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You are here: Home / Cars / Slash 2wd Rally / On-Road Bumper

Slash 2wd Rally / On-Road Bumper

January 14, 2019 by justin 22 Comments

Installing a Rustler bumper upside-down on a 2wd Slash is a popular option for creating an on-road or rally style bumper cheaply and easily. Many people that have customized their Slashes for drag racing, rallying, or top-speed runs are already doing this. I got the idea from the Traxxas Slash Modified group on facebook – one of the most helpful (and positive) resources out there. I wanted to document the steps and parts I used to do create mine for a rally car conversion.

Parts:

  • RPM Rustler Wide Front Bumper 81162
  • Traxxas Rally Foam 7436
  • M4 Tapered Head Screw Insert (3D printed)
  • (2) 4x14mm Button Head Screws
  • (2) 4x35mm Tapered Head Screws
  • (2) 4mm Fender Washers
  • (2) 4mm Lock Nuts

Tools:

  • 4mm drill bit

Pre-built Solution

Before I built a bumper, I had originally looked at this out-of-the-box foam bumper from Integy:

However it extends 92mm (more than 3 1/2 inches) beyond the front of the gray chassis tub. This might be fine for a long-nose speed run body, but not for a short-overhang rally body.

Custom Solution

Making my own bumper out of the RPM Rustler bumper wound up being cheaper and it also fit better because I could customize the dimensions.

Installation of the RPM bumper itself is simple – just install it upside down.  Because the RPM bumper is made to use the stock counter-sunk screws, I designed and 3D printed some M4 tapered head screw inserts. Installing them should take some of the strain off of the bumper when you tighten it down.

All of the hardware I used I got at the hardware store. I’ve found Ace and my local Do-It-Best has a better metric selection than the big-box home improvement stores.

Use 4x14mm button head screws (something slightly longer than stock) that will sit flat on the bumper plastic. Because the Slash has 4 bumper screws and the Rustler has 2, you have a couple of mounting options, depending on how far forward you want the bumper to extend.

There are two indentations on the RPM Rustler bumper that make for perfect counter-sunk M4 screw holes. Just drill them out with a 4mm drill bit. Metric drill bits seem to be easier to find at US hardware stores these days. If you can’t find one, a 5/32″ will probably work.

Put your body on and test fit how much overhang you want your bumper foam to have. You can mark the foam with a paint pen through the bumper holes. I wanted mine flush up against the chassis.

With the foam holes marked, drill them out. I simply did mine while holding the foam in place against the chassis and bumper.

Fasten it all up by putting two 4x35mm tapered head screws through the bottom.

Add washers and 4mm nylock nuts on top.

Now I’m ready to rally!

More information on this complete rally build is coming up. Are you doing something similar? If you’re interested in a set of those M4 counter-sunk screw inserts and don’t have access to a 3D printer, comment below and I can print and send you a pair.

Related

Filed Under: Cars, Electric Off-Road, Electric On-Road Tagged With: rally, SCT, short course truck, Slash, Traxxas

Comments

  1. Ray Malinis says

    July 10, 2019 at 2:49 PM

    Great write-up! That’s exactly what I have been looking for!
    Do you still have the inserts?

    Reply
    • justin says

      July 10, 2019 at 3:04 PM

      Absolutely! Thanks for the comment Ray. I’ll send you an email 🙂

      Reply
      • Chris says

        September 25, 2019 at 5:02 PM

        Are you still making the inserts? This is a great idea!

        Reply
        • justin says

          September 26, 2019 at 9:05 AM

          You bet, I’ll hit you up via email.

          Reply
          • Daniel D’Atri says

            January 22, 2022 at 11:14 AM

            How can I also obtain the inserts necessary for this installation? I just purchased the other two items but I can’t find them.

          • justin says

            January 24, 2022 at 9:42 AM

            Look for an email Daniel, I’ll just mail them to you.

    • Keith Harter says

      October 19, 2019 at 1:30 PM

      Could I purchase 2 sets of your M4-Counter Sunk Screw Inserts for my front bumper and my sons?

      Thank you
      Keith

      Reply
      • justin says

        October 21, 2019 at 4:43 PM

        No need to purchase, I’ll just send you some Keith. Look for an email.

        Reply
        • Keith Harter says

          November 1, 2019 at 3:29 PM

          Thank you very much, I received the 4 inserts.

          Reply
          • justin says

            November 12, 2019 at 10:28 AM

            My pleasure Keith 😎

  2. Brett M Gibbons says

    May 30, 2020 at 8:16 PM

    Are you still making the m4 countersunk screws and inserts?

    Reply
    • justin says

      June 1, 2020 at 1:00 PM

      Yep, I sent you an email 🙂

      Reply
  3. Brett Gibbons says

    June 5, 2020 at 2:09 PM

    Received the inserts today. Thanks I really appreciate it, and will be installing them this weekend.

    Reply
  4. Chris Hempel says

    November 16, 2020 at 1:16 PM

    Do you still have any of the 3D printed sleeves for sale? I’d definitely be interested. Thank you

    Reply
    • justin says

      November 16, 2020 at 1:29 PM

      They’re not for sale, I’ll just send you some 🙂 you’ve got mail!

      Reply
  5. Richard Lugo says

    April 9, 2021 at 7:36 PM

    May I purchase a set of bumper inserts?

    Thank you

    Reply
    • justin says

      April 13, 2021 at 4:08 PM

      I’ll just send some! I sent you an email 👍

      Reply
  6. Ash says

    December 11, 2022 at 6:10 PM

    Hi,

    I’d like to purchase a pair of counter sunk inserts if this is still available!

    Reply
    • justin says

      December 12, 2022 at 2:26 PM

      No need to purchase, I’ll just send some – check your email.

      Reply
  7. Ash Cruz says

    December 11, 2022 at 10:37 PM

    Hi,

    Are there any available for purchase? Thanks! Ash

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. SC Rally Proof-of-Concept - Meatball Racing says:
    March 25, 2019 at 10:01 AM

    […] RPM wide Rustler bumper + Traxxas Rally Bumper Foam OR […]

    Reply
  2. SC Rally Testing - Meatball Racing says:
    April 8, 2019 at 10:09 AM

    […] losing the wing and the fender, there was only a small nick along the body’s front edge, so the bumper did its job well. The tires gripped well. It drove and jumped predictably. It was great seeing a full-bodied rally […]

    Reply

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