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Pros & Cons of Chrome, Paint, and Powder Coated Bumpers – Bumper Superstore

Weighing the Pros & Cons of Chrome, Paint, and Powder Coated Bumpers

 

Your bumper takes a lot of damage when you are going hard on the trails.  It protects your vehicle from stumps, rocks, and even other vehicles, but even the best of bumpers succumb to the punishments of off-roading.  There are three different ways you can go when it comes to the kind of off-roading bumper you choose.  Each of these coatings provides different results, so your mileage may vary as to which one is going to work best for you.

It's as much as style and aesthetics as it is about function, but there are many things to consider when picking out the bumper that works best for you.  Let's look at three types of bumper coatings and the pros and cons of each.

Chrome

Pro:

Chrome plating is a process that has been around nearly as long as there have been cars.  One of the reasons for this is that chrome offers excellent corrosion resistance, surface hardness, and has a lustrous, shiny appearance.  Chrome matches many other chrome features such as wheels, trim, and other items.  It can be done by virtually machine shop specializing in chrome plating.

Con:

Chrome plating can be expensive.  And because it is plating, you need to maintain your chrome bumper after miles of hard use, dings, or scratches.  Once you have penetrated beneath the chrome, rust can take hold on the steel underneath.  Also, chrome is not flexible, making it vulnerable to cracks that may let in moisture.

Paint

Pro:

Paint is an affordable way to protect the bare steel of your bumper.  It is somewhat easy to match in color too.  You can buy bumper paint just about anywhere automobile parts are offered and it provides quick, corrosion protection, you can apply whenever, and wherever you need to.

Con:

Paint doesn't last long, and you will need repeated touch ups to keep your layer of protection.  Paint is simply not as durable as other coatings and over time, it will start to look pretty rough. 

Powder Coating

Pro:

Almost like a halfway point between chrome plating and paint, powder pro bonds to the bumper steel in a slightly flexible medium, which prevents cracks due to temperature fluctuations.  Powder pro is very durable.  It offers long term corrosion protection and increases hardness to provide extreme damage resistance.

Con:

Powder pro coating is a very detailed process and only certain shops can do this correctly.  Along with that, the process is often expensive, and depending on the kind of punishment your vehicle will be going through, the damage might not be worth the high cost.

What it all comes down to

It's all just a matter of personal preference.  The coating of your bumper all depends on your budget, desired level of protection, and even the style of your rig. Bumper Superstore is here to help you through the process, offering a wide selection of a variety of different styles of bumpers, as well as their protective coatings.  Learn more about Bumper Superstore before you start your next build project.