Steel Front Bumper

[aardvarcus]

So how does the air know the difference between skid plates and a belly pan? Many skid plate designs look strikingly similar to what posters on this site are building as belly pans.

[Piotrsko]

Definition difference. A skid plate protects components and is big enough to stop FOD damage if the vehicle strikes things. They may or may not be big enough to cover entire areas. Belly pans can be skid plates if they are thick or strong enough. See Panzer plate.

[Taylor95]

So basically some well designed skid plates would be comparable? I imagine there's a lot of variability in what you could do. From an aerodynamic standpoint you would want air to be directed underneath.

I finally started on my bumper today! It has not been nice driving without a bumper. Surprisingly the design of the bumper I am putting together is more aerodynamic than what I had before, depending on the effect that the hoop will have. I think it will not effect it much because all that air is going through the grill anyway.

[aardvarcus]

No reason a steel bumper can't be aerodynamic. Do you have a picture or a design sketch?

I got my first belly pan/ skid plate piece made. I also built a hidden front receiver that uses an extension to be able to mount a front recovery point or winch on a cradle. You should consider incorporating a receiver hitch in your design if possible, it gives you flexibility.

[Taylor95]

I'll post a picture of it when it is on my Jeep hopefully this week. It is the same bumper that is pictured in my first post that does not have a hoop. Funny thing is that it will be more aerodynamic than what I had in before

[freebeard]

For those of you who don't know what that is, I included a picture of one. It is the tube steel that is welded on to the bumper. The one I will be making will not be above the hood, but will look similar.

Baby buggy bumper nerf bar.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/vi...c.php?t=507010

Put the winch on a front hitch reciever.

[Taylor95]

Originally Posted by aardvarcus

No reason a steel bumper can't be aerodynamic. Do you have a picture or a design sketch?

I got my first belly pan/ skid plate piece made. I also built a hidden front receiver that uses an extension to be able to mount a front recovery point or winch on a cradle. You should consider incorporating a receiver hitch in your design if possible, it gives you flexibility.

It is finally done! I am pretty satisfied with the final product. I still need to install it--i will post pictures when I do.

[aardvarcus]

The bumper looks nice, you did a good job with it.

[mattrod]

Originally Posted by aardvarcus

No reason a steel bumper can't be aerodynamic. Do you have a picture or a design sketch?

I got my first belly pan/ skid plate piece made. I also built a hidden front receiver that uses an extension to be able to mount a front recovery point or winch on a cradle. You should consider incorporating a receiver hitch in your design if possible, it gives you flexibility.

The skid plate looks solid. How's the addeed weight?

[kach22i]

Nice looking, perhaps a bit heavy duty looking from strictly an aerodynamic vantage point.

Looks like it's intended for a tank - haha.