Hey, guys.
Adam here with americantrucks.com.
And today, I'm walking you through how to pick a front bumper for your F-150.
Now in the shop today we've got a '15 5-liter F-150 but the types of bumpers I go over in
this video apply to all generations.
Now the different types of bumpers I'll be covering are entry-level, utility-based, prerunner
and total protection to give you an idea of what works best for you and your truck's application.
Now before we jump into it, make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay up to date
on all future F-150 content.
So let's get to it.
The first type of bumper I want to highlight is a simple entry-level off-road bumper.
Now this appeals to the F-150 owner looking for a durable, aggressive, and beefy front
bumper that can act as a blank slate for potential add-ons in the future.
And typically these entry-level bumpers have a strong steel construction and rugged angles
with some open sections that could fit some auxiliary lighting or aftermarket recovery
accessories.
Now, these bumpers can take a beating at the front end but don't come with all the bells
and whistles that a more inclusive option does like brush guards or skid plates.
Now the example I have here is the Barricade HD front bumper in a textured black finish.
Now you can see the full-width protection this clearly has, it's more durable than your
factory bumper.
It has some potential for upgrades but out of the box, it's pretty entry-level.
Now there are many bumpers in the category that fit the entry-level off-road type, each
with slight differences.
I like this Barricade option because it's a really straightforward starting point where
you can add lighting on the sides but out of the box, it's just pretty simple.
Next is a type of bumper that takes our first one just a few steps forward, I'll call this
one a utility-based bumper.
It has all the same characteristics as our first option, it's protective, beefy, and
durable, but it adds some recovery and utility parts.
Things like a winch plate, strong D-ring shackles and even auxiliary lighting are things you'd
start to find on a utility type bumper.
Now, these appeal to the F-150 owner looking to have some recovery gear on deck during
some trail riding or job site work with their truck.
Now if you or your buddy's truck gets stuck, your front bumper can handle a winch to get
you guys out safely.
If you're working nights and you need some extra lighting on the site, some utility bumpers
come with two to four cube lights or even a light bar in some cases.
Now the example I have here is the Barricade HD winch front bumper with LED lighting.
Now this one fits that profile with the two bright white LEDs you see on each side and
it's capable of holding a 12,500-pound capable winch.
Now you can see a similar shape between this build and our first Barricade option, but
the utility goes a long way for F-150 owners looking to step up their front end bumper's
functionality.
Now our third bumper type is the pre-runner style front bumper.
Now this style goes in a bit of a different direction.
It's built for maximum ground clearance, wheel articulation, and approach angles.
Now typically a pre-runner front bumper is thin, lightweight and in some cases has a
tubular construction.
Now having a shorter front bumper that isn't as low to the ground helps in so many ways
off-road.
It allows you to go over obstacles easier letting your tire contact it and go over before
your front bumper can take the hit.
Now low front bumpers can be a big hindrance off-road, so having that added ground clearance
allows you to go places you may not have been able to go with your stock or even aftermarket
front bumper.
Now sometimes these bumpers even have recovery features like the Addictive Desert Designs
Stealth Fighter we have here.
This one uses a short fully-welded steel construction that wraps around the width of your headlights
and even has those two D-ring mounts on the front for your aftermarket D-ring for recovery
opportunities.
Now above that, you even see this open bar that really runs the width of your full front
grille and that has some mounting opportunities for an aftermarket light bar or some other
auxiliary lights you can pick up with the included brackets in the kit.
Now this gives you that desert race truck type of vibe and function at the front end
of your F-150.
And with this one, you may not get as much protection as you would with some of the other
options I've highlighted in this video but it's extremely functional and makes for a
pretty unique way to stylize the front end of your truck.
Lastly, I have what I like to call the total protection style front bumpers.
Now, these are not only the ones that have a beefy full-width bumper design, but they
also have the big brush guard that extends up the headlights and grille area.
Now, this type of bumper is for the F-150 owner looking to keep their front end protected
all around in any driving condition on or off-road.
Now sometimes these bumpers have added utility items like lighting or recovery equipment
with the main component is the upper front end protection.
This Iron Cross full guard front bumper is a fully-welded one-piece design that's heavy,
it's massive and it's without a doubt one of the most protective options in the category.
Now this bumper example has the brush guard welded to the bumper extending around the
headlights and the grille area.
The grille even has an added mesh steel for increased protection.
It's got a winch plate and D-ring mounts for recovery along with lighting opportunities
as well.
Not all total protection front bumpers are the same, some have removable pieces, others
have more intricate headlight bars, this one here is a great example of how beefed up you
can actually make your front end.
That's gonna wrap up how to pick a front bumper for your F-150.
Now remember, this applies to all generations of the F-150, not just the one we have in
the shop today.
Hopefully, this helps you narrow down which type of bumper would be best for you and your
truck's application.
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reviews and F-150 news.
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