Inexpensive Winch Bumpers
03-29-2016, 09:32 AM
#11
I also have a Warn stubby winch bumper with the hoop. It was 438 plus tax (free shipping) on Amazon. I think it came to like 470 something. WELL worth every penny and one of the cheaper options out there. The powder coating is high quality, factory fogs fit no worries, mounts for D Rings, integrated Hi Lift jacking points on both sides, and it weights less than 100 pounds; and that's with the loop. I'll try to post picture up in a minute.
03-29-2016, 06:10 PM
#14
JK Newbie
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In case you didn't know, good Jeep parts are expensive, and usually for good reason. When I bought my Bumpers, I bought from dealers that have a high interest in making a great product because their business relies on it. I'm not putting my life on the line because the guy in another country didn't really know how to weld all that great. Just my 2 cents, I will save money to put a good product on my Jeep before buying cheap.
Instead of "cheap", I think what you really mean is a "value" winch bumper.
Here's a few options I think you should consider.
1. Your cheapest option will be having the stock bumper modified with a winch. Look around, there's a few write-ups on this forum on how to do it. Here's what it looks like.
2. Instead of looking for a brand new bumper, start shopping around on Craig's list for something in your area. The nice thing for us "value" shoppers is that people are often "upgrading" their Jeeps which means they're usually trying to get rid of the old stuff. Someone's perceived downgrade, can be your upgrade at a fraction of the price. A used bumper with a fresh coat of rattle can spray can look as good as new. Often if you shop around, you will find people have purchased bumpers with the intent to mount it, but then things happen or they change their mind and they're looking to get rid of it and cut their losses. I've seen brand new in the box Mopar winch mount bumpers on Craig's list for $100. I purchased a used AEV Call of Duty Moab front bumper on Craig's list for $250 which is a $1300 bumper when purchased new. Another member on this forum got the matching AEV Moab rear bumper off the same guy for $120. You might have to be patient, but deals like that do show up on Craig's list.
Here's a few options I think you should consider.
1. Your cheapest option will be having the stock bumper modified with a winch. Look around, there's a few write-ups on this forum on how to do it. Here's what it looks like.
2. Instead of looking for a brand new bumper, start shopping around on Craig's list for something in your area. The nice thing for us "value" shoppers is that people are often "upgrading" their Jeeps which means they're usually trying to get rid of the old stuff. Someone's perceived downgrade, can be your upgrade at a fraction of the price. A used bumper with a fresh coat of rattle can spray can look as good as new. Often if you shop around, you will find people have purchased bumpers with the intent to mount it, but then things happen or they change their mind and they're looking to get rid of it and cut their losses. I've seen brand new in the box Mopar winch mount bumpers on Craig's list for $100. I purchased a used AEV Call of Duty Moab front bumper on Craig's list for $250 which is a $1300 bumper when purchased new. Another member on this forum got the matching AEV Moab rear bumper off the same guy for $120. You might have to be patient, but deals like that do show up on Craig's list.
03-29-2016, 06:37 PM
#16
JK Newbie
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Have to agree with this. If you plan on ever using a winch to recover your rig, a cheap chinee welded recovery point doesn't have my confidence.
For crash protection steel is steel, for recovery all that stress is on your points, if they fail money saved on a bumper won't replace what could happen.
For crash protection steel is steel, for recovery all that stress is on your points, if they fail money saved on a bumper won't replace what could happen.
03-29-2016, 06:57 PM
#17
JK Junkie
When I've got 6000 pounds getting pulled up I need to trust who made my shit. That's just me.
Chances are good a lot of people buying the markdown bumpers are not using them as I use mine. I have seen recovery points on the cheaper brands deform the face but never shear off completely. On a tj and an xj, different brands, same origin. Necessarily meaning the welds were good the thickness was inadequate or not supported enough, maybe?
To each their own, I'll spend double on a quality product made in USA by an American worker. Which deals can still be found but, I don't do Amazon or any of that.
03-29-2016, 07:11 PM
#18
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As I said, doesn't have my confidence.
When I've got 6000 pounds getting pulled up I need to trust who made my shit. That's just me.
Chances are good a lot of people buying the markdown bumpers are not using them as I use mine. I have seen recovery points on the cheaper brands deform the face but never shear off completely. On a tj and an xj, different brands, same origin. Necessarily meaning the welds were good the thickness was inadequate or not supported enough, maybe?
To each their own, I'll spend double on a quality product made in USA by an American worker. Which deals can still be found but, I don't do Amazon or any of that.
When I've got 6000 pounds getting pulled up I need to trust who made my shit. That's just me.
Chances are good a lot of people buying the markdown bumpers are not using them as I use mine. I have seen recovery points on the cheaper brands deform the face but never shear off completely. On a tj and an xj, different brands, same origin. Necessarily meaning the welds were good the thickness was inadequate or not supported enough, maybe?
To each their own, I'll spend double on a quality product made in USA by an American worker. Which deals can still be found but, I don't do Amazon or any of that.
03-29-2016, 08:09 PM
#19
JK Freak
Really surprised no one has said Crawler Conceptz. $299 for a front bumper with d-ring tabs, and the option of adding a bar or stinger. Quality wise, it's one of the best. Welds are beautiful, the owner used to work at Poison Spyder, and they're all made right here in the USA.
They ship bare metal, which is great if you wheel your Jeep. Much easier to touch it up after kissing a rock.
Here's a few pics
They ship bare metal, which is great if you wheel your Jeep. Much easier to touch it up after kissing a rock.
Here's a few pics
Last edited by BoraBora; 03-29-2016 at 08:14 PM.
03-29-2016, 10:01 PM
#20
JK Super Freak
Google: "Bestop Bumper Bending." I had one. Never put a winch on it, because I stumbled across this video right before I got my winch. Went outside to investigate, and found that if I put my hands on the top of the bumper on the back edge of the winch mount location and pulled up against the weight of the jeep I could see the bumper flexing using just my 140 lb. a$$!
This is the kind of thing to keep in mind and avoid when purchasing "value" products when recovery is involved.
I replaced this bumper with an OR-Fab, and have been extremely impressed. I have recovered several vehicles that where buried in mud. Enough of a strain to drag the jeep across the ground with the brakes locked. No flexing wiggle or movement of any kind in my OR-Fab bumper.
Super impressed with their bumper!
Happy Jeeping!
Sent from my iPhone using JK-Forum
This is the kind of thing to keep in mind and avoid when purchasing "value" products when recovery is involved.
I replaced this bumper with an OR-Fab, and have been extremely impressed. I have recovered several vehicles that where buried in mud. Enough of a strain to drag the jeep across the ground with the brakes locked. No flexing wiggle or movement of any kind in my OR-Fab bumper.
Super impressed with their bumper!
Happy Jeeping!
Sent from my iPhone using JK-Forum