Aluminum Vs. Steel Bumpers

While most vehicles come with factory-installed bumpers, these are usually not suitable for any heavy-duty towing or for off-roading activities. It’s also hard to add aftermarket installations to these pre-installed bumpers. This is where custom bumpers come in. With customization comes choice, and the first choice you need to make is between steel and aluminum.

At Truck Defender, we know it’s the seemingly small decisions that add up to decide whether your final choice was a good or bad one. In that spirit, we’ve put together this guide to help you decide whether you should opt for a steel or aluminum truck bumper. To find out more or to get yourself a worthwhile bumper, come to our dealership in Vale, South Dakota, and we’ll be happy to get you what you want.

Weight

A steel bumper is much heavier than an aluminum one. This means you’ll most probably have to update your vehicle’s shocks and springs to handle the new weight, especially if you’re going to do any off-roading. Aluminum weighs just ⅓ the weight of steel. That means an aluminum truck bumper of the same size is going to be significantly lighter than a steel one.

Longevity

Unlike steel, aluminum doesn’t rust, so it requires less effort and money in maintenance and upkeep. Let’s face it—your truck bumper has to brave the elements and not sit pretty, hidden under a cover. When it comes to lasting power, aluminum bumpers have their steel counterparts beat. Even if left raw, they are more corrosion-resistant than steel.

Price

Aluminum truck bumpers are more expensive than steel ones. This is because it requires more material per pound to create an aluminum bumper. Aluminum is also more expensive and harder to get than steel, with there being way more steel suppliers than aluminum ones. Working with aluminum is a special skill and requires good craftsmanship to get done.

Look

Both aluminum and steel truck bumpers can be powder-coated and painted, have grill guards, and light options. With the option of custom bumpers, you can get almost any style you want in either category. However, a lot of veterans feel like the natural gleam of aluminum offsets their vehicle better and gives a more rugged look. To have them blend better with your truck, both types of bumpers can be colored to match the vehicle.

Strength

What makes steel a heavier option is the fact that it is a stronger metal and it will handle collisions better than aluminum. However, with proper construction, an aluminum truck bumper is also a tough barrier between your vehicle and any oncoming obstruction. You can also add rash guards to the high impact parts of your aluminum bumper.

Performance

Both steel and aluminum truck bumpers have their pros and cons. With aluminum, though, good construction can reduce (or remove) the cons. With steel, the biggest drawback remains its weight. Your vehicle’s alignment, braking and suspension systems were all built to handle a certain weight. If your bumper exceeds that, you can bet it will affect your truck’s performance negatively.

We hope this guide helps you decide which option is better for you ─ a steel or an aluminum bumper. To find out more about your options, come and talk to our expert staff at Truck Defender in Vale, South Dakota. We love to create custom truck bumpers than suit our customers’ style and lifestyle, and we ship them right to your door! We proudly serve all of North America.