SpareBumper on Rogue

[Qashqai]

After having to rear-ended accidents with my Rogue and the winter is coming, I decided to do something to prevent it. My car won't handle a third damage from the rear (it is already leaking water inside the trunk). My pshychology won't handle a third damage (I may hurt the driver of the other car) and most importantly my wife's body won't handle a third damage. She still suffers from whiplash and she was recently diagnosed with TMD (temporamandibular disorder). A chronic problem with jaw joint that reaches to a critical condition after the whiplashes!

I found a product called ''SpareBumper'' (http://www.sparebumper.com/).

I read many good reviews and testimonals of the accident victims with this bumper installed. It is very easy to install. High-quality product (made in the USA, what can I say more?) with an amazing customer service (send an e-mail to Jeff and he returns in a day with a detailed reply).

It may seem little plain (or some may say ''bulky'') in design, but it is for a reason. the competitors have the ends of the pieces turned towards the car. Jeff said it may damage the car's bumper in case of an impact from rear. On the other hand, I really don't care how it looks like. I just need something functional, something to protect us.

Visit their web page for comparisons of this product to the competitors.

So here are the pictures:

Note: I couldn't find a picture of a Nissan Rogue with the SpareBumper (even the manufacturer's web page or facebook page. So I hope these pictures will be usefull for some Rogue owners)









And the good thing is it is not blocking the view of the rear-view camera, but I can still see the end of the SpareBumper when reversing:

[Rogue One]

I've been seriously tempted to put one of these on my ride. I can't get used to how close the people in Delaware get to your rear bumper when they pull up behind you at a stoplight. The rule of thumb is you should see the tires on the pavement of the car in line in front of you. But around here, more often than not they're so close you can smell their bad breath. I'm sorry but if you're gonna get that close to my back side, I want dinner and a couple of drinks first!

[sprocket]

This sounds like a potential group buy item if there's enough interest

I would be in for one.

[TrevorK]

It seems a little vindictive; you would still receive the same whiplash from an accident that you would if they hit the bumper. As well, if the other car was traveling at a normal rate of speed (30 MPH/50KMH) it would most likely still make contact with the bumper. I know I just got hit on the corner of my rear bumper, and a device like that would not stop it.

While I think this would be an awesome device for parking lots, etc, it seems like it does not address any of your actual concerns.

[Qashqai]

It seems a little vindictive; you would still receive the same whiplash from an accident that you would if they hit the bumper. As well, if the other car was traveling at a normal rate of speed (30 MPH/50KMH) it would most likely still make contact with the bumper. I know I just got hit on the corner of my rear bumper, and a device like that would not stop it.

While I think this would be an awesome device for parking lots, etc, it seems like it does not address any of your actual concerns.

The problem with my Rogue is it has a hitch receiver. So in case someone hit from rear, the bumper won't do what it was designed for. It won't absorb the energy, because most of the energy will pass through the hitch receiver, which was bolted tightly to the frame of the car.

With that SpareBumper, at least some of the energy will be absorbed.

If the car behind me hit at highway speeds, than pretty much nothing will save me. In that case, if I survive, whiplash or a totalled car will be my least concerns.

And you are totally right. If I get a hit from the corner or from rear with an angle, it is useless. But my two accidents were all straight from the rear.

..I don't know..I just feel more secure. For the first time since the summer of 2012, I don't feel nervous when I stopped at the red lights...

I was skeptical with that product like you, however I read many good real-life testimonials all across the Internet.

Talking about being "vindictive", I am planning to weld some spikes all over it (joking lol)

[followingnfront]

Alot of people in NYC have things like this.... To me though, it looks to be a little too low to be really effective in an accident at speed.

[Qashqai]

Alot of people in NYC have things like this.... To me though, it looks to be a little too low to be really effective in an accident at speed.

It could have avoided that damage...

[ImStricken06]

this will pass along all the stress, right through the hitch, and into the frame rail. be ready for a simple rear end to turn into a "totaled" car.

[darylzero]

this will pass along all the stress, right through the hitch, and into the frame rail. be ready for a simple rear end to turn into a "totaled" car.

Did you watch the video?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teqBBnat_Yk[/youtube]

[ImStricken06]

this will pass along all the stress, right through the hitch, and into the frame rail. be ready for a simple rear end to turn into a "totaled" car.

Did you watch the video?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teqBBnat_Yk[/youtube]

there is a HUGE difference between out "UNIBODY" and the pickup truck's "BODY ON FRAME" construction. that tundra could take a massive hit into the rear with that hitch "bumper" and take it. that same hit on a unibody car will warp the whole framerail which is the whole car lol

body on frame:


unibody:

[darylzero]

alrighty then

[casperfun]

Alot of people in NYC have things like this.... To me though, it looks to be a little too low to be really effective in an accident at speed.

