This fall, I destroyed my rear bumper on a trail and I had to replace it with something. I decided to go with a steel custom bumper from a small local fabrication company http://www.bentup.com (toyota-oriented). They fabricated a good bumper for me, and I currently wear this bumper.

The bumper fits nicely and is slided directly into the frame rails. Bolt-on installation. Which makes me somewhat nervous.

The reason is that now any hit from behind would be transmitted directly to the frame (and, if this matter, to the cabin occupants). With a plastic bumber, the plastic would be destroyed, but the frame would be OK. I'd replace the bumper and everything would be fine. But now, I am risking benting the frame from any minor collision, on the road or on the trail !

I am reading on this forum that the guys are fond of sturdy bumpers. The thicker, the better. But how you guys deal with the frame ? I know that the Isuzus frames are not so strong. At least one member of this forum whom I know personally, 4Play (Ashby), bent the frame on his 2 gen Rodeo.

May be, a good steel bumper must incorporate a "soft" protective zone, in the area of attachment to the frame ?

Did anybody have this sort of thoughts I have ?