why are bumpers so outrageously expensive?

13200 Views 40 Replies 25 Participants Last post by Brad48178, Jan 12, 2013

03Ruth

Discussion Starter · Oct 26, 2011

Just ordered a bestop tire carrier cause I didnt like the fact of having to buy such an expensive rear bumper/tire carrier combo. Would have liked the or-fab but it was almost double the price. Anyways, I was looking for hours the other night trying to find a descently priced front and rear bumper. After all that looking I am still at a loss. Would like to have a winch bumper but dont know if its worth the extra cost and how often I would use the winch. Just wondering if anybody is in the same boat. Might just keep my stock for now and save some cash. I did come up with these as an option.

Jeep CJ YJ TJ LJ Front Custom Prerunner Bumper | eBay

Jeep CJ YJ TJ Rear Custom Bumper | eBay

1 - 20 of 41 Posts

UnlimitedLJ04

· #2 · Oct 26, 2011

If you think $200-300 is expensive, you should look at what bumpers cost for full size trucks, FJ Cruisers and Land Rovers.

I use this bumper:
Jeep REAR Bumpers Rock Crawler Wrangler YJ TJ LJ 87-06 | eBay

great quality...in fact I've bought 3 of them...

MikalCarbine

· #3 · Oct 26, 2011

I just spent around $800 for my bumper/tire carrier (not trying to brag the least bit, it was very expensive for me) but you get what you pay for. In your case the bestop tire carrier is a nice unit but that is all you got with the purchase. On the other hand mine is a rear bumper with 2 D-ring shackle tabs (recovery), a 2" receiver, a swing out tire carrier, a jerry can mount and a hi-lift mount. It is all about identifying your needs and then a cost to satisfy them

Edit: I have a custom made groundpounderfab bumper, I can link you to the thread over at jeepforum if you are in the market for just a bumper

03Ruth

Discussion Starter · #4 · Oct 26, 2011

MikalCarbine said:
I just spent around $800 for my bumper/tire carrier (not trying to brag the least bit, it was very expensive for me) but you get what you pay for. In your case the bestop tire carrier is a nice unit but that is all you got with the purchase. On the other hand mine is a rear bumper with 2 D-ring shackle tabs (recovery), a 2" receiver, a swing out tire carrier, a jerry can mount and a hi-lift mount. It is all about identifying your needs and then a cost to satisfy them

Edit: I have a custom made groundpounderfab bumper, I can link you to the thread over at jeepforum if you are in the market for just a bumper

I hear ya as far as pricing goes and you definately get what you pay for. Yeah a link would be great. Heard a lot of good things abou the groundpounders. Thanks

MikalCarbine

· #5 · Oct 26, 2011

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f37/rear-bumper-w-swingout-tire-carrier-follow-along-101332/

A rear bumper alone would be dramatically cheaper. I was very impressed with the quality of mine and to top it off, it's made in the USA

I just finished painting it and I'll snap some pics if you'd like once it's installed

Tonycrd

· #6 · Oct 26, 2011

If you think that's expensive, try getting one for a Liberty...$2k.....Contact Us

Irongrave

· #7 · Oct 26, 2011

my front bumper will run most winches and it was under $100. Support your local or smaller time fab shops and not the big shops IMO.

AtoZ Fabrication...Made In the USA

MikalCarbine

· #8 · Oct 26, 2011

From what I read AtoZ is quality, I almost got one before I decided on my groundpounder

03Ruth

Discussion Starter · #9 · Oct 27, 2011

MikalCarbine said:
Rear Bumper w/Swingout Tire Carrier Follow Along - JeepForum.com

A rear bumper alone would be dramatically cheaper. I was very impressed with the quality of mine and to top it off, it's made in the USA

I just finished painting it and I'll snap some pics if you'd like once it's installed

Cant say no to some pics!

s14sh3r

· #10 · Oct 27, 2011

The price of metal has risen substantially in the past few years. Good for people like me dad who runs a small salvage yard, bad for fabricators.

DevilDogDoc

· #11 · Oct 27, 2011

Keep the stocker run a winch plate for less than $100 your stock tow hooks are fine.

Imped

· #12 · Oct 27, 2011

They're outrageously expensive because for some reason people pay for the big, bulky overweight bumpers adorning the pages of Quadratec everywhere.

There are better options out there. You just have to look.

Jp90Talon

· #13 · Oct 27, 2011

Im a fan of this guy. Do a search on here for thedirtworx for reviews

Jeep front bumper CJ YJ TJ Wrangler | eBay

geiman

· #14 · Oct 27, 2011

I agree bumpers can be pricey, but it is definitely a get what you paid for kind of thing. Not so much with front bumpers, but tire carriers play into this more than anything in my opinion. Often the cheaper carriers rattle and what not after extended hard use. While I hate paying through the nose for things, I also want something that can take the weight of the Jeep being dropped on it with no ill effects. Gotta make a sacrifice somewhere.

techflork

· #15 · Oct 27, 2011

get what you pay for? I paid 150 for smitty's "crap" of a front bumper. that thing hasn't rusted, and is very thick steel for a cheap price. granted I haven't hit anything really hard but if I did I'd put my trust in it. Check out smittybilt, and rugged ridge who are apparently the same people but both had different somewhat cheap bumpers. I got the smitty on amazon with free shipping for 150 but it's gone up since then.

geiman

· #16 · Oct 27, 2011

The reason I didn't go with Smittybuilt or a similar tire carrier:

Google

I'm not saying yours will rattle, or that it's bad, or anything else. Just that I need one that can take abuse and not rattle with a 35 mounted on it. That, and I don't like the bumper mounted carriers. I'd prefer a tub/frame mounted one.

jlreaa

· #17 · Oct 27, 2011

MikalCarbine said:
Rear Bumper w/Swingout Tire Carrier Follow Along - JeepForum.com

A rear bumper alone would be dramatically cheaper. I was very impressed with the quality of mine and to top it off, it's made in the USA

I just finished painting it and I'll snap some pics if you'd like once it's installed

I read this thread and it looks like a tough well built bumper. It looks like BERSK is still hanging out on the CJ site and probably still making bumpers.

Jerry Bransford

· #18 · Oct 27, 2011

Two things to keep in mind; 1) A bumper does not have to be made extra strong to handle a winch since the winch is only bolted through the bumper to the frame underneath. A winch is not bolted to the bumper itself. 2) Unless you are using your bumper for a battering ram, you don't need an outrageously strong bumper just because you offroad.

chop110

· #19 · Oct 27, 2011

Jp90Talon said:
Im a fan of this guy. Do a search on here for thedirtworx for reviews

Jeep front bumper CJ YJ TJ Wrangler | eBay

X2

Robert did my tire carrier. Quality stuff! :thumb:

BLZ

· #20 · Oct 27, 2011

i was suprised at some of the prices also.i need to save for more important things like lift and tires.my jeep came with chrome double tube bumpers and HAD to be replaced.ended up buying a procomp bumper.its solid,came powder coated and has drings.and like jerry said..winch/winch plate bolt to the frame.im happy with it but would like to add a wrap around grill guard later on.one thing ive found when lookin for parts is that there is something available for everyones budget.my buddy bought a arb front bumper and warn rear bumper with swing away tire rack.he said the bumpers almost cost more than his cherokee.

See less See more

1 - 20 of 41 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.