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Need help choosing a bumper

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bumper
12K views 41 replies 22 participants last post by  R4D4R 
#1 ·
So this forum has never failed me, so I have high hopes to get this resolved. I am looking for a clean looking, mid bumper. When I say mid I mean not completely stubby and not the whole fender, as you can see in the two Bumpers I am considering. As of now I am slightly leaning toward the poison spyder, but any input is helpful! If you can think of any bumpers that fit what I want please put links to them! Thank you so much, also do you guys think I should get the black grill I linked too? I have an all white sahara with a 3.5in lift and 35s!
Bumper 1- Barricade Heavy Duty Rock Crawler Wrangler Front Bumper J20850 (07-16 Wrangler JK) - Free Shipping

Bumper 2-JK Brawler MID Front Bumper - Brawler Bar - Tabs | Jeep Wrangler JK Front Bumpers | Poison Spyder Customs

Grill I am considering
Barricade Matte Black Wrangler Grille Guard Cover J100721 (07-14 Wrangler JK) - Free Shipping
 
#4 ·
I'll tell you what NOT to get.....Smittybilt SRC. They look great online, and even in real life, but are an absolute PITA to install. Ordered my set of front/rear/sides, and with the exception of the side rails i had to ream out every single muthaeffin' hole to get it to fit on my 2010 JKUR. Don't know if they had a bad production day at the factory in China or what, but there it is. The instructions also leave a lot to be desired, and if you get the rear bumper with the tire carrier swing arm, prepare to be confused, since they'll send extra parts that have absolutely nothing to do with the install.

Tell ya what though, now that they're on folks on the beltway tend not to tailgate or cut me off in the lane as aggressively as before :)
 
#15 ·
I'll tell you what NOT to get.....Smittybilt SRC. They look great online, and even in real life, but are an absolute PITA to install. Ordered my set of front/rear/sides, and with the exception of the side rails i had to ream out every single muthaeffin' hole to get it to fit on my 2010 JKUR. Don't know if they had a bad production day at the factory in China or what, but there it is. The instructions also leave a lot to be desired, and if you get the rear bumper with the tire carrier swing arm, prepare to be confused, since they'll send extra parts that have absolutely nothing to do with the install.

Tell ya what though, now that they're on folks on the beltway tend not to tailgate or cut me off in the lane as aggressively as before :)
That's good to know, I thought those were decentbumpers!
 
#5 · (Edited)
Got no opinion on the bumper. I have a JCR Mauler with the skid. Price is on par with the PS bumper.

On the grill, don't buy a cover. Get a half dozen cans of Rustoleum Truck Bed Liner, some sand paper and bed line it. It's super easy and the Rustoleum is very forgiving as far as drips and spatters. They usually will flatten out. I did mine in a few hours. I think I primes mine but roughing it up with sandpaper is good enough. Very durable, easy to touch up and looks great!



Yeah, I'll install the winch someday :rolleyes:
 
#16 ·
Got no opinion on the bumper. I have a JCR Mauler with the skid. Price is on par with the PS bumper.

On the grill, don't buy a cover. Get a half dozen cans of Rustoleum Truck Bed Liner, some sand paper and bed line it. It's super easy and the Rustoleum is very forgiving as far as drips and spatters. They usually will flatten out. I did mine in a few hours. I think I primes mine but roughing it up with sandpaper is good enough. Very durable, easy to touch up and looks great!



Yeah, I'll install the winch someday :rolleyes:
I like that Idea for the grill, did the bumper weigh your lift down at all?
 
#6 ·
Why is it every bumper you have picked, the winch sits on top of, and not in the bumper ? Lower center of gravity, and more air flow to the radiator, especially when you need it. I say, keep looking. BTW, I personally hate the barricade, and I have no doubt the Poison Spyder would be better quality. Here's another worth considering. See how the winch is in the bumper, not on it ? It also makes it harder to steal. See how it blocks no airflow? Yet, still has everything else, factory fogs, or aftermarket, tow points, sunken winch deck, mid width.
 
