Bumper Build 2.0 and other Expedition Accessories from Canada

[canasync]

Since it looks like vendors are now allowed having threads I though that I would share some information about a little venture that I am starting up.

Back in 2011 I started the following thread about a set of bumpers I had designed: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=606048&view=next

After many requests from Samba members my fabricator at the time decided that he would be willing to make some more bumpers to sell. Unfortunately he was only able to get a few more done before he got swamped with a promotion at his full time job and with new twins in his family life.

Now, just over five years and I have moved to a property with a nice heated insulated shop, become friends with two very talented fabricators and have gotten into metal fab and welding myself. Due to the continued requests for my bumpers over the last few years I will be producing a run of bumpers first but will also be offering other expedition/overland/off-road targeted products. I do not yet have a company name or website but will be getting something up fairly soon.


The big goal of anything I design is simplicity and functionality, though I do try to make it look good too. If you have read my last bumper topic then you already know that when I designed my bumpers it was because I wanted something less bulky and flimsy than the other offerings at the time. Since 2011 there have been a fair number of new bumpers that have hit the market and some members have even done a great job making their own versions of what I had proposed.

The following is a list of requirements for the bumper design with some amendments:

1. Must maintain the factory approach and departure angles without removal of the crumple(crush) zone.

2. Must have D rings or Shackle mounts for towing. (though I may make this optional)

3. It should be winch compatible.

4. It should be skid plate compatible. For custom skid plates.

5. The bottom lips front and rear should be angled to prevent digging in while off road. Perhaps the corners too(as was the case on the1.0)

6. The rear bumper must have a high clearance 2" receiver.(Though I am experimenting with a lower clearance design that allows the use of a horizontal pin since the last design required a vertical pin)


Below are some pictures of Version 1.0 and 2.0. I know it is hard to please everyone when developing a product but I would appreciate your feedback.

This was an unintentional strength test of my rear bumper a week ago. I was having some fun in the back yard and while driving over a snowy pile of logs the van slipped back and to the right. Even in person from a couple of feet away it looked like the tree had hit the back hatch, thankfully when I looked up close there was about 1/8" between the tree and back hatch. I was very thankful that I have a beefy bumper.

Below are two pictures of the latest receiver design. Let me know what you think. Personally I like the flush mounted receiver like you can see pictured on my front bumper pic above, this requires a vertical hitch pin which means drilling whatever you insert into the receiver. The new design allows you to use the receiver in the normal configuration but does encroach slightly into the departure angle.

[Zeitgeist 13]

Finally steel bumpers that don't look like slabs of beef stapled to slabs of plywood.
_________________
Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[canasync]

I forgot to mention in the first post that the ones pictured are 3/16" steel plate but due to peoples weight concerns I will be offering these in 1/8" steel.

My personal rear 3/16" bumper with receiver, shackle mounts, shackles, body mounts and some extra gussets weighs in at 57.5lbs., the stock rear with end caps and mounts was 30lbs. On the back that's only a difference of about 28lbs. On the front the stock bumper is about 23lbs(23.5lbs if I recall) and my bumper replacement would be lighter than the rear as there are no body mounts or reciever (unless requested). I estimate that my front bumper would weigh about 24lbs more than stock. The 1/8" should be roughly 1/3 less than the 3/16" so it will be a minimal weight gain but whole lot stronger.
_________________
1987 Syncro
3 knobs
PumpeDüse TDI (17mm Garret Turbo, bigger injectors, stage 4 malone tune, intercooled)
Cruise Control
Planar Coolant Heater
Remote Start/locks
Custom Lift
Custom Bumpers with receivers
Coast Mountain Hightop - Comming Soon

1985 2wd Vanagon Pre-runner in the making
soon to be powered by 2.5L Subaru
Custom Lift

[Gruppe B]

Love the design!

Will you have D-Ring Shackles for the rear bumper as well?

[canasync]

[dplumtree]

look nice to me. i would be interested for sure.
_________________
1990 Vanagon full camper

[1621]

[canasync]

The first post was long enough so here is a follow up to answer some of the questions that I have received.

