VAN AMBURG BOONDOCKER FRONT BUMPER FOR THE PRO!!

[modsledr]

I originally designed this for CoyoteGirl and her tree magnet heart: lol)...and Van Amburg built the prototype. Now it's an official Van Amburg product:

Van Amburg Boondocker Front Bumper

I will be doing an install write up later. Takes less than 2 hours to install!!

Benefits (if they're not obvious)...
*upper bars mount with a "U" channel and bolt to the upper bulkhead/overstructure side mount bolts AND the original cast dog ears.

*down tube on the outside of the belly pan with NO bolted joint (weak point), and bolts to the original lower mount point.

*front bar wraps around the side, providing protection to the hood and belly pan.

*made from mild steel...in a big impact, it will still crumple (we made similar front bumpers for our dragons...tree tested!!).

 

[800dragon_rmk]

Have one installed on my pro, great product.

 

[mountainhorse]

Slick

That thing looks like it can take a hit... Like the one piece lower connection tube!

 

[Jeff95]

I like the pointing front end. It deflects the energy to push sled to the side.

Looks good!

I still go back and fourth about stonger front bumpers!!!

I think replaceable section inpact design for bumper and a-arms would be cool.

Jeff

 

[gman086]

Slick

That thing looks like it can take a hit... Like the one piece lower connection tube!

Ditto. VE makes good stuff!

Have FUN!

G MAN

 

[Vinnee]

Wow, that's a great looking sled and now has a great looking "functional" bumper. Wish I had a sled like that!

Seriously....

Thanks for the install Brent and thank you Van Amburg for another great product!

Becuase of the stock design, I have already ruined one SLP pipe with a very mild touch from a tree that could have been prevented with this design. If hitting an object wasn't bad enough, the design of the stock bumper pushes the fastening location of the support bar right through the pipe! Trust me, it takes almost nothing to make this happen. Based on the angle and design of the stock support bracket, it will open up your pipe like a pop can!

I have ran a few different aftermarket bumpers and "unfortunately" tested them on a few ocassions. My experience has been that if a bumper is designed and made with an impact in mind, the bumper will absorb the impact and in most conditions protect your bulkhead. This bumper is built with those exact qualities in mind! Knowing me, it's only a matter of time until it gets put through the field trial....

Thank you again Van Amburg Ent. for providing another excellent product.

 

[Tedd]

Awesome looking and functional bumper Modsledr and Van Amburg.

 

[whittaker727]

Mine just showed up, but it is unclear weather or not I need to drill a hole in my nose cone to make it fit or not. My sled is completely torn apart, so I guess I'll see once I start going back together.

 

[Cold]

if you paid more than $50 you got ripped dude. heavy and ugly, just like my gf.

 

[modsledr]

Send me a PM with your email address and I'll send you the install instructions in a Word Doc.

Mine just showed up, but it is unclear weather or not I need to drill a hole in my nose cone to make it fit or not. My sled is completely torn apart, so I guess I'll see once I start going back together.

 

[modsledr]

if you paid more than $50 you got ripped dude. heavy and ugly, just like my gf.

I love it when idiots with no clue about fabrication make comments like this.

Tell ya what, genius, I'll buy as many of them as you can make at $50 ea.

 

[Vinnee]

if you paid more than $50 you got ripped dude. heavy and ugly, just like my gf.

This is exactly what I expected from a 21 yr old riding a 121" Edge Indy Trail....

You certainly didn't dissapoint.

If you have any other billiant replies.... Please start a new thread in the "General" section and title it....."Vinnee got ripped" We can talk more there...

 

[AndrettiDog]

Cold is obviously someone's alter ego because they cannot post under their own.

Good to see products like this and it's competition to others building the same thing. Good for the sledders.

 

[Ndanger]

heavy and ugly, just like my gf.

Thanks for the scientific evaluation that I will rack up as random humor...

As far as weight of the front bumper, my complaint on the stock one is that it is too light! I am afraid to put any force on it for fear of bending it. It weighs less that a few beer cans and offers very very limited utility. I spend way too much time near trees and need something that can take a moderate hit should things go "pear shaped" in a tough situation. My experience is that aluminium is brittle and not the best at absorbing shock, so when I saw that this is made from mild steel it caught my attention. I would like to think it would bend and absorb before expensive things like the pipe or bulkhead come into play.

