Replace carbon fiber bumper with aluminum?

[FCR112]

I beat up on the Holz bumper last year and think it's a great choice. The "mag lite" handle texture collects a little snow but to me it is well worth being able to wipe the snow off and get a decent grip on the rear bumper when I needed to.

The CF bumper is both brittle after being chipped and a slick puppy to grab hold of.

There are cheaper ways to go, not sure they are any better though.

 

[bkpa]

Can anyone tell what the outside diameter of the CF bumper is? Also, how wide is it? I am just going to replace my chipped CF with aluminum. Maybe powdercoat it black and call it good.

 

[Clumax]

1.25'' OD I figured

 

[boondocker163]

id be more interested in new mounting brackets.. The stock polaris ones are cheap, i have broke mine before. New side brackets and the aluminum insert would be a sweet way to go.

 

[wjl]

This is the one I have waiting to be installed. I like the idea of longer side mounts for tunnel stiffness. It is all one piece and weights a little more.
http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=306116&highlight=Rear+bumper

 

[whoisthatguy]

If the carbon fiber bumpers are coming apart before the season starts, how well do you think the carbon fiber overstructure will stand up to a series of roll overs? It may be kind of sketchy riding out a 150 hp race horse with the handle bars in your lap. The overstructure is not exactly out of harms way. I'll bet that Polaris did not put the CF overstructure through intensive field roll over testing prior to putting them on the 2013's. I am a big believer in ductility and carbon fiber has none.

 

[randyman]

I have Holz bumper on my 11 pro. The knurled aluminum gives a good grip surface which the stock cf bumper didnt. The mounts will break before this bumper will. Cost about 30 bucks. The insert you guys are using probably would work great but the cf is kind of brittle.

 

[4pearly]

Bumper

Check out the polaris towing bumper. Just replaced my stock one. it is way beefier. It also reinforces the rear tunnel as it comes all the way up to the back of the running boards. Adds a bit of wieght but worth it in my mind.

 

[Jay]

Whoisthatguy brings up an interesting point, is the overstructure made from the same carbon fibre the rear bumper is?

 

[Duramax325]

SLP 40 bucks shipped

 

[carman_65]

Where does a guy find that polaris towing bumper? Tried searching for it but no luck.

 

[Devilmanak]

Why not make it easy and buy the Polaris standard model RMK aluminum one?

 

[metallicat]

I had a thought this morning. I'm thinking I can go the local home improvement store, go to through bathroom section and buy one of those handicap grab bars with the knurl with the same diameter, cut the curved ends off it so i am left with a straight pipe and tadaaa! I have me a really strong rear bumper with grip. Wouldn't this work? And probably pretty cheap?

 

[MNIQR]

i think those grab bars you are talking about are all 2+ inch diameter

 

[dude]

Go with a 162" Cat bumper...

For about $50 this is what I have done to both my PROs, and the last Dragon I had. Best part about riveting on this 162" Cat bumper is the added strength it gives the tunnel. Plus it takes care of the weak stock bumper. After you put a Cat bumper on then sell the stock Polaris bumper for $25 or $30 bucks, the cost difference is like $20 +/-. Just saying...

 

[FCR112]

I agree the cat bumper looks like a great fix as it strengthens up the entire rear tunnel up to drop mounts if you do it right.

Also, the most impressive solution I saw was posted up last year I think where the dude went out to his garage and cut a section off a shovel handle and mounted it up
Free!

 

[Super Sled]

I really recommend the Cobe/ Fastrax rear bumper:

http://www.cobemotorsports.com/test-post-1/

It's strong, provides tunnel support, and is designed so you can always get a grab of the bumper...

 

[dude]

I really recommend the Cobe/ Fastrax rear bumper:

http://www.cobemotorsports.com/test-post-1/

It's strong, provides tunnel support, and is designed so you can always get a grab of the bumper...

Looks nice, but I'd have to say the Cat bumper fix pictured above will offer more tunnel support as it runs a longer length of the weak section of the tunnel. If you carry spare gas, and a tunnel bag my opinion is the tunnel needs to be strengthened up with more then just the last 8 or 10 inches where the stock bumper and some aftermarket bumpers hit. Just my 2 cents... as I had a bad experience with one of these tunnels starting to break a foot or foot and a half back from the tail end of the tunnel. When this happened I put on my first Cat bumper and the tunnel cracks stopped and I kept riding it for years without the cracks growing any more...

 

[MNIQR]

For about $50 this is what I have done to both my PROs, and the last Dragon I had. Best part about riveting on this 162" Cat bumper is the added strength it gives the tunnel. Plus it takes care of the weak stock bumper. After you put a Cat bumper on then sell the stock Polaris bumper for $25 or $30 bucks, the cost difference is like $20 +/-. Just saying...

Is this bumper from the old style M series sleds? Or the newer pro climb models?

 

[dude]

The Cat bumper I used is from the 162" M series. Pretty sure 09 to 11 M's used this bumper. The new Pro Climb bumper is even a little longer I think. Might be too long? The older 162" M series in the photo seems just about right. I might have liked it to be a couple inches longer though. I know... that's what she said