-The rear mount does utilize the third bolt hole in the frame.

-The sides that wrap around the van will have enough space to allow for small variances such as the thickness of bedliners but still keep a lower profile than some of the other models offered.

-I have had people request everything from powder coat to match their vans, to bedliner, to a simple easy to touch up satin black spray paint, therefore I am leaning towards selling them as either raw steel or with a coat of primer(perhaps galvanized primer?). I may offer Monstaliner as an option but am not certain about that yet.


-The default bumpers will be offered with D-ring mounts only. Optional add-ons will include the receiver, and flush mount backup lights for the rear. I may also offer light mounts and a front brush guard but have not had time to work on those yet.


Other items we are working on:
-Rock Sliders
-Swing Away Carriers
-Light Mounts
-Other Expedition Gear (to be announced)
_________________
1987 Syncro
3 knobs
PumpeDüse TDI (17mm Garret Turbo, bigger injectors, stage 4 malone tune, intercooled)
Cruise Control
Planar Coolant Heater
Remote Start/locks
Custom Lift
Custom Bumpers with receivers
Coast Mountain Hightop - Comming Soon

1985 2wd Vanagon Pre-runner in the making
soon to be powered by 2.5L Subaru
Custom Lift

[climberjohn]

Very nice work!
Innovation like this is not easy nor cheap.
Please keep us posted of your progress.

-CJ
_________________
'86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often.

[Red Beard]

[canasync]

[Ben Root]

When you're ready to post some ideas on prices and add-ons options I'm very interested.

Also, where are you located (I'm assuming that shipping could get costly).

I won't bore the list with my personal preferences for options.

[canasync]

Update

Thanks to a high level of interest I have quite my full time job and decided to take on this business full time. I am just going through the process of incorporating the business and as soon as I get the okay from my lawyer in a week or so I'll be open for business.

I am trying to get the website up within the next week but it's a little slow going as it's my first e-commerce site and I'm trying to build it myself.

I have been able to lower my production costs over the last month so I will be able to fit in with the current market offerings. The bumpers will be released first, followed by either the bumper mounted racks or rock sliders though I am leaning towards the racks as I already have a number of interested parties.

Later this year I hope to release one of the biggest accessories any Vanagon owner can add to their Van, it is in the development stages and will take travelling comfort to new heights... but that's all I can say about that

Lastly, I do plan to offer some camping accessories as well but those will be added gradually as things progress.

For anyone interested in bumpers please send me your email address.

Best Regards,
Peter
_________________
1987 Syncro
3 knobs
PumpeDüse TDI (17mm Garret Turbo, bigger injectors, stage 4 malone tune, intercooled)
Cruise Control
Planar Coolant Heater
Remote Start/locks
Custom Lift
Custom Bumpers with receivers
Coast Mountain Hightop - Comming Soon

1985 2wd Vanagon Pre-runner in the making
soon to be powered by 2.5L Subaru
Custom Lift

[Steve M.]

Make it simple for you.
Send them out naked and let the buyer finish the cosmetics!
_________________
This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them.

[vanagonjr]

I'd say offer them bare and with one type of coating, whether powder coat, Monstaliner, or well applied black paint.
_________________
John - 86 Wolfsburg Westfalia "Weekender"
Flint reversed 1.8T W/Passat 5-Speed
LiMBO (late model bus club) www.limbobus.org
LiMBO is on Facebook too! https://www.facebook.com/groups/
FAQ thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=525798

[chimivee]

Nice work, Peter. Finally, bumpers that seem to check all my boxes as well, unlike most other offerings out there. I look forward to your progress.
_________________
-James
86 Syncro Westy, etc

[TKentT]

[Macwesty]

I am in the market for bumpers now. Really like the look of yours. Any new info?

Scott
_________________
'82 Vanagon Westfalia
Subaru SVX power!

[canasync]

[Rharada]

Is anyone still making these?