Wrangler Front & Rear Bumper Types & Materials Explained

Jeep bumpers come in all shape and sizes. Depending on specific needs, some designs are better suited than others. They also differ in terms of build material and weight. As a starting point, the standard front factory bumper is an aluminum plate over the factory rails with plastic end caps and weighs 27 lbs (without the tow hooks). The rear is entirely made of plastic with the metal mounting plates and only weighs 15 lbs. Needless to say, neither offer much in terms of protection and both are susceptible to damage from even slight impacts, often requiring total replacement.

Aftermarket bumpers are generally made of heavy steel. Sometimes they come in a stamped design, like the kind found on special edition Jeeps from the factory. Often they are made of flat heavy gauged plates that are welded together. Aftermarket bumpers can also come in aluminum, providing a better level of protection than the factory and a lighter alternative to steel. Aluminum bumpers are also significantly more expensive than steel, so it’s important to keep that in mind during your research. Lighter materials also help with gas mileage. Aluminum, if dense enough, can be used for tougher terrain as well.

DOM tubing is a way of making tubes strong. DOM stands for Drawn Over Mandrel. The process is to slit coils of steel. While under pressure it’s cold formed and passed through an electric resistance welder which joins the edges together to complete the tube and have a seamless surface.

CNC is a precision machining process that uses computers to reliably and repetitively make welds, grinds, and mills. CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control. CNC provides consistent performance which is one of the reasons CNC is used for large scale manufacturing.

This is a matter of fuel consumption and performance. Having a lighter bumper increases fuel mileage, but isn’t ideal for off-roading. Having a heavy bumper is great for off-roading, but the heavier the bumper the worst your gas mileage.

There are 3 main angles that any off-roader should know about: approach, breakover, and departure.

The approach: This is the angle between the line from your front wheels and the furthest point of your bumper to the ground. This angle dictates the steepest incline you can start while only having the wheels touching the obstacle.

The breakover: This is the angle that dictates the sharpest arch you can travel over. This is the angle between the rear wheel ground tire contact patch, to the undercarriage at the midpoint of the wheelbase, to the line from the front wheel ground tire contact patch, to the same spot on the undercarriage that should be the midpoint of the wheel base. Not the chassis.

The departure: This is the line between the rear tire and furthest point of the Jeep rear bumper. This is the largest angle your rig could take when coming down from an obstacle to flat ground or the next challenge.

The approach and departure angles are affected by the bumpers. The further out the bumper, the less angle you can obtain unless your rig is lifted.

Jeep front bumpers can be divided into two main categories: winching and non-winch bumpers. Most Wrangler bumpers have a winch plate option, but if you’re the highway cruiser, a lighter bumper option might be more your style. Off-roaders will want to consider approach angles when considering a new front bumper. The sharper the angle, the more clearance you’ll need to tackle the obstacle. Some bumpers stay out of the way altogether while others limit your approach angle.

Rear bumpers can make or break your Jeep’s limits for off-roading. Specifically, with the change of the departure angle. There are many bumper types to choose from that may affect the angle, but many Wrangler bumpers offer great features like tire carriers, D-ring hookups, and hitch receivers. Check out the different types and features below.

Both the front and rear factory bumpers are considered “full width” because they encompass the entire width of the Wrangler, fender to fender. Aside from the added level of protection of a steel bumper, most aftermarket designs offer greater clearance and approach angles. The major drawback of a full width bumper is weight. Full width front bumpers are designed to protect rigs in wooded environments. Full widths keep stubborn branches and brush from puncturing your tires and bruising your Jeep’s fenders and body. More often than not, full width bumpers have pre-molded cut outs so you can keep your factory fog lights. However, sometimes extending the wiring is necessary to make them compatible. Another common feature for full widths are winch plates and D-ring mounts for easy recovery.

• All round protection
• Usually has OE fog light cut outs
• Winching and D-ring options
• Subtle to aggressive styles

Pro: Full width bumpers offer the most protection. Spanning the entire width of the Jeep, they not only protect the top front face of the tire, but considering it’s the outmost point of contact, it also provides a complete level of protection from direct front or rear collisions. Aesthetically you can make the argument they fit within the lines of the Jeep better.

Con: If you are considering a full steel replacement, full width bumpers are the heaviest choice. Weight is a big point to consider, especially since the factory bumpers are so light to begin with. The additional weight is often substantial and will have an impact on gas mileage and handling. Weight will also affect the Jeep’s height. Most aftermarket suspensions take this additional weight into consideration and always estimate their lift heights based on a fully loaded Jeep with the heaviest bumper options. Full width bumpers are also the most expensive option out of all three options.

• Classic look
• Some rears have oversized wheel cutouts
• Some have the ability to house winches
• Cost-effective
• Fully welded
• Some have a built in bull bar/grille guard

Tubular bumpers are a great way to add a different look on your rig. The design comes from the 80’s to provide a retro look. Tubular bumpers can come in many forms due to its low cost, but high quality construction. The front bumpers are usually full width, and the rears can come in the full width design. They may also wrap around the corners for extra protection for the rear quarter panels. Both front and rear bumpers are fully welded for maximum strength.
 
Unlike their steel plate cousins, off-roading isn’t a tubular bumper’s strong suit. One of the main issues with tubular bumpers are their hollow designs, and they wish they were fish tanks. Water loves to collect inside. Weld on end caps, or buy one with welded ends to prevent premature rusting. Tubular bumpers will be able to handle the concrete jungle just fine but won’t last long against rocky terrain.
 
