I've ordered an new front bumper from Evan at Backwoods bumpers. The weight of the bumper and winch together will be 420 pounds.

My question is will in need new front springs, or spacers? And any recommendations on venders to look at for either.

Thanks for any help or ideas.
Mark

 

My truck with a plow at a few hundred lbs x 2' in front of the bumper only sags the front about 1 1/2". When I had 33x12.5 tires in the front it was an issue with rubbing, otherwise no problems. Get yourself and a buddy to stand on the front bumper to see how it does.

 

If you're near Fred,consult him. I'd definitely get new springs. I would think Carli or Thuren's would be too soft a rate.

 

I got Evans Standard front bumper and it's heavy but doesn't require new springs. Be sure and get the hardest bolts/nuts you can find and use a cheater pipe when tightening because there are only 4 bolts holding it on. I've had lots of complements on it and I'm saving up for the matching rear.

 

Thanks for the replies, I have talked to Fred a couple times and will wait and see what happens when I put the bumper on. My truck has worked hard and needs new rear springs for sure. So I will figure out what to do after the bumper arrives. I'm getting the brush buster bumper and it comes in at 280 pounds. Then the warn winch is about 140 so I just want to be ready.

 

I would think SAE Grade 5 would be sufficient. Grade 8's were cracking on a trailer hitch on some post I read here a while back in the towing section. One of the engineer types stated the harder grade 8's are brittle and don't stretch as well as 5's....

 

I put the bumper on today... I like the bumper but it is heavy and I need springs. Mine are worn out anyway.

Also I have three trucks, 94,96 and 98 they all take 3 bolts on each side. Not sure why some trucks have only two bolts.

I'll take a couple pictures when I get the lights and winch on.

 

Fred ran spacers and longer shocks on his 2nd gen and Ranchhand.

 

A Kore leveling kit should work for you. The Kore VR springs are stiff. I'm running them due to the camper.

 

Carli designs their springs for factory or less weight rating. I had a full ranch hand bumper and wasn't getting the best ride. I removed the bumper and noticed an improvement. The weight, pushes the springs down enough to begin to get in the firm zone and thus you ride around in this spring rate zone. I now run an ADD prerunner bumper which is abt 150lbs. Their springs just weren't designed for heavy bumpers. Just info to help you with your decision. I have my old skyjunker springs which worked ok for the old bumper.

 

I solved the weight problem by getting an aluminum UTE Bullbar front bumper from Australia. The way I got it was kinda neat--a Mex guy made an illegal left hand turn right in front of me and I hit him, but I was only moving about 3 mph by the time of impact. But it was enough to bugger up my stock front bumper. Miracle of miracles, he was insured and stuck around after the accident. After the insurance settlement I ended up paying about $250 out of my own pocket for this one. Supposedly it's kangaroo proof up to 65 mph--I guess in Australia kangaroos are just as stupid as deer are here. I was able to lift it into position on my own, so I don't think it weighs more than 150 or 185 pounds.

 

www.lorenzindustries.com offers a 23%+ coil for just such an application also.