Truck Bumpers

Truck bumpers and bumpers in general have evolved right along with the automobile for the past hundred years. In the beginning, truck bumpers were bulky and extremely practical, designed to clear obstacles out of the way and to protect the rest of the vehicle if it ran into something. The truck bumpers were made entirely of metal, usually steel and were bolted in place with a series of large and durable bolts.

Later, truck bumpers became more of an aesthetic accent to the vehicle, usually covered in chrome. In fact, the chrome truck bumper was usually a major feature of vehicles in the 1940s and 1950s. One's truck was judged on how much chrome it had on it and the truck bumper was the part that usually had the most chrome.

Later, truck bumper were designed for more impact resistance. They were made out of a lighter gauge of steel, still had chrome on them, but also had engineering behind them to absorb shock and lessen impact. Some trucks had elaborate bumpers that extended upward to guard against impacts that could damage the radiator or fan. A standard for a truck bumper on a privately owned vehicle used to be that it should be able to withstand an impact with a large stationary object of equal mass at a speed of six miles per hour with no damage. This was the best type of truck bumper. This design of truck bumper was practical, still had some chrome and could absorb a large amount of force from an impact.

Unfortunately, many of today's bumpers cannot live up to the six mile per hour impact standard and would be severely damaged in any kind of impact at any speed. Truck bumpers still have some chrome on them, but many are not made out of steel. Today, many vehicles are heavily reliant on airbags in the event of an impact and the emphasis on a practical and strong truck bumper has decreased.