Looking for advice on first bumper purchase
- Thread starter 99sahara99
- Start date
If you don't have the funds for quality bumpers, just chop down the OEM front bumper and take the jugs off of the OEM rear bumper. You don't save money by purchasing the same parts twice.
What's the rest of your TJ look like? (fill out your profile). Can the money be better spent on other areas? One of our favorite pastimes is helping other members spend their money.i
I agree with what your saying about spending moneys twice. I just installed a new headlight switch and some hella h4's. Up next is a body lift or budget lift (interested in your opinions between the two) it's mostly stock and I'd like to run 31" wheels to start maybe upgrade to 33" a ways down the road. Not 100 percent what lift I'll need to put the 31" on. After that it's a front bumper and winch. I've been saving up for this investment for a while but I want to make sure I do my research and get opinions from those who have gone down this path before me.
This is the only one I have this far. I'm not the best at taking pictures of things, I'm more of in the moment guy. I'll get better I promise.
Nice lighting. Been working on capturing light better in my pics.
Really though, big heavy steel bumpers are the way to go.
I'm pretty sure I'm gonna go for the dirtworx front bumper. I'm just trying to decide if I should get larger tires and a lift before the bumper. Feel free to voice in everyone, I seriously appreciate it.Nice lighting. Been working on capturing light better in my pics.
Really though, big heavy steel bumpers are the way to go.
Myself, I found out who I could run with local to me and followed their build threads. I happened on bumpers and other little things people near me sold me as fall off parts when they upgraded. Make a game plan for where you want to build it up to and be flexible on the path to getting there.
A lift and bigger tires is a better idea, do the bumper later. And even the factory bumper works for a winch.
Did you find them on this forum or just asking people in your area? I'd love to have a beer and pick someone's brain around my area. I live in Nevada City/ Grass Valley CA not too far from Tahoe and Sacramento.
That's a solid upgrade. The OEM candles are horrible. Look into a stand alone harness if you will be running higher than 60/55w bulbs.
Definitely a body lift. A non-compressible option made of aluminum or glass reinforced nylon. Stay away from the popular urethane option that doesn't allow you to apply the proper torque on the bolts. Look into a motor mount lift utilizing aluminum lift blocks and OEM engine mounts. These two together are under $250, easy to install with common hand tools and will still be useful down the line with lift kits, belly-up skid plates, etc.
I drove my LJR on OEM 245/75-16s (30.5") for ten years with a 1.25" body lift and motor mount lift.
learn from our mistakes
I was thinking the same thing. I want to go up to 31" tires with the possibility of topping out at 33" down the road. What size lift would you recommend that won't absolutely kill the bank that would allow both of those sizes to run without rubbing? I'm willing to spend the money for the right kit but again, it's my first big purchase in the Jeep world so I'd like to spend the right amount of money for the quality without getting too crazy. I'm 99 percent sure I have stock on both, I'm not sure if you can tell by my one picture I posted. If you need, I'll post more tomorrow in the light.
I bought a big ole bumper like you posted and sold it to go back to the stocker within 3 months and bought a seperate winch plate instead. I was glad I did because it said built-in winch plate but the actual plate I bought was probably 3-4x thicker steel and clearly way stronger
I found people on this here forum in my area. Went out to run some trails with them. Asked a LOT of questions. Did a LOT of just listening and got an eye full of what they were running.
Check out the regional forums on here to look for people in your area.
Would you mind sharing that body lift that is under 250$ that you mentioned previously? I would appreciate it very much. I'm very happy with the headlight upgrade it's a literal night and day difference.That's a solid upgrade. The OEM candles are horrible. Look into a stand alone harness if you will be running higher than 60/55w bulbs.
Definitely a body lift. A non-compressible option made of aluminum or glass reinforced nylon. Stay away from the popular urethane option that doesn't allow you to apply the proper torque on the bolts. Look into a motor mount lift utilizing aluminum lift blocks and OEM engine mounts. These two together are under $250, easy to install with common hand tools and will still be useful down the line with lift kits, belly-up skid plates, etc.
I drove my LJR on OEM 245/75-16s (30.5") for ten years with a 1.25" body lift and motor mount lift.
learn from our mistakes
You can get both the body lift and motor mount lift blocks for under $250. I was running the $160 Savvy body lift (but they are on perpetual backorder) and am running the $80 JKS motor mount spacers. For ~$175 you can get a Rough Country 1.25" body lift https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QCCGYHG/?tag=wranglerorg-20 and Rough Country motor mount spacers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B2AEIU0/?tag=wranglerorg-20
*side note - if your factory engine mounts are not in good condition new MOPAR mounts can be had for ~$100 a pair: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008Y6Y382/?tag=wranglerorg-20
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Hey LJ, I have been doing a lot of research over the past 24 hours and think I'm gonna jump on that wait-list for the savvy 1.25 body lift. It seems to be a highly regarded product on this forum. After that I would have the greenlight to put on 31" tires correct? Also, if I wanted to add a 1-2" suspension lift down the road is that possible after the fact or is there an order of operations I should follow say body lift- suspension lift- wheels? I guess what I'm asking is does the order matter And will I be fine with the savvy body lift and 31's until I decide to level up with the suspension lift?
Yes you can run 31" tires with that body lift, or you can run 31" tires without a body lift... that size tire comes stock on the Rubicon which doesn't have any kind of suspension or body lift.
And yes you can add a suspension lift any time, before or after installing a body lift.
And yes you can add a suspension lift any time, before or after installing a body lift.
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