matrix311
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #1
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!
Bumper and sliders prior to install.
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
Lower skid plate to protect the sway bar disconnect motor
Tig welds, a nice work of art!
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.
Rock slider install:
Completed install:
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.
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!
Bumper and sliders prior to install.
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
Lower skid plate to protect the sway bar disconnect motor
Tig welds, a nice work of art!
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.
Rock slider install:
Completed install:
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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