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

[ShadowsPapa]

Everything fit ok, prolly the least quality fit was the plastic inserts/covers that go over the fog lights (I reused my factory LED fogs). They didn't snap in all that great and I suspect i'll need to come up with a Plan B at some point for those.

The fog light bezels have 2 holes in the outer ends. Those are for POM rivets that hold the bezel to the steel bumper. Those holes in the bezel should line up with holes in each end of the bumper. POM rivets are used on the MOPAR bumper, and that's what I did with my eBay bumper.

Mine came with plugs for the sensor holes, but they are absolutely junk. So i'll prolly order some rubber ones from McMaster or something.

Amazon..

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SY8SR62

Fit great, good match.

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[Rex3rd]

This is the content I’m here for. Thanks for the detailed report

 

[KidBobot]

@ShadowsPapa - Do you think it worth it to get the bumper sand-blasted and re-powder coated? I was considering going this route... maybe even having the inside pieces (where the fog lights go) powder coated to color match the Gobi. (https://www.prismaticpowders.com/shop/powder-coating-colors/PSB-4920/refuge-green)

@Minty JL - How did you trim the Mojave skid to work? I saw another thread where someone trimmed the lower portion of the bumper instead to jive with the skid plate.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

@ShadowsPapa - Do you think it worth it to get the bumper sand-blasted and re-powder coated? I was considering going this route... maybe even having the inside pieces (where the fog lights go) powder coated to color match the Gobi. (https://www.prismaticpowders.com/shop/powder-coating-colors/PSB-4920/refuge-green)

@Minty JL - How did you trim the Mojave skid to work? I saw another thread where someone trimmed the lower portion of the bumper instead to jive with the skid plate.

I think it was worth it. Color match would be cool.
However - the bezels around the fog lights are plastic.

This area on the extensions or ends would be good to have colored -

 

[Minty JL]

@ShadowsPapa - Do you think it worth it to get the bumper sand-blasted and re-powder coated? I was considering going this route... maybe even having the inside pieces (where the fog lights go) powder coated to color match the Gobi. (https://www.prismaticpowders.com/shop/powder-coating-colors/PSB-4920/refuge-green)

@Minty JL - How did you trim the Mojave skid to work? I saw another thread where someone trimmed the lower portion of the bumper instead to jive with the skid plate.

I opted to trim the skid plate because it was easier and quicker to remove and test fit.

I used a cut off wheel to trim as needed.

 

[WILL1E]

From what i can tell on mine, it looks like i'll need to trim 4 places to get it to fit

 

[Minty JL]

Ended up being a total of 5 cuts, 2 on each side and that top center section.

I could have done it one shot, but I'm very methodical with cutting. I want clean cuts and enough spacing where there would not be any metal on metal contact. I'm not saying my way is better, its what worked for me.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Ended up being a total of 5 cuts, 2 on each side and that top center section.

I could have done it one shot, but I'm very methodical with cutting. I want clean cuts and enough spacing where there would not be any metal on metal contact. I'm not saying my way is better, its what worked for me.

I always figure to sneak up on something like that. Always easier to trim off another 1/8" but it's a lot harder to put it back on if you slide off the end of the runway.
Trim, test, trim, test - then you avoid the "oops!".
Now if I can just put that into practice!

 

[Minty JL]

I always figure to sneak up on something like that. Always easier to trim off another 1/8" but it's a lot harder to put it back on if you slide off the end of the runway.
Trim, test, trim, test - then you avoid the "oops!".
Now if I can just put that into practice!

And that's the reason I went through that process. I think I did a total of 3 test fits and various cuts before I was happy with the end result, most would think it factory this way.

 

[KidBobot]

Ended up being a total of 5 cuts, 2 on each side and that top center section.
I could have done it one shot, but I'm very methodical with cutting. I want clean cuts and enough spacing where there would not be any metal on metal contact. I'm not saying my way is better, its what worked for me.

Thanks so much for the explanation. Would you mind taking a pic from under the skid plate? I don't have the tools, know-how, or facilities to do this, so I would like to show the shop I plan on going to. Trimming the skid plate seems to be the path of least resistance as well and better aesthetics vs. trimming the bumper itself.

I think it was worth it. Color match would be cool.
However - the bezels around the fog lights are plastic.

This area on the extensions or ends would be good to have colored -

Thanks for the heads up! I thought the entire thing was steel... makes sense that the bezels might be plastic. Unless I can remove that inner part of the extension, powdercoating that little portion might be tough.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Thanks so much for the explanation. Would you mind taking a pic from under the skid plate? I don't have the tools, know-how, or facilities to do this, so I would like to show the shop I plan on going to. Trimming the skid plate seems to be the path of least resistance as well and better aesthetics vs. trimming the bumper itself.



Thanks for the heads up! I thought the entire thing was steel... makes sense that the bezels might be plastic. Unless I can remove that inner part of the extension, powdercoating that little portion might be tough.

Crap - I forgot that the piece I have the arrow pointing to is also plastic. Dang, that's the part that the eBay bumper uses screws to hold in place and MOPAR uses POM rivets.
Sorry, that part is plastic as well. Only the back side of that extension or end, and the outer shell of the end is steel. That's what I get for being tired.
You'd need to paint that part as well. But since it's plastic or similar material, if you do paint it, use an additive to make the paint more flexible.
I had to have additive added to the paint used on my SX4's fender flares otherwise paint didn't last long with the temp changes of the material and the flexing.

 

[Minty JL]

Thanks so much for the explanation. Would you mind taking a pic from under the skid plate? I don't have the tools, know-how, or facilities to do this, so I would like to show the shop I plan on going to. Trimming the skid plate seems to be the path of least resistance as well and better aesthetics vs. trimming the bumper itself.



Thanks for the heads up! I thought the entire thing was steel... makes sense that the bezels might be plastic. Unless I can remove that inner part of the extension, powdercoating that little portion might be tough.

Yeah no problem.

I will try and get those and post them up before it gets dark!

 

[KidBobot]

Yeah no problem.

I will try and get those and post them up before it gets dark!

Just a bump on this... any chance you took those pics? I ordered the bumper, so should be here in a few days.
Thanks!!!

 

[Empty Pockets]

I’ve been very happy with mine for close to 2 years now. I really figured that I would have had to refinish it by now, but the finish is holding up fine. Never seen a garage in its life. When/if the finish goes south I’ll have it Line_X’ed. The winch plate did seem a little light. But I hooked to a concrete light pole in a paved parking lot, locked the brakes down tight and dragged the Jeep with the Warn M8000 I have mounted on it. There was no flex or play. I’m satisfied. The unit gets a solid thumbs up from me.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

This is what does them in after a couple of years. In fact, this pits concrete when it thaws due to the salt content. I don't care what they use - sodium chloride, calcium chloride, whatever, they could use potassium chloride for all I care - they are all salts of metals. It's SALT.
That gets thrown forward into the inside of the bumper, sits and thaws and then you get rust inside the bumper where the mounting brackets bolt to the main body or shell of the bumper.
The outside holds up because this isn't sitting on it. And you won't see the rust inside until you take it apart.
Making it worse is the sand and grit and dirt on the highways that holds the wet salts against the metal like a wet sponge.
IF they don't use salts or chemicals on the roads, it's gonna hold up nicely. (actually, this should be a warning for any metal bumper with parts that bolt together)

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