Cool, inexpensive front bumper?

So it looks like I'll need to replace my front bumper.

If I can get something kinda cool that is cheaper than the stock replacement, I'm game! Any suggestions?

Pre-collision:

 

ARB is the only bumper worth anyone's time, in my opinion. But it isn't cheap haha

 

4xInnovation's have the best bumper for the price. I have their front and rear bumpers, and I will purchase them again when I get my next 3rd.

Mike

 

I was hoping to see a good option under $500, but it doesn't seem likely:

 

Sadly yeah, the price of steel is just crazy high these days. I'm not sure if it's because there isn't enough steel manufacturing in the US or what.

 

The issue isn't s much that the US doesn't have manufacturing capabilities. It's more so the fact that we feel our steel is inferior, and charge astronomical prices for it. For something like bumpers, import steel is just fine, and priced better. With the tariffs that were imposed on raw materials, that forced people to buy local, and production got backed up. Demand is high, cost is high, and steel manufactures can really charge whatever they want.

Steel prices are slowing coming back down. The issue now is that manufactures aren't going to lower their prices even though the raw material costs has dropped. I buy a truck load of steel a month, and have notice my cost going down. I know some of the shop that I use are seeing the same, but their prices are holding steady.

 

Honestly I've wondered what the heck was going on. At this point you would think steel would be extremely cheap, it isn't difficult to produce like aluminum or "exotic" metals.
(Yes I heard someone call aluminum exotic stuff once haha)

Also, did you mean superior?

 

Yes I did mean superior.

Aluminum has come down about 15% more than steel from what I'm seeing. I expect prices on metal to keep coming down for a little while, but new tariffs will hit and prices will increase again. Tariffs are 100% the reason why metal prices are so high.

Mike

 

Ah understood. I wish we could discover some new unknown source of iron in the US. Haha

 

We need cheaper labor, taxes, and so on before we'll be able to compete.

Mike

 

That as well! Agreed.

 

Aside when steel prices climbed in the late 90's, and after 9-11, and during the past presidency. Tariffs? Perhaps. Look to the problems that arose from shutting down US foundries and allowing production of steel AND manufacturing overseas (CHINA). Think of whom sold us down the river to the Chinese. . . . .starts with C, ends with N. Think also upon the saw-mills that no longer exist. It was quite assuredly NOT the new guy, so vilified, that pulled the lever on those gallows.

Apologies for going quasi-political.

It's late. I make no excuses, but current issues with steel prices lay firmly rooted in the past decades far more than current corrective measures to repair our failing production capabilities here.

Umm...4Runners are neat.

There. Back around to common ground.