The Definitive Front Bumper Thread

[WILDHOBO]

You’re fine. Many people, including me, added steel bumpers and winches well before any lifting. You’ll be fine. Mine is a rubicon as well. I had zero ride quality issues when adding it on a stock rubicon. My bumper at the time was around 80lbs, plus whatever that 12k winch weighed. Enjoy!

This is mine in September of 2021 when I installed the bumper and winch. It’s otherwise bone stock in these pictures.

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[LuvsjeepsTX]

Thanks, I'm leaning towards rugged ridge full hd or the one you have!

 

[ATL_Rubi]

This is mine in September of 2021 when I installed the bumper and winch. It’s otherwise bone stock in these pictures.

Love all the full width options, just wish more of them would add an option to meet up with the Rubicon/Mojave fenders. The small gap for some reason really bothers me. Only three full width options I can think of so this, AEV, Rock slide engineering, and ARB Bondi.
Besides that, great look!

 

[WILDHOBO]

Love all the full width options, just wish more of them would add an option to meet up with the Rubicon/Mojave fenders. The small gap for some reason really bothers me. Only three full width options I can think of so this, AEV, Rock slide engineering, and ARB Bondi.
Besides that, great look!

The gap never bothered me, but it’s obviously personal preference. For what it’s worth, with 37’s and a 3” lift, it sometimes did touch the tires at full articulation (tire stuffed within 1/2” of fender). Never on the road, or with the stock tires though. I modified mine to fix that. So if you’re planning on 37’s and heavy rock crawling, it might not be the right choice. But ever tire and wheel combo is different, so many might never have that problem.

 

[49Gramps]

Love all the full width options, just wish more of them would add an option to meet up with the Rubicon/Mojave fenders. The small gap for some reason really bothers me. Besides that, great look!

There's a gap there probably because they need the bumper to also fit JTs that don't have the higher fenders (like my Overland). You can see from my photo that the Rubicon fenders would have a larger gap. Bumper is a JCR Vanguard, which I believe they discontinued.

 

[WILDHOBO]

There's a gap there probably because they need the bumper to also fit JTs that don't have the higher fenders (like my Overland). You can see from my photo that the Rubicon fenders would have a larger gap. Bumper is a JCR Vanguard, which I believe they discontinued.

You’re very likely correct.

 

[ATL_Rubi]

There's a gap there probably because they need the bumper to also fit JTs that don't have the higher fenders (like my Overland). You can see from my photo that the Rubicon fenders would have a larger gap. Bumper is a JCR Vanguard, which I believe they discontinued.

They 100% did. This was on my list when I first started looking but now they only have the mauler? Love your bumper though

AEV provides options for both fender options which is cool.

 

[coachump4]

You’re fine. Many people, including me, added steel bumpers and winches well before any lifting. You’ll be fine. Mine is a rubicon as well. I had zero ride quality issues when adding it on a stock rubicon. My bumper at the time was around 80lbs, plus whatever that 12k winch weighed. Enjoy!

Question for you mine is a rubicon with plastic bumper but the air dam/skid plate is metal. Will I need to change it out for a skid plate to fit whatever bumper I upgrade too? Currently looking at a Carmivore and a Reaper bumper

 

[WILDHOBO]

Question for you mine is a rubicon with plastic bumper but the air dam/skid plate is metal. Will I need to change it out for a skid plate to fit whatever bumper I upgrade too? Currently looking at a Carmivore and a Reaper bumper

It depends. Mine came exactly the same way. Plastic bumper, steel skid. My steel skid didn’t work with my Warn bumper, so I used theirs. But I know some people have made it work with other bumpers.

 

[coachump4]

It depends. Mine came exactly the same way. Plastic bumper, steel skid. My steel skid didn’t work with my Warn bumper, so I used theirs. But I know some people have made it work with other bumpers.

Thank you

 

[WILDHOBO]

Thank you

Any time. If it were me, I’d look for a front bumper that also has a matching skid as an option. I think the warn skid was only like $179.

 

[coachump4]

Any time. If it were me, I’d look for a front bumper that also has a matching skid as an option. I think the warn skid was only like $179.

That sounds like a good idea thank you.

 

[WILDHOBO]

That sounds like a good idea thank you.

I originally was told my skid would work. I found out during install that they were wrong and had no skid for a couple of months.

 

[Hootbro]

Question for you mine is a rubicon with plastic bumper but the air dam/skid plate is metal. Will I need to change it out for a skid plate to fit whatever bumper I upgrade too? Currently looking at a Carmivore and a Reaper bumper

When I installed my Go Rhino stubby, I just used a couple of extra thick washer on the forward Rubicon steel skid mount fasteners to get clearance.

 

[coachump4]

I originally was told my skid would work. I found out during install that they were wrong and had no skid for a couple of months.

When I asked quadratec about the plastic bumper, that’s all I have a plastic air them instead of the steel skid plate

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