Reinforcing the Mopar steel rear bumper

[LooselyHeldPlans]

It's well known that the Mopar Steel bumper can push up into the body. While swaping out my plastic bumper for a steel one last night, I snapped this picture of the rear corner. Those 2 little brackets (on each side) and 2 bolts on the bottom next to the hitch are all that connect the bumper to the frame. The ones by the hitch seem solid, but the corners are pretty pathetic. They're MAYBE 1/8", probably less.

Generally, I think there's a lot of room for improvement. They both attach to the frame AND there's the frame to body mount located between them. Does anyone have experience with bending 1/4" steel? Maybe the two could be connected and tied into the body mount?

Just throwing this out there to see what everyone thinks. It's sure be nice to keep this bumper long term as it only weights 37 lbs more than the plastic bumper and fits the JL design perfectly (obviously).

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[CaseOfAle]

Wow - thanks for the pics! I'm shocked poison spyder, Roam, LOD, etc haven't fabbed up some 1/4" steel brackets to reinforce/replace those. Seems like it would be a direct bolt-on and provide a huge benefit!

 

[LooselyHeldPlans]

Wow - thanks for the pics! I'm shocked poison spyder, Roam, LOD, etc haven't fabbed up some 1/4" steel brackets to reinforce/replace those. Seems like it would be a direct bolt-on and provide a huge benefit!

Thanks! I was beginning to think no one was interested in this but me. I’m going to contact them all, point them to this thread and see if I can get some interest.

It’d be helpful if anyone else interested could indicate here.

 

[DaddyEngineer]

Thanks! I was beginning to think no one was interested in this but me. I’m going to contact them all, point them to this thread and see if I can get some interest.

It’d be helpful if anyone else interested could indicate here.

I’d be interested in these brackets too!

Scott

 

[Brian0128]

I’d be interested.

 

[AnnDee4444]

I thought about this a while back, glad to see others are interested.

@Maximus-3 might be our best bet for getting these built... they already make a bunch of products that interface well with OEM bumpers. https://maximus-3.com/jl-bumper-accessories

 

[LooselyHeldPlans]

I thought about this a while back, glad to see others are interested.

Maximus-3 might be our best bet for getting these built... they already make a bunch of products that interface well with OEM bumper. https://maximus-3.com/jl-bumper-accessories

... and they don’t sell their own bumper, so there’s no financial disincentive in offering this.

I’m about to buy their tow hooks and was going to call them today.

 

[JPAloha]

I’d be interested in a set also. I like the looks of the metal bumper package and have several maximus3 bolt ones for the front.

 

[LooselyHeldPlans]

I’d be interested in a set also. I like the looks of the metal bumper package and have several maximus3 bolt ones for the front.

Maximus3 basically told me to f-off and that any any reinforcement could cause frame damage if the vehicle was rear ended. While that could be true, it felt like a major cop-out and the tone of the response was basically" We got a lot of stuff going on kid, not interested in a $20 reinforcement part."

I really like the companies products as I feel they fit a sweet spot... but the more I interact with them the more they seem like a shit company to work with.

 

[Russ Chung]

I believe that those brackets were designed to crumple under low speed impact. Otherwise, the force of the impact would be transferred to the frame (and to the occupants). You can replace the brackets (and buff the scratches from the paint) for much less $$ than straightening the frame or replacing the bumper. Have you been on a trail, and while maneuvering to get lined up to get over an obstacle, backed into a tree or a boulder? I don't remember the exact details, but there is a federal standard that says that a bumper must withstand a certain impact with only a limited amount of cost to repair the damage..

 

[LooselyHeldPlans]

I believe that those brackets were designed to crumple under low speed impact. Otherwise, the force of the impact would be transferred to the frame (and to the occupants). You can replace the brackets (and buff the scratches from the paint) for much less $$ than straightening the frame or replacing the bumper. Have you been on a trail, and while maneuvering to get lined up to get over an obstacle, backed into a tree or a boulder? I don't remember the exact details, but there is a federal standard that says that a bumper must withstand a certain impact with only a limited amount of cost to repair the damage..

Oh I get it, but why the hell are you applying OEM federal standards to an aftermarket part? This is a double standard.

As far as I know, out of the hundred bumpers available on the JL, only AEV crash tests their stuff. Are you saying every bumper that doesn’t have flimsy attachment points (basically every aftermarket bumper) is going to bend the frame in a 5MPH collision?

 

[TRZ]

Another solution is to cut (grind) more clearance Into the stock bumper so that when it flexes, the inside of the bumper doesn’t touch the body. But then you haven’t solved the problem of the license plate vulnerability.

 

[Headbarcode]

I have the factory steel rear bumper. I recently chopped the rear fenders and got rid of the plastic bumper to fender filler pieces. I also removed that stamped steel bracket that spans from the bumper to the frame. I found it to not provide any additional rigidity to the bumper itself. The plastic bumper extension pieces catch air at highway speed, and could create a bumper end vibration. I believe that stamped steel bracket is meant to prevent that vibration.

 

[AnnDee4444]

@ASFIR4X4 makes a skid plate and winch mounting plate for the OEM front steel bumper. Maybe we can get them interested in producing this.

 

[ASFIR4X4]

@ASFIR4X4 makes a skid plate and winch mounting plate for the OEM front steel bumper. Maybe we can get them interested in producing this.

Hi! we looked into that option following your tag. Unfortunately we don't have this bumper in Israel and developing this part without it is very hard... sorry about that!

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