help me choose a bumper?

[starrskream]

I want a full width, factory LED(already installed). reliable metal bumper, steel or aluminum.
I'd love the OEM mopar steel one, but sheesh its pricy. Id rather not spend a day assembling one of the Ebay mopar look-alikes, install it and it rots out in a year. Has anyone installed one, was it reliable and quality or knockoff crapola?
idk if i will install a winch or not, i'd like the option to down the road. I live in NY so a front plate is mandatory.

I'm also open to suggestions, the pics are the style/ look i am going for.


1. https://www.extremeterrain.com/rugg...tor-front-bumper-over-rider-hoop-1154941.html

.

2. https://www.extremeterrain.com/riva...-winch-mount-2d27101-nl.html#customer_reviews

3. https://www.extremeterrain.com/mp-c...-forged-aluminum-front-bumper-j134510-jl.html
(my current favorite but concerned about the aluminum aspect and they claim it does not fit rubicon?)

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[chorky]

Watching their install video the only potential conflict with the last option you posted as issues with the rubicon is their skid plate. But I bet you could figure a way to make it work. Looks OE, and aluminum. By far, IMO the best looking option, and rust resistant being your location.

 

[starrskream]

I really want an oem look. I may just spring for the mopar one.
I really don’t understand why that 3rd option won’t work. Reading the reviews serious fab work was required to make it fit.
What is so different between the sport and rubicon bumpers?

anything I buy, I’m going to coat/ paint the inside of it before mounting it.

 

[starrskream]

This is still my favorite and it’s on sale
https://realtruck.com/p/rugged-ridge-hd-front-bumper/v/jeep/gladiator/2021/

I like that one. Just trying to not mad max my truck. If I could find an oem look steel /alum that isn’t almost 2000$ and/or assemble 2000 pieces or crap metal id buy it.

 

[starrskream]

This is still my favorite and it’s on sale
https://realtruck.com/p/rugged-ridge-hd-front-bumper/v/jeep/gladiator/2021/

I’ve looked them over and I’m leaning heavy on the rugged ridge #1 in my first post. Mostly because it has some oem flair and comes complete with the winch plate, and skid plate

 

[TheSolarWizard]

I’ve looked them over and I’m leaning heavy on the rugged ridge #1 in my first post. Mostly because it has some oem flair and comes complete with the winch plate, and skid plate

I ran this one for 3 years.
if you’re gonna wheel the jeep its not that great. The finish showed rust in under a year and the rest of the underside of my jeep is still clean so it wasn’t the environment.
the hooks cause more problems than they solve.

its a good looking bumper from a purely aesthetic perspective. Oh and the little plastic surrounds on the fog lights fell out a couple times so I just left them off.

 

[starrskream]

I ran this one for 3 years.
if you’re gonna wheel the jeep its not that great. The finish showed rust in under a year and the rest of the underside of my jeep is still clean so it wasn’t the environment.
the hooks cause more problems than they solve.

its a good looking bumper from a purely aesthetic perspective. Oh and the little plastic surrounds on the fog lights fell out a couple times so I just left them off.

im planning to pain the inside of whatever I buy before mounting it. Just to be safe, I live in NY and the looooove road salt here.
I’ve read a few places there was a difficult time mounting the fogs? Any idea what that’s about?

 

[TheSolarWizard]

im planning to pain the inside of whatever I buy before mounting it. Just to be safe, I live in NY and the looooove road salt here.
I’ve read a few places there was a difficult time mounting the fogs? Any idea what that’s about?

No issue

 

[Jaxmax]

Look at the Mopar performance off road bumper, it’s the one I would go with if I was looking for a metal front bumper, it is not stubby but not full, it’s a mid width bumper. Much more refined looking without bolts all over it. There is one for sale in the marketplace asking $800, it’s far away but Fastenal hardware stores ship pallets cheap, work it out. Get something that few people know exist and looks different with excellent finish quality from factory….or not….Jack

Edit to add that it also comes with shackle mounting points at bottom
of bumper plus retains factory hooks on top!!

 

[Camaroboi13]

eBay knockoff. Stripped and powder coated it as soon as I got it. They aren’t hard to assemble.

 

[wachuko]

I have Option #3. No issues and install was not hard at all. Best of all, being aluminum, everything weighted less than the stock bumper.

I did not have to modify anything…and the additional Rubicon bottom cover that I bought just in case, based on folks comments, was not needed. I used everything that came with the bumper.

Only thing to mention, the plastic covers that came with the bumper, arrived broken. I got original coverss(inexpensive) to replace those.

EDIT: Only modification, minor, done was when I was installing the winch. All documented in my build.

 

[BUZZHEAD]

Quadratech Aluminum

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

Patience. Patience is key. You want the mopar one, so get it. A year ago I got my mopar bumper off eBay for $600 plus $100 or so in shipping. It’s a 392 take-off.

They pop up on there throughout the year for $600-$700.

This one is a bit higher but a good example, and comes set up for a winch.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2262044807...wYQKggcTa6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

[Gizmo]

Plenty of write ups on the Ebay bumper here and on the JL forum . Seems after many pages of reading that their really isn't any difference other than the finish from the MOPAR one .Both MOPAR and Ebay come from China. People have measured the thickness of the metal and many other aspects of it . If you are planning to paint the inside then why not save money and repaint the whole Ebay bumper while its apart and look what you would have for likely under 500 bucks .

 

[starrskream]

Patience. Patience is key. You want the mopar one, so get it. A year ago I got my mopar bumper off eBay for $600 plus $100 or so in shipping. It’s a 392 take-off.

They pop up on there throughout the year for $600-$700.

This one is a bit higher but a good example, and comes set up for a winch.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2262044807...wYQKggcTa6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

any idea what I will need beyond the mopar skid plate?
I’m not doing a winch just now, I may in the future. I’m assuming it would be easier to install the winch plate now as opposed to later?

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