Front & Rear Bumper Types & Accessories Explained
Have you ever needed a new bumper, but you were confused by all the different front bumper types? If so, your time for stressing is over. Check out this guide to all the different types of bumpers and accessories.
Front Bumpers
As their name suggests, front bumpers go on the front of your vehicle, in front of the engine. The top brands for this kind of bumper include Icon, Fishbone, Rugged Ridge, Smittybilt, Fab Fours, Rough Country, and LOD.
Rock crawler front bumpers offer the most protection for your Jeep, with special tubes and a grille that protect your radiator and engine. If you are into offroading, a rock crawler bumper such as the Smittybilt XRC Gen2 Front Bumper, ARB Classic Stubby Front Bumper, or Fishbone Front Stubby Winch Bumper is your best bet.
Standard bumpers are the closest to your Jeep's original equipment manufacturer's parts. They protect only the bottom of your Jeep's front, and they're best for driving on highways or other paved roads. Some of the top models include the Kentrol 54" Front Bumper, the Evo 1/4 Pounder Front Bumper, and the Crown Front Bumper Kit.
Finally, tube front bumpers feature the same tubes as rock crawlers but do not include grilles. As a result, they offer more protection than standard bumpers but aren't as secure as rock crawlers. Choose from products such as the Smittybilt Tubular Front Bumper With Hoop, the Rampage Double Tube Front Bumper With Hoop, and the Rugged Ridge Front 3" Double Tube Bumper.
Rear Bumpers
Rear bumpers protect your exhaust system in case of an accident, and they are produced by top brands such as ARB, Teraflex, Fab Fours, AEV, and Havoc. Many of them also include tire carrier attachments, and they are made of steel, plastic, rubber, or aluminum.
If you are serious about offroading, a rock crawler rear bumper is the perfect complement to your front one. Consider models such as the ARB JL Rear Bumper, which has a powdercoat finish, or the Fab Fours JT Rear Bumper, which includes d-rings and fits with Jeep Gladiators made in 2020 and 2021.
A standard rear bumper is a good option if you want to keep your Jeep in factory condition and you are doing minor offroading. The Fishbone Bullhead Rear Bumper comes with all the hardware you need to install your bumper quickly, and it fits with Cherokee XJs from 1984 to 2001. Similarly, the Crown Replacement Rear Bumper, which is designed for 2007-2017 Wrangler JKs, meets all OEM specifications.
Finally, you can also buy tube rear bumpers. Like rock crawler back bumpers, these bumpers afford more protection than standard ones. Consider installing the Rugged Ridge Rear Double Tube Bumper, the Smittybilt Tubular Rear Bumper, or the Rampage Double Rear Tube Bumper onto your Jeep.
Jeep Bumper Accessories
Once you have picked out the right bumpers for the front and back of your car, it's time to think about bumper accessories to further protect or stabilize your vehicle. Rugged Ridge's winch mount plate helps you install a winch onto your rear bumper. The plate provides support for up to 12,500 pounds and is made of powdercoated steel for long-lasting stability.
Teraflex's brake light extension bracket keeps your vehicle legal while still allowing you to ride in style. If your new tire carrier or bumper gets in the way of your brake lights, order this accessory to move them.
Another popular accessory is Teraflex's vacuum pump relocation bracket kit. If you want to move your vacuum pump away from your front bumper and closer to your engine, this kit helps you make that change.
Keep your Jeep safe on the road or on the trails by picking out new bumpers and accessories today.
