Knock off Rubicon metal bumper?

[ShadowsPapa]

I got a factory skidplate from eBay to match the knockoff steel bumper, less than $150 with tax and shipping.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/18-20-JEEP-WRANGLER-JL-W-STEEL-FRONT-BUMPER-SKID-PLATE-OEM-NEW-MOPAR-68293984AB/192905080091?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

Why does that ad say "sorry, not compatible with that vehicle" when I plug in Gladiator?

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[brianinca]

The 82215183AB skidplate is on indefinite back order on allmopartparts.com. One of my Jeep buddies runs the laser for the shop. He can fab me what I need to make it work and look stock. It's a bummer so much is on backorder.

No, it won't if it's factory.

I noted they say it's not compatible with the JT -

 

[ShadowsPapa]

“Here's my take - if it was, trust me, Jeep/Chrysler/FCA would be sending cease and desist letters already. If there was any legal issue they could pursue, they would.”

I think you’re wrong because here’s the problem with that: China doesn’t give a fuck. FCA really can’t do a damn thing to Chinese companies. They can mess with your friends, but they can’t do anything to China. China unabashedly steals designs from around the world, all of the time, and no one can do a damn thing about it.

Super frustrating. Bastards.

Here's a perfect example for ya - the guy that designed the "ShopTask" lathe/mill/drill press was looking to come out with a tool that the ordinary hobbyist could afford. So he contracted with a factory in China to make his ShopTask tool. All went well until he started seeing tools exactly like his in Harbor Freight, Northern, etc. - Yup.
So he pulled out of that deal and bought his own factory in China.
In fact, you can do that real cheap - my son's friend was looking into setting up shop in China to make something he had come up with and found he could buy the property with factory ready to go for about 50 grand. As a US owner he'd have control over more things.
Anyway the inventor of the ShopTask did that, bought his own factory over there and ended the rip-offs of his designs.

 

[Erievon]

Right - it's more of an air dam (as opposed to air, damn)
The plastic is intended to prevent the wind hitting the underside and causing drag. You should see the undersides of Ford Fusions and similar cars - it's like those old plastic toys or models, a nearly smooth underside and you have to remove plastic panels to change the oil! (or maybe you HAVE seen the undersides of those?!)

I had a 15 Fusion AWD. Total PITA any time you wanted to change the oil or any other fluids.

Agreed, that's not a skid plate. It's more like a warning if you hear it start to hit something.

 

[FLUndertaker]

“Here's my take - if it was, trust me, Jeep/Chrysler/FCA would be sending cease and desist letters already. If there was any legal issue they could pursue, they would.”

I think you’re wrong because here’s the problem with that: China doesn’t give a fuck. FCA really can’t do a damn thing to Chinese companies. They can mess with your friends, but they can’t do anything to China. China unabashedly steals designs from around the world, all of the time, and no one can do a damn thing about it.

Super frustrating. Bastards.

Agreed but dont forget the demand side of it. If people here (in the US, no necessarily this forum specifically) werent so willing to gladly and knowingly hand over their dollars for blatantly knocked off designs manufactured over seas by child labor or under horrible conditions, there wouldnt be a reason for the Chi-coms to steal in the first place.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Agreed but dont forget the demand side of it. If people here (in the US, no necessarily this forum specifically) werent so willing to gladly and knowingly hand over their dollars for blatantly knocked off designs manufactured over seas by child labor or under horrible conditions, there wouldnt be a reason for the Chi-coms to steal in the first place.

I think there's a point there.......... and it goes a lot further than these parts, or Jeeps.

 

[Punknhead]

I got a factory skidplate from eBay to match the knockoff steel bumper, less than $150 with tax and shipping.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/18-20-JEEP-WRANGLER-JL-W-STEEL-FRONT-BUMPER-SKID-PLATE-OEM-NEW-MOPAR-68293984AB/192905080091?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

Thank you! Please let us know how the install goes.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Well, I took the plunge. I’m about 1/2 way through the install and I have to say that I’m a little disappointed in several things. I don’t think that this is, as it has been speculated in some threads, the same factory as the Mopar part. The fit of the parts is not as good and the finish is dang sure not as good. The paint is brittle and chips super easy. It looks as if there is no primer underneath the paint. The hole for the fairlead is smaller than my Warn hawse, so I have to grind it out so my synthetic rope doesn’t get cut and frayed. But the most disappointing part is the light weight winch plate. Not only did the rear brackets not bolt up without me having to turn .700” thick spacers on my lathe, but the plate itself is only .160” thick (for those that don’t know 1/8” is .125”, 3/16” is .1875”). Maybe OK for my M8000, I don’t know. I emailed the vendor and asked what the winch rating is. They responded that it is NOT rated and they don’t know what the capacity might be (seriously???).

Im seriously considering rethinking This whole thing. Anyone in the Atlanta area want to buy this at a discount?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Well, I took the plunge. I’m about 1/2 way through the install and I have to say that I’m a little disappointed in several things. I don’t think that this is, as it has been speculated in some threads, the same factory as the Mopar part. The fit of the parts is not as good and the finish is dang sure not as good. The paint is brittle and chips super easy. It looks as if there is no primer underneath the paint. The hole for the fairlead is smaller than my Warn hawse, so I have to grind it out so my synthetic rope doesn’t get cut and frayed. But the most disappointing part is the light weight winch plate. Not only did the rear brackets not bolt up without me having to turn .700” thick spacers on my lathe, but the plate itself is only .160” thick (for those that don’t know 1/8” is .125”, 3/16” is .1875”). Maybe OK for my M8000, I don’t know. I emailed the vendor and asked what the winch rating is. They responded that it is NOT rated and they don’t know what the capacity might be (seriously???).

