Has anyone installed the MP Concepts Aluminum bumper on a JT Rubicon?

[smlobx]

I like the look of the OEM bumper and would like to switch out my plastic from bumper with an aluminum one that mimics the OEM one. It looks like MP Concepts has one but it says not for a Rubicon.

Has anyone installed one on a Rubicon and what if anything did you have to do to make it fit?

Here’s the bumper in question…

https://www.extremeterrain.com/mp-c...C7Ay-t3qinS10l1t8DkaAkCwEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Sponsored

 

[kevman65]

Probably the sway bar motor and the skid interfere.

 

[RudeJeepin]

Don't have a definitive answer for you, but there are a few "customer picyures" on Extreme Terrain that are Rubicons with the bumper on.
My guess is it has to do with the skid plate and electric sway bar.

 

[kevman65]

Flipping the sway bar motor, starts around 3:12, same on JL and JT.
Might help clear, might not.

 

[smlobx]

Flipping the sway bar motor, starts around 3:12, same on JL and JT.
Might help clear, might not.

I saw that video this am and if that’s the hold up it’s a pretty easy fix.

 

[kevman65]

It gets the motor higher than the tie rod or drag link, so I'd think the skid should work.

 

[KevinM60]

I like the look of the OEM bumper and would like to switch out my plastic from bumper with an aluminum one that mimics the OEM one. It looks like MP Concepts has one but it says not for a Rubicon.

Has anyone installed one on a Rubicon and what if anything did you have to do to make it fit?

Here’s the bumper in question…

https://www.extremeterrain.com/mp-c...C7Ay-t3qinS10l1t8DkaAkCwEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I installed that same bumper on my Mojave this past weekend.
I saw a video on the Wrangler forum that showed an interference on the rubicon with the winch plate and the sway bar disconnect motor.
the fix was to cut out a small corner of the winch plate to clear the motor.
I had to do a couple things different on my Mojave. I didn’t use the skid plate mounting brackets because the remote shock reservoir is mounted in that spot and has factory mounting holes on the bottom that the skid plate already had holes for and the winch plate bracket slots didn’t line up perfectly so I used a smaller leftover bolt for one of the slots.
overall I like the bumper a lot but taking the end pieces off and on is a bit of a pain that did get easier after a learning curve but I don’t think I’ll be taking them off very often if ever.

I also ordered this low profile bull bar that I saw on that Wrangler thread that is coming in today.

ECOTRIC Grille & Winch Brush Guard Compatible with 2018-2023 Jeep Wrangler JL & 2020-2023 Jeep Gladiator JT Replace For Part Number 82215351 Bull Bar Brush Push Bar Front Bumper Grill Guard Protector https://a.co/d/2wxO5CD

 

[PackMule]

I was researching this as well a few months ago, and saw a vid on a build (might have been the same referenced above). The guy liked the overall product, but commented on the weakness of the winchplate.

He subsequently posted a number of videos showing is trail recoveries after installing the winch bumper. On the 10th recovery in deep snow he ended up bending the winch plate. He kept the bumper, but replaced with a more beefy 3rd party winch plate.

Now... he was pretty extreme on his recovery situation (the snow was jammed up in front of his axle adding a ton of extra resistance) but you might want to check out to see if a beefier winch plate might be a worthy add while you are at it.

I'll see if I can find that vid, and post a link if I do.

 

[PackMule]

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...with-alu-cab-canopy-camper.64951/post-1142017

Here is the link to a forum member with it installed on a rubicon. He replaced the winchplate with a Grimm model. You could reach out to him on fitment with the swaybar disconnects, etc on the rubicon.

 

[smlobx]

I installed that same bumper on my Mojave this past weekend.
I saw a video on the Wrangler forum that showed an interference on the rubicon with the winch plate and the sway bar disconnect motor.
the fix was to cut out a small corner of the winch plate to clear the motor.
I had to do a couple things different on my Mojave. I didn’t use the skid plate mounting brackets because the remote shock reservoir is mounted in that spot and has factory mounting holes on the bottom that the skid plate already had holes for and the winch plate bracket slots didn’t line up perfectly so I used a smaller leftover bolt for one of the slots.
overall I like the bumper a lot but taking the end pieces off and on is a bit of a pain that did get easier after a learning curve but I don’t think I’ll be taking them off very often if ever.

