bumper is lighter in weight than a comparable Reunel or Road Armor, it still weighs down the front end, even with the #024/225AA coil spring combo (shipping weight was 290lbs, and the winch, fairlead, and lights probably add another 100lbs).
UPDATE: Per Dorian at Buckstop: "As a note - the pallet is 55 lbs of the shipping weight - bumper is 235 lbs."I'm still in the process of determining what I'll be doing to remedy the added weight up front. After comparing the side pic of the Buckstop with the side pic with the stock bumper and Warn Trans4mer, it doesn't appear to have lowered the front too terribly much. Regardless, I'm considering purchasing some Skyjacker 2.5" lift deisel coil springs for the front and Skyjacker 4" lift 1/2-ton rear springs for the rear. I think this would handle the weight well while levelling the truck out and give me the added lift I've always wanted.
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