The Definitive Front Bumper Thread

[mr. cob]

E-Bay knock-off of Rubicon Steel Bumper. All parts shown in the image (including LED fog lights) came with the bumper @ < $500. I used the LED fog lights that were installed on my original plastic bumper instead of the fog lights that came with the steel bumper.

Howdy @RalphTuttle,

When you mounted your winch, did you use the winch mounting plate supplied with your new bumper OR did you use the "Warn 101255" winch mounting plate that is supposed to fit on the stock steel bumper? I already have the "Warn" winch plate mounted, I don't want to buy a bumper until I know for certain that it will work with the Warn winch plate. Thanks for any information you can share.

Dave

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[RalphTuttle]

Howdy @RalphTuttle,

When you mounted your winch, did you use the winch mounting plate supplied with your new bumper OR did you use the "Warn 101255" winch mounting plate that is supposed to fit on the stock steel bumper? I already have the "Warn" winch plate mounted, I don't want to buy a bumper until I know for certain that it will work with the Warn winch plate. Thanks for any information you can share.

Dave

I used the plate that came with the bumper. BUT - I had to modify it slightly (enlarge a couple of the holes on the plate) to get the winch to fit properly. If I had to do it over, I would use the Warn winch mounting plate...

 

[mr. cob]

I used the plate that came with the bumper. BUT - I had to modify it slightly (enlarge a couple of the holes on the plate) to get the winch to fit properly. If I had to do it over, I would use the Warn winch mounting plate...

Howdy Ralph,

Thanks for getting back to me. I already have the Warn winch mounting plate and the Warn 12,000 pound winch mounted on my Jeep. I had to cut a massive hole in the front of the plastic bumper for the Warn mounting plate to stick through. This made the stock plastic bumper pretty much worthless, no crash pertection at all and a pretty weak fog light mount. Here's some photos.

This Warn mounting plate is supposed to work with the stock steel Rubicon bumper, I assumed the plastic and the steel bumper had the same outside dimensions, but if this mounting plate does work with the stock steel bumper that bumper must stick out further then the plastic one does. So I don't want to buy another bumper unless I know for a fact that this winch mounting plate will fit and work with it.

If I have to, I could cut the front of the winch plate and make it shorter and re-weld it into position. I just don't want to have to do this unless it's absolutely necessary. I really don't like the "Mad Max" look of most of the aftermarket bumpers, I do like the look of the stock steel bumper but don't want to spend 1,300 dollars for one and I have not been able to find a take off bumper. So I am stuck with buying a knock off but I just wish I could find out if the knock off will work with the winch mounting plate I have already paid for and have mounted on my Jeep.

Dave

 

[yushjr]

Howdy Ralph,

Thanks for getting back to me. I already have the Warn winch mounting plate and the Warn 12,000 pound winch mounted on my Jeep. I had to cut a massive hole in the front of the plastic bumper for the Warn mounting plate to stick through. This made the stock plastic bumper pretty much worthless, no crash pertection at all and a pretty weak fog light mount. Here's some photos.

This Warn mounting plate is supposed to work with the stock steel Rubicon bumper, I assumed the plastic and the steel bumper had the same outside dimensions, but if this mounting plate does work with the stock steel bumper that bumper must stick out further then the plastic one does. So I don't want to buy another bumper unless I know for a fact that this winch mounting plate will fit and work with it.

If I have to, I could cut the front of the winch plate and make it shorter and re-weld it into position. I just don't want to have to do this unless it's absolutely necessary. I really don't like the "Mad Max" look of most of the aftermarket bumpers, I do like the look of the stock steel bumper but don't want to spend 1,300 dollars for one and I have not been able to find a take off bumper. So I am stuck with buying a knock off but I just wish I could find out if the knock off will work with the winch mounting plate I have already paid for and have mounted on my Jeep.

Dave

Looks okay from a distance.

 

[RalphTuttle]

Howdy Ralph,

Thanks for getting back to me. I already have the Warn winch mounting plate and the Warn 12,000 pound winch mounted on my Jeep. I had to cut a massive hole in the front of the plastic bumper for the Warn mounting plate to stick through. This made the stock plastic bumper pretty much worthless, no crash pertection at all and a pretty weak fog light mount. Here's some photos.

