eBay aluminum bumper?

[Gecko21]

So I’m getting into the install and in looking at your fairlead I’m wondering if you just drilled out the plastic cover to accommodate the bolts and the rope?

I think it looks better like you did it but just wanted to confirm.
Thanks!

I purchased a metal fairlead plate from Amazon and ditched the plastic one.

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[smlobx]

I purchased a metal fairlead plate from Amazon and ditched the plastic one.

Do you have a link for it?

edit: I actually found that Mopar has one and I ordered it.

 

[Gecko21]

Do you have a link for it?

edit: I actually found that Mopar has one and I ordered it.

https://a.co/d/08jkNZIQ

 

[smlobx]

I found it a little cheaper..

https://www.mopar-direct.com/oem-parts/mopar-fairlead-adapter-plate-for-centered-winch-82215528ab

 

[AstroZombie]

i think i want one. Some people want premium for the Mopar take-off. Found a 392 steel bumper and they wanted $1200. I guess the gold accents a really gold

 

[GladLad]

Here’s the weigh of the package (87.4#) and the weight of just the bumper (33.4#).
The end caps are removable..

Was able to look at this today. It is aluminum with steel inner structure. I haven’t the lights or anything else on it yet so the weight will increase. 38 pounds as it sits. It came with the winch plate and a light bar also. It’s going to be some time until I get it bolted on but a solid upgrade from the oe plastic one.

Thanks for taking the time to weigh this for us. Did either of you happen to weigh the bully bar or winch plate?

Good timing as I was just looking at this the last couple days and thought it might be an MP Concepts clone as @NC_Overland suggests. Very close, but not exact.

Comparing the bumpers they look near identical. Without better photos, the only differences I noticed were slightly different hole patterns on the back, where the recovery hooks are. Unimportant I'm sure, but I was looking for clues as to whether they were factory identical. They may still be from the same factory, and it's possible the MP photos are old and out of date.

Package wise they differ some too.

MP Concepts comes with an aluminum skid plate, and a slightly different winch plate. The ebay one has symmetrical notches on the back corners, which might mean it could fit the Rubicon without having to cut a notch to get around the swaybar motor, like many have done to the MP.

The ebay one comes with a bully bar, under bumper recovery points (which I'd avoid installing), and the front bumper filler. I'm curious as to what those black Q-tip looking pieces of hardware are?

 

[GladLad]

For anyone that has installed this aluminum bumper, such as @Gecko21 ...

Can you comment on whether the bumper, winch plate, and winch need to be installed as one complete piece, like the MP Concepts bumper? I imagine so, as it has the same winch plate design that goes in front of the frame brackets. Which I believe is the cause of such an odd install method.

Whereas, if you got something like a Grimm Offroad winch plate, you could install plate/winch first and then place bumper on after. Easier install and easier future maintenance.

I purchased the aluminum 10th Anniversary bumper with winch plate for my 21 Jeep Gladiator Mojave. The bumper fits with only two slight trimming modifications. One trim was for the winch, had to trim a small amount on the top driver side area to allow the operation of the winch free spool handle (12000 lbs Badlands Apex winch). The second was the OEM steel front skid plate. Trimmed 3/4" off the two upper cor20260209_125655.webpners in order for it to fit.

You mention needing to cut for the winch clutch, would spacers underneath to lift the winch up some correct that? Or is the ill fit in a different direction?

Speaking of spacers, is the contact with the Mojave bash plate small enough to correct with spacers? Not to say it's worth the cost/effort, but as example something along the lines as these or these?

 

[S JEEPN]

For anyone that has installed this aluminum bumper, such as @Gecko21 ...

Can you comment on whether the bumper, winch plate, and winch need to be installed as one complete piece, like the MP Concepts bumper? I imagine so, as it has the same winch plate design that goes in front of the frame brackets. Which I believe is the cause of such an odd install method.

Whereas, if you got something like a Grimm Offroad winch plate, you could install plate/winch first and then place bumper on after. Easier install and easier future maintenance.



You mention needing to cut for the winch clutch, would spacers underneath to lift the winch up some correct that? Or is the ill fit in a different direction?

Speaking of spacers, is the contact with the Mojave bash plate small enough to correct with spacers? Not to say it's worth the cost/effort, but as example something along the lines as these or these?

Having the winch mount sandwiched in there and braced to the inside of both frame rails it seems way better to me than having it above like older mounts the only issue i could see is the skid plate blocks access once installed. I have seen where a little work with a grinder or even a hacksaw will do it on larger winches raising up the winch would not gain anything. I would not use spacers and have to elongate or drill new holes on the skid plate when you can just do a little trimming here are a couple of pictures of what i trimmed to get an idea. I sawzalled it and cleaned it up with a file and touched up the paint. The black is the bumper and the silver from the skid.

 

[GladLad]

Having the winch mount sandwiched in there and braced to the inside of both frame rails it seems way better to me than having it above like older mounts the only issue i could see is the skid plate blocks access once installed. I have seen where a little work with a grinder or even a hacksaw will do it on larger winches raising up the winch would not gain anything. I would not use spacers and have to elongate or drill new holes on the skid plate when you can just do a little trimming here are a couple of pictures of what i trimmed to get an idea. I sawzalled it and cleaned it up with a file and touched up the paint. The black is the bumper and the silver from the skid.