#17 ·
Why is it every bumper you have picked, the winch sits on top of, and not in the bumper ? Lower center of gravity, and more air flow to the radiator, especially when you need it. I say, keep looking. BTW, I personally hate the barricade, and I have no doubt the Poison Spyder would be better quality. Here's another worth considering. See how the winch is in the bumper, not on it ? It also makes it harder to steal. See how it blocks no airflow? Yet, still has everything else, factory fogs, or aftermarket, tow points, sunken winch deck, mid width.
I actually like that look a lot, and I do kind of like the winch above because I feel like it looks cool. As for preventing airflow my buddy had a poison spyder with a winch and he offroads in moab and has had no problems. You did open me up to a hidden winch though!
 
#20 ·
Here is another option from Ace Engineering, it comes with or without the bull or stinger bar.

Mid Width Bumper

Here is a pic of my Jeep with the bull bar option.

I live fairly close to this shop! One thing is I think I want to get fenders eventually, and it looks like the bumper goes a little further out than aftermarket fenders?
 
#10 ·
Metal Cloak makes some really awesome bumpers. They have pre configured bumpers or you can customize your own. They have a total of 12 different style of pre configured bumpers to choose from and more if your customize your own. Their bumpers come on multiple pieces: base plate, side caps, stingers, etc. Their show idea behind that is if you break something on your bumper you can order that individual piece. Also the bumper is pretty light since it is not one large piece of steel or aluminum.
 

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#14 ·
Will this barricade bumper fit with this grill guard that I have on there now. I bought the jeep as it is and haven't done any modifications to the front. But it is a 2006 X.
I don't think so ask XTRyan he should know defiantly. The reason I say it won't is the bumper you have selected is tubular and the grill guard mounts to the flat portion of you factory TJ bumper it just won't fit right. However if you weld it to the new bumper no issues.

Hope this helps, but ask XTRyan he should be able to help if I'm right.
 
#23 ·
just ordered ACE pro series front and rear....lifetime warranty 1/4 steel whats not to like? except maybe the higher price tag.
 
#24 ·
Build your own?

Ever think of making your own?

I think the combo of these two looks totally bitchin' and very unique, because very few are doing it.

Guptonr's sweet recessed winch project.
http://www.wranglerforum.com/f274/oem-bumper-with-recessed-winch-project-1324273.html

JCDriller's Bruzer awesome bumper mod & light install:
Stubby bumper mod:
http://www.wranglerforum.com/f314/bruzer-jcdrillers-2014-hydro-blue-jku-631146-2.html#post12072874

4 light install on new bumper:
http://www.wranglerforum.com/f314/bruzer-jcdrillers-2014-hydro-blue-jku-631146-11.html#post22787169

They make a bull bar that fits with the stock bumper. Pretty sure it's a Mopar piece. A few guys are running it.

In any case, if I didn't have the 10A/X/HR bumper this is what I'd do.
If you have time to look through the build threads, the talent and work folks here are doing is pretty inspiring. Lots of great ideas with pictures so you can see how it would look on your rig.
Hth,
 
#25 ·
So I think I am leaning toward the new bumper, it looks a little shorter than the other if I am right? And how do they compare in weight? My biggest fear is my lift coming down. Do you think it would be noticeable? Is there anything I can do for cheap to not lose any of my lift? I have a 3.5 in lift right now.
 
#27 ·
Mid width bumpers is where it's at IMO. I had a Mopar bumper since new. I wheel in VERY tight tree lined trails and with a 4 door, it's hard to make turns sometimes. I found myself always taking just a bit of bark off trees in tight turns. So, I cut 3" off the full bumper and made a mid, and let me tell you what a huge difference it made on the trails!

On the other side of that argument, why not stubby? I've had plenty of contact with stuff in tight trails where the mid was just enough protection to save my fenders and flares from damage.

Again. just my .02.

Pics of the hacking
Jeep Bumper Hack _ Skids by Adam | Photobucket





 
#33 ·
I have this a JCR Offroad Crusader front bumper and I torture the snot out of the skid. Keep in mind the skid is extra their website isn't real clear about that. This is their picture also they are American made!

Like I said above, I have the Mauler from JCR. They are great bumpers. The only reason I didn't go with the JCR on the rear is price. The ACE rear, especially on Black Friday, cost a lot less than the JCR. You can't go wrong with ACE, JCR or PS.
 
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