Ebay "OEM Steel Bumper" vs Rugged Ridge Spartacus Bumper

[wishiwasfishin2]

I have read a lot of good and bad on these bumpers. I really want the factory steel stubby bumper, but cant justify $1300.

Any thoughts on these or suggestions on others. I want the ability to use my current fogs, want a stubby style and not a box looking bumper. Winch in the future. Not a hardcore off-roader, have a rzr xp for that.

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[Camaroboi13]

If you get the knockoff bumper the FIRST thing you should do is have it stripped and powder coated. It will rust if you don’t.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I have read a lot of good and bad on these bumpers. I really want the factory steel stubby bumper, but cant justify $1300.

Any thoughts on these or suggestions on others. I want the ability to use my current fogs, want a stubby style and not a box looking bumper. Winch in the future. Not a hardcore off-roader, have a rzr xp for that.

If you get the knockoff bumper the FIRST thing you should do is have it stripped and powder coated. It will rust if you don’t.

Basically - what he said here. The worst part is the finish. Depending on the source, some will also include fasteners different from stock, using nuts instead of clip nuts and so on.
I replaced some of the fasteners with stainless and ended up replating the bolts.
I had mine stripped and powder coated 2 years after buying it. It wasn't bad the first year, but the Iowa salt, sand and water got to it later.
The powder coating made it look like new and was very tough, like the MOPAR bumper.

I liked mine well enough, especially for the price. Even after powder coating and replacing some of the fasteners, I was only about $700 into it.

 

[wcberry]

If you're not in a huge hurry, pull offs of the real thing show up in FB marketplace and here. That is how I got mine, along with the matching skid plate, tow hooks and all bolts. It took a couple months before I found one close enough to pick up. A plus for me was it came with the OEM LED foglights, over the halogen I had in my stock one. Then sold the old one on FB marketplace for a couple hundred. Some aftermarket steel bumpers will not match up with the skid plate well and you will have to drill new mounting holes.

 

[whiteglad]

check out the Arcus. It has a good winch plate, is light weight, takes the factory fog lights.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

If you're not in a huge hurry, pull offs of the real thing show up in FB marketplace and here. That is how I got mine, along with the matching skid plate, tow hooks and all bolts. It took a couple months before I found one close enough to pick up. A plus for me was it came with the OEM LED foglights, over the halogen I had in my stock one. Then sold the old one on FB marketplace for a couple hundred. Some aftermarket steel bumpers will not match up with the skid plate well and you will have to drill new mounting holes.

It's a real thing except in some places, like here. I looked for a long time......nothing. what there was was pricy and too far away. For some who can wait or are in better areas it's a viable option.
My clone the holes lined up perfectly. Didn't know anyone had issues with that.
(Leave the lower bracket bolts loose until the plate is mounted)

 

[wcberry]

It's a real thing except in some places, like here. I looked for a long time......nothing. what there was was pricy and too far away. For some who can wait or are in better areas it's a viable option.
My clone the holes lined up perfectly. Didn't know anyone had issues with that.
(Leave the lower bracket bolts loose until the plate is mounted)

Yes, agree, you might have to take your time. I am not sure where OP is in Tx, but here are a couple I found, including one with a winch, just a bit ago.

 

[beardedwillysjt]

I found my Mopar steel on marketplace for $200 with the led foglights. Just no skid plate but do have the wings/caps. Got bar from eBay for $35. Patience and luck.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yes, agree, you might have to take your time. I am not sure where OP is in Tx, but here are a couple I found, including one with a winch, just a bit ago.

TX and similar may have a better chance.

The only things listed here are the plastic bumpers - for $150.

 

[Ja87sm]

My first gladiator had a Spartacus bumper on it. It was okay but rusted quick in New England. Almost all of the bolts seized in one winter.

I would hesitate to get the knockoff but to powder coat it or paint it. I’ve seen them as low as 220 shipped, another 80 for the knockoff skid and 40 in brackets and hardware.

Finish aside, the main thing with the knockoff is the bolts on the bumper. They are smaller than an oem bumper with a washer. However it is the same thread and pitch as the oem bolts. So you could swap them out and fake it out fully.

I would get the knockoff and run it while keeping eyes peeled for a steal. I casually bought a knockoff and then an oem bumper with beat up fog light surrounds, mangled winch cover,no end caps but clean steel happened upon me for 100.00.
The knockoff bumper sold in a day on marketplace for what I paid.

 

[wishiwasfishin2]

Thanks all.

I have been watching facebook, but only plastic like what I have.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Finish aside, the main thing with the knockoff is the bolts on the bumper. They are smaller than an oem bumper with a washer. However it is the same thread and pitch as the oem bolts. So you could swap them out and fake it out fully.

Not sure what bolts you are referring to. Mine was the same appearance. It was hard to tell the difference once I had it powder coated.
The main thing is that there are multiple vendors selling different packages of the same basic parts. So the hardware MAY differ. Mine was the same save for them using bolts and nuts in some spots instead of clip nuts. Having to hold a nut inside made it more difficult in some areas, but it all worked out.

Apparently, different sources include different bags of hardware based on your comment. I bought years ago when there weren't so many sellers.

 

[dlmpsy]

I used a few scotch pads and scuffed everything up real good, bought a few cans of good quality cold galvanizing (zinc rich) paint and painted everything (including the bolts/washers). I then bought a few cans of semi-gloss black from the same company that made the zinc rich primer. It's been about a year and so far, so good.

 

[Ja87sm]

Not sure what bolts you are referring to. Mine was the same appearance. It was hard to tell the difference once I had it powder coated.
The main thing is that there are multiple vendors selling different packages of the same basic parts. So the hardware MAY differ. Mine was the same save for them using bolts and nuts in some spots instead of clip nuts. Having to hold a nut inside made it more difficult in some areas, but it all worked out.

Apparently, different sources include different bags of hardware based on your comment. I bought years ago when there weren't so many sellers.

I got mine from gogreenbike on eBay.. here’s a collage of pictures from my for sale post when I sold it

that’s an oem fairlead cover and front license plate. Fit perfectly; kept the aftermarket one to refurbish my oem bumper

 

[Ja87sm]

Here’s it versus my oem. These bolts were different

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