Stubby vs. full-width front bumper

[WitchDoctor]

Greetings all and thanks for the TONS of useful information on this forum. I’m a new member here (please be gentle) and absolutely LOVING my JT. Have had several Cherokees and a Grand Cherokee but this is my first adventure in this end of the pool and the more I learn the more I need to learn. Looking to change out the factory Mojave bumpers and just wondering if there is an advantage one way or the other between a stubby front bumper and a full-width, or does it just come down to personal preference like so many other mods? Thanks is advance!

Sponsored

 

[Hootbro]

When you get into larger tires, different wheel offsets and lifts, some combinations will rub on full width bumpers and stubby bumpers will usually negate that.

Most of the time though, it is usually personal preference.

 

[Geoarch]

Greetings all and thanks for the TONS of useful information on this forum. I’m a new member here (please be gentle) and absolutely LOVING my JT. Have had several Cherokees and a Grand Cherokee but this is my first adventure in this end of the pool and the more I learn the more I need to learn. Looking to change out the factory Mojave bumpers and just wondering if there is an advantage one way or the other between a stubby front bumper and a full-width, or does it just come down to personal preference like so many other mods? Thanks is advance!

If you wheel into boulders you often have to put a tire on one side or the other. A stubby won’t interfere with that strategy.

 

[Cabmaker08]

I went with the Fishbone Mid width on my Mojave. Felt it gave a little more wheel/axle protection in the event of a common traffic fender bender but was also tucked back far enough to not interfere with obstacles.

 

[Chaos Theory]

Thin pieces of metal (or plastic) strapped to the front of a vehicle does virtually nothing compared to the forces involved in even slow traffic collisions. Whether your tire is covered or not makes minimal difference.

It really is about appearance. With maybe weight a factor.

 

[RubiCrusHehr]

Greetings all and thanks for the TONS of useful information on this forum. I’m a new member here (please be gentle) and absolutely LOVING my JT. Have had several Cherokees and a Grand Cherokee but this is my first adventure in this end of the pool and the more I learn the more I need to learn. Looking to change out the factory Mojave bumpers and just wondering if there is an advantage one way or the other between a stubby front bumper and a full-width, or does it just come down to personal preference like so many other mods? Thanks is advance!

I went the midwidth way.

 

[jac04]

Thin pieces of metal (or plastic) strapped to the front of a vehicle does virtually nothing compared to the forces involved in even slow traffic collisions. Whether your tire is covered or not makes minimal difference.

It really is about appearance. With maybe weight a factor.

Have you seen this thread?:
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/so-this-just-happened-in-my-parking-lot.44655/

 

[Chaos Theory]

My point was about occupant safety. A vehicle hitting a parked car is a jolt, but not life-threatening. A moving, opposing force collision will make stubby vs non irrelevant when it comes to whether the driver walks away vs not.

 

[Green_Gladiator]

For me, I love the look of a stubby, weight was important as well and needed to clear a winch without obstructing the radiator much. I found that the rugged ridge stubby worked best for my needs and accepted the factory fog lights as well. Little to no rake at all.

 

[obsessedjeepgirl]

Greetings all and thanks for the TONS of useful information on this forum. I’m a new member here (please be gentle) and absolutely LOVING my JT. Have had several Cherokees and a Grand Cherokee but this is my first adventure in this end of the pool and the more I learn the more I need to learn. Looking to change out the factory Mojave bumpers and just wondering if there is an advantage one way or the other between a stubby front bumper and a full-width, or does it just come down to personal preference like so many other mods? Thanks is advance!

Stubby bumpers are absolutely the way to go!!! Lots of clearance but still functional with mounting points for winch, lights and recovery points. Plus, it's just a nice look from the front view of the stance of the jeep.

I run a KrashFab bumper. built to take abuse but looks really good. Well built and clearance for wheeling, no more getting hung up on rocks because your bumper is too boxy and hangs down to low, American made.

KrashFab.com

 

[Hootbro]

Stubby bumpers are absolutely the way to go!!! Lots of clearance but still functional with mounting points for winch, lights and recovery points. Plus, it's just a nice look from the front view of the stance of the jeep.

I run a KrashFab bumper. built to take abuse but looks really good. Well built and clearance for wheeling, no more getting hung up on rocks because your bumper is too boxy and hangs down to low, American made.

KrashFab.com

Looks cool but cutting the skid plate mount frame horns and leaving my sway bar disconnect in the wind would have me thinking twice about that setup.

 

[obsessedjeepgirl]

Have had no issues and run it on multiple jeeps that are rock crawlers and get driven on the street.

 

[SD Rider]

I vote stubby. I am also a big proponent of skid plates.

 

[Zachanadandy]

We drug the edge of the front bumper a few times on John Bull, in stubby configuration, with 3.5" of lift, and 39s. The bigger the rocks you're going to play in the less bumper you want hanging out on the way. Any "protection" provided by the sheetmetal end caps is an illusion at best. If it's a soft enough hit to be deflected by the sheetmetal it wasn't going to cause any damage just driving over it and if it's a big enough impact it would damage the axle or tire it's just going to fold the end cap back into the tire anyway.

Sponsored