Front bumper

[JimT]

i am making progress with my rusty Jeep rebuild. I am considering front bumpers. I would appreciate recommendations. I will mount a winch. I would like a small winch guard. I have little interest in light bars as I have little interest in wheeling after sunset.

 

[Chris]

This is the one I have:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IS93BCE/?tag=wranglerorg-20

It's a very popular one, and even though it's made in China, I've had it for 2 years now with no issues.

I really like the look of it, and it's got a built in winch mount.

I'm sure others will chime in, but when I was searching for a front bumper, this is the one I liked the look of the most. Can't argue with the price either!

 

[Jerry Bransford]

i am making progress with my rusty Jeep rebuild. I am considering front bumpers. I would appreciate recommendations. I will mount a winch. I would like a small winch guard. I have little interest in light bars as I have little interest in wheeling after sunset.

For the price, it's very hard to beat the quality of the Dirt Worx bumper, not to mention it is made right here in the good old USA.

http://www.thedirtworx.com/_p/prd13/1638357845/product/front-bumper

I have run two of his rear bumpers over the years, they are tough to beat.

If you have the $$$, it is pretty much impossible to beat the quality, weight, and design of Savvy's aluminum front bumper as I run. It includes an integrated winch mount so its higher cost is mostly offset by the fact you don't have to also buy the winch mount separately at additional cost. http://shop.savvyoffroad.com/Savvy-...J-LJ-97-06-Ultimate-1-4-Aluminum-SAV-TJFU.htm

I go aluminum wherever I can, adding steel 100% of the time can really add up and significantly/noticeably affect performance.

This shows my front Savvy bumper which has been black anodized...

 

[Cliff]

If you are going to want to flat-tow directly off the bumper get one with 3/4 or 1" thick shackle tabs. I have not been able to get tow-bar adapters for 1/2" tabs, and Roadmaster says don't do it. Easy to buy adapters for the thicker tabs.

 

[JimT]

Jerry, looking at your bumper makes me question the need for a winch guard. When would it be needed other than as a light mount?

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Jerry, looking at your bumper makes me question the need for a winch guard. When would it be needed other than as a light mount?

I don't see the need for a winch guard. The bumper protrudes out in front of the winch which is pretty solid protection.

 

[Jeepaholic]

I really like my metal cloak bumper. Can mount a winch right to it, pre drilled holes, and simple. Been happy with all of their products so far.

 

[Robin Down]

I went with this one from Rusty's Offroad - made in the USA and it's really strong:

http://www.rustysoffroad.com/jeep-bumpers/rustys-jeep-bumpers/jeep-tj-bumpers/rustys-bumper-trail-front-tj-lj-wranglers-rubicon-unlimited.html

 

[xxdabroxx]

If I was buying a new front bumper it would be the savvy bumper. Clean, light, and functional.

 

[glwood]

For the price, it's very hard to beat the quality of the Dirt Worx bumper, not to mention it is made right here in the good old USA.

http://www.thedirtworx.com/_p/prd13/1638357845/product/front-bumper

I have run two of his rear bumpers over the years, they are tough to beat.

After a lot of looking, I ordered this from Dirtworx:

Robert will build it however you want.

 

[JeepNWilly]

If you can weld making your own is very simple.
I posted some pics of my bumper build in my introduction post https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/hello-new-to-the-forum-from-south-florida.4446/

This was my original design but changed the stinger support during build.

 

[dan lee]

Hey guys I noticed on robin down's picture, he is using a non roller for a cable winch, verses a rope. I was thinking about getting rid of my roller for something like this, is there any ware issues I should worry about.

 

[JeepNWilly]

I am going to guess the hawse fairlead would suffer gouges when winching as the cable scrape hard on it.

 

[dan lee]

I am going to guess the hawse fairlead would suffer gouges when winching as the cable scrape hard on it.

Is it very expensive to go from cable to rope?

 

[JeepNWilly]

Is it very expensive to go from cable to rope?

It depends on the brand maybe $150 and up.

 

[macox49]

I really like my metal cloak bumper. Can mount a winch right to it, pre drilled holes, and simple. Been happy with all of their products so far. View attachment 13816 View attachment 13817 View attachment 13818

are you going to do some thing with the turn signals.zip tye??? cut the grill and recess them and get the little leds for side markers

 

[Jeepaholic]

are you going to do some thing with the turn signals.zip tye??? cut the grill and recess them and get the little leds for side markers

Ha ha yes, it actually has led turn lamps on the front of the fenders, and led markers in the Fender liners, but I had to get a brake and lamp inspection, and the guy was not happy with them, so in a pinch for time I slapped those big lights on. Planning on getting a pair of jk round front lamps and installing them in the grill below the headlights...it's a never ending project.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Planning on getting a pair of jk round front lamps and installing them in the grill below the headlights...it's a never ending project.

I did that several years ago and it works well. The OE TJ front turn signal bulb enclosures fit the JK light enclosures perfectly, no modifications needed.

One hint... see those three notches cut in the top photo? Those allow you to insert the JK bulb enclosures and lock them in place by a twist-lock. Cut the three notches so they are clocked at an angle so the JK enclosure will be straight when twisted to lock them. You also need to cut a skinny sheet-metal width notch into the three plastic ribs on the JK enclosure at the very front so they'll be locked into place.

 

[Jeepaholic]

I did that several years ago and it works well. The OE TJ front turn signal bulb enclosures fit the JK light enclosures perfectly, no modifications needed.

One hint... see those three notches cut in the top photo? Those allow you to insert the JK bulb enclosures and lock them in place by a twist-lock. Cut the three notches so they are clocked at an angle so the JK enclosure will be straight when twisted to lock them. You also need to cut a skinny sheet-metal width notch into the three plastic ribs on the JK enclosure at the very front so they'll be locked into place.


View attachment 13901 View attachment 13902

Thank you I've been wondering about that, seems like everywhere I find someone posting they did it, says it's a push fit, just cut the hole a tiny bit smaller and jam it in. I'm more of a perfectionist, and just jamming them in didn't seem right. I could see them just popping out on a hard bump!

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Just cut the three slots in the plastic jk enclosure ribs skinny (and at the very front) so they will fit/grip the sheet metal tightly.