Mojave Front Aluminum Bumper Search thread

[NC_Overland]

MP Concepts is trash. I would strongly advise against buying one. I had to buy a new winch plate because the one that comes with it is a joke. Then I realized that I had to order the rubicon front skid mounting hardware or the Warn winch plate won’t work. Then I decided to repaint it because their powder coating is awful. It marred up if you looked at it funny. I completely disassembled it and prepped it and put two coats or base and two coats of clear coat on it. Then I finally got it all back together and realized that their front skid plate is complete garbage and I had to bend the heck out of it and wallow out the rear holes for it to fit. The front didn’t follow the contour of the bumper at all. Anger supplies the motivation to bend it with one arm while I got the screws started with the other. It looks good, but that’s my paint work. two coats of base and two coats of satin clear. I since fixed the end pieces so they aren’t more shiny anymore. That’s another thing, the end pieces don’t fix very well. I scraped up my new paint to get them to fit. Total garbage and I have like $1200 in it. I should have just bought a better bumper.

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[MikeNH]

Anyone on this forum try the aluminum adventure series bumper from NextVenture Motorsports?

I’m seriously considering it. I asked around and got the weights of the bumper + winch plate:

JLT-00013 (Aluminum Adventure Series)

1. Bumper and winch tray only: 48 lbs
2. Bumper and winch tray w/ stinger (no lower skid plate): 61 lbs
3. Bumper and winch tray w/ lower skid plate (no stinger): 57 lbs
4. Bumper and winch tray w/ lower skid and w/ stinger: 70 lbs

The steel Rubicon bumper weighs 86 lbs with the skid.

I know the RockHard is the practical choice but the NextVenture just looks so much better to me. Anybody have experiences with or hear anything about it?

Did you end up buying one from them? I really like the look except it appears the fog lights are angled outward which I feel like would really reduce their functionality.

 

[Fcmalie]

After 3 years with the Rock Hard 4x4 stubby aluminum bumper on i can't say enough about overall build quality. Also if you are looking to save weight up front the stubby is 30lbs with the built in skid plate.

 

[skull_squadron]

https://nextventuremotorsports.com/

 

[Aleph]

Did you end up buying one from them? I really like the look except it appears the fog lights are angled outward which I feel like would really reduce their functionality.

No, I ended up going with the RockHard mid-width. I was stuck between the two, and I put weeks of thought into this. The NVM bumper was a bit heavier (+20 lbs I think) and I was trying to keep weight down. But the NVM bumper is much better/cleaner looking in my opinion so it was very hard to pick the RockHard over it, but I did. There just weren’t as many folks running the NVM bumper testifying about their experience with it. Likely because it is more expensive. Shawn from TheStoryTillNow runs a NVM and he never really talks about how it’s held up to all the abuse he puts it through, but for what it’s worth, he is still running it.

I couldn’t find ANY good testimony on the quality of NVM’s ~$500 powdercoat and didn’t want to mess with the extra effort of finding someone I would trust to powdercoat it if I were to order it bare. From the few videos/testimony I found, it seems that it scratches easily and doesn’t look very thick or well-applied. See here, it looks thin, uneven, and also scratched from handling before and during installation. The few videos from others showed similar). RockHard is very proud of their powdercoating material and process, which is done in-house (don’t know how NVM does it). RH’s proprietary choice of finish (semi-gloss, semi-smooth) is intentionally balanced between rough (impossible to clean completely and masks stress cracks after bending) and smooth/glossy (would scratch way too easily). They put a lot of thought into it and it definitely shows in their product.

In terms of safety and strength in a forward collision (which people overwhelmingly seem to overlook in Jeep bumpers, for some reason), it depends on what philosophy you subscribe to. Steel will hold up better after an impact but transfer forces to the frame (and by extension, to you and your passengers). Aluminum will absorb more forces by sacrificially deforming, but would more likely need to be replaced. One could argue NVM has the downsides of both philosophies and none of the upsides. Someone else could argue that NVM makes up for the downsides of each material by combining both. It’s really personal preference and what your priorities are.

In terms of strength, I don’t like how the RockHard’s point of attachment to the winch is aluminum but it’s held up just fine in the 2-3 times I’ve used the winch. Apparently RH uses some kind of hardening process on the aluminum, not sure on specifics but I heard they will be more than happy to tell you if you ask. The winch in the NVM sits in a steel skeleton (thus the heavier weight) that is directly bolted to the vehicle’s frame, which I imagine is a much stronger design.

If I had a much heavier rig, was winching very often, winching from deep mud often, or anticipated winching from more extreme angles (which one should generally try to avoid, anyway), NVM might be a better pick. But I’m not a materials scientist or engineer. Though I do wonder if these companies actually use engineers to design and test their bumpers, or do they just design based on vibes and experience? Steel material partially makes up for potentially bad design/geometry. I imagine an all-aluminum construction needs a lot more intentional design. It’s not the easiest for me to immediately trust RH’s design, but these guys have been in the market for longer than NVM and their first/flagship product is their roll cage.

