All You Need to Understand About Jeep Bumpers
Perplexed about the purpose of the Jeep bumpers? Eager to learn the details about the jeep bumpers? This is the article you should give a read if you are new to the Jeep world and want to know more about this prominent part of a jeep.
Jeeps Wranglers come with factory stock bumpers. These are front and rear bumpers and their sole purpose is protection for the vehicle and top of wheels from scratches and impacts. The front bumpers are usually made of aluminum with plastic end caps. The rear bumpers are made of plastic with metal mounting plates. The front bumpers are heavier than the rear ones. The stock bumpers offer less protection and hence may require complete replacement in case of an accident. Hence, there are reasons jeep owners opt for bumper up-gradation after the purchase of the jeep.
Now we will highlight the reasons jeep enthusiasts go for aftermarket bumpers. Aftermarket bumpers are generally made of heavy steel hence they provide better protection. They also come with light-weight but denser Aluminum material hence providing better protection than the factory bumpers. Hence, these aluminum bumpers can be used for rough off-road voyages as well.
Now we will discuss the pros and cons of heavy and lightweight bumpers. The weight of the bumper is an important consideration in case you want to reduce fuel consumption. But, for rough terrains, a lighter bumper is not the right choice. In that scenario, heavier and tougher bumpers are needed for better protection. So, it is a tradeoff between mileage and performance.
Next, it is important to be aware of three important off-road angles for jeeps that define your movement. These are approach, break-over, and departure angles. First, is the angle made between the line connecting the front wheels with the furthest point of the bumper and the ground. This angle defines the start of the steepest slope you can go on with only the wheels touching the obstacle. The breakover angle dictates the sharpest arch you can move on without damaging the undercarriage. The departure angle is the angle between the line joining the rear wheels with the furthest point of the rear bumpers and the ground. This is the largest angle your rig can take while coming down from a steep to a flat surface. The selection of front and rear bumpers decides the approach and departure angles you can take. The lower and further out the bumper, the less clearance is available for you to safely hop onto/off the slope.
Another important aspect is the slot for winching. In case of any untoward incident, you may need to tow away your jeep using a winch. According to your requirement, you can choose from either winching or non-winching bumpers.
In this article, we have tried to give you an overview of the various aspects of a wrangler bumper such as weight, material, off-road angles, and winching. Check out amazing bumpers by Crawlertec!