It could have avoided that damage...

That's what I thought, I assumed that it would only protect from mostly low-riding vehicles. So would probably protect better in Cali or the South of the Border.

There's a reason that the website only shows HUGE trucks or SUV's is because their height would allow the SpareBumper to protect better from the majority of vehicles and be used as a step-ladder. Funny thing, these are the vehicles I would be least worried in getting hurt from whiplash but it's always nice to protect from potential damage.

I feel your PAIN though and I do love the concept or idea of protection if you may.

As some may know, I own the "Apocalypse Rogue" urban terrain vehicle which is ready for this Halloween's Zombies!
Kidding aside, I actually have a rear bar to psychologically PREVENT somebody from hitting my rear. I am happy to say after 4 years, I have never been hit on the rear bumper. May have been tapped in a parking lot but there is no evidence of damage. It's mostly for protection at parking lots or city streets.

Maybe the idea of seeing a steel bar which is actually a HOLLOW aluminum tube scares people from wanting to ruin their precious bumper, at least those who care and have nice cars.

I also have never been hit in the front bumper after my bullbar installation ever since some douchebag in a truck which was pointing out of the parking space somehow backed into my front while leaving and broke my license plate frame and chipped my paint. A few months after purchasing the vehicle!

I did ram my front into the rear of a car involved in a intentional stop insurance scam that I ended up hitting the victim.
There was damage but not as bad as ImStricken's accident, umm that D-I-Y repair was really impressive actually.
I'm not as good as that, but I did MacGyver a non-operational lock that the dealer was charging over $600 and it's still holding thank goodness.

The point is, the Sparebumper is a great idea at least to me. But it is too low at least for the vehicles I need to watch out for in my area which are the bigger trucks, SUV's and large passenger cars in the Southeast. I would probably prefer to place that thing vertically. Don't know if that would be legal if it was possible but I am not into looks, ugly so be it, I prefer the protection of my family over appearance any day!

[Qashqai]

Will a 5-ton garbage truck hit me from rear tomorrow? Will a small Miata hit me from rear next month? I don’t know. The speed, weight and angle of the other vehicle is important and it is impossible do design a product to work for every condition.

However, as long as I have a trailer hitch on my back, the bumper of the car will never do its job and it will never absorb energy in case of an accident. The other car will first hit to the hitch which is “bolted” to the frame.

What is the difference between installing a tow bar with a ball…



And installing the SpareBumper?



At least the SpareBumper has:
-a steel tube that will crush and absorb some energy,
-outer rubber rings to absorb energy
-inner rubber discs to abrsob the energy.

The remaining energy? Well I am willing to absorb the remaining if it is written in my destiny

The inventor of this product is an engineer. When I first take it outside the box and inspect it, I saw how well designed and manufactured. I am not an engineer and I respect the inventor’s knowledge and education. On the other hand, he is testing his products, following up with customer's experiences with the product and working with statistics. These are very good signs. Before spending more than $200 (I paid customs and brokerage fee as well), I did a lot of research. There are many installations on “Rogue-size” cars and I never read a complaint about this part caused a car being totalled. There maybe some complaints, it is impossible to make people happy but if by installing this bumper, cars are totalled with a smallest accident, the company already bankrupted.

Anyway, If you don’t like the product, don’t buy it. But I think it is not fair to judge a “mechanical component” without, using, testing…or even owning it.

[sprocket]

+1.

This in my book offers better low speed protection for vehicles equipped with a hitch, such as mine.

It offers some absorption through the bushings vs. zero absorption if you only had the hitch.

I'd like to buy one since I have a hitch installed (that I use), I see value in this.

[ImStricken06]

anyone see anything funny? lol

[Rogue One]

anyone see anything funny? lol

Looks like he tried to turn it into a sub-compact!

[Rogue One]

This one's for casperfun:

[Qashqai]

anyone see anything funny? lol

A very good example of why not to drive around with a ball mount on your back

[TrevorK]

It could have avoided that damage...

Would it have avoided that damage? Maybe some, but certainly not all of it. Unless the structural pieces on the other car line up with the "sparebumper", the "sparebumper" will just break the pieces it can and other pieces will wrap around it and still damage your bumper. It's not as if a car will just bounce off of the "sparebumper", or you have built a cage around it (like a push bumper).

If you like it, that's all that matters. I just know for myself, the use of such a device seems more of "Oh you want to rear end me in the parking lot? Take that." than "Well this will save me from whiplash".