bumper protection: power bumper, protective cover for rear and front body kit, guardrail

Hi all! I think it would be extremely unpleasant for every motorist if someone crashed into the back of the car, damaging the bumper, trunk lid and optics. And such situations are not uncommon on our roads. When installing different types of protection at the front, many people forget how important it is to protect the rear bumper.

Currently, it is quite easy to buy various protection elements for the front and rear bumpers. The price varies, there are options for every pocket and for any car. It is only important to determine what you want and how seriously you need to protect your car.

It’s one thing when the goal is simply to prevent the formation of chips and scratches, and quite another if we are talking about comprehensive, full protection against mechanical damage and shock. Therefore, I propose to consider the main protection options when the lower and upper parts of the bumper are out of danger from cars coming behind.

Rear bumper protection: what types are there, how to install it yourself

Main types of protection

As you know, each machine has two buffers. These are front and rear, respectively. Hence the two bumpers.

There are three main ways to protect the bumpers on your vehicle:

Quite often on cars there are protective covers for the rear bumper, made of various materials. We have already talked about them in a separate article, so I advise you to read them.

Seat belt protectors

Let's start with a description of the material. They are mainly made from soft fleece (for children's models) or wear-resistant polyester. Some options may also have a pocket, which is very convenient. In it you can transport your phone, player or other gadget. Most children's models also provide a special mount for blankets, toys, and even sunglasses. There are special protective pads on sale. They are slightly larger and softer than standard ones due to the mini-pillow inside and allow the passenger to take a nap by resting his head on it during a long journey.

Children's model of seat belt overlay

It is very easy to attach such an accessory; even a child can cope with this task. The seat belt pads are secured using Velcro. They are easy to care for and to remove dirt, simply wash the accessory in the washing machine. But just choose gentle modes. The cost of overlays ranges from a couple of dollars to several tens of dollars. Of course, preference should be given only to high-quality things that will not be cheap.

Manufacturing materials

We'll talk about types of protection later. But first I would like to briefly go through the materials that can be used to create protective elements. They are used not only on bumpers, but can also serve as protection for car sills.

There are 4 main materials used for such purposes.

Therefore, it is almost useless to argue on this score.

I am extremely interested in reading about those who have used various means of protection for the rear bumper, including guards. Be sure to leave reviews, share your impressions, and give your own assessment of certain solutions.

I don’t argue that the guard protects really well, makes the car look impressive and increases efficiency.

Typically, such designs are installed on crossovers and SUVs. That’s why you can usually see the kangaroo on the following cars:

When choosing a protective structure, it is important to consider the optimal combination of reliability, strength, safety for everyone, including you, as well as the aesthetic component.

First stage

First of all, you should decide on the type of kangaroo. For each class of vehicle there is a specific model. After defining the model, you should make a small sketch.

If necessary, you can contact specialists. They will help you determine which type of protection is right for your car. When the diagram is ready, you need to carefully measure the front of the car. The obtained parameters should be transferred to the diagram. When choosing a kenguryatnik model, it is worth considering that a more complex drawing requires more complex manipulations.

What can you put on the rear bumper?

Let's be honest. Most often, the installation of protective elements on the rear bumpers, as well as on the front ones, is associated with traffic density on the roads and the operating characteristics of the car.

There are several options for ready-made capital protection on the domestic market. There is no point in talking about plastic or PVC film linings. This is protection against scratches and chips, but not against impacts.

Therefore, one of the following types of structures is usually chosen:

In most cases, all these structures can be easily installed with your own hands. Moreover, if we are talking about factory elements made for a specific car model, you probably won’t have to drill anything in the body or power parts.

What does this mean? The fact that there is no need to drill or change anything in the body does not oblige a motorist with an installed guardrail to make changes to the registration certificate. This is not intended to be a design change. The corresponding marks are made in the documents only in situations where heavy structures were installed, and they required drilling into the body.

What are their benefits and practicality?

Car rear bumpers are not difficult to damage. But to buy them, you need to spend quite a bit of money. Plus, for some cars, finding a good overhang is a real problem. You need to look for suppliers, wait for the order to arrive, etc.

