Dobinsons front bumper

True, but I think the ARB "crash tests" are probably overhyped. I don't think I've ever seen them do actual crash tests where they wreck a car fitted with their bar. Rather, I've seen tests where a big heavy sandbag simulating a kangaroo is slammed into the bumper. Not the same thing. So just keep that in mind. In a true frontal impact crash with another vehicle, these bumpers usually make things worse in terms of occupant safety. It's all about trade-offs. The Dobinsons bumper is about $1,000 cheaper than the ARB, so it's going for a different price/value category.

 

ARB doesn't always use the accordion style mounting brackets for many years. The frame has crush points built in, so they don't always build them into the bumpers either. Most brands are that way now. I don't have photos of the ARB brackets. I know on 5th Gen 4Runners, the brackets were all straight. Crash testing is all done by computer simulation too.

Here are the Dobinsons mounting brackets. You can see the winch mounts to that subframe, as close to the vehicle frame as possible, not up in the face of the bumper like the ARB.

 

I worked for ARB from 2005-2016, and they never physically crashed a vehicle during that time for bumper testing, although many clowns crashed the company vehicles during that time!! hahaa In the early days they did, but after a while it was all done by computer simulation.

 

You must be talking about in design for new models and other vehicles. The bumper I received in Jan 2022 has the accordion brackets.


The crash testing and computer simulation may be lacking but to me it's leaps and bounds better than any of the competition. None of the other brands (save maybe Ironman, thanks Ellis) acknowledge the idea that it changes the crumple zones or transfers energy to the frame. The original purpose of me posting was I just wanted to know if the Dobinson copied the crush bracket - thank you for the photos.

The arb is a pain to mount the Apex 12k in - Hopefully this revision saves some time and drilling for some people.

 

Here is how Ironman implemented one of their crumple zones on their mount:

 

Just some holes drilled into the bracket? Ooooookay...

 

Agree it looks simple. Designs don't need to be complicated to work.

If you have other examples to share I would be interested in seeing them; genuinely curious. Aside from material choices and distance, I'm not aware of many other ways to implement a crumple zone given their chosen bumper design.

As far as how effective these are in reducing force transmitted into the frame I don't know given the revelation these aren't tested outside a simulation. Not having a "real world" test may not mean much in this case if the they used high fidelity simulations in a well designed test.

All I know is a few posters running steel bumpers totaled their trucks due to frame damage after having front end collisions with their bumpers. You'll still have damage with these aftermarket bumpers;in theory features like these can help minimize some of the damage.

 

So looking at the pics, winching force is being applied to the front bumper mounting plates??? Yikes! I have read somewhere here that just heavy bumpers have torn away these plates from the rails over time. Seems to me like the transport anchor loop mounts would be a a much better option. My Ranchhand is mounted at both points and solid without any worries that the front mounts are going to tear away. Is there any supplemental bracketry for the ARB, Dobinson's, or Ironman?

 

The subframe is where the winch is held, as shown in that photo. In between and as close to the vehicle frame as possible instead of further forward on the bumper face. It's essentially a low profile winch mount with a bumper that goes onto the front of that subframe.

 

I can see where the winch mounts. My question is does that subframe attach or mount to anywhere else other than the 8 (IIRC) forward faced studs on the end of the frame rails? Seems to me that surely it would have some secondary mounting location, but maybe not. Does it mount up to the much larger transport loops ("tow loops") under the rails?

 

The instructions show how it all mounts in the earlier post. Right to the ends of the frame rails.

No, it doesn't attach to the factory tow points.

 

Just like the ARB. And the factory bumper.

 

So any straight line winching forces are all being applied to the somewhat flimsy plates at the end of the frame rails. Yikes!! No thanks!! Would suck a big fat one to not only be stuck, but to also have the high dollar bumper and winch laying on the ground. Seems kinda goofy to have a stout anchor point a few inches away and not use it. Carry on folks, my interest in these items is history!

 

Checking in to see if anyone has picked up one of these bumpers since they came out a year ago. Also, does anyone know if they have antenna mounting points and if so, where?

 

@crikeymike do you happen to know?

 

It has one on both sides, you can see in this photo. On the top tube near the outer edges.

 

Hey Globeoverland was it just the winch box that interfered or did your lights also interfere? Do you think the box could be relocated to not interfere?

Your truck looks great!

If you had it to do again would you go with the same bumper?

 

Exit Offroad offering free shipping on these bumpers right now. Making it hard to resist the temptation!

 

What’s your suspension / wheel and tire set up?

 

@crikeymike , can the factory Tundra LED fog lights be used in place of the ones Dobinsons sells?

Also, could you or @Globeoverland tell me how much length this bumper adds to the truck? Mine is a tight fit in the garage as-is, so trying to determine how much farther this thing sticks out. Thanks!

 

Can't use factory fog lights. The housing was made for the Dobinsons fogs only.

I don't have the truck, I can't measure it.

 

What suspension and tire size is that?

 

Besides general athletics and being less beefy, does anyone know of any other major differences between this and ARB?

 

A few things Id really love to see.
1. Better pics of the cut you have to make to the plastic below the headlights.
2. a side by side comparison to the ARB.
3. Some more people with them that aren't associated with Dobinsons. Anybody actually have one of these mounted and running it?

 

You also have to cut the grill trim

 

Love a lot of things about this bumper but compared to other options and the lack of cutting involved, I ended up pulling the trigger on C4.

 

Did anyone else get one of these Dobinsons bumpers? I really wanted one but they've gone up about $200 and with $400+ shipping they are the same as the ARB.Plus I think the ARB includes lights or can use old ones? Looking for more info!

 

Coming into sale season again (tax return season), I've just marked this bumper and several other Dobinsons bumpers as free shipping, saving $405 of freight cost.

https://exitoffroad.com/product/dobinsons-front-winch-bumper-for-toyota-tundra-2014-2021/

 

If you read the fine print, it ships free to the nearest freight terminal. If you want it delivered to your house, it's an additional $150. Might not be a big deal for most folks, but for me, that means taking a day off work, convincing a buddy to do the same, and driving 150 miles.