[Guest]

Hi all,

My plan is to get:

front double tube bumper with hoop

rear double tube bumper with hitch and cut-out for large tire

matching nerf bars

color would be black, definitley not gloss, but possibly textured

just wondered what brands everyone liked, disliked etc.

all feedback is appreciated.

thanks,
jess

 

[Gooddogs]

If you plan on using this for wheeling I would stay away from Olympic I would also consider not going with nerf bars and think about going with Rock Rails with a step, but not one that hangs below the body much. (Just more to get hung up on when wheeling hard) I have a Smitty Built rear dubble Tube bumper with hitch that is top quality. I have seen a lot of Olympic stuff and it was all perrrrttty and thats it. Not tuff at all.

 

[863]

Re: Tube bumper opinions: Olympic, Smittybilt, oth

Myself I like Garrett brand bumpers and rockrails.....those are the ones I build!

Honestly, I haven't been impressed with ANY "name" brand bumpers I've seen available here in Alaska. It's cheaper to build my own, and they are stronger to boot.

This bumper is 2"x4" square tubing, set up for a spare tire, gas can and Hi-lift. It swings both ways!

 

[jdoggmoney]

If you've got the $$ to buy Smitty Built, you should be able to afford a nice set of rock bumpers. Get a rear that has or allows for a tire swing. My tube bumper got in the way. Nowhere to attach a tow strap or hook, and lightweight. I built mine too, if this interests you, search "bumper" and get tons more info.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the advice. I definitely will be getting an oversize tire carrier that swings out seperate from the tailgate.

I'm not sure how serious I need to get in terms of rock bumpers. The Jeep is a daily driver, and my off-road adventures thus far have been paths and dirt trails through the woods to get to the campsite. I don't think I'll ever be a serious rock climber, who knows? (please don't hate me now

)

Jess

 

[WILL]

Re: Tube bumper opinions: Olympic, Smittybilt, oth

In reply to:

2"x4" square tubing

[/ QUOTE ]

Square?

In reply to:

It swings both ways!

[/ QUOTE ]

 

[Guest]

Don't get the s*itty bilt! I have the smitty bilt nerfs and rear bumper (on the Jeep when I bought it). They are too light, and the rear bumper is nothing more than a trail anchor. Sure it has saved my rear corners a time or two, but something with a lot smaller profile could do the same thing. I will soon be building new sliders and a rear bumper, and the smitty will be going on the scrap pile. I am not even sure I would sell them to someone, at least not someone I like.

 

[863]

Re: Tube bumper opinions: Olympic, Smittybilt, oth

Will, I've said it before, but you are FAR, FAR too sharp eyed!

Call it a habit from working around my father as a kid, but I call rectangular tubing "square". I do realize that a all sqares are a rectangle, but not are rectangles are square. However, that doesn't mean that's the way I talk/write!

It's probably guys like me that fragment languages and creat dialects....

Oh, and the tire carrier, ummm...it...uhh.....opens in both directions!

 

[WILL]

Re: Tube bumper opinions: Olympic, Smittybilt, oth

The tire carrier comment is what I found funny. I thought about making a crack about the tubing but thought the other was funnier.

 

[thorjeep]

I have Smittybuilt Thumper (front) nerf bars and rear bumper. I don't know what Jeepfeind had, but mine are heavy and stout. I agree the rear is a trail anchor, and a little too much though. I really like the nerf bars, which lower the center of gravity on the road, give me a little more piece of mind on side-impact protection, and are real easy to remove when you want to hit the trail. Figure what you want to put up front, before buying the bumper, the hoops get in the way of a winch.

 

[Guest]

My bumper and nerfs have dings from being drug over small dull objects. I also don't like the nerfs because of the gap they leave behind the front tire. I have not caught anything in there yet, and hopefully I have new sliders built before I do. Also the end caps are all loose on my bumper, I am constantly pushing one, on the passenger side, back in. The wall thickness is .094", not really stout. Maybe the guy that bought them bought light stuff, I really don't know if smitty makes different grades. For a CJ7 I really think 3/16" is about minimum thickness for a bumper. For my flatties I have built bumpers with 1/8" wall, and I think that is enough for a jeep that does not see hard trail use. If I was really planning on pounding

them on the trail I would pay the weight penalty and use 1/4 wall tube. If you are not planning on pounding them the smitty might be okay, but if you decide you want the Jeep for a little more trail use, I think you will regret the purchase of smittys.