To prevent the additional financial costs required to replace, repair or restore the old rear bumper, trims were invented. Moreover, initially these elements were intended exclusively for the front part. They were in great deserved demand, which is quite justified. This entailed the appearance of rear structures designed to be installed in the luggage compartment area as close to the ground as possible, since this is the area that suffers the most during vehicle operation. The assortment is now huge, and buying such an overlay will not be difficult.

It is important to understand that the pads are not intended solely to protect against the consequences of impacts and collisions. In fact, the pads are more needed in normal everyday use. It is at this moment that the rear bumper is subject to active wear, various pebbles and road debris fly into it, they can cling to curbs or scratch while driving on some light or medium off-road.

At the same time, the linings have a fairly impressive list of advantages.

Based on the purpose and capabilities, we can highlight the following advantages:

protective function;
wide choose;
adequate price;
attractive appearance;
the ability to choose for a specific car;
the presence of linings made of different materials;
addition for the main bumper;
ease of installation;
basic dismantling;
the ability to do it yourself;
versatility.

Whether to buy or do it yourself is rather a secondary question, and depends on the desires and capabilities of the car owner himself.

The only fact is that the pad is truly a useful gadget.

A little history

In conclusion, I would like to talk a little about kenguryatniks. Some people also call them yokes. Although it is correct to use the term kangurin.

The ancestors of all such elements were American farmers. They attached a wooden gate to the back of the pickup truck. This was necessary in order to disperse the cattle.

The modern concept of kenguryatnik is associated with Australia, which is not really surprising. In Australia there is a term called lattice kangaroo. This is a design that protects the car from accidental collisions with this large animal. Knowing its strength and the consequences of kangaroo strikes even on the metal of a car, the element of protection has become an urgent need for local residents.

That's all for me. Thank you all for your attention!

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1 Kangarins - history of appearance and varieties

Almost all of us have heard at least once about kanguryatniks, kangurins and yokes - all this is the same design, which is designed to protect the car bumper during collisions. It includes metal rods and pipes that reliably protect the vehicle's headlights, license plate and grille. In most cases, kangurins are used to drive SUVs and minibuses. However, today such designs are successfully used among car owners.

Car front bumper protection

All bumper protections are divided into three subtypes - replaceable, temporary and permanent.

If you want to install permanent protection for the front bumper, then you should take into account that in addition to the fact that it can significantly change the appearance of your car (and it may happen that not for the better), it will be very difficult to remove it in the future.

Keep in mind

The full structure is installed around the entire perimeter and is very difficult to dismantle, unlike the corner one. Since the bumper protection is attached to the base, it would be a good idea to first check the geometry of the eyelet and then carry out the installation. This operation requires special equipment and highly qualified mechanics.

Bumper protection

Installing the bumper guard

Protection

Replacement front bumper protection

Usually these are special protective arches, which are popularly called kenguryatniki.

These arches are attached rigidly to the bottom of the car, while they protrude in front of the bumper itself at a distance of 15 to 30 cm, depending on the make of the car and the type of guard.

This technical approach to protecting the front bumper made it possible to maximally protect the car from unexpected collisions.

Also, thanks to the large assortment of such protective bars on the market, which have different sizes, different shapes and different materials, it has become possible to choose the right protection specifically for your car model.

But still, this protection has a number of disadvantages. These are large sizes, and therefore there is a high probability of hitting either a pedestrian or another car during a trip, even at low speed.

Also, such protection is more suitable for the front bumpers of large cars, at least crossovers; it is unlikely to be suitable for cars of other classes of cars.

Kenguryatnik

The kenguryatnik is an accessory made of metal pipes and rods, attached to the car at the front or rear. It plays the role of an element of power body protection for certain types of cars, but when installed on most modern cars it loses its functionality, being only a decorative element.

There are craftsmen who can make a power body kit on their own. The question of the appropriateness of such actions is relevant, because, in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation, home-made mechanisms and accessories that make changes to the original design of the car are prohibited. And installing guardrails on many cars is illegal and subject to fines.

In addition, the effectiveness of protecting the body with kengurin directly depends on the design of the car.

