Tipping the hat, historically to military vehicles, logging trucks, and forest service vehicles, early van and off-road builds relied heavily on steel. It was the default and what was the common standard of the era. Strong, familiar, easy to fabricate, and widely available.  

Weight was the obvious issue. 

A steel front bumper, combined with racks, storage, recovery gear, and equipment, pushed vehicles well beyond what the chassis was designed to handle. Suspension sagged. Braking distances increased. Handling suffered. What looked “built” in the driveway became compromised on the road. 

Then came corrosion. Coatings chipped. Rust formed. Maintenance became part of ownership. In some cases, components had to be replaced far sooner than expected. 

The industry accepted these tradeoffs. 

Aluminess didn’t and worked to solve actual problems with reasonable solutions. It all started with former owner, Dave Hoskins began making Ford E-series bumpers and roof racks in his driveway. Constructing these products out of Aluminum offered a better path: 

• Significant weight reduction without sacrificing structural integrity 

• Natural corrosion resistance that eliminated long-term degradation 

• Improved compatibility with modern vehicle platforms and suspension systems 

Instead of building heavier, Aluminess focused on building smarter. What started as a smarter alternative became the foundation of how adventure vehicles are built today.