Prerunner Bumpers!!! A GREAT source.

Jeff S · Post by **Jeff S** » Mon Jul 01, 2002 7:45 am

Here is a great new source for Prerunner bumpers!!

I highly recommend it, as I own a set. I got the double tube for the
rear and the Double Prerunner Plus for the front.

Great quality and Bill really works with you. He did mine custom before
putting up the website. Very Happy and another added bonus is that the
proceeds (minus material and some tooling) goes to a breast cancer
resource center, http://www.michellesplace.org/

KemperFab webite is http://www.kemperfab.com Check it out!!!

------------------
Jeff
1973 Thing "Greta"
http://www.geocities.com/vw_thing181tx/my73_thing.html
http://www.villagephotos.com/pubgallery.asp?id_=28242

Bob Ingman · Post by **Bob Ingman** » Mon Jul 01, 2002 10:02 am

No thanks. I`ll have to pass on these in favor of something stronger. Reminds me of the old nerf bar craze back in early seventies.
I want a bumper that I can winch from or jack the car up with.
Mini truck tube bumpers seem about right to me. They are tough and rugged and easily adapted to VW bumper mounts. Good luck. Bob Ingman

TIMBERWOLF · Post by **TIMBERWOLF** » Tue Jul 02, 2002 3:19 am

The double prerunner plus looks best but gotta agree with bob, go to 2" diameter or larger and heavy guage so that it will stand jacking and winching/recovery without worry, otherwise it's just tinsel. Very good cause tho' and my hats off to them for donating profits to charity. Nice one.

Single Cab · Post by **Single Cab** » Tue Jul 02, 2002 6:14 pm

I don't really like pre-runner fronts that tie in with the factory bumper mounts. They are okay for looks but I don't want any force on the bumper to crush the front nose. I would tie in with the upper and lower torsion tubes instead but that may only be feasable with a body lift

Thomas

Jeff S · Post by **Jeff S** » Tue Jul 02, 2002 6:22 pm

Why would you want to hook them up to your front beam?? I am thinking that would cause more damage than the nose. The bumper that I have can do both. I would rather tie into the front bumper mounts than tear up my front end. I have suspension lift and from a $ point I would rather replace the front apron than the suspension and beam and such.

------------------
Jeff
1973 Thing "Greta"
http://www.geocities.com/vw_thing181tx/my73_thing.html
http://www.villagephotos.com/pubgallery.asp?id_=28242

Bob Ingman · Post by **Bob Ingman** » Tue Jul 02, 2002 8:28 pm

It is standard off-road practice to tie the front bumper into the beam and upper shock towers. Having it mounted there does protect the nose.Thats the point.Structural integrity. If the bars are of adequet strength it will withstand a lot of impact. Light duty bars improperly mounted are a libality not an asset. You end up with something dragging up under the front of the car.
If one is just looking for a way to beat the law by saying "yes officer these are bumpers" then youll be fine. However in the event of a fender bender you`re going to wish you had more protection front and rear.
A body lift as Thomas has refered to is not related to a turned beam. The body is removed and spaced up off the pan to gain fender clearance. A smart approach to running tall tires without creating a harsh ride or using glass fenders. And yes Thomas it can be done. It is exactly the way I mounted my front bumper. To both beam and shock towers and without a body lift. The trick is in fabricating mounts to the correct contour,then break out the welder and go to work.
Good luck. Bob Ingman

[This message has been edited by Bob Ingman (edited 07-02-2002).]

Single Cab · Post by **Single Cab** » Wed Jul 03, 2002 5:46 pm

Oh man you are going to have to send me some pics of that setup now

Basically tying into the beam is a good precursor to adding a roll cage down the road. Please don't get me wrong, I think that the bumpers you are talking about are okay for the street. The next step for the fabricator is to look into doing something beefier

Thomas

Bob Ingman · Post by **Bob Ingman** » Mon Dec 30, 2002 4:27 am

Now these are more like what would be good on a Thing that was being used off-road. http://www.offroadtechinc.com/
Then click on Bumpers on Trucks and onto Products. I do`nt know about prices but the dimensions and styles are easily emmulated(big word for copied) by anyone wanting to do their own or have them done locally. Good luck. Bob Ingman

SEMPER FI FOREVER · Post by **SEMPER FI FOREVER** » Mon Dec 30, 2002 12:15 pm

I recently purchased a pre-runner from Bill at Kemperfab tghrough Ebay. Price was good, delivery excellent and bolt on installation very smooth. I like the peace of mind that I have a little protection from the massive SUV's and Pickups that ride so high that a 3 mph hit will crunch my front end. I ahve a picture of mine installed ( I think it was $75)) at http://justmything.home.att.net/wsb/htm ... html-.html

[This message has been edited by SEMPER FI FOREVER (edited 12-31-2002).]

Jeff Lee · Post by **Jeff Lee** » Wed Jan 15, 2003 5:30 pm

I have both the front and rear single bars and really like them. Yes, damage will occure to the body if hit, but I bet that any damage will be less that incurred with factory bumpers. They provide greater ground clearance and a look that enhances the overall rugged THING look. I have to say that the quality is very good and price is right if one is looking for a more off road look.

SEMPER FI FOREVER · Post by **SEMPER FI FOREVER** » Wed Feb 05, 2003 7:48 am

AM WORKING ON A NEW CUSTOM REAR BUMPER MADE OF 4X6 SOLID OAK. HAVE WELDED 4 2" DIAMETER BY 1" LONG STEEL PIPE "CUPS" THAT HOLD 5" LONG COIL SPRINGS WHICH IN TURN ARE SLIGHTLY RECESSED INTO THE OAK ON THE OTHER END. PRELIMINARY TEST SHOW IT TAKES A 5 MPH HIT REALLY WELL. THIS HELPS WITH THE PARKING LOT, STOPLIGHT SNOWBIRDS WE HAVE HERE FOR 5 MONTHS OF THE YEAR. I DON'T SEE ANY TYPE THING BUMPER HELPING AT A HIGHER SPEED. WAS GOING TO TRY SMALL SHOCKS BUT COULDN'T FIND ANY AROUND 4-6 INCHES