Chocolate Thunder’s Most Excellent Build Thread!

[The White Rabbit]

Will do.

Please. Love to meet up with others who are having as much fun with their Jeep as I am.

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[Chocolate Thunder]

7/14/2022 45,222 miles

I got Redline Tuning hood struts because they were $79 on Amazon Prime Day. I also picked up NOCO GBX75 and a GBX45 for my wife’s car. The hood struts really are a 5-10 minute job that only requires a 10mm socket. Now I don’t have to use a hood prop rod in 2022 on a $55,000 vehicle.

 

[Chocolate Thunder]

I got an oil change at the dealership yesterday because it was quick and about as cheap as I could do it myself ($33) and I don’t have to get dirty or sweat my balls off in 100 degree heat. I asked the service writer if they could replace the drain plug with a Fumoto valve I bought. He reacted like I asked for a free Hemi engine swap. It’ll wait until after my next oil change because I’ve already paid for it. Did for $100. After that I’ll DIY.

 

[Chocolate Thunder]

I like a lot about the OEM steel bumper. Mostly aesthetically because of course it was designed to flow with the front end of the Jeep and of course it fits perfectly. However for some reason I’ve always been on the lookout for something else.

I think I’ve found my new bumper:

Icon Vehicle Dynamics Impact Pro Series. It’s on sale 15% off right now and I think I found another discount to stack on top of that. It meets all of the criteria that I want in a bumper:

• Stubby
• Recessed winch
• Accommodates fog lights
• Aesthetically pleasing (to me at least)
• Not “blingy”
• Low or mid height bar
• Not prohibitively expensive
• Comes powder coated
• Quality construction fabricated in the USA (I think)

Now obviously some of these criteria are subjective. But trust me, I’ve looked at everything out there that I can find to see what checks all of these boxes and surprisingly there are only a few. I’m putting this out there for input from anyone who follows or stumbles into my build thread - what are your thoughts? I know everyone won’t love it and that’s fine. I’d love to hear any positives or negative impressions you have about the bumper specifically or Icon Vehicle Dynamics as a company. If you have it, how do you like it? If you passed on it, why and what for?

 

[JCarlos]

My best friend lives down in Lake Jackson, he’s been down there for about 30 years

 

[rohdawg]

I like a lot about the OEM steel bumper. Mostly aesthetically because of course it was designed to flow with the front end of the Jeep and of course it fits perfectly. However for some reason I’ve always been on the lookout for something else.

I think I’ve found my new bumper:

Icon Vehicle Dynamics Impact Pro Series. It’s on sale 15% off right now and I think I found another discount to stack on top of that.

Are you getting the skid that goes with it? They look pretty sweet together.

 

[The White Rabbit]

My best friend lives down in Lake Jackson, he’s been down there for about 30 years

We’re neighbors. I’m 28 minutes NW.

 

[Chocolate Thunder]

Are you getting the skid that goes with it? They look pretty sweet together.

Different bumper. That one has a top mounted winch and a skid plate. The one I want has the recessed winch and no separate skid plate, it comes down about as far but it’s all one piece.

 

[rohdawg]

Different bumper. That one has a top mounted winch and a skid plate. The one I want has the recessed winch and no separate skid plate, it comes down about as far but it’s all one piece.

Awesome! That’s gonna look great!

 

[Chocolate Thunder]

Awesome! That’s gonna look great!

I hope so. I really like the Artec Nighthawk bumper but it costs over $1000 more and doesn’t have a recessed winch.

 

[Roky]

I like a lot about the OEM steel bumper. Mostly aesthetically because of course it was designed to flow with the front end of the Jeep and of course it fits perfectly. However for some reason I’ve always been on the lookout for something else.

I think I’ve found my new bumper:

Icon Vehicle Dynamics Impact Pro Series. It’s on sale 15% off right now and I think I found another discount to stack on top of that. It meets all of the criteria that I want in a bumper:

• Stubby
• Recessed winch
• Accommodates fog lights
• Aesthetically pleasing (to me at least)
• Not “blingy”
• Low or mid height bar
• Not prohibitively expensive
• Comes powder coated
• Quality construction fabricated in the USA (I think)

Now obviously some of these criteria are subjective. But trust me, I’ve looked at everything out there that I can find to see what checks all of these boxes and surprisingly there are only a few. I’m putting this out there for input from anyone who follows or stumbles into my build thread - what are your thoughts? I know everyone won’t love it and that’s fine. I’d love to hear any positives or negative impressions you have about the bumper specifically or Icon Vehicle Dynamics as a company. If you have it, how do you like it? If you passed on it, why and what for?

Love it !! I’m just a little bias of that style though…

I didn’t want a recessed winch personally, but that’s gonna look sweet…..

 

[Chocolate Thunder]

Well I pulled the trigger before I chickened out. Ordered the Icon front bumper because it’s 15% off pretty much everywhere, plus Quadratec has a flash sale that was stackable for another 15%. Too good to pass up. It seems like only a few owners on the forum have this one. It’s supposed to be here within a week or so. We’ll see…

 

[blnewt]

Well I pulled the trigger before I chickened out. Ordered the Icon front bumper because it’s 15% off pretty much everywhere, plus Quadratec has a flash sale that was stackable for another 15%. Too good to pass up. It seems like only a few owners on the forum have this one. It’s supposed to be here within a week or so. We’ll see…

Nice choice, and always cool to find extra savings out there too! Look forward to seeing the install pics, and btw was this listed "in stock". I've had great luck w/ Quadratec FWIW, but these days it's hard to predict when things will arrive.

 

[Chocolate Thunder]

Nice choice, and always cool to find extra savings out there too! Look forward to seeing the install pics, and btw was this listed "in stock". I've had great luck w/ Quadratec FWIW, but these days it's hard to predict when things will arrive.

Thanks. 2 reasons I went with Quadratec over my trusty partner Northridge. 1) in stock and ships immediately vs 90 day back order and 2) every vendor has them 15% off, but Quadratec also has a flash sale for an extra 15% off that was stackable. Usually promotions like this aren’t. So with free shipping and tax it was $776. They didn’t have the rear bumper I wanted so if the front meets my expectations I’ll be getting the rear one too soon.

 

[ChuckQue]

Different bumper. That one has a top mounted winch and a skid plate. The one I want has the recessed winch and no separate skid plate, it comes down about as far but it’s all one piece.

I like that. Nice find sir!

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