Help me pick a bumper!

[AcesandEights]

My daughter smacked the front of our Willys today. Plastic bumper and fender both need replacement. Thinking of Going to a steel bumper and Rubicon high fenders. Thinking of an ARB Bondi bumper.
Thoughts?

Bondi looks stupid.

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[TyRoosevelt]

Didn’t see you wanted mid width. I have never been a fan myself because I don’t think they look as good as stubby. OEM might be your best bet. Rockhard 4x4 also makes a nice product and they have a mid width option. Their powdercoat is a river vein texture and is difficult to match if you mix and match armor. If you are trying to match oem bumpers, get granite black from prismatic powders. It matches oem steel bumpers perfectly.

 

[Blues Fan 30]

Didn’t see you wanted mid width. I have never been a fan myself because I don’t think they look as good as stubby. OEM might be your best bet. Rockhard 4x4 also makes a nice product and they have a mid width option. Their powdercoat is a river vein texture and is difficult to match if you mix and match armor. If you are trying to match oem bumpers, get granite black from prismatic powders. It matches oem steel bumpers perfectly.

Yeah I agree I really like the look of the lod stubby but am fearful of a weird angle impact getting around the protection and jacking up the grill, radiator, etc. I know a bumper is only going to stop so much but a low speed impact at a weird angle is where my analysis paralysis kicks in here hahaha!

 

[rohdawg]

Not too bad except it gives me ptsd with the damn zinc again. I just finished painting 120 zinc bolts and washers haha!

I remember you doing that. Understandable! ?

 

[duckintheface]

Criteria:
-Mid width
-Uses factory fogs
-bull bar
-approx budget of $1000

Preferences:
-Clean and subtle yet rugged nothing wild or gaudy
-top mount winch

So far the top of my list is the LOD mid width destroyer. I don't LOVE the wing look on the sides but it's not the worst. I like the look of the stubby a ton just feels like I want a little more protection up front than that.

My 2nd in line is the LOD signature. The biggest turnoff being the giant hole for a winch when a. I don't want to spend on a winch right now and b. I'll probably never use a winch. To the best of my knowledge there isn't a blockoff plate for it and I am certainly not a metal fabricator.

My favorite if cost wasn't an issue would actually be the rock hard full width aluminum. I'm just not sure I can bring myself to spend nearly double my budget after taxes on a bumper.

Any other suggestions to check out before committing to something? Leaning towards the LOD destroyer just because it checks the most boxes for me as someone who wants to run without a winch at least for the foreseeable future.

Thanks everyone!

I debated the LOD, but ended up with the Barricade aluminum to save the weight. 100% happy with it especially after the super simple winch install. similar open winch area look to the LOD though...

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Not too bad except it gives me ptsd with the damn zinc again. I just finished painting 120 zinc bolts and washers haha! Does anyone know if there's a block off plate for the winch hole? If not I think the lod signature would get my money over it just because of the couple hundred dollar price difference in the two and a similar look.

I think the zinc bolts would go good with my Sting-gray JL and Bronze wheels.

 

[Blues Fan 30]

I think the zinc bolts would go good with my Sting-gray JL and Bronze wheels.

100% would look amazing!

 

[Blues Fan 30]

Anyone have experience with jcr offroad? Stumbled on their site today and I'm getting mixed signals on what the mid width is. The install video has a top mount but there is a picture that has the hole for the winch. I plan to call them tomorrow and check but wasn't sure if anyone knew about the quality. It's USA made so that seems like a plus.

 

[Bluepencil99]

ARB Bondi Deluxe!!!

 

[Blues Fan 30]

ARB Bondi Deluxe!!!

Not a horrible bumper overall, but way too chunky of a bumper for my tastes I think.

 

[tinymay]

My choice was going with a Fishbone mid length which has worked great for me and looks to meet your requirements. Smittybilt winch mounted low enough to not restrict air flow. No complaints.

 

[jadmt]

ARB Bondi Deluxe!!!

that is on my short list.

 

[ketelhut]

Looking at the LOD website, It looks like their mid length front bumper is only $210 less than the mid length aluminum bumper from RockHard 4x4. That's after adding everything on to the LOD that is standard on the RockHard. Powder coating, bull bar, skid plate, no adaptors needed to mount OEM fog lights or mount RockHard to Jeep frame. Looking at the weights on each website the RockHard aluminum bumper is about 30 lbs. lighter than the LOD.

I put the RockHard bumper on my JK thinking I would never add a winch. After talking about winches with a few People, with a lot more "Jeeping" experience then I had at the time, they told I might never use a winch but that one time you really need it you'll wish you had it. So, on my JL I got the RockHard bumper with the lowered winch plate. When you end up adding the winch it looks a lot better lowered then sitting on top of the bumper. Peace of mind having it & I have used it a couple times to help others. Obviously, I like RockHard & recommend them.

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