I am good with the aesthetics of the design but the "angular" shape is what I have been looking for, a shape that will sent the center of the sled away from solid objects!

From the picture it looks like it is bolted in two locations for each side, I assume that would add some additional lateral strength as well as better distribute any impact on the frame. The down tube from what I can see looks like an awesome feature that I would think being one piece adds a lot more strength to the design as well as some undercarriage protection.

So I am leaning toward this one over the B&M Fabrications design that I see from time to time at Togwotee. Now if I can just get my hands on one before I have an issue with a tree and not after.

 

[modsledr]

Mine just showed up, but it is unclear weather or not I need to drill a hole in my nose cone to make it fit or not. My sled is completely torn apart, so I guess I'll see once I start going back together.

Here's a couple of pics showing the drilling of the hole in the belly pan...and a little better "after" pic.

We used a 1 1/8" hole saw...after drilling a pilot hole, use the hole saw bit, starting perpendicular to the belly pan, then slowly rotating the drill up until horizontal to the floor as you drill.

 

[theultrarider]

My only concern with your bumper is will it do the same thing that happens with the Polaris Extreme bumper? That is this, when pushing through alders and small trees, they tend to push to the side, then snap back to center and wedge between the "wings" of the bumper and body. They stop you cold in your tracks when this happens and toss you over the bars. 3 times in 2 days of riding. I did as others in my have done and that is to take a sawzall and cut the wings off of them. I will most likely end up with one of your bumpers before the year is over. Love the rest of the design and strength. That would be my only concern and know how to fix it if that happens

 

[Wasatch RMK]

My only concern with your bumper is will it do the same thing that happens with the Polaris Extreme bumper? That is this, when pushing through alders and small trees, they tend to push to the side, then snap back to center and wedge between the "wings" of the bumper and body. They stop you cold in your tracks when this happens and toss you over the bars. 3 times in 2 days of riding. I did as others in my have done and that is to take a sawzall and cut the wings off of them. I will most likely end up with one of your bumpers before the year is over. Love the rest of the design and strength. That would be my only concern and know how to fix it if that happens

I'm not trying to hijack this thread, but in reference to the above quote, have you seen the Tri-City Performance Pro RMK front bumper design?

Here's a link:http://www.tricityperformance.net/e...40_product_1053424.2011_PRO_FRONT_BUMPER.htm#

I've seen them up close and the outer bars are built in such a way as to prevent what you described. I don't own one and have no affiliation...

 

[modsledr]

My only concern with your bumper is will it do the same thing that happens with the Polaris Extreme bumper? That is this, when pushing through alders and small trees, they tend to push to the side, then snap back to center and wedge between the "wings" of the bumper and body. They stop you cold in your tracks when this happens and toss you over the bars. 3 times in 2 days of riding. I did as others in my have done and that is to take a sawzall and cut the wings off of them. I will most likely end up with one of your bumpers before the year is over. Love the rest of the design and strength. That would be my only concern and know how to fix it if that happens

I'm not trying to hijack this thread, but in reference to the above quote, have you seen the Tri-City Performance Pro RMK front bumper design?

Here's a link:http://www.tricityperformance.net/e...40_product_1053424.2011_PRO_FRONT_BUMPER.htm#

I've seen them up close and the outer bars are built in such a way as to prevent what you described. I don't own one and have no affiliation...

Max at Tri-City Poo makes great products. They took a different approach, which might work better for some riding styles.

I haven't seen one up close yet, but it appears they still use the bolted joint on the down-tube...significant area of weakness.

 

[CoyoteGirl]

if you paid more than $50 you got ripped dude. heavy and ugly, just like my gf.

If you have any other billiant replies.... Please start a new thread in the "General" section and title it....."Vinnee got ripped" We can talk more there...

Thanks for the giggle you two! Bwaahahaaa

This weekend I watched my sled go down the hill, disappear then I see a tree do that cartoon "boingggggggggggggggg" thing. During the walk of shame down I was doing the math of a heli ride out (Revelstoke and Deep snow...) due to what had to be a ripped off front end... and then I got to my sled to find that the bumper took the full brunt and is now slightly leaning to the right. Nothing else.............. whewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww big sigh of relief.

I'll take heavy and ugly (although I don't think it is ugly..) to not pay a heli to get me out!

 

[TRS]

Cold's current status states "waiting for parole".
What does that mean????