Stubby bumper for a daily driver - cons?

[Dyolfknip74]

Find your local Jeep club's Facebook page and ask them about stubbies and how many times, if at all, anyone has been actually ticketed. I have to assume there are a few from California on here that have never been ticketed and there still hasn't been anyone come in here from any location to state they were ticketed for it. It's not different than the "can I run beadlocks on the street" question.
Most answers are anecdotal at best or you get the guys who quote laws but no actual proof of something being done about it.

We have laws in my province for them but they're not enforced at all.

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[kawczchris]

Team Stubby

 

[-lenny-]

No downside that I can think of, except that I don’t have my winch yet?

 

[phageghost]

inote that a strict interpretation of that Code could be read to mean the bumper that's on the vehicle must be a bumper from the vehicle manufacturer; hence an aftermarket part might not be considered legal, but something from Mopar Performance Parts might be.

Personally (with all the usual caveats) I think that's reading content into the statute that's not there. The relevant two sentences are:

28071. Every passenger vehicle registered in this state shall be
equipped with a front bumper and with a rear bumper. As used in this
section, "bumper" means any device designed and intended by a
manufacturer to prevent the front or rear of the body of the vehicle
from coming into contact with any other motor vehicle.

It says "a manufacturer" not "the original manufacturer of the vehicle." For myself, I'm confident I'm not going to be cited for CVC S28071 and, if I am, I have an airtight defense, namely that both my bumpers were indeed designed and intended for this purpose, for which I can supply plenty of evidence. So I'm not going to worry about it, personally. YMMV.

 

[Ratbert]

In theory tagging something on the side of the road (tree, barricade, etc.) could glance off of a full-width bumper while it'd likely cause quite a bit of damage with the tire hitting it directly. It's a risk that many of us are willing to take for the advantages.

As others have mentioned, they're illegal in some states. Utah, shockingly, requires that they're at least the width of the wheel track: https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title41/Chapter6A/41-6a-S1632.html

 

[five9dak]

I'd hope crash technology of Jeeps have improved since the TJ.

I don't think the dana 30 in the JL is any better at taking an impact hit to the front corner than the TJ 30 is. Neither is the fender and flare. Removing bumper coverage from these components opens them up to damage, even at relatively low speeds. For many that is a risk they are willing to take.

EDIT: The JL 30 might actually be worse with its aluminum knuckle and front axle disconnect. And the JL impact will have more kinetic energy behind it at a given speed. Much more weight in a JLU than a TJ.

 

[CBIRD]

A full bumper won't cover my 37 x 13.5s anyway

 

[Robby Robot]

I'm offroad sometimes, but the ride is also a daily driver. Are there major negatives of a stubby bumper on a daily driver? I'm wondering specifically about: Safety issues? Damage that would be worse (to either party) in the event of a fender bender? Something else? Thanks!

I'd say apart from aesthetics, the only issue I have with a stubby on the road is safety. In any partial front collision the impact side is going to climb, and likely roll you over. But if your state allows it, the only limit is your own tolerance for risk.

 

[AnnDee4444]

Liability could potentially be a greater issue with all aftermarket parts.

 

[Hennessey17]

Depends on how strict your DOT laws are and if they are enforced. Most states require bumpers to cover the wheels or extend so many inches beyond frame rails.

But offroad performance will be improved in your ability to navigate obstacles. And you cannot forget the cool factor.

If you think cars with no bumpers look cool, you'd love Wiscossippi... I mean Wisconsin.

 

[Apexcars]

My biggest problem with a stubby is that my wife thinks they look too "Bro'd out" and flat out told me she didn't want me putting one on our Jeep.

 

[OBD]

If you think cars with no bumpers look cool, you'd love Wiscossippi... I mean Wisconsin.

Wisconsinsaw

 

[Kingkat900]

Stubby

 

[whiteglad]

I looked hard for a full width bumper to supposedly help with gas mileage. The only ones I found did not cover the tire area well at all, and the wings didn't look all that strong. If you get the front corner hit, you will drive the stock bumper into the tire and probably damage the tire. If you have a stubby bumper, the car that hits you may or may not hurt the tire.

 

[Ratbert]

I looked hard for a full width bumper to supposedly help with gas mileage. The only ones I found did not cover the tire area well at all, and the wings didn't look all that strong. If you get the front corner hit, you will drive the stock bumper into the tire and probably damage the tire. If you have a stubby bumper, the car that hits you may or may not hurt the tire.

I wouldn't be worried about damaging the tire. I'd be worried about the suspension that's connected to it.

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