A lack of front-end protection of any R/C vehicle eventually results in hours of down time, replacing expensive chassis components from front-end impacts. The stock set-up on the HPI Baja 5B has virtually no protection up front since the bumper is tucked so far into the front of the vehicle. RPM steps in with some serious protection in the form of an all-new bumper specifically designed for this beast!
RPM's front bumper is a two-piece design, utilizing a skid plate and separate bumper that can be removed for racing. Each piece has specific design elements incorporated to dramatically improve the strength and durability of the HPI Baja 5B. The RPM skid plate is attached to the chassis with four 5mm screws, not two like the stock version, effectively cutting transferred impact energy in half, divided equally among those four screws. This skid plate also has huge skid rails all along its lower section and is a major part of the impact-absorption system. It extends up, out and away from the chassis, creating a large curved section that acts as a buffer zone that rapidly dissipates impact energy by compressing during a hit, slowing and absorbing that energy without transferring it into the more fragile components of the vehicle. Once the impact force dissipates, the memory characteristics of our trademark blend of RPM nylons will return the bumper to its original position.
The bumper itself is over 6-1/2" wide and is designed to prevent smaller objects such as fence and mailbox poles from slipping in-between the skid plate and the tires. Its added width tops off a perfectly balanced design that is strong, extremely durable and built to last!