The RockHard seems to be less expensive, more complete, and better thought-out as a package. More happy customers. The NVM is more robust/redundant in construction and better looking (IMO). I will say that once mounted, I did enjoy the RH’s look a lot more than I anticipated.

If I had to do it again and had the money to spare, I’d get the NVM with a powdercoat similar to RH (or just keep it bare aluminum if my Jeep was a lighter color like white/grey/silver, which it isn’t). If I didn’t care about weight or accounted for it with stiffer springs, I’d get the NVM. If I really really wanted to keep weight down for my Mojave, I’d get the RH and use an 8k or 10k winch (from what both companies told me, 12k is apparently overkill).

With all that said, the outward angle of the fog lights might not matter since fog lights spread wide anyway. Go for the NVM bumper and let us know how it goes so I’ll see how wise of a decision I made

 

[Retriever_Rob]

Anyone running the rockslide engineering front aluminum bumper on a Mojave and have some pics? Wondering how well it covers the resevoirs. If you have a real world weight that would be awesome too.

rockslide said the mid weighs 75 and the stubby weighs 60. That seems heavy for aluminum vs the competition.

 

[mkopec]

Anyone running the rockslide engineering front aluminum bumper on a Mojave and have some pics? Wondering how well it covers the resevoirs. If you have a real world weight that would be awesome too.

rockslide said the mid weighs 75 and the stubby weighs 60. That seems heavy for aluminum vs the competition.

I have a very well built and full width bumper from Rock Hard 4x4. .250 thick, and it is only 37 lbs. I agree with you; this sounds aweful heavy.

 

[Retriever_Rob]

I ended up installing the rockslide engineering aluminum shorty. I think all in it weighed around 50 lbs so not bad. No noticeable ride change even with the warn vr 8.

couple of notes, you have to relocate the resevoirs if you want to use the “skid” plate it comes with. I think the resevoirs get enough protection without it but even then you have to modify the stock mounts for them.

I really like the look but knowing what I know now I wish Rock hard would make a shorty aluminum with a recessed winch tray.

 

[ecidiego]

If the reason for wanting aluminum is to not 'upset' a stock suspended Mojave's balance with a steel bumper..and not also weight reduction, adding the 2024+ Mojave X springs solves that.

 

[keoniglory]

I ended up installing the rockslide engineering aluminum shorty. I think all in it weighed around 50 lbs so not bad. No noticeable ride change even with the warn vr 8.

couple of notes, you have to relocate the resevoirs if you want to use the “skid” plate it comes with. I think the resevoirs get enough protection without it but even then you have to modify the stock mounts for them.

I really like the look but knowing what I know now I wish Rock hard would make a shorty aluminum with a recessed winch tray.

Would love to see some pictures of it. I am waiting on mine to come in but it has taken a while to ship and I'm going back and forth on questioning my decision.

 

[JTGuy]

I went with the RockHard full width with the winch in the high mount position. A quality USA built unit with a great powder coat finish.

 

[Retriever_Rob]

Sure thing! While you’re not cutting frame rails it isn’t quite plug and play on a Mojave. I ended up moving the reservoirs using a kit online. I also had to cut out the 20” light bar welds in order to fit the Baja designs light. Honestly not a bad project and if you like the look it’s worth it. If you want something a bit easier go with the rock hard options.

 

[3VOLVE]

Anyone on this forum try the aluminum adventure series bumper from NextVenture Motorsports?

I’m seriously considering it. I asked around and got the weights of the bumper + winch plate:

JLT-00013 (Aluminum Adventure Series)

1. Bumper and winch tray only: 48 lbs
2. Bumper and winch tray w/ stinger (no lower skid plate): 61 lbs
3. Bumper and winch tray w/ lower skid plate (no stinger): 57 lbs
4. Bumper and winch tray w/ lower skid and w/ stinger: 70 lbs

The steel Rubicon bumper weighs 86 lbs with the skid.

I know the RockHard is the practical choice but the NextVenture just looks so much better to me. Anybody have experiences with or hear anything about it?

@VA6489 is running option #3 above and it performed perfectly on the Rubicon trail this year and looks great; he has NV rear bumper as well.. I have a NIB option #1 sitting in my garage waiting for warmer weather to install.

 

[VA6489]

@VA6489 is running option #3 above and it performed perfectly on the Rubicon trail this year and looks great; he has NV rear bumper as well.. I have a NIB option #1 sitting in my garage waiting for warmer weather to install.

Love my NV bumper. only nit I have with it is the way it installs is a bit of a challenge. Take you time and you will get thru it. Watch the videos a few times. Did not put the hoop on due to a set of LP9 BD lights. Fit well with BFG 39 inch tire with no rubbing

 

[befe]

MP Concepts. About 40 pounds with winch plate and the ends on.

Where did you get the bumper?

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