I also ordered this low profile bull bar that I saw on that Wrangler thread that is coming in today.

ECOTRIC Grille & Winch Brush Guard Compatible with 2018-2023 Jeep Wrangler JL & 2020-2023 Jeep Gladiator JT Replace For Part Number 82215351 Bull Bar Brush Push Bar Front Bumper Grill Guard Protector https://a.co/d/2wxO5CD

FINALLY someone whoinstalled one! Did you happen to take any picturs of the process?
Thanks a ton!

 

[smlobx]

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...with-alu-cab-canopy-camper.64951/post-1142017

Here is the link to a forum member with it installed on a rubicon. He replaced the winchplate with a Grimm model. You could reach out to him on fitment with the swaybar disconnects, etc on the rubicon.

‘Thanks! That’s super helpful. I’m going to reach out to the member and see what his comments are.
Awesome!

 

[KevinM60]

FINALLY someone whoinstalled one! Did you happen to take any picturs of the process?
Thanks a ton!

No pics but I can give you a few tips.
Some things that the ET video doesn't show.
If you're going to keep the factory fog lights you'll need to disassemble the old bumper to get to the wiring harness. I took the new bumper apart to put the harness in and also to take and use my orange Mojave front hooks. In doing so I also removed the end pieces of the new bumper because it was a lot easier to install the fog lights with the ends taken off. I waited until I installed the new bumper to put the ends back on which made access to the inside flange nuts much more difficult than when the bumper is sitting belly up on the bench. Best to put those back on while on the bench. And make sure the heat sink on the back of the fog lights are facing UP because there are no orientation pins on the new bumper.
When positioning the bumper on the truck frame there are some reinforcing brackets that the bumper stud bolts go through that may not be in alignment with the holes in the front frame bracket holes. Those can make it near impossible to line up the bolts if they aren't in line. They are held by the bumper studs and one bolt each from the side of the frame. the side bolts can be finger tightened during assembly and torqued down after the front bumper studs are torqued which will pull them into place. You can even loosen those before removing your old bumper to make it easier to pull off. I will go out to my Jeep and take a pic of those brackets and add it to this post after I'm done.
I'm not sure about the winch plate fitment issue or how the skid plate will install on the Rubicon but on my Mojave I didn't use the provided skid plate brackets because it had mounting holes that matched the factory skid plate and I used those.
HTH

that’s the bracket that slides back once the bolts are loosened up.

 

[Rockabillyroy]

As everyone else has already mentioned, it's the included winch plate that is the problem. I sold it cheap on craigslist and bought an ATP plate.
I also swapped out the included hooks and kept the factory rubicon hooks.
Holes in the skids may need to be reamed to accommodate for the offset from the thickness of the winch plate if it mounts on the front of the frame horns. I had to ream mine.

 

[fourfa]

I followed up in DM with OP. I'm happy with the MPC bumper. Not perfect, not exactly cheap either, but I love the looks and weight. (I just wish I'd found the instructions for rotating the disco motor before I spent a bunch of time notching the winch plate for clearance!)

 

[KidBobot]

No pics but I can give you a few tips.
Some things that the ET video doesn't show.
If you're going to keep the factory fog lights you'll need to disassemble the old bumper to get to the wiring harness. I took the new bumper apart to put the harness in and also to take and use my orange Mojave front hooks. In doing so I also removed the end pieces of the new bumper because it was a lot easier to install the fog lights with the ends taken off. I waited until I installed the new bumper to put the ends back on which made access to the inside flange nuts much more difficult than when the bumper is sitting belly up on the bench. Best to put those back on while on the bench. And make sure the heat sink on the back of the fog lights are facing UP because there are no orientation pins on the new bumper.

Do I need to buy any special Rubicon fog-light brackets to use my factory Mojave fogs???
Or is that included?

Please advise.
Thank you.

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