How to Choose Front and Rear Bumpers for Your Jeep

Factory

Alright, we know most readers couldn’t care less about factory bumpers; however, they provide a solid baseline to assess the other styles on this list. Most factory Jeep Wrangler bumpers are constructed from lightweight aluminum and plastic, offering excellent corrosion resistance and low overall weight in exchange for durability. In most cases, it only takes a minor fender bender or kissing a tree on the trail to cause significant damage to the factory bumpers; unless you’re piloting an upgraded Rubicon with factory steel bumpers, that is! 

Pros: 

• Sleek & stylish

• Lightweight

• Corrosion-resistant

Cons: 

• Only moderate impact protection

• No accessory mounts

• Easily damaged 

• Costly to replace

Full-Width

Our first aftermarket bumper style is the full-width bumper, featuring an extra-wide form factor that extends–you guessed it–the full width of your Jeep. While relatively bulky, full-width bumpers offer exceptional impact resistance. However, they aren’t ideal for frequent off-roaders due to their large size, often rubbing on oversized tires during full articulation or hanging up on obstacles due to poor approach and departure angles. 

Pros: 

• Rugged construction (typically plate steel)

• Integrated accessory mounts

• Excellent impact resistance

• Aggressive styling

• Wrap-around protection

Cons

• Less clearance than comparable stubby bumpers

• Heavy

Base

Base bumpers refer to bare, no-frills designs. These bumpers are typically full-width and offer no add-ons like stingers, bull bars, or push bars. They do, however, often include LED light mounts, D-Ring shackle mounts, and even winch plates (on some models.) 

Pros: 

• Heavy-duty construction (typically plate steel)

• Integrated accessory mounts

• Superior impact protection

• Rugged aesthetics

Cons: 

• Heavy

• Prone to rusting

Bullnose

Bullnose front bumpers are essentially upgraded base bumpers, typically featuring the same steel plate construction and rugged design. However, these bumpers feature an integrated tubular push bar, or “bull bar” which juts outward. This addition drastically improves impact resistance, guarding the grille, radiator, fluid coolers, and other essential components from punctures and damages. 

Pros: 

• Exceptional impact protection

• Accessory mounts

• Guards grille, headlights, and fluid coolers

• Rugged construction

• Stylish aesthetics

Cons: 

• Heavy

• Can be difficult to gauge distance due to added length

Grille Guard

Like BullNose bumpers, Grille Guard bumpers are more-or-less an upgraded base bumper, featuring a similar design except for one key component: an integrated grille guard. These bumpers offer bull front-end protection, featuring additional tubes that extend upwards and over the grille and headlights. Whether caught in a fender bender or pushing your way through dense brush, a grille guard bumper will do the trick!  

Pros: 

• Comprehensive front-end protection

• Integrated accessory mounts

• Guards grille, headlights, and fluid coolers

• Heavy-duty, utilitarian design

Cons: 

• Heavy

• Can decrease headlight, grille, and underhood access

Modular

Modular bumpers are extremely minimalistic; think base-base bumpers. These bumpers typically feature rugged steel constructions and light and recovery mounts, but few other options due to their narrow, low profile design; however, that’s not how they need to stay! The term "modular" refers to the bumper's multi-piece design. Every modular bumper begins with a low-profile center section; however, most allow you to add end caps, side wings, bull bars, and other components to build a bumper that best suits your needs! 

Pros: 

• Customizable 

• Stylish

• Low-profile design

• Rugged construction

Cons:

• Can get pricey depending on your preferred components

• Typically less impact-resistant than a fully-welded bumper

Mid-Width

Somewhere between a full-width and a stubby bumper is the mid-width, offering greater front corner protection than a stubby, but less than the full-width. Mid-width bumpers generally offer improved approach angles and clearance over factory, while slightly compromising impact resistance. Regardless, mid-width bumpers still offer better impact protection than a full-width factory unit! 

Pros: 

• Improved clearances

• Rugged construction

• Off-road-inspired styling

• Accessory mounts

Cons:

• Reduced front-corner protection

Prerunner

Time to hit the Baja 1,000! Prerunner bumpers are low-profile and high-clearance, inspired by rugged desert racing rigs. These bumpers typically feature tubular design elements, including an iconic “prerunner” bar–think wide, low-profile push bar. Prerunner bumpers often feature recovery and light mounts and integrated skid plates, preparing your Jeep to take on even the harshest terrain. 

Pros: 

• Low profile

• High clearance

• Off-road inspired

• Improved impact resistance

Cons: 

• May reduce front-corner protection

Stinger

Stinger Bumpers are a classic in the Jeep community, typically consisting of a stubby or mid-width base bumper with an extra-long hoop that comes to a blunted point, referred to as the “stinger.” These bumpers are hyper-popular for off-road rigs, providing excellent front-facing impact protection and tire clearance. 

