steel winch bumper question

[swedeviking]

New here to the forum so this may have been covered but need some advice. Just picked up my 2023 2-door JL from the dealership and I don't like the plastic bumper.. I don't have much left in my budget but having hit a deer with my old Jeep I would like to get a steel bumper with hoop and ready for winch. Since I can't do a lift and bigger tires for a while it would be nice to have a somewhat aggressive looking front bumper without breaking the bank... Any ideas?? I looked at the Rugged Ridge Spartan winch bumper that accommodates the factory fog lights.

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[2DR OVRLND]

Have you looked into purchasing a used OEM steel bumper? I probably wouldn't go this route since the bumper technically isn't "winch ready" as you need to purchase a mounting plate for it but if you want an OEM look.....

Here's mine with the JCR winch mounting plate and Smittybilt XRC Gen. 2 Winch:

Just looking it up I found one for sale on ebay here: OEM Bumper
Here's the JCR mounting plate that will accept both warn and smittybilt winches: JCR Mounting Plate
Here's the JCR bumper hoop thing (Not Necessary): JCR Hoop

 

[rcadden]

I went with a stock OEM takeoff and love it, but my other choice (after excessive research) was the Rugged Ridge HD front.

- factory fogs
- sunken winch
- hoop
- winch ready
- cost effective (balance of cheap/quality)

 

[cosine]

I've had a few deer came close in taking out my jl. So I picked up (was picking up one anyway) a lod mid width signature bumper. There's a sale going on now at Northridge on the bumper. I love mine. It's steel and have everything you want in a bumper. Also made in usa.

 

[GATORB8]

I hit a Pronghorn Antelope in Wyoming with my Rugged Ridge HD stubby, and the bumper held up well. There are some issues with the RR bumpers (at least the HD) that they just left the same between the JK and JL. The JL frame horns are a couple inches closer to the grill/tires.

 

[swedeviking]

Have you looked into purchasing a used OEM steel bumper? I probably wouldn't go this route since the bumper technically isn't "winch ready" as you need to purchase a mounting plate for it but if you want an OEM look.....

Here's mine with the JCR winch mounting plate and Smittybilt XRC Gen. 2 Winch:

Just looking it up I found one for sale on ebay here: OEM Bumper
Here's the JCR mounting plate that will accept both warn and smittybilt winches: JCR Mounting Plate
Here's the JCR bumper hoop thing (Not Necessary): JCR Hoop

 

[swedeviking]

THANKS Looks really good on you rig.. I had the stubby OEM on my JLU but it didn't have the winch stup an the dealrship said I would have to get a differnt one but will look into this I like the look yu have

 

[GATORB8]

THANKS Looks really good on you rig.. I had the stubby OEM on my JLU but it didn't have the winch stup an the dealrship said I would have to get a differnt one but will look into this I like the look yu have

The OEM steel (stubby capable) just needs a winch plate added if you still have it.

I would still go aftermarket for non airbag impact personally.

 

[jbcrane]

Rival just announced a stamped steel bumper that fits your description. You can buy it in pieces if that helps... for example, you can buy the basic bumpers, then add pieces to it. Like Lego. Won't ship until end of January but it's the one I've been waiting for and have pre-ordered.

Here are a couple links:
Basic full-width bumper

Basic Stubby:

 

[bumpit]

Motobuilt crusher. On black Friday sale currently its a great deal and a solid bumper. Hoop is welded on and winch sits nice and low.

 

[Speed331]

I went with the Rugged Ridge Venator bumper. That, and a HF Badland Apex winch, is a solid combo for under 2 grand. The winch plate on the Venator is really heavy duty and the bumper looks nicely aggressive.

 

[roaniecowpony]

I went with the Rugged Ridge Venator bumper. That, and a HF Badland Apex winch, is a solid combo for under 2 grand. The winch plate on the Venator is really heavy duty and the bumper looks nicely aggressive.

That bumper has a OE like look to it. Very nice.

 

[wibornz]

I run the Ace Engineering front bumper. It is super strong. I think you could run it over with a loaded dump truck and not hurt it. Plus it will fit a Warn winch. Note not all front bumpers will fit the Warn winch. Plus the winch sits low out of the way of the radiato. It does include the winch mount with the bumper so that is not needed to buy separately.

Ace Engineering front bumper

They have more than one front bumper.

The bumper on my Jeep.

 

[crudesolo]

New here to the forum so this may have been covered but need some advice. Just picked up my 2023 2-door JL from the dealership and I don't like the plastic bumper.. I don't have much left in my budget but having hit a deer with my old Jeep I would like to get a steel bumper with hoop and ready for winch. Since I can't do a lift and bigger tires for a while it would be nice to have a somewhat aggressive looking front bumper without breaking the bank... Any ideas?? I looked at the Rugged Ridge Spartan winch bumper that accommodates the factory fog lights.

I quite like my Icon Vehicle Dynamics front stubby bumper. Comes with a removable front skid plate and ready for a winch. You can add bumper caps to make it full or mid width. The front hooks are beefy and already comes with a hoop welded on. They have a 20% off Black Friday sale now that would put it in the same wheelhouse as the Rugged Ridge. Not sure if it will accommodate the stock fogs but I went with KC Hilites 3 inch pods on mine.

https://www.iconvehicledynamics.com...l-20-up-jt-front-impact-bumper-w--skid-plate/

 

[Whiskeybiskit]

Quadratec stubby, they also have full width. Stock fog lights fit with no issue, I have a warn m8000 that sits in the bumper. It has mounting tabs on the loop for light bars/pods.

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