I agree that it seems easy enough to just make a few cuts, I'm just an overthinker that likes to consider my options. So I appreciate you sharing your experience with the ebay steel clone as I'm sure they're quite similar.

From what I've seen with others having to trim their winch levers on various bumpers, it's often just a smidge too low and hits the bumper edge in the winch opening. Another 1/4" higher and they'd have clearance for the lever, so I wonder if that was the deal with this bumper.

There's a misunderstanding as the last spacers I mentioned aren't for the skid plate, so there's no need to drill new holes or use longer bolts in the skid plate. The spacers go on front of the frame brackets and could theoretically provide enough room to make it unnecessary to trim the bumper/skid. Because the spacer moves the bumper forward, away from the skid plate. See attached pic as an example.

 

[S JEEPN]

I agree that it seems easy enough to just make a few cuts, I'm just an overthinker that likes to consider my options. So I appreciate you sharing your experience with the ebay steel clone as I'm sure they're quite similar.

From what I've seen with others having to trim their winch levers on various bumpers, it's often just a smidge too low and hits the bumper edge in the winch opening. Another 1/4" higher and they'd have clearance for the lever, so I wonder if that was the deal with this bumper.

There's a misunderstanding as the last spacers I mentioned aren't for the skid plate, so there's no need to drill new holes or use longer bolts in the skid plate. The spacers go on front of the frame brackets and could theoretically provide enough room to make it unnecessary to trim the bumper/skid. Because the spacer moves the bumper forward, away from the skid plate. See attached pic as an example.

I never thought about spacers to push the bumper out that is great i do not know if it would be enough great option to try. If it does not clear it will at least reduce the amount of cut. Honestly i hate cutting anything on a newer vehicle.

 

[GladLad]

I never thought about spacers to push the bumper out that is great i do not know if it would be enough great option to try. If it does not clear it will at least reduce the amount of cut. Honestly i hate cutting anything on a newer vehicle.

Yeah, question would be how much is needed, is it worth it, and still have enough bolt length or replacements. I'm not aware of any other concerns, other than maybe the overall look/weight if pushed too far forward.

If it weren't for the other brackets on winch plates, one might elect to put the spacer behind the winch plate face too. That way it pushes both the bumper and winch forward, which could provide more room between the winch and grill. Which depending on your winch, may be useful to provide room for cables. Though, at least for the Badlands the cables can be re-routed out the side instead.

But as mentioned, the other winch plate brackets may make that impossible, depending on wiggle room. Plus, in other circumstances one may want to push the bumper more forward away from the winch. All depends.

 

[GladLad]

Ebay

Here’s the weigh of the package (87.4#) and the weight of just the bumper (33.4#).
The end caps are removable..

Amazon

Was able to look at this today. It is aluminum with steel inner structure. I haven’t the lights or anything else on it yet so the weight will increase. 38 pounds as it sits. It came with the winch plate and a light bar also. It’s going to be some time until I get it bolted on but a solid upgrade from the oe plastic one.

The images and included accessories suggest the ebay and Amazon versions are identical, yet you report different weights. Scale calibration, or a few extra parts on the scale maybe. Curiously though, raypla mentions a steel inner structure. @smlobx can you verify if your ebay version has a steel inner too, or all aluminum?

 

[smlobx]

Ebay


Amazon


The images and included accessories suggest the ebay and Amazon versions are identical, yet you report different weights. Scale calibration, or a few extra parts on the scale maybe. Curiously though, raypla mentions a steel inner structure. @smlobx can you verify if your ebay version has a steel inner too, or all aluminum?

Yes I can postively confirm that the inner portion of the bumper is steel. Here’s a picture showing my magnetic flashlight attached to the steel portion.

 

[GladLad]

Yes I can postively confirm that the inner portion of the bumper is steel. Here’s a picture showing my magnetic flashlight attached to the steel portion.

Thanks. I figured as much. They were too identical to complicate manufacturing for different sellers. I suppose it's good for some rigidity, but may call for a little rust proofing.

Looks like you've got it installed now, or at least on you way. As such, could you comment on the below question?

"Can you comment on whether the bumper, winch plate, and winch need to be installed as one complete piece, like the MP Concepts bumper? I imagine so, as it has the same winch plate design that goes in front of the frame brackets. Which I believe is the cause of such an odd install method.

Whereas, if you got something like a Grimm Offroad winch plate, you could install plate/winch first and then place bumper on after. Easier install and easier future maintenance."

Thanks!

 

[smlobx]

@GladLad The instruction that are included with the bumper show placing the winch plate on then installing the bumper. After that you install the winch as the bolts that support the bumper and the factory tow hooks are also used to secure the winch plate.

I just finished the install and here is what it looks like with the yankum fairlead. I also had to trim the winch engagement lever as it hit the light bar. If you don’t want that then it fits fine.

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