Even though tubular bumpers are lightweight in comparison, they are able to take a light bruising from brush. Some of the front bumpers are able to house a winch which lets them have a small advantage in the off-road department. Some rear bumpers have a center cut out design that is able to accommodate oversized wheels. Some front bumpers have a welded on grille guard or bull bar for a two in one special. Tubular bumpers also allow for a slew of lighting options.

Slightly narrower, mid width bumpers can still offer a better level of protection over the stock bumper. A mid-width bumper looks to achieve the same level of protection of full-width, but save on some of the weight and offer a slightly better level of clearance and approach angle.

Pro: Steel mid width bumpers offer a better level of protection over the stock bumper. They are also lighter than a steel full width bumper and generally less expensive. They are also slightly better when going off-road by allowing more space for tire articulation. They are a great mid-level option that still offers a good level of protection without the additional weight and expense.

Con: Mid width bumpers leave you with an exposed area in both direct or quarter impacts.

Stubby bumpers are one of the most sought after bumpers by Jeep enthusiasts due to their variable designs and increased approach and departure angle clearances. Another thing that makes stubby bumpers great is the number of different accessories you can apply to the main bumper which can increase lighting, armor, or even storage. You can also leave it bare with small end caps for a minimalistic, almost crawling type bumper. Most stubby bumpers can house a winch as well, and most do not need permanent modifications. Even use of OEM fog lights are an available option. There are two main types, modular and tubular. The modular is more popular and provides more strength and rigidity. Stubby bumpers are great and highly functional bumper that, with the right parts, will do exactly what you and your Wrangler require.

• Wrangler Stubby Bumper Highlights
• Best clearance
• Commonly house winches
• OE fog light compatible occasionally
• Aggressive styling
• Tube style or Modular style
• End caps can be purchased separately
• Customizable

Pro: These are the lightest and least expensive aftermarket steel option. They also provide the greatest level of tire clearance when off-road.

Con: Stubby bumpers are just a horizontal plane for the Jeep’s frame; they don’t offer any real level of protection to the wheels or fenders. Although they still offer a better level of protection when compared to the factory bumper.

• Minimalist design
• Excellent clearance
• Fronts protect oversized fenders
• Spacious for add-ons
• Rears frequently have tire carriers

Rock crawler style bumpers are all about traversing boulders with minimal to no interference. Similar to stubbies, they allow oversized tires and provide excellent approach and departure angles, but they tend to offer more protection to your Jeep’s body. The front rock crawlers come in either tubular or straight steel plate constructions. The tube designs extend out in front of your Jeep’s grille, so you’ll have plenty of room to use your winch and to provide oversized fenders. On the other hand, straight steel bumpers will be able to take repeated abuse. Front bumpers commonly accept winches, and the tubes provide places for aftermarket lighting. The rear bumpers often have tire carrier add-on options.

• Reinforced protection
• Supports Hi-Lift jacks
• Added lighting space
• Aggressive styling

Bull bars are made to push through thick brush and brambles, and the skid plates keep fragile engine parts from bursting and leaving you stranded. Available in a variety of finishes, bull bars also give your Jeep an aggressive attitude. All the bull bars offered at ExtremeTerrain are made from 3in round tubing, so if you decide to install aftermarket lights, you’ll want to make sure they have 3in clamps. Bull bars are also a convenient way of storing a Hi-Lift jack. After all, they’re built for it.

• Prevents deadly roof rollovers
• Adds a menacing and aggressive look
• Can be used as a ramp or guide
• Protects front end components

The stinger front bumper add-on provides safety, appeal, and function to off-roaders. The stinger is primarily designed to protect the passengers from severe downhill roll overs when your rear end wants to go over the front to get down faster. When the stinger contacts the ground in a rollover scenario, your stinger causes your rig’s momentum to shift to a side rather than continue to roll forward. The high arch that pokes at your field of driving vision adds a very aggressive and mean look that’ll make other cars want to move on over. When off-roading, the stinger can be used to thrust your Jeep up a large rock in order for the front wheels to make contact. Another ‘double duty’ of this add-on is the increased protection against branches and rocks to protect your radiator, winch, and grille. Stingers are for a serious off-roader, but can be used to terrify other cars on the road.

• Various styling options
• Space for aftermarket lights
• Protects engine components

Grille guards can be complex in design, or as simple as a single hoop attachment to your current bumper. Both protect your radiator and other engine components from stray branches and other debris. The single hoop attachments are ideal for adding aftermarket lights since the more complex setups don’t make the option convenient. However, the more complex designs offer more all-around protection.

If you’re new to the Jeep scene you might still be surprised at this slew of choices. As you can see, each bumper type serves a unique purpose, so you can customize your rig’s recovery options, off-road lighting specs, approach and departure angles, and bushwhacking potential. 

Like most aftermarket equipment for your Jeep, your intended purpose will dictate the type of bumper you will need. If you mostly do light over-landing or beach off-roading, a lighter aluminum full width option might be a good choice. If you mostly do aggressive rock crawling and need the added tire clearance, a stubby bumper might be a better option. Some aftermarket companies allow you the flexibility of interchangeable end caps and bolt on tubing to customize a bumper based on your particular needs at the moment. In theory you can drive a full width bumper during the week and un-blot the components to run a stripped down stubby version on the weekend. Overall the world of bumpers is quite extensive and can add another level of character to the look of your Jeep. There is no set rule that states you need to run the same brand on the front and back, so have fun and enjoy the large variety of options.