Plastic vs Steel OEM Bumper

[bd100]

Aluminum is also available. Kind of a compromise.

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[ShadowsPapa]

In my eyes, it's sometimes better to have a bumper that's going to flex and absorb damage in minor impacts. If you have a stout steel bumper that's mounted to your frame, if the hit is severe enough it can also cause the impact damage to the frame which can end up being more costly and harder to fix. Besides, if they hit you, it's their insurance replacing whatever bumper you have (or your uninsured driver insurance kicks in), so I wouldn't be concerned about minor impacts.

If you end up damaging the OEM plastic one and need a replacement, keep an eye on local marketplaces (Facebook especially), people sell them all the time for cheap or free.

I prefer less flex - most of the times I've been dinged or even had a boo-boo of my own (like moving an outhouse with my Comanche), it would have been better to have a minor ding or dent I could simply repaint or touch up, instead of replacing.
I could kick and ruin the plastic bumper. There's nothing to it. Then you have a hassle.
With the steel bumper, it's going to take it, maybe nick or scrape the finish, repaint and move on. I can stand on it, set stuff on it, jump on it, no problem. I'd crush a plastic bumper if I stood on it.

What is this - 20 or 22 gauge? It's going to bend in almost any situation - including someone kicking it or just bumping it while backing out of a parking spot.
I'd bet that anyone here could kick the end of one of these or even just lean on it hard and crumple it.

I want my bumper to damage them -
The steel will still give before frame damage - there's a lot of structure up front.
In my case, I have a 2" receiver bolted between frame rails - if the frame gets damaged, it's a hell of an impact.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Aluminum is also available. Kind of a compromise.

I've considered one because of the massive weight I've added to my truck in the accessories.

 

[johnchabin]

Aluminum is also available. Kind of a compromise.

And, of course, doesn’t rust.

My last aftermarket steel bumpers had crappy powder coat and both rusted.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

And, of course, doesn’t rust.

My last aftermarket steel bumpers had crappy powder coat and both rusted.

I had my bumper stripped and powder coated by a pro shop. Still looks like new, the black is black.

 

[johnchabin]

Mine was applied poorly. Powder coat is great. Mine was crappy. ?

 

[ballnm]

Aluminum is also available. Kind of a compromise.

I thought about that but it's too soft in the event of an accident.

 

[ballnm]

I prefer less flex - most of the times I've been dinged or even had a boo-boo of my own (like moving an outhouse with my Comanche), it would have been better to have a minor ding or dent I could simply repaint or touch up, instead of replacing.
I could kick and ruin the plastic bumper. There's nothing to it. Then you have a hassle.
With the steel bumper, it's going to take it, maybe nick or scrape the finish, repaint and move on. I can stand on it, set stuff on it, jump on it, no problem. I'd crush a plastic bumper if I stood on it.

What is this - 20 or 22 gauge? It's going to bend in almost any situation - including someone kicking it or just bumping it while backing out of a parking spot.
I'd bet that anyone here could kick the end of one of these or even just lean on it hard and crumple it.

I want my bumper to damage them -
The steel will still give before frame damage - there's a lot of structure up front.
In my case, I have a 2" receiver bolted between frame rails - if the frame gets damaged, it's a hell of an impact.

Is that the stock steel bumper? I had heard they were rather on the light duty side. That is why I was questioning the rear rubicon stock steel bumper.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I thought about that but it's too soft in the event of an accident.

No, not really.

My SX4, and for that matter, all Eagles, Spirits, Concord, and others, came with an aluminum bumper on each end.
My son had an SX4 like mine (not as pristine, but still a solid car) about 7 or 8 years ago. He used it as his daily driver, a commuter car.
One day he was sitting at a light, waiting to make a left turn from Grand in Des Moines, afternoon rush traffic, and some "young woman" came up fast, didn't realize traffic was stopped and slammed into the back of his car really hard.
Her car was very crumpled up front- hood, fenders, radiator toast, right fender smashed into the right front tire, had to be towed away.
He drove his away. He brought it over to me and we looked it over - the damage to his car was a small piece of rubber trim was missing off his bumper. I happened to have a stash of Eagle parts, put another piece of trim on it - and you'd never know his car had been hit.

I happen to have a receiver hitch on the rear of my SX4 - for hauling a small utility trailer to car shows, pulling people out of trouble, whatever - so heaven help any car that rear-ends mine, but this is what the bumpers on these are like. Both front and back are aluminum, no steel except what they bolt to on the car.
I suspect also that her car nosedived just a bit and went under the back of his because these sit a bit higher than a standard car, or for that matter, they sit higher than most SUVs sold today............... and thankfully, there's a plastic shield under the gas tank as these are rear tank cars.

 

[DAVEATXLAGO]

Plastic -

Steel -

Like the fog lights, did you have to connect those to an Aux or connected to OEM fog light wiring?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Like the fog lights, did you have to connect those to an Aux or connected to OEM fog light wiring?

The fog lights on my JT - DiodeDynamics - connect directly to the stock fog light wiring.

 

[UTRocky]

If I upgrade to the Mopar Steel rear bumper is that better protection should someone rear end me?

 

[nanook12]

I went with aluminum, it is pretty stout and saves weight. MP Concepts, decent price and comes with the winch plate. Looks like a stock bumper

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I went with aluminum, it is pretty stout and saves weight. MP Concepts, decent price and comes with the winch plate. Looks like a stock bumper

He asked about rear bumper...........

If I upgrade to the Mopar Steel rear bumper is that better protection should someone rear end me?

 

[Jaxmax]

If I upgrade to the Mopar Steel rear bumper is that better protection should someone rear end me?

I think the steel bumper is an upgrade strength wise, plus you should get the steel rear rock rails that bolt to the frame and the bumper, they are the perhaps 1.5” tubes you see low on the rear of a Rubicon….Jack

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