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KO offroad bumper?

48K views 93 replies 42 participants last post by  geoff george 
#1 ·
Hey guys I am new to the Wrangler community and I am trying to find a new front bumper on a budget. I found KO offroad on eBay and they sell good looking bumpers for cheap, but I don't know anything about their build quality and functionality. If anyone knows anything about them please let me know!
 
#2 ·
I am curious about them myself. Real low price but where are they made and how can he have free shipping too. I am finding companies like JCR (good company) having to charge 100 bucks just to ship to me. What gives?
 
#4 ·
IM gonna go out n a limb and say about same quality as Smittybuilt and Rugged Ridge. Built in a factory overseas mass produced...

My Rugged Ridge products have held up really good.
 
#6 ·
Prob one if the worst things you can do is go grab a pos bumper to save money. Save your money - wait a while and buy a high quality piece from a ace like Genrite - you will thank yourself in the long run.
Thinner walled construction, cheaper steel with bad welds is typically what you will find.
Do a lot of research, don't rush, save what you need and buy when you can. In the end it will save you more.
 
#7 ·
Hmm... I bought their smittybilt knockoff rear bumper with tire carrier. For the price, and the twirks I had to do to fix whatever was wrong with it, I still ended up at a lower price than most rears with carriers or rears alone.

When it arrived, it didn't have any problems with the paint, and still to this day it doesn't (4 months), except for two rust spots the size of a dime behind the tire mount at the bottom where it meets the arm, that I just touch up every month or so, they keep popping up for some reason, I believe its the cheap paint I'm using that just washes away :D. Install was relatively easy. Handle was already assembled.

Now, the most important point. I had to get new bolts, specifically grade 8 bolts to replace the ones that attach the bumper to the frame and the tire mount to the arm. Mine came with grade 2 bolts which deformed when torquing. You need good bolts, this bumper will be exposed to vibrations, hits on obstacles, hitching, pulling other cars, carrying a heavy spare and maybe accessories, etc, etc.

Also, mine didn't come with the frame rail nut plates, which the smittybilt comes with, and are essential for installation since the body mount washers will prevent proper installation if you are just passing the bolt through the frame rail. I had to order them separately (no cost), I told the seller I needed them and he sent them. They are basically the L shaped plates that go inside the frame rails so the bumper can bolt to them (more info on the smittybilt install instructions).

Also, I had minor issues with fitting. The bumper would touch the body tub, which was an issue with some old simittybilts. I had to put four grade 8 1/2" (bolt size, not thickness) washers that I bought at home depot between the bumper and the frame crossmember on each of the bolts that attach the bumper to it (crossmember), so as to separate it from the body and prevent it from scratching the lower part of the tub.

The carrier arm didn't come with the same amount of parts as the smittybilt. The smittybilt comes with two nylon kind of washers to be placed at the bottom and top when you place the arm on the spindle, this one came only with one. The swing is basically pressured, metal on metal, no roller bearings for example, if you tighten it too much so it goes into the latch 100% perfectly, it becomes kind of hard to swing. Thus, for this reason, I got two big washers that had an inner diameter equal to the diameter of the spindle and placed them under the arm on the spindle, like a spacer. So that I dont have to tighten it to the point it can't be opened. You still get the top clip and it comes with a zerk fitting for greasing.

I will be getting something else in the future if I ever decide to save up for it. I got this because I was kind of short on cash and needed something urgently to hold the spare that would also protect. I've landed a few times on rocks and concrete pillars but nothing has happened to it yet, just some scratches on the bottom of the hitch receiver.
 
#8 ·
i don't usually post in forums, just read. but since i was only trying to confirm what i was suspecting i'll go ahead and chime in on this.

i can't swear to it but a couple of their front bumpers look a little too similar and the rear with tire carrier IS a duplicate of the e-auto grilles bumpers you see all over ebay. i would bet they are just another company selling factory seconds from paramount restyling and maybe a couple other manufacturers. or buying from the same china plant at least....

i'll also add that it's a little fishy that the only place you can buy a "ko offroad" bumper is from ebay from that 1 seller. can't find any from anywhere or anybody else anywhere on the net.
 
#10 ·
Hey everyone. I have a 2013 jku Sahara and I bought the ko offroad stinger bumper from eBay and honestly it's awesome. Saved a lot of money with this bumper. Cost me about $330 USD inc shipping. Came with the d rings as well.
Install was pretty easy. I did it myself in a couple hours. I'm a fairly handy guy. No experience doing work on vehicles before this and I think I did pretty good. The only trouble was lifting the bumper and sliding the bolts into the holes on the left and right of the bumper mounts on the jeep at the same time. I'm sure having someone else to guide one side would have made all the difference but I was too anxious to wait.
The bumper was packaged pretty well from the shipper. Wrap in foam paper and plastic wrapping then in a thick cardboard box with thick styrofoam and cardboard to keep it from moving freely in the box.
Fit my 12000lb winch perfectly. Did not need a vacuum pump relocating bracket with this bumper like a lot of the others require if installing on a 2013 jeep. The black finish seems to be of good quality. Hasn't rusted anywhere yet (has been on my jeep for 4 months now)
I was very hesitant to buy this bumper but I am very glad I did and when I end up getting rock rails and a new rear bumper I am quite sure ill buy from ko offroad.
I'll try and add a pic for you all.
 
