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 OK,
so we’re not all Adam Drake, and some of us like to hit things
just for fun with our RC’s. I fall into both of these categories
on some level. I suck at driving and some times I enjoy running into
things (usually not something that will cause serious damage though).
Well as we all know this can be really hard on our RC vehicles and
a bumper becomes a necessity for folks like me. When you have a tiny
little truck that is relatively new to the market like the 18T, your
choices are somewhat limited.
A lot of you guys that have been following my slow build of my 18T know that
I tried out a fancy little bumper from Integy and it proved to be nothing but
good looks. There was no structural support and very little if any additional
protection compared to the stock plastic unit. The only saving grace of this
unit was it’s aluminum block that locked the hinge pins in place.
Well after mashing that one, I started searching for a suitable replacement,
which was not an easy task given my driving style (or lack there of).
Enter T-Bone Racing, and their line of hand cut Derlin bumpers.
There are several styles available, for all kinds of different RCs including
the Mini-T and 18T.
I picked up a nice set of bumpers from them off ebay.com. For less than $30 shipped
it’s kind of hard to go wrong (I hope)
Now that I have them in hand, I’m
pretty sure I made the right choice. These things are great!
First the M2Pro front bumper, the main mounting portion is 6061 T6 aluminum and
a very (very very) snug fit.
 It
took a little bit of wiggling and begging and pleading to get it to
finally seat fully. That may be because my little rig has seen more
than it’s fair share of front end collisions and landings on
it’s nose. But in the end it fit perfectly and the suspension
still fully cycles just like you would want. One very nice feature
of the bumper mount is that unlike the stock unit and every other model
on the market it uses 4 screws instead of only using the three screws
normally used. The forth screw is the rear diff mount screw which means
this bumper is less likely to bend and transmits the impact force down
the full length of the chassis rather than concentrating it on those
three front screws that hold the diff in place.
The second piece of the Pro unit is a hand cut Derlin “T” bumper.
Very nicely done and the quality shows. It is very stiff and about 1/8th inch
thick with nice lightening holes cut throughout, including the company logo.
The rear M1 bumper is actually one of their
other front bumpers. This unit is entirely Derlin and requires the
use of a hinge pin retainer of some sort if used in the front. However
in the rear it is a very nice little unit. Again it comes with all
the necessary hardware and yet another sticker. (I like stickers, can
you tell) This piece is smaller and lighter than the front unit, it
also has a more pronounced kick up (55 degrees) to it making it perfect
for use out back.
It did require a small modification to use it in the rear since the fourth screw
is actually one of the ones used to hold on the spur gear cover and as such did
not provide a flat mounting surface. Derlin is really easy to work with and a
small amount was removed so that I could achieve a flat mounting angle. If you
do this be sure to only trim off a small amount and test fit, repeat until you
have a good flat tight mount without taking too much material off. Also keep
in mind doing this voids your warranty, This unit only needed three screws for
the rear because it is part of a set and meant to be used as a rear, but it is
identical in all other respects to the M1 front bumper.
As you can see they mount up very nicely only taking a small amount of ground
clearance, and if you run the 60 tooth spur that cover actually hangs down lower
still. So all you street and carpet racers have nothing to fear from these bumpers.
How did they perform, absolutely flawless!
Yeah I’m a glutton for punishment and as soon as they were installed
I purposely went full throttle into a brick wall in my yard. The truck
bounced off like it was nothing. I kept punishing them throughout the
two packs I ran today and if you’ve seen me drive then you know
I am very hard on bumpers and even good ones don’t usually last
more than a couple bash sessions with me. These hardly show any signs
of wear, even after tumbling across the concrete several times.
Hands down these are the best bumpers you can get for an 18T today!
There is a slight increase in weight but if you’re like most of us this
isn’t that big of a deal as you plan on other aluminum upgrades as well.
Of all the parts I have found for my 18T so far this one earns the full 5 stars
without even breaking a sweat.
The Verdict
The
quality of these bumpers is evident from the moment you take them out
of the bag. The look great fit great and perform above expectations.
I've been trying to break these and so far I can't. That doesn't mean
they can't be broken but it isn't something that I'm worried about
since they have a lifetime warranty. They seem to help lock the front
suspension in place and would seem to help prevent bent hinge pins
because of the lock they have on the front of the truck.
I'm also happy with the way these look, some may not care for the wide front
bumper, but given my driving, I am very happy with it. I'm more likely to hit
the bumper than I am to slam a tire into an obstacle now. But just for you guys,
they have the ProM1 bumper, it is the same style (aluminum block and replaceable
Derlin bumper) but in the size and shape of the M1 rear bumper I am using.
If you can equip your hundred plus dollar investment for only $30, why wouldn't
you? Given the cost of these bumpers vs. the agony they will save later on and
damage they can help prevent they are most certainly worth it!
If you want a killer bumper for your Mini or stadium rig, look no further than T-Bone Racing
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the customer support from these guys is outstanding!
Very easy to contact, and they reply to questions/comments very quickly. Just
the kind of thing that sets great RC companies apart from the crowd.
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: Review
written by "Skratch", BYT Forum member. Thanks for the great
review Skratch!
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T-Bone Racing - RC18T Bumpers 