Gladiator bumpers and winch options?

[545moose]

My steel oem rear will stay until it fails. When it does, and it will, the only one on my list is the Next Venture aluminum. It wraps around and replaces the rear rock rails. And it’s light.

https://nextventuremotorsports.com/.../jt-aluminum-rear-bumper-featherweight-series

Their stuff is nice, but only the stubby fronts. I personally can't stand when some manufacturers nickel and dime you; I get some things are more, but I think every bumper should come powder-coated. I even saw some frame to bumper supports cost extra from one vendor earlier when I was looking, that should be included I'd think lol. I don't want to mismatch F&R bumpers so I almost have to pick a mid-width to have a matching rear if I don't go stubby route; outside of Warn or ARB (which both come coated).

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[WILDHOBO]

They're stuff is nice, but only the stubby fronts. I personally can't stand when some manufacturers nickel and dime you; I get some things are more, but I think every bumper should come powder-coated. I even saw some frame to bumper supports cost extra from one vendor earlier when I was looking, that should be included I'd think lol. I don't want to mismatch F&R bumpers so I almost have to pick a mid-width to have a matching rear if I don't go stubby route; outside of Warn or ARB (which both come coated).

I can’t disagree at all. I just figure my front and rear don’t match now, and it hasn’t bothered me. I swapped the front for the winch, not for looks. I love that the warm has a built in winch plate on that bumper. It makes the install cleaner and easier. I could easily use their rear, but I like the idea of less weight. I thought about getting the aluminum raw and having it painted with billet silver to match. Might be too flashy though.

 

[545moose]

I can’t disagree at all. I just figure my front and rear don’t match now, and it hasn’t bothered me. I swapped the front for the winch, not for looks. I love that the warm has a built in winch plate on that bumper. It makes the install cleaner and easier. I could easily use their rear, but I like the idea of less weight. I thought about getting the aluminum raw and having it painted with billet silver to match. Might be too flashy though.

Weight is a legitimate concern. I'd opt for aluminum but I think about crash/traffic and deer living here in Virginia for now. Even if I make it out that way to NM or similar the mammals get bigger lol, steel is solid, aluminum isn't the same head to head. Maybe I should consider mid/stubby routes and compare some weights. Not sure what the Warn weighs but I know the ARB is close to 140lb, which my Dobinsons was on my GX460, a much bigger rig.

 

[JD101]

Fab fours stubby . Winch ready , built nice , coating is good , fit is excellent . It's a flat non recessed winch mount so it looks nice if you aren't running a winch also. It can be had for under 500 bucks shipped if you look around . I have one on our JLU also .

 

[WILDHOBO]

Weight is a legitimate concern. I'd opt for aluminum but I think about crash/traffic and deer living here in Virginia for now. Even if I make it out that way to NM or similar the mammals get bigger lol, steel is solid, aluminum isn't the same head to head. Maybe I should consider mid/stubby routes and compare some weights. Not sure what the Warn weighs but I know the ARB is close to 140lb, which my Dobinsons was on my GX460, a much bigger rig.

I think my warn is around 80lbs. Not bad at all. You should double check, as I think I got that from warn verbally. If that’s right, I’m around 160 to ncluding the winch. I agree with steel for the front. Aluminum doesn’t bother me in the back.

 

[Clay]

If you don't mind me being nosey, which bumper did you go with? I'm trying to make a decision on one currently.

Sorry, haven't signed on recently and missed your question. I bought a Rugged Ridge Venator and not really happy with it. Looks better in a picture. I wished I had tried to find another Barricade aluminum bumper. I really liked the looks of it!
Plus, the aluminum bumper weighs a lot less than a steel one. I had a ARG Deluxe bumper on a 2013 Wrangler, which was a monster and weighed around 150 lbs. at least! The Barricade weighed half as much as the ARB.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Don't underestimate aluminum. IF it's made right, design and structure, it's strong. I know hit and killed a deer with my Eagle - the bumper wasn't dinged at all and it's 100% aluminum.
A friend with the same model car hit 3 deer at once - one went over the car, one under the car and another was tossed over to the side. He needed a hood, fender and grill - the bumper wasn't bent at all. Aluminum.
Iowa deer are huge compared to Kentucky and other deer - look up the stats on Iowa trophy deer.

If I had it to do over, I'd likely opt for aluminum. That steel up there has killed my mpg.

 

[Rusty PW]

The aluminum bumper on my Power Wagon is made by Aluminess. This bumper has killed 4 deer. Like ShadowsPapa said. If it's built right.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The aluminum bumper on my Power Wagon is made by Aluminess. This bumper has killed 4 deer. Like ShadowsPapa said. If it's built right.

Looks like part of one of them is still on that bumper?

 

[Rusty PW]

Looks like part of one of them is still on that bumper?

Chunk of mud. This was at Rausch Creek. Had to go through a mud hole at the base of a hill. Once through the hole, your front bumper digs into the hillside just before you go up the hill.

 

[545moose]

What are some aluminum options? Aluminess doesn't make anything for Jeeps, TrailReady, Motobilt,

 

[DocMike]

I bought a Warn winch plate to go with my Warn winch and Mopar Steel bumper.
Running the 12k Warn. Love it.

Surprised no one caught this and corrected the thinking on it........
The JT bumper (assuming the steel bumper) is not what holds the winch or needs to be rated.
The winch is mounted to a plate that is independent of the bumper. The plate normally mounts to/against the frame horns (front end of the frame) between bumper and frame.
You could actually use the winch and plate with NO bumper at all as the bumper simply sits around it.
So there's no rating for these bumpers, they don't hold the weight, the winch isn't mounted to the bumper at all.

 

[Prescottmojave]

I ordered my aluminum Rock Hard Bumper from Northridge 4X4. I went with the full size Patriot. It weight in at 37 pounds which includes the skid plate. I wanted a light weight bumper for my Mojave as I spend most of my time in the desert and forest service roads.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I bought a Warn winch plate to go with my Warn winch and Mopar Steel bumper.
Running the 12k Warn. Love it.

You and some others are running the Warn winch plate. I have it bookmarked as I'm tempted. My current setup is fine, works fine for my use, I've not rescued my own truck from the muck and mud but did pull a car out of the snowy ditch and was ok - but, if I ever take things apart for any reason, trade trucks, or any other reason, with the comments on that Warn plate, I MAY decide to go that route. On the other hand, for me - it may be overkill as the plate this bumper came with is pretty good - I just don't like where the rear supports need to go to the frame as that's where my front receiver bolts to the frame.

 

[DocMike]

I waited for a Quadratec sale on the plate. It's robust.
I like how it bolts up. and frankly, Warn to Warn...Made for the Mopar bumper......
Perfect.

I have pulled a bit. Straight line. Fellow Jeeper who was a bit overzealous in mud and buried to the frame. No issues. When everyone has good recovery gear, people get comfortable with pushing things.

You and some others are running the Warn winch plate. I have it bookmarked as I'm tempted. My current setup is fine, works fine for my use, I've not rescued my own truck from the muck and mud but did pull a car out of the snowy ditch and was ok - but, if I ever take things apart for any reason, trade trucks, or any other reason, with the comments on that Warn plate, I MAY decide to go that route. On the other hand, for me - it may be overkill as the plate this bumper came with is pretty good - I just don't like where the rear supports need to go to the frame as that's where my front receiver bolts to the frame.

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