AEV vs ARB Front Bumpers
04-15-2008 | 06:44 AM
#51
JK Newbie
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: Appalachia US
I too am in the same boat. The issues for me are that the AEV requires minor modification to the front end for mounting while the ARB is "bolt-on". Also the AEV is $1200+ and the ARB could be had for $825 plus shipping. Finally, The ARB DOES in-fact accept the new powerplant from Warn but the AEV DOES NOT. This information comes directly from ARB in the USA.
AEV however has a whole conversion kit that you can have them install by shipping the JK out to Michigan and includes a bunch of really slick features. And i can roll the whole cost into my financing through Chrysler.
Thats my dilemma...
Any-one else have thoughts?
AEV however has a whole conversion kit that you can have them install by shipping the JK out to Michigan and includes a bunch of really slick features. And i can roll the whole cost into my financing through Chrysler.
Thats my dilemma...
Any-one else have thoughts?
I spent $2000 for front and rear ARB's, OBA Compressor, Offroad Lights for front, Smitty Built SRC8 winch, CB and Antenna, bought my JK4 Rubi essentially at invoice (screwed em on my trade in) and laugh at my step-brother in law for paying $35,000 for one from AEV. He got cool silver hood thingys on his, to cool down the minivan motor under the hood that does not even need an engine fan and they drilled holes in his factory sheet metal voiding any rust out warranty to mount those pointless corner guards. If you are gonna install coner guards do the whole damn rear quarter painted to match the Jeep.
So in my Opinion AEV equals rip off unless you cant spare a weekend to install the bumpers and things your self.
By the way, if you let your dealer make $200 extra on you... he will gladly order your bumpers and stuff for you and make it part of the loan. You just have to buy it all from one place and have it delivered to the dealership.
I have been trying to figure out how to market an ARB package to dealers to install for around $3000 that includes all of this stuff.
AMS
04-15-2008 | 07:10 AM
#52
JK Junkie
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,361
Likes: 0
From: Montana
Guys I own spray liner equipment and I also own ARB bumpers.
DO NOT LINE X ARB BUMPERS
They have the best powder coating process in the business. I have 2 ARB's on XJ and MJ that are over ten years old. No rust except for scratches from collisions that were cleaned and touched up with regular bumper paint that matches the ARB powdercoat great. Those scratches would be worse in LINE-X material.
If you get a crack or get damage to the bumper the LINE X is going to mask the damage. It is going to be harder to keep clean because it is textured. Just look at the bugs that get squashed on the front of your fender flares. But hiding the cracks or damage is the biggest thing.
The number one reason not to get this done however is that if it peels or gets damaged you cant fix it. I dont care what they tell you a LINE-X they cant make their own product stick to it self. The local LINE-X shop calls me to fix customer liners that are screwed up. I dont have LINE-X brand, I have the only brand that fixed LINE-X brand.
Buy powdercoated products from anyone that you want to... ARB is far superior in this part of production.
DO NOT LINE X ARB BUMPERS
They have the best powder coating process in the business. I have 2 ARB's on XJ and MJ that are over ten years old. No rust except for scratches from collisions that were cleaned and touched up with regular bumper paint that matches the ARB powdercoat great. Those scratches would be worse in LINE-X material.
If you get a crack or get damage to the bumper the LINE X is going to mask the damage. It is going to be harder to keep clean because it is textured. Just look at the bugs that get squashed on the front of your fender flares. But hiding the cracks or damage is the biggest thing.
The number one reason not to get this done however is that if it peels or gets damaged you cant fix it. I dont care what they tell you a LINE-X they cant make their own product stick to it self. The local LINE-X shop calls me to fix customer liners that are screwed up. I dont have LINE-X brand, I have the only brand that fixed LINE-X brand.
Buy powdercoated products from anyone that you want to... ARB is far superior in this part of production.
I would not spray the bumpers in Line X if mine was a hardcore offroader though. The scratches and scrapes would be hard to fix. Mine doesnt see anything too crazy, so Im not worried. If it does get all messed up, I can have it sandblasted for about $50 and resprayed for about $150..... that is if Line X wont warrenty them.
04-15-2008 | 02:49 PM
#53
JK Junkie
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,262
Likes: 1
From: Des Moines, Iowa
Good luck with that one. My local dealer had an Unlimited X with a budget boost, front and rear Mopar Bumpers, Warn Winch, Rubi rock rails, and 35" tires for $45,000. I can only imagine how much profit they made off of this one since I know someone bought it for what they were asking, and I see it around town every now and then.
04-15-2008 | 03:30 PM
#56
JK Junkie
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,288
Likes: 0
From: Treasure Coast, Florida
For a while I didn't know what you were talking about but now I get it. It certainly looks like it will fit ,doesn't it? I put a post in the "wanted " section to see if anyone was getting rid of theirs so I could give it a shot.
It looks like it might with some creative trimming. 
04-15-2008 | 04:21 PM
#58
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
From: Great Bend, Ks
But dont ask them for there $5.00 AEV window sticker, because you cant have one Inless they build your hole RIG.
Kntr spent several Thounsand with them and didint get a sticker.
Ill stay with ARB.
THERE NOT BUTT HEADS LIKE AEV. AND ARB IS $500.00 LESS FOR A BETTER BUMPER.
Kntr spent several Thounsand with them and didint get a sticker. Ill stay with ARB. THERE NOT BUTT HEADS LIKE AEV. AND ARB IS $500.00 LESS FOR A BETTER BUMPER.
04-15-2008 | 05:03 PM
#59
JK Junkie
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,262
Likes: 1
From: Des Moines, Iowa
But dont ask them for there $5.00 AEV window sticker, because you cant have one Inless they build your hole RIG. Kntr spent several Thounsand with them and didint get a sticker. Ill stay with ARB. THERE NOT BUTT HEADS LIKE AEV. AND ARB IS $500.00 LESS FOR A BETTER BUMPER.
Kntr spent several Thounsand with them and didint get a sticker. Ill stay with ARB. THERE NOT BUTT HEADS LIKE AEV. AND ARB IS $500.00 LESS FOR A BETTER BUMPER.
04-15-2008 | 05:22 PM
#60
JK Junkie
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,122
Likes: 0
From: Mount Carmel, PA
It looks like it will... The arb is on my list, but I dont think I'll be getting one until the fall. I took some measurements. 38" wide, hangs down 6" from the bottom of the stock bumper, The face angles down towards the crash bar and meets the angle on the face of the carsh bar.(I hope that makes sense to you) extends 6" back from the crash bar and is 2" below it. and it is 3/16" thick. The top lip mounts to two holes in the stock bumper inner metal part. I have more pics of it in my gallery.
Think it would fit?