Front end heavy

So, I hit a deer a couple weeks ago and tore up the front end ( all cosmetic), So instead of replacing the front bumper center and end cap. I ordered a one piece front bumper. It is 3/16" thick steel and has some weight to it. I would guess about 50-75 lbs more than the stock parts I removed. Would just that amount of weight change the handling ALOT? drove it this morning and it feels REALLY heavy during the turns. Have a set of Bilistein 6112's and a set of 5100 on order. Was gonna wait till this summer to do the 3/1 level but may have to do it now to make the truck drivable. Will the 6112 stiffen up the front end and return it to a more stock feel? I am going to go measure the fender and see if I have dropped very much.

 

Sorry to hear that happened, Nice bumper!

 

Nice bumper. What psi are you running in the front. Maybe bump it up two or three psi and check back with us. Good luck. D

 

That looks like a DV8 winch bumper?? anyways...if you are going to add a winch a some point you want to make sure the coil overs have heavy duty coils. A decent winch will add another 100lbs easy.

 

I'll go check the PSI. Did measure the height and exactly the same as before the bumper. I figured it would handle different, but wow it feels really mushy/slow/spongy. 6112's need to be assembled and 5100 should be here this week. So I know what I'm doing next week. ( then to install the new 18x9 fuel rims)

 

You should be good to go with that Bilstein setup..

 

I’ve got your exact bumper sitting in my garage waiting to be installed. I was wondering the same question. Mine is a pro though so I’m not sure if it would be different??

 

Yea, it is the DV8, got it for a good price. Would have liked one of the high end bumpers but 12-1500$ was out of my price range and to be honest, I couldn't justify spending that on a bumper. I can justify spending that on rims and shocks, or a new headhunt and speakers, but not a bumper.

 

I got mine for $539 delivered.

 

Go ahead and install it. I think it took me longer to remove the old bumper ( the deer had partially disassembled it for me), than to install this one. I hit it with a couple coats of matte black Plasti dip and it is almost the exact same color. I installed it by myself and only spent about three hours total ( lot's of sitting and looking at it while enjoying a couple of beers)

 

Same price I got it for, good thing is Ebay had sent me a 15% up to 50$ off coupon, so that helped. Have fun getting all the packing off the two parts. I filled up a couple trash bags of packing material. But I am happy with the bumper

 

Mine is a DV8 for the 2nd gen. There was a fitment issue for the 2nd gens. Not a big deal but seller refunded me back $150. Ended up paying $556 with free shipping. DV8 is built pretty stout. I'm pleased. Mine weighed 135ish lbs +99lbs for my winch. Took of about 60 OEM lbs. So...about 175lbs sitting out front. Important to have the right coils for that additional weight.

 

So did you use OE Wheels wiring harness with those lights or make up your own?

 

I used harnesses I was using for my KCs. Does the 3nd gen DV8 come with wiring harnesses??

 

No wiring harnesses with the third generation bumper. All aftermarket LED lives so will make a new harness that will be controlled by the head unit

 

I thought this was gonna be the topic here...
Front end heavy....

 

The seller of the KO/DV8 bumper also sells the lights for the bumper for $80 a pair/ $160 for four which includes a wiring harness. Now we just looked at my truck and the lights and feel the original equipment fog lights harness can handle the 4 LED fog lights with no problem.

 

That will save some time...

 

From what I understand, the coils on the 6112s are of a lighter spring rate than the stock coils. But I don't remember what the spring rates are for each. That said, it's possible the extra 50-75 lbs may cause the slightly lighter 6112 coils to sag a teeny bit more than with the stock coils.

 

The 6112's has 650 lbs springs and stock are (I think) 700 lbs.

 

How are you guys liking these bumpers? I'm looking at the same. Thinking of upgrading to the ome heavy duty coils too.

 

Did the front end lose a bit of height?
You can add CB shims to 6112’s.

Do you have front and rear TRD sway bars? It’ll reduce roll if that’s the handling you mean.

 

Have stock sway bar up front and have a TRD swayer in the back. . Either I have gotten use to it or it settled down, but don't notice hardly at all now. NOW to plan out the shock lift, new rims and a bunch of other mods

 

Yeah the extra weight is noticeable. Its not bad though, just feels a little different. I ordered 6112s also and 35x12.50 tires on 20" wheels. I think the E rated tires being slightly firmer/stiffer plus being wider will firm up the front end feeling. If the tires don't fix it all, I'm sure the 6112s will. Plus most people usually run 35s at a slightly higher pressure than the factory tires. I will report back after the tires are on.

Also the amount the front end dropped with the extra weight of the bumper/winch was just a hair over 1/4".

 

How do you like the DV8 rear bumper. I have the same front bumper and love the look. and the price was very good.

 

I did install the 6112's and 5100 shocks along with new UCA's and it made all the difference in the world. Love the feel of the shocks. Don't hardly even slow down for speed bumps now. Truck handles Soooo much better.

 

I really like it. Its built well. The only two small quirks it has, is the license plate holes in the rear bumper didnt line up, and there is no hole put in the bumper to mount the factory OEM 4 pin/7 pin trailer plug port. I just put some zip ties through the holes and license plate for now. I have some Dewalt cobalt drill bits (cobalt is best for steel drilling) that I will simply make some new holes for the license plate this weekend and use a hole saw to make the port for the factory OEM trailer plugs. Yes it is a little bit of a pain, but I wouldn't pay double the price to simply have those two things already installed from the factory.

 

What level did you set the 6112s on?

 

I put them at the top setting, gave me just at 2 1/4" even with the new bumper. everything has settled in good. love the way it drives and feels now. Figure when I put on a winch I'll loose that 1/4"