This Warn mounting plate is supposed to work with the stock steel Rubicon bumper, I assumed the plastic and the steel bumper had the same outside dimensions, but if this mounting plate does work with the stock steel bumper that bumper must stick out further then the plastic one does. So I don't want to buy another bumper unless I know for a fact that this winch mounting plate will fit and work with it.

If I have to, I could cut the front of the winch plate and make it shorter and re-weld it into position. I just don't want to have to do this unless it's absolutely necessary. I really don't like the "Mad Max" look of most of the aftermarket bumpers, I do like the look of the stock steel bumper but don't want to spend 1,300 dollars for one and I have not been able to find a take off bumper. So I am stuck with buying a knock off but I just wish I could find out if the knock off will work with the winch mounting plate I have already paid for and have mounted on my Jeep.

Dave

Rather than cutting the winch plate (if it is a bit too large) the other option is to add some steel spacers to the back of the bumper (between it and the frame where the bumper mounts) to provide the needed clearance. I ALMOST did that with my knock-off to give the winch a little more room but was able to fit the winch in without the spacers. The winch plate that comes with the e-bay bumper is supposed to be the same size as the Mopar winch plate. So, you could go to your local Jeep dealer and get the dimensions of the Mopar winch plate and compare that to the Warn plate just to make sure...

 

[mr. cob]

Rather than cutting the winch plate (if it is a bit too large) the other option is to add some steel spacers to the back of the bumper (between it and the frame where the bumper mounts) to provide the needed clearance. I ALMOST did that with my knock-off to give the winch a little more room but was able to fit the winch in without the spacers. The winch plate that comes with the e-bay bumper is supposed to be the same size as the Mopar winch plate. So, you could go to your local Jeep dealer and get the dimensions of the Mopar winch plate and compare that to the Warn plate just to make sure...

Howdy Ralph,

Thanks for your suggestions.

I have ordered from the dealer I bought the Jeep from a "stock steel Rubicon, winch ready bumper". I got the bumper 15% off and no shipping making it affordable and it WILL WORK with the winch mount and winch I now have mounted to my Jeep. I like the look of the stock bumpers, I really don't care for the Mad Max look of the aftermarket bumpers, to each his own, that's the way it should be,

Dave

 

[disenhower]

Wolfstorm Offroad Front Bumper! Absolutely amazing quality and design. Even better, it was $319. Plus it is modular. I chose to keep it stubby for now.

 

[Dreaded1]

JCR Offroad Crusader bumper finally arrived on Wed and I got it installed today. I am still waiting for the skid plate to be delivered. Currently trying to decide if I want to pull the trigger on the Badlands 12k winch. It's on sale for $349 today.

While I had the bumpers off I installed the Oracle fog lights I purchased months ago.

 

[Green_Gladiator]

Rugged Ridge HD Stubby w/ Smittybilt XRC 9500

 

[Jerhemi]

Rugged Ridge HD Stubby w/ Smittybilt XRC 9500

Really digging this

 

[AlternateRoutes]

Rugged Ridge HD Stubby w/ Smittybilt XRC 9500

I just finished the same install and I'm finding the LED fogs are in the way of the Mojave front skid plate. Did you have any issue with this?
Also, with the RR HD rear bumper I'm having Parksense schizophrenic feedback. Don't know if you have the same rear bumper, but if you do, have you had any issues?

 

[Green_Gladiator]

I just finished the same install and I'm finding the LED fogs are in the way of the Mojave front skid plate. Did you have any issue with this?
Also, with the RR HD rear bumper I'm having Parksense schizophrenic feedback. Don't know if you have the same rear bumper, but if you do, have you had any issues?

Hey Bud, not sure a local shop handled the bumper and winch install for me ... i can look into somethung or take photos just let me know happy to help if I can

I haven't switched my rear bumper yet ...

 

[citadelfox]

Any recommendations for a stubby that will accept the Rubicon Fog lights without having to buy adapters or other fog light housings?

 

[Bjeepz]

Any recommendations for a stubby that will accept the Rubicon Fog lights without having to buy adapters or other fog light housings?

I ran the Warn stubby on my last JT and JKU. Factory led fogs mounted up without issue. Not sure about availability right now. I attempted to get one for the Mojave but in Canada vendors stopped selling them because they were made with Russian steel.

 

[Chuck]

My new front bumper was delivered yesterday. Hoping to get it installed next weekend when it cools off some

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