Owners of cars whose designs initially assume the possibility of installing a bull bar can safely purchase and install a bull bar.

To understand the reason for this state of affairs, turning to the history of the origin of the body kit will help.

Story

It is popularly known as kenguryatnik or yoke, but is correctly called kengurin. The ancestor of this automobile accessory was the ordinary wooden gate that American farmers attached to the front of pickup trucks to disperse livestock.

Kangaroo cages received their modern name thanks to the Australian term “kangaroo lattice”. It denoted a structure designed to protect a vehicle from damage in the event of an accidental collision with large wild animals.

Here is a simple answer to the question of why a kenguryatnik is needed. This design function is still relevant today, although kengurin is used less and less in accordance with its original purpose. The most popular are kenguryatniks with “whiskers” - protective arches of medium height or high, which protrude from the front by 15-30 cm and help reduce damage from unexpected collisions, but not with wild animals.

Temporary front bumper protection

In this case, special rubber pads can save the situation. At the moment, this is the optimal solution for protecting the front bumper of sedans, hatchbacks and other types of small cars.

These rubber pads are glued to the bumper in the truest sense of the word and can be removed at any time.

Protective pads come in different shapes and appearances. They can be glued not only to places that are dangerous for a collision, but also to other places, which will allow you to leave the appearance of your car more or less attractive.

In the event of a minor collision with another car (in a traffic jam or in a parking lot), thanks to the rubber pad, there are usually no traces of the impact left on the other car.

Temporary protection for the front bumper also includes a special translucent film that is glued on top of the bumper.

Of course, there is no need to talk about serious protection here.

This film can save your car's bumper only from small stones and minor scratches, but it is almost unnoticeable and does not spoil the design of the car.

Typically, such a film has to be changed very often, since it cannot withstand constant external influence for a long time due to the poor condition of our roads.

An anti-gravel film is glued to the front bumper.

But it’s better to change the film than to periodically paint the bumper, or even change it after a while.

Front bumper protection is only one of the stages of comprehensive protection of the entire car body.

This stage can be qualified as the most important, since all drivers understand that the front part of the car is its most dangerous area, which first of all requires protection.

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Installation

Before we talk about installing protection, let's pay attention to the legal aspect. As mentioned above, kenguryatniks are prohibited in Russia, but not all and not for everyone. On cars of categories M1, N1, the installation of a guardrail is allowed. More details about these classes:

M1 serves to carry at least 8 passengers;
N1 is used for transporting goods whose weight exceeds 3.5 tons;

It is also considered legal to install a dog guard on an SUV whose design allows for its use.

The following types of amplification are prohibited:

kenguryatnik and body kit, larger in size than the original car;
accessories installed in front of the bumper;
homemade products, as well as arcs that violate the design of a particular machine.
The presence of power body kits on cars such as sedans will be subject to a fine if they are not registered with the traffic police. But the kenguryatnik can be safely used on a jeep, having first received permission from the traffic police.

The process of installing a certified structure does not require creative solutions; just follow the instructions included in the kit. For example, the stainless steel bumper protection has special brackets that are mounted in standard places. With protective overlays, everything is even simpler: they are simply glued where needed, the same applies to armored translucent film, which is simply fixed on the bumper.

Are there real ways to protect your car bumper from scratches and chips?

The car's bumper is always at the "front" while driving on the highway and in the parking lot. This part is the first to absorb unnoticed curbs, pebbles flying out from under an oncoming car, and difficult-to-clean insects. Therefore, bumper protection worries many car enthusiasts who want to extend the life of the paintwork with their own hands. Today, many ways have been invented to protect the bumper yourself. Some of them are truly justified, others are questionable and lead to bitter experiences for many car owners. This publication contains basic methods for protecting bumper paintwork from chips, scratches and other damage. Both the pros and cons of each method are considered.

Pipe bumper protection

The first protection of the bumper from serious damage is a massive metal grille. This element not only serves as protection against collisions with curbs, but also gives the car a more serious appearance. The pipe grille looks logical on large SUVs and minibuses, but it can also be seen on passenger cars. If it is selected or made with a sense of taste, then it looks good and protects the bumper with headlights.

