Bumper dilemma

[KurtP]

With the Rampage mid-width and a 10k Smittybilt winch I lost right at 1/4" - 3/8" on the front fender. I do have a 2.5" front 1.5" rear Skyjacker Level/lift, so my shocks and springs are not stock.

gotcha. Im going to test it again with my lift springs once they are on, but i cant imagine the lift springs being softer than the stock ones.

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[unsocbl]

I'm in the same boat. Don't want a stubby bumper and not really wanting a winch. I've narrowed it down to 3 (maybe):
ADD Stealth Fighter

Go Rhino Rockline:

Fab Fours Vengeance (least favorite because of the sunken winch mount)

 

[Jeeperjamie]

Rugged Ridge Full Width let's you keep some of the MPGs and it's not heavy but stout and can take a beating. I know guys runnimg them on their JKs and they definitely hold up. My Front bumper winch combo is less than 160lbs with the 12000lb Badlands Apex winch. Under $800 total for everything.

 

[Elkaholic]

I'm in the same boat. Don't want a stubby bumper and not really wanting a winch. I've narrowed it down to 3 (maybe):
ADD Stealth Fighter

Go Rhino Rockline:

Fab Fours Vengeance (least favorite because of the sunken winch mount)

The Fab Fours one you posted is not a Vengeance, it is the Matrix. Vengeance does not accept a winch (I know because I work here and we build them every day).

You might look at our Lifestyle bumper though .... The fairlead plate on this one is vertical vs the sloped one on the Matrix

 

[Terry]

these might work.

I'm unable to find the top photo's bumper on the web. can you advise?

 

[MrKnowitall]

It's weird to me that there are so few options with true grille protection.
This Rockslide has a pretty tall center hoop-
https://rockslideengineering.com/product/rigid-full-front-bumper-complete-with-winch-plate-2/
as does this JCR Vanguard-
https://www.jcroffroad.com/product/JSFV.html
The Aluminum bumper from Quadratec looks nice, is lighter, but there's no telling how stout that one is.

 

[Terry]

these might work.

What bumper is on the top Jeep?

 

[Dav6662]

Ill check them out thanks. Also just Found the Westin bumper. Looks like its about 100lb and looks ok.

This is my HardRock 4x4 aluminum mid width bumper

 

[Dav6662]

This is my HardRock 4x4 aluminum mid width bumper

This bumper weighs less than 40 lbs.....

 

[syreeves]

TO the OP: I've been having the same thoughts. I already purchased this Smittybilt Gen 2 XRC (https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/smittybilt-gen-2-xrc-front-bumper-77807/_/R-DSBP-77807)

but am now thinking I should have purchased the SRC instead because it offers the full width protection:
https://www.extremeterrain.com/smittybilt-jeep-gladiator-src-gen2-front-bumper-77724.html

I don't do any rock crawling but do spend a lot of offroad time in the north woods - sometimes pushing through saplings to do a u-turn on a forest trail has saved by but and I'm going to feel really stupid if I bust a side marker light or rip off a plastic fender doing that...

 

[syreeves]

TO the OP: I've been having the same thoughts. I already purchased this Smittybilt Gen 2 XRC (https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/smittybilt-gen-2-xrc-front-bumper-77807/_/R-DSBP-77807)

but am now thinking I should have purchased the SRC instead because it offers the full width protection:
https://www.extremeterrain.com/smittybilt-jeep-gladiator-src-gen2-front-bumper-77724.html

I don't do any rock crawling but do spend a lot of offroad time in the north woods - sometimes pushing through saplings to do a u-turn on a forest trail has saved by but and I'm going to feel really stupid if I bust a side marker light or rip off a plastic fender doing that...

BTW - anyone on this thread interested in a BRAND NEW Smittybilt XRC Gen 2 like the one pictured above on the yellow wrangler? ?

 

[KurtP]

What bumper is on the top Jeep?

thats a factory mopar steel one with that company’s center hoop.

 

[KurtP]

This is my HardRock 4x4 aluminum mid width bumper

Looks good! i went and looked at their full width. 1/4 thick aluminum is pretty nice, and the damn thing is 40lbs. How do you feel the quality/fit/finish is in person? How was Rock Hard to work with during ordering etc? I might call and ask if they could make a higher brush guard portion.

 

[jtimbrook]

So there's always a positive and a negative to a good stout bumper. On the plus it's stout and will do it's job. The negative though is sometimes it'll do too good a job. I almost lost a good friend of mine who's an officer in the hill country of West Texas. He's been through 2 patrol cars and 3 patrol SUV's due to deer strikes. In two of those cases the reinforced bull bar on the front was too stout and actually sent the deer over the hood and in one case the antler missed him by a few inches. Realistically you do want a bumper with some give to prevent the animal from being pushed upwards. As far as stubby vs mid-width vs full, there'll be 1,000+ opinions on which way to go so YMMV.

 

[Beastmaster]

I'm kind of in the same boat. I like the clearance of a stubby bumper but want some fender protection. I'm leaning toward this one from Quadratec, it's only $450 and it's 115 lbs.

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