Pros: 

• Rugged, off-road-inspired design

• Superior front impact protection

• High-clearance

• Integrated accessory mounts

Cons: 

• Reduced front-corner protection

Stubby

Stubby bumpers are engineered for one primary purpose: maximum tire clearance. During intense articulation on the trail, especially with oversized tires, it’s common to rub on the front bumper, reducing travel and hindering performance. The concept of a stubby bumper is–you can’t rub your bumper's wings if you don’t have any! While these bumpers significantly increase clearances, they also reduce front-corner protection to practically zero. 

Pros: 

• High clearance design

• Rugged aesthetics

• Offered with or without a front hoop

• Integrated accessory mounts

Cons: 

• Eliminates front-corner protection

Tubular

Tube front bumpers are as classic as they come, offering characteristic Jeep styling with an all-tube construction. They’re generally cost-effective and full-width, and some even include integrated bull bars; however, other accessory mounts are typically lacking. Either way, it’s hard to go wrong with a Tubular bumper, especially on a classic Jeep. 

Pros: 

• Stout

• Lightweight

• Cost-effective

• Full protection

Cons: 

• Fewer accessory mounting options

• Not as sturdy as comparable plate steel bumpers

Tire Carrier

Tire carrier bumpers are engineered exclusively for use on the rear of your Jeep. They traditionally replace your Jeep’s factory spare tire mount; instead, employing a heavy-duty replacement welded to the bumper. These replacement mounts typically offer increased clearances and weight capacities to fit oversized tires, ideal for lugging a full-size spare on wheeling trips. 

Pros: 

• Securely holds the spare tire

• Accepts larger-than-stock sizes

• Can withstand the rigorous abuse of off-roading

Cons: 

• Heavy

Your Jeep’s Use

Arguably the most essential consideration when selecting a new bumper is your Jeep’s primary use. Is it a daily driver, weekend warrior, or dedicated off-roader? The way you drive your Jeep and the terrain you typically drive it across plays a significant role in your selection; you wouldn't want a stubby bumper for a daily driver or a full-width bumper for a rock crawler on 40s. 

As a rule of thumb, a Jeep that’s primarily driven on the street should have a bumper that offers maximum front-end protection, like a full-width, tube, base, bull bar, or even grille guard! These bumpers feature excellent front-center and front-corner protection, guarding your Jeep’s frame and body panels in a collision. 

For a Jeep that splits its time between the trail and the street, consider a bumper that offers solid protection, but also increases clearances, such as a mid-width or prerunner. 

You can generally substitute some protection for clearance on a dedicated off-road rig where on-road collisions are unlikely. Stubby bumpers, stingers, and modular bumpers provide excellent tire clearance; however, due to the lack of front-corner protection, are best reserved for off-highway driving. 

Construction

Most aftermarket Jeep bumpers feature plate steel, tubular steel (DOM or mild), stainless steel, or aluminum constructions, but which is best for your Jeep? Regarding material, there are a few sub-factors you should consider. 

Corrosion Resistance

Where do you live? What’s the weather like? While some alloys are much more resilient to harsh climates and chemicals–like stainless steel and aluminum–others will quickly rust if poorly treated, like steel. 

Durability

While this piggybacks on your Jeep’s use, the overall durability of the bumper is something to consider. If you’re regularly bouncing your front bumper off of trees, brush, and rocks while wheeling, you’ll likely benefit from the added strength of steel. However, aluminum or stainless steel should suffice if your Jeep is a daily driver.

Weight

Some materials are heavier than others, with the most substantial being steel. While the material excels at resisting harsh impacts, the added weight will likely hurt fuel efficiency. On the other end of the spectrum is aluminum, which is less robust than steel yet far lighter. 

Recovery Options

Though recovery options typically only pertain to dedicated off-roaders, some Jeepers may appreciate the utility of winch and shackle mounts. If that’s the case, consider bumpers with built-in winch plates and reinforced D-Ring eyelets, allowing you to mount recovery gear to help yourself and others out of messy situations.

Styling

Half of the reason most Jeepers install aftermarket bumpers boils down to aesthetics; nothing looks more aggressive than rugged, aftermarket plate steel bumpers! It’s essential to know your stylistic dos and don’ts when selecting your ideal bumper. Also, consider your Jeep’s already-installed components and your future build plans, ensuring everything meshes together; you’d hate to install a new bumper only to realize it clashes with your rear bumper, wheels, paint job, or other components!

Tire Clearance

Finally, let’s talk about tire clearance. Especially if you’re running oversized tires, it’s essential to order a bumper with adequate clearances to minimize rubbing. Once again, this is really only a concern for avid off-roaders, but still a concern nonetheless! If you frequently wheel your Jeep, we’d recommend a high-clearance bumper like a prerunner, mid-width, modular, or stubby; however, be mindful of the bumper’s front-corner protection, especially if you frequently drive on the street!