Im seriously considering rethinking This whole thing. Anyone in the Atlanta area want to buy this at a discount?

That's odd because for me things fit perfect other than grinding a bit off the end of the brackets to clear the skid plate bracket. I didn't HAVE to necessarily, but I'm rather OCD about that stuff. No spacers were needed. The hole was fine for mine as far as rope, etc.
I had no trouble with bumper fitment or the way the bumper parts went together.

The finish - I wonder if these aren't "seconds" - imperfects that are let out like when Dad worked in a factory, he'd get permission to remove rejects, seconds and so on. They may get the parts and make bumpers and paint them themselves, who knows.
If the finish gets bad, I could get this one powder coated and have less money involved by hundreds. (I'd do the smaller pieces myself)
There's a guy close who powdercoats entire chassis and other large parts. He'd do this bumper for maybe about $100-150, still cheaper with powder coating and a new winch plate.
Yes, the plate isn't stout. I have plans to deal with that at some time.
I figured even if I bought another fantastic plate, I'd be less than half price.

For me, since the fit was excellent, no trouble with install, etc. - I could add a better winch plate and have the bumper powder coated and be about half price of the MOPAR bumper - and I'd still have to buy a winch plate with the MOPAR bumper.
That's my take, and why I accept the less than perfect finish.

 

[Empty Pockets]

To get my brackets to work without spacers I would have have to bring the light crossmember piece as well as mill the holes in the bracket into slots. Even then it would have been close.
If I complete the install this weekend my biggest concern will be the winch plate. I’ll give it a shot and replace it at the first sign of trouble. If the finish fails I’ll sand blast it assembled and spray it with bed liner. I’m going to sleep on it. I like the factory look better than any of the aftermarket options I’ve seen.

 

[khockey02]

Well, I took the plunge. I’m about 1/2 way through the install and I have to say that I’m a little disappointed in several things. I don’t think that this is, as it has been speculated in some threads, the same factory as the Mopar part. The fit of the parts is not as good and the finish is dang sure not as good. The paint is brittle and chips super easy. It looks as if there is no primer underneath the paint. The hole for the fairlead is smaller than my Warn hawse, so I have to grind it out so my synthetic rope doesn’t get cut and frayed. But the most disappointing part is the light weight winch plate. Not only did the rear brackets not bolt up without me having to turn .700” thick spacers on my lathe, but the plate itself is only .160” thick (for those that don’t know 1/8” is .125”, 3/16” is .1875”). Maybe OK for my M8000, I don’t know. I emailed the vendor and asked what the winch rating is. They responded that it is NOT rated and they don’t know what the capacity might be (seriously???).

Im seriously considering rethinking This whole thing. Anyone in the Atlanta area want to buy this at a discount?

Thanks for the numbers on that winch plate, I’ve been curious. For reference the warn plate is 1/4” and only rated for 12,000 lbs. There’s probably a hell of a margin there, but starting to feel like pass from me on this one.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

To get my brackets to work without spacers I would have have to bring the light crossmember piece as well as mill the holes in the bracket into slots. Even then it would have been close.
If I complete the install this weekend my biggest concern will be the winch plate. I’ll give it a shot and replace it at the first sign of trouble. If the finish fails I’ll sand blast it assembled and spray it with bed liner. I’m going to sleep on it. I like the factory look better than any of the aftermarket options I’ve seen.

I also like the factory look bumpers best. That's an interesting thought - bed liner.
That's interesting that you had any fit issues. Weird.

I trimmed the plate bracket ends so they'd not rub or bind on the skid plate brackets, but otherwise they fit fine with no changing of the holes, etc.
I just preferred the space between the winch plate bracket and the skid plate bracket.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Thanks for the numbers on that winch plate, I’ve been curious. For reference the warn plate is 1/4” and only rated for 12,000 lbs. There’s probably a hell of a margin there, but starting to feel like pass from me on this one.

Here's what I figured - if I bought the MOPAR version - I'd have to buy a winch plate.
Buying the eBay bumper - if I didn't like the winch plate at all, I could easily buy the same winch plate I'd have to buy - be forced to buy, if I bought the MOPAR bumper.
Say I spent $200 for a winch plate, I'd be 500 for bumper plus 200 for a better plate and be 700 - half the price of the MOPAR bumper alone. So it's still a big bargain.
700 with a RockHard winch plate is half the cost of a MOPAR bumper with no winch plate.
That is unless you can find a good USED MOPAR steel bumper.

 

[khockey02]

Here's what I figured - if I bought the MOPAR version - I'd have to buy a winch plate.
Buying the eBay bumper - if I didn't like the winch plate at all, I could easily buy the same winch plate I'd have to buy - be forced to buy, if I bought the MOPAR bumper.
Say I spent $200 for a winch plate, I'd be 500 for bumper plus 200 for a better plate and be 700 - half the price of the MOPAR bumper alone. So it's still a big bargain.
700 with a RockHard winch plate is half the cost of a MOPAR bumper with no winch plate.
That is unless you can find a good USED MOPAR steel bumper.

Yeah, it’d be nice if we could just order the Chinese main section for ~$200-300 and skip all the tinfoil stuff.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Thanks, ShadowsPapa. When you posted your photo of the winch plate bracket I realized that I needed to remove the thin metal crosspiece pictured here. Once that was out of the way I saw that I was bolting the bracket to the wrong hole in the frame. Out with the spacers and everything bolted up great. Before I could only use one bolt on each side to attach the plate to the bracket, now I could use 2. What a difference that made! Things are much more secure now. I’m still a little dissatisfied with the thickness of the plate, but I think it’s going to be OK.
I finished the install and it looks really good. So thanks for encouraging me.

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