Making such a grill with your own hands is quite difficult. However, in most cases there is simply no other way out, since it may be impossible to select original parts for a specific car. To manufacture such an element, a stainless steel pipe is usually used. Plain steel, which is then painted, is also used a little less frequently.

Such protection has both positive and negative sides. With the positive aspects, everything is already clear - this is protection from minor collisions. But the disadvantages include the additional weight of the structure, its ineffectiveness against insects and pebbles that annoy on the roads. Therefore, with or without a grille, some other ways to protect the bumper from chips and scratches were invented to help the car enthusiast.

Liquid cover as a method of protection

Perhaps the most effective way to protect the bumper and the entire front part of the car from chips and scratches is a liquid cover. This product receives only positive reviews, but only when used correctly, which is described below.

The liquid cover is a product that is made on the basis of silicones. After applying the paint coating to the surface, the liquid hardens and transforms into a transparent layer of hardened rubber that protects the paintwork from scratches.

Thus, this protective film limits the entry of midges, dust and other debris into the paint. In addition, the shock-absorbing structure of the formed film softens impacts from small stones flying out from under the wheels of the car in front. Also, a layer of this material protects against solar radiation and paint fading.

But this product is not so simple and requires some knowledge before it is applied to the car. The very first thing you need to pay attention to when purchasing a liquid cover is its expiration date. Most of these products have a shelf life of no more than one year, and can remain on the shelves much longer. An expired product will not only not give the desired effect, but it will also be very difficult to remove from the surface of the paintwork.

The next rule for using a liquid cover is to apply it to a completely clean car. Before doing this, you need to thoroughly wash the bumper with detergents and dry it thoroughly. In addition, it is better to apply the product indoors, where there is no flying dust, which can cause several scratches during application. The next thing you need to know before applying this product is that it should not be used in wet weather. If the bumper is treated outdoors, then it is highly not recommended to apply it in the rain, since a dry surface is the key to the successful use of a liquid cover.

It is necessary to remember that the product must be applied with a regular soft paint brush in two or three layers. If you apply only one layer of the product, it will be extremely difficult to remove and there will be no proper protection against it. A double layer will create a protective film of normal thickness, which will spring well against the impacts of pebbles and be easy to grasp with your fingers when removing.

Many people recommend limiting the surface to be treated with masking tape before applying the product. As a result, the film around the edges will be quite thick, and it will be easier to remove. It should be remembered that the liquid cover does not like bad weather, and if it gets wet in the rain, partial or complete peeling of the protective film may occur. And this is no longer safe at high speeds, so driving in the rain should be avoided, or at least exercise vigilance and caution.

The last rule for using a liquid cover is how long it should be worn on the bumper. As the experience of many car enthusiasts shows, such protection should not be kept on the car for more than one or two weeks. After overexposure, problems with removal may arise. Also, some manufacturers warn that leaving the protective agent on the car for a long time may result in its crystallization, and transparent rubber will turn into plastic.

In conclusion, it’s worth saying a few words about removing the liquid cover with your own hands. As you could understand earlier, this product does not like water, so when removing it from the bumper, you can take advantage of this disadvantage, turning it into an advantage. First, the film should be lightly wetted with water, left for a couple of minutes, and then removed.

Using moldings

An equally popular way to protect the bumper from scratches is molding. This strip is attached to the bumper and also quite effectively protects against minor collisions with fences in the parking lot, but it does not protect well from the same pebbles and midges.

Attaching moldings to the bumper with your own hands is easy. Most of them have double-sided adhesive tape on the back. Some car enthusiasts additionally secure the moldings with self-tapping screws of an inconspicuous color.

Application of wrapping film

Another way to protect the bumper is to cover it with packaging film. This protection is effective against midges and fine sand, but it is absolutely useless against serious chips and scratches. A more or less large pebble or a slight collision with another car in the parking lot will result in a scratch with a chip.

To wrap the bumper with film with your own hands, you will need electrical tape or adhesive tape. All this is glued to the bumper from the back, pre-wrapped in film. This method can be used for short trips to the beach or to the country. Again, you need to be prepared for the surprised looks of passers-by and the unnatural attention of traffic police officers.