The Right Pickup Truck Bumper Might Just Save Your Life

Driving is classified as a high-risk activity, and when you add in things like animals and other obstacles, it can make driving even more dangerous. The best way to keep yourself and other drivers safe is a combination of good gear and defensive driving. Here at Truck Defender Bumpers, we’ve provided some tips for defensive driving in your pickup, and we’ll help provide you with that good gear. Get a custom aluminum truck bumper for added protection by contacting us today and letting us know where we can ship your part, no matter where you are in North America.

What’s the Big Deal with Your Bumper?

We’re about to dive into the deep end for this so hang on. In general, stock bumpers are built to crumple upon significant impact in order to absorb much of the impact. This is a good thing. 

Here’s the catch: while there are federal regulations for some bumpers and the safety standards they need to meet, the Department of Transportation does not hold certain types of vehicles to these standards, or rather any standards at all. Pickup trucks are one of these vehicles. This is a bad thing.

Normally, a bumper needs to withstand an impact at 5 mph without sustaining damage. But again, this doesn’t apply to pickups (or SUVs or minivans). On top of that, vehicle manufacturers aren’t required to disclose information about bumper performance. In other words, as a pickup driver and owner, you’re entrusting the safety and quality of your passengers and vehicle to the people who build it.

Yeah, we’re not so keen on that either. One thing you can do is take matters into your own hands. Getting a reinforced aluminum bumper for your pickup can not only bring your bumper up to par, but make it even more secure and impervious to damage than a stock bumper. This can be particularly helpful for those who spend a lot of time off-roading or at construction sites, where there might be many obstacles to run into, or if you spend a lot of time in areas where there are a lot of animals that run across the road. Not only can this make you safer, but it can save you the trouble of getting your vehicle fixed for every little ding.

Defensive Driving

Gear isn’t the only thing that’s going to keep you safe on the road. You need to know how to handle a situation with an animal. While these kinds of tips are especially important for those in rural regions, they can be just as helpful to urban and suburban drivers, as wildlife creep close to bigger cities.

Use Caution

This is always a safe go-to to avoid accidents in general. When conditions are questionable, use care. Stay focused and scan the area in front of you for any approaching animals. Be particularly cautious when the animals are most active, such as in the early morning or late evening, and pay attention to any signage warning you of high-traffic animal crossings ahead. Turning on your high-beams can also be helpful, although turn them off when you’re approaching a bend in the road or another vehicle. 

Small Animals

No matter how careful you are, there may come a day when hitting an animal is completely unavoidable. In this case, the size and shape of the animal matters. If the animal is smaller, say a raccoon, a rabbit, or a doe, stay in your lane, even when it means hitting the animal. Trying to swerve away can leave you in a head-on collision with a tree or other driver and create an even bigger disaster. Even if you don’t like the idea of severely injuring or possibly killing the animal, for safety's sake, this is the best option.

Large Animals

Big animals are where things get tricky. Even if you have your reinforced aluminum bumper to keep you safe, some animals are simply too big to hit head-on. 

A large buck, particularly one with antlers, poses less of a threat to you so long as you can steer clear of those horns. Aim for the back half of the animal to minimize damage and risk.

Hitting some cows will feel like hitting a deer: scary, but probably okay. Other cows can be like hitting a brick wall. You’re going to need to make a judgment call. Obviously, if it’s safer to hit the animal, do it, especially with your reinforced bumpers backing you up. If you’re looking at something that’s almost as big as your pickup, you might actually be better off pulling into the shoulder or a ditch (also, the cow probably has an owner and you’ll need to be ready to deal with an insurance headache). 

Speaking of which, moose fall into a similar category but for slightly different reasons. Moose are big, but they’re also tall. Short vehicles will likely only sweep the animal off its feet and through the windshield. This is why car drivers are often told to swerve in this one instance, and why you need to figure out if your pickup falls in the same category. If you do see a moose, stop your car. They’re aggressive, unpredictable, and highly territorial, and it’s best to try and wait it out.

Bonus tip! When hitting an animal is imminent, slam on your brakes until the last possible second, and then release them. This will release the nose of the vehicle so it’s no longer facing downward and improving chances that the animal will be thrown away from you.

While you absorb some of these tips and hone some of your driving skills, we can be hard at work getting your custom aluminum pickup bumper ready for you! Contact Truck Defender Bumpers and we’ll get your reinforced part shipped straight to your door, no matter where you are in North America.