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Rockhard 4x4 Aluminum font bumper and steel rock slider install pic

matrix311

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Yesterday I received delivery of our new bumper and rock sliders for our JLUR. Been itching for this to arrive so we can get the factory plastic crap bumpers removed and get something better looking on there! I've always been a fan of Rockhard products. Their powdercoat job is amazing and really holds up to the elements. I've had their steel stubby winch bumper on my yj for 6 years and then transferred the same bumper to my new to me TJ and the bumper still looks amazing.

This time around we opted to go with aluminum front bumper instead of the steel front bumper. I've found that over the years I hardly hit that bumper in the rocks, mainly just the rear bumper I smash as I come off rocks or have weird departure angles. Since the front bumper doesnt take much abuse, thats why I went aluminum vs steel. There is also a big weight difference, the aluminum is 37LB vs the steel weighing in at 137LB. Pair that with a winch and thats a lot of extra weight on the front end. Luckily I went with a synthetic line vs steel line so that cuts down on the weight up front significantly.

Here is a link to the Rockhard Aluminum Mid Width sunken Winch bumper.
http://www.rockhard4x4.com/product_p/rh-90248.htm

Here is a link to the steel rock sliders. Easy bolt on and your done. Took me about an hour to install the sliders. Hardest part was just removing the front most body mount bolt, it was a PITA on both sides. The other 4 zipped right off.
http://www.rockhard4x4.com/product_p/rh-90104.htm

Now onto the photos!
Picked up the boxes!
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Bumper and sliders prior to install.
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Front bumper is built well, has nice welds, includes sunken winch plate with reinforced gussets, bull bar with light tabs and the best part is the lower skid plate to protect the electric sway bar disconnect motor. All this included in the price of the bumper where most everyone else charges $150-350 for just the skid plate plus extra for powder coat etc.
Sunken winch plate
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Lower skid plate to protect the sway bar disconnect motor
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Tig welds, a nice work of art!
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I bought the Smittybilt X20 10,000LB winch with synthetic line. Was a great value for the price. Comes with a hybrid remote which means you can use it wired or wireless with this unit. I also see Smittybilt now offers an aluminum winch shackle similar to the Factor 55 ProLink which I have on my TJ. The smittybilt is nice and beefy like the factor 55 and also about $80 less in price so that was a win. Only crappy part is the hook on the winch line did not have a cotter pin holding it onto the eye of the winch line so I had to cut that off. I almost knicked the winch line as the final cut fell through fairly fast. Luckily the line is ok!

Winch wires tucked behind the winch and under the grill. I was able to run pos and neg lead wires under the grill and up directly to the battery. Clean install.

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Rock slider install:
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Completed install:
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Next up is to buy and install the Rockhard rear bumper and tire carrier once he releases those. I talked to the owner yesterday and he said the product is completed, he's just waiting on some electrical components before he releases them for sale. He is including pig tails and wire extensions for the backup camera and/or the rear sensors if yours has them. That way its plug and play with no cutting or splicing.

If anyone is wondering were running the Method Racing MR312 17x9 -12mm offset wheels wrapped in Nitto Ridge Grapplers 35x12.5x17 tires.

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Chocolate Thunder

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Great write up and photos. Thanks!

You mentioned wiring for rear bumper sensors - did you ask if It will be offered with holes pre cut for the sensors? Are you planning to get the belly pan armor as well?
 
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matrix311

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Great write up and photos. Thanks!

You mentioned wiring for rear bumper sensors - did you ask if It will be offered with holes pre cut for the sensors? Are you planning to get the belly pan armor as well?
Yes it will have precut holes so just choose the proper bumper needed prior to check out.

I won't get the full belly pan armor get. Probably start with transmission and transfer case skid to start.
 

LeoD

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Thanks for the great photos and details. I'm very strongly considering the full width from bumper, not too much rock crawling in Florida! Plus I think the look great. Do you see any downside to a full width bumper?
 

Jzsquared

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Ditto on the full width question. Any reason you didn’t go for the full width or just appearance? I plan to run 37” on a 2” lift
 

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Karl_in_Chicago

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Great writeup and excellent pictures, thanks so much for taking the time and sharing. I'm really drawn to the RH aluminum bumper option as well, can't wait to see the rear with carrier. Question - any issues with installing the fogs from the plastic Rubi bumper into the RH? I'm assuming these were the LED's? Thanks.
 

Kpunk'n

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Good pics, nice looking Jeep! Do you have a lift?
 

Captain Phoenix

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I'm very strongly considering the full width from bumper, not too much rock crawling in Florida! Plus I think the look great. Do you see any downside to a full width bumper?
Even in rocks I don't think the full width front bumper will be an issue. I checked with their customer service and they say that the full width bumper allows full articulation with no clearance issues with up to 40" tires. I'd be open to hearing any possible reasons other than the clearance or cost why not to use full width though.
 
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matrix311

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Good pics, nice looking Jeep! Do you have a lift?
No lift right now. Just factory rubicon height. Waiting for metalcloak to release their 2.5" lift and then we will put that on.
 
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matrix311

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Great writeup and excellent pictures, thanks so much for taking the time and sharing. I'm really drawn to the RH aluminum bumper option as well, can't wait to see the rear with carrier. Question - any issues with installing the fogs from the plastic Rubi bumper into the RH? I'm assuming these were the LED's? Thanks.
No issues at all. They include self tapping screws so you just screw the fog lamps into the metal housing on the bumper. Nice and tight with no issues.
 

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matrix311

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Great write up and photos. Thanks!

You mentioned wiring for rear bumper sensors - did you ask if It will be offered with holes pre cut for the sensors? Are you planning to get the belly pan armor as well?
I wont do a full skid system, just partial when they are released. I have a TJ crawler for all the hardcore stuff.
 
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matrix311

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Thanks for the great photos and details. I'm very strongly considering the full width from bumper, not too much rock crawling in Florida! Plus I think the look great. Do you see any downside to a full width bumper?
I just like the appearance of mid width vs full width.
 

DaK

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Have you had a chance to off road this vehicle yet? If so, how have the rock rails held up? Any front wheel contact with the bumper during flex?

TIA
 

TexasJeeper

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Looks great. I have the RH sliders on my JKU Willys and will be ordering some for my JL. Now to get the wife to let me order them before the JL even gets delivered:)
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