So I had a rough experience buying my AEV wheels from a local dealer and wound up buying them from Quadratec. I was impressed that I heard back from Dave the founder of AEV when I emailed them, but nothing ever came of it - not even an apology from the dealer. This along with a few other things have really turned me off to AEV as a company and I'm starting to think about going a different route for bumpers(I've already abandoned my plans for their tire carrier and went with the Teraflex). I think I'll still go for the AEV rear bumper because I like that I can still use the factor hitch and I like their water cans for the beach, but I don't want to spend the $1300 on their front bumper with bullbar. The problem I have is that I really think it's the best looking bumper on the market and I like that it's engineered to work with the factory airbag system. is there really any bumper that will compete with it? I am open to suggestions - really would like a full width because I don't plan to do flat fenders and I would like a bull bar. Thanks

 

Maybe arb or the Olympic smuggler bumper > I have a warn bumper it is flaking and rusting i am very disappointed in it. I wish I would have got something else and at 155 lbs it is heavy

 

AEV is expensive but it does look good and well built. My biggest beef is that they control thier wholesales/retailers and will not allow them to discount. Seems like if a retailer wanted to give a discount that should be up to them.

 

I was thinking about the ARB. Olympic smuggler looks cool and the locking boxes look like a nice feature - no bullbar though. First I've heard of them - already glad I started this thread haha

 

Check out LoD. But we kind if need more info to steer you in the right direction: usage, future plans to the Jeep, budget, etc I love my full width LoD front and rear. Plus LoD will do custom set up for you (without brand plates/tags, thicker/thinner bull bar, etc)

 

That and I feel like they take their parts customers for granted versus their customers who buy an in-house build.

 

You can try and buy an aev bumper used, got my front and rear w tire carrier used for a good price.


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I'd encourage you to find an alternate retailer. AEV is a good company and I hear they can sometimes help with dealer-customer relationships, but ultimately they really aren't responsible for them. There are lots of good shops/retailers on this board that could probably help you (easily) get a bumper from AEV.

I've got AEV front and rear and it's good stuff. I expect the bumpers to last the life of the vehicle and so far their products haven't given me any reason to not believe they will. They add value to the Jeep, and they get lots of comments. And they work well too.

I too suffered the "Apple Computer -like" pricing (set pricing, no discounts, ever) but I do think "you get what you pay for" is true in the world of bumpers.

 

I will also add after watching a cheaper bumper get ripped off the front of a jk when it was getting snatched I would never trust a bumper that relied on just the 8 bolts that held on the stock bumper/tow hooks
Btw the aev does not use those bolts at all for the d-ring mounts


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Thanks for all the replies guys! Usage wise it'll honestly be 95% on road and when it's off it won't be anything too crazy. Budget doesn't really apply because I haven't seen many bumpers that are much more expensive that the AEV - but if I'm going to go for something other than AEV i'd want its price point to be below that of the AEV. I agree they make some great stuff, I've just been really turned off by them as a company between their pricing policy, no windshield banners, etc. As far as retailers go I know Northridge and Quadratec are great and there are probably some other ones on here as well. I usually lean towards Northridge but my wheels came from Qtec because they're closer and i needed them next day after my AEV dealer shafted me around for 3.5 weeks. The LOD bumpers look nice - definitely going to look into them. I think at the end of the day though I'll just wind up with AEV. They're the bumpers I've always envisioned on the Jeep and I've always liked them a lot. :/ Rather be disappointed with myself for supporting them and having the look I want than be disappointed every time I look at my Jeep. I guess I could always buy one of the chinese knockoffs haha just kidding.