#21 ·
I just put that exact combo on mine. I love the bumper, powder coat was perfect, bumper is solid, bolted right up and no need to relocate the vacuum. I will be purchasing the rear with carrier next. I put 2, 5" KC's on the fair lead, look and work better than stock.
 
#17 ·
Just an update. I talked to the guy who sells these bumpers. Believe the compa ny was off road works. I didnt want a bumper that deleted the fog lights. He told me a bumper would be available in about a month with LED's already wired in that will splice into existing fog light wiring.

Also a new rear bumper/tire carrier will be available soon that opens in one piece instead of the two step tire then door currently available.

I like the look of the rock rails except there are only two points of attachment. Seems the middle would be suseptible to bowing-in causing damage to the frame. I guess if it only for rugged mall crawling it would be fine.

Good price point though....
 
#18 ·
Just an update. I talked to the guy who sells these bumpers. Believe the compa ny was off road works. I didnt want a bumper that deleted the fog lights. He told me a bumper would be available in about a month with LED's already wired in that will splice into existing fog light wiring.

Also a new rear bumper/tire carrier will be available soon that opens in one piece instead of the two step tire then door currently available.

I like the look of the rock rails except there are only two points of attachment. Seems the middle would be suseptible to bowing-in causing damage to the frame. I guess if it only for rugged mall crawling it would be fine.

Good price point though....

Is this the same ebay seller mentioned, oewheelsdirect? If so, do you know which styles of the bumpers will be have the LEDs?

Thanks for the update!
 
#19 ·
I will chime in and say I have had mine mounted since July. It took two of us about 25 minutes to get it set up. I also run a winch on it with no issues. I have done a fair amount of off roading with it and it has held us wonderfully. I am very happy with the purchase and will likely go back to him when i am ready for the rear bumper and carrier. my only issue is now there are some better styles, but hey, nothing wrong with the design I already have.
 
#24 ·
Ko offroad

I have narrowed my bumper search to a rampage or a smittybilt SRC.
While ebay cruising I found these KO offroad bumpers and they have
copies of both these for less. The smitty copy was $299 vs $499 and
rampage was $445 vs $558.
I have seen a little bit on here about them and some guesses about
origin. Are they any good?
 
#26 ·
I just ordered a front winch bumper for myself from them. I figure that its my first real mod and is a small investment, compared to some other bumpers out there. I also loved the look of it. We shall see.... it's in transit right now.

So far, I can only tell you that they had amazing customer service and were able to answer all my questions quickly and courteously.
 
#27 ·
I have the KO rock sliders and for $148 shipped to my door, it was an awesome deal. They are powdercoated and are of equal quality of the Rugged Ridge rails on my last Jeep.
 
#29 ·
Ok. So I finally got my KO Offroad bumper. There was a slight shipping mishap and UPS tore up the box and damaged the first one sent. The seller made everything right immediately and shipped a new one. When I received it, the packaging was extra beefy. He did a great job.

Outside of my own weak girl moment of getting the original bumper unbolted, the installation went fine. After 2 hours of trying to undo bolts i was defeated by the wrench. I took it to a shop and they said it was a perfect fit!! I absolutely love the bumper.

Land vehicle Vehicle Car Tire Automotive tire
 
#30 ·
Innocentminx I like that Bumper I bought a Besttop stubby and the paint bubbled and peeled off in the first 6months and the d ring attachment on Drivers side crooked did not notice until after install long story short Best top customer service SUCKED DID NOT GIVE A DAMN ABOUT MY COMPLAINT and I sent pics . plain and simple people stay away from Best top garbage just my experience and opinion .
 
#31 ·
Do I just finished installing front and back Ko bumpers from oewheels or whatever they're called via eBay. Arrived in 5 days, really nicely packaged. Now I'm no welder, but these look beautiful and are definitely solid, a little over 70lbs each. The weld joints are smooth and the powder coating is even. Put them on solo which took about 4 hours (including removing oems) for both. Very easy, relatively smoothly for a non mechanic. I love them at least cosmetically so far. Haven't gotten them out on the beach yet. No winch or lights yet, and my lift ,tires ,and wheels aren't on , so no pics because it looks a bit ridiculous at this point. Hopefully have phase 1 complete with pics later this week
 
#34 ·
KO offroad bumper on Ebay has a number you can talk to the guy. The bumper i just bought says 2011-2013 Jeeps do not require a vacuum pump relocation kit. These bumpers will fit with the vacuum pump at it's current location. Buy from KO Off Road who understands applied Off Road engineering and stands behind the quality of it's products for years to come.
 
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