China knockoff of the Mopar steel front JT bumper...is it any good?

[vagabond]

I just received this bumper off of ebay & I have to say it seems to be pretty sturdy. I had a Rugged Ridge Arcus on the Sport S I had before trading for the Mojave and it was no where near as heavy as this one. Going to install it next week but there are a couple of parts I'm unfamiliar with and was hoping for some insight. No idea where they go. Once I'm into it it may make perfect sense, but just in case, Here's a picture. Thanks!

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[fourfa]

That looks like a pivoting front license plate holder, meant to cover over the fairlead. Might be optional depending on your local laws

 

[vagabond]

That looks like a pivoting front license plate holder, meant to cover over the fairlead. Might be optional depending on your local laws

It's possible. The 2 pieces pivot and are connected. I'm in Oklahoma and we don't need front plates & I've a winch I'll be installing as well. Doesn't really look like anything too important but I'll see when I get into it. Thanks!

 

[fourfa]

Did you get yours used from an ebay seller? They must have bought it separate and just included it for funsies. My brand new bumper didn't come with that (in fact I had to buy something similar b/c state law)

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I just received this bumper off of ebay & I have to say it seems to be pretty sturdy. I had a Rugged Ridge Arcus on the Sport S I had before trading for the Mojave and it was no where near as heavy as this one. Going to install it next week but there are a couple of parts I'm unfamiliar with and was hoping for some insight. No idea where they go. Once I'm into it it may make perfect sense, but just in case, Here's a picture. Thanks!

Yup - for license plate - it lines up perfectly with the standard plate holes which line up with the holes in the bumper. It's made to flip up.
The issue I have with it is that with the really thick Apex piece, this doesn't extend out far enough - the thick fairlead for the apex sticks out too far to use this.
Mine came with it but the fat Badland parts don't let the plate sit down straight and square with the bumper.

I was going to make a piece that made it stick out far enough and use it eventually.
They've done over half the work for me so I'll get it to work.
Iowa requires front plates but so far haven't bothered me - maybe because I either go too fast for them to see me, or they figure a Jeep pickup isn't worth chasing down over a plate?

 

[vagabond]

Did you get yours used from an ebay seller? They must have bought it separate and just included it for funsies. My brand new bumper didn't come with that (in fact I had to buy something similar b/c state law)

Yes, I bought it from Takaaparts I think it was called. Seemed pretty squared away. Sent me the bezels with holes by mistake and when I messaged them they sent the correct ones right away.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yes, I bought it from Takaaparts I think it was called. Seemed pretty squared away. Sent me the bezels with holes by mistake and when I messaged them they sent the correct ones right away.

These come with the bezels with holes standard - it's how they ship. That's odd that they spent the money to buy and send the MOPAR bezels without the holes. These also come with the holes at the ends of the extension parts on the ends of the bumpers. Most of us plug those with black plugs from Amazon.
If you got something without the sensor holes, you got an oddity!
Or else they are now copying the U.S. version of the bumper as the other version was the EU version with the sensor holes.
I'm shocked you got bezels without holes - most of us bought the MOPAR bezels for 16 bucks each or just plugged the holes and called it good.

 

[vagabond]

These come with the bezels with holes standard - it's how they ship. That's odd that they spent the money to buy and send the MOPAR bezels without the holes. These also come with the holes at the ends of the extension parts on the ends of the bumpers. Most of us plug those with black plugs from Amazon.
If you got something without the sensor holes, you got an oddity!
Or else they are now copying the U.S. version of the bumper as the other version was the EU version with the sensor holes.
I'm shocked you got bezels without holes - most of us bought the MOPAR bezels for 16 bucks each or just plugged the holes and called it good.

I figured they came with the holes but expected plugs for them. I had some plugs here to use but thought I'd ask anyway. There was no issue at all and I received them in about 3 days. The holes on the 'wings' I'll just plug if I leave them on. Still up in the air.

 

[Sarge502]

I know I'm a little late chiming I'm on this thread. And o each their own. But no way I'm buying knock off anything for my Jeep. I know there isn't much "visible" differences on these knock off bunper (although there are some). But because I know of them I automatically find myself consistently looking for them when I see others.

It is noticeable. Love my Mopar steel one for what it is.

 

[vagabond]

I know I'm a little late chiming I'm on this thread. And o each their own. But no way I'm buying knock off anything for my Jeep. I know there isn't much "visible" differences on these knock off bunper (although there are some). But because I know of them I automatically find myself consistently looking for them when I see others.

It is noticeable. Love my Mopar steel one for what it is.

As you said; to each his own. Good for you.

 

[Sarge502]

Someone's salty. Lol.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I know I'm a little late chiming I'm on this thread. And o each their own. But no way I'm buying knock off anything for my Jeep. I know there isn't much "visible" differences on these knock off bunper (although there are some). But because I know of them I automatically find myself consistently looking for them when I see others.

It is noticeable. Love my Mopar steel one for what it is.

Noticeable? Come look at mine, close-up.
If I don't have the extensions on, you can't tell any difference with mine. It's only because of the holes with plugs in the end wings/extensions. I have the MOPAR bezels.


As said before - likely made in the same factory........ or at least with the same blueprints.

It's your truck and your money. I saved hundreds and have a solid bumper. No regrets. The finish even now matches - or beats - the stock MOPAR labeled bumper.

 

[Sarge502]

There are subtle differences besides the end caps. The tow hooks and leds are also different assuming one hasn't swapped those. Nor am I saying those differences totally justify the price differences. Luckily I found my actual Mopar one for a decent price otherwise I probably wouldn't have went with this bumper at all.

I'm not knocking anyone who's going or has went this route. I'm just saying I wouldn't. I don't buy Chinese knockoff anything especially something for my Jeep. Again that's just me. Part of the reason my build has went as slow as it has already is cause I don't take the cheap route on things. I'd much rather save up longer and have legitimate parts.

 

[Lunentucker]

It's a tough sell to get me to support stolen IP. I've seen how they operate first hand. A contract is hammered out. Drawings and technical specs are sent over. Test production, inspection, approval, orders.
A few months later and your stuff is being sold all over the world, and you're having to compete with it.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Not saying yes or no, but we don't know, do we, how these end up for sale - who makes them, whether ore not they are maybe seconds going out the door?
My buying isn't going to make them continue, nor would it stop them if I didn't buy.

You never find Jeep take-offs in Iowa - people just don't swap and sell parts here. I looked for months - no bumpers for sale here.

LED fog lights and tow hooks are accessories, not part of the bumper. Why would I use their LEDs when I have mine, and my tow hooks. I bought the bumper for the bumper, not the hooks or LEDs.
So I don't know why a person would consider the lights or hooks at all in a comparison.
On the other hand, some have used the LED fog lights and say they are quite good. I've checked them out and frankly, they aren't that bad for light and pattern.

IMO, based on my research and use of real fog lights over the years, the stock MOPAR LED fog lights are a joke in themselves - hardly even qualify as "fog lights".
I quickly took out my MOPAR fog lights, boxed them and tossed them on a shelf. All but worthless.

Do what you want - this is not a thread about ethics, whether or not it's fair or right, it's not about tow hooks or lights - it's about the bumper, and is it any good.
It is, save for the finish. The fit is good. The gauge of steel, all fine and good.

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