Bumpers and lift questions

TigerPaw · **Joined:** Sat Feb 19, 2011 6:19 pm **Posts:** 33

So, im pretty new to modding my jeep and I have some questions...lets see...

When it comes to bumper selection (aside from the cool factor) is there Advantages/ disadvantages to styles. Like does the ARB have something the rocklizard doesnt? or is there plus to going pre runner vs a flat tube. Basically what sets these bumpers apart from stock. Obviously winch mounts, but Ive seen winches that are put on with the stock bumper. Im thinking about a pre runner bumper, but I like the look of it so thats kind of why.

Then...

Lifts, so I hear a lot about the frankenlift and clevis I think it is. What sets them apart from just going to a shop and say "Hey man, lift my jeep X inches"? is it just the cost or ease of install?

Sorry if this all sounds dumb, just trying to expand my knowledge

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Mar 08, 2011 11:48 pm

If you walk into a shop and say lift it, more than likely you'll end up with some cheap setup.
Frankenlifts are shipped all together so its basically a bolt in.
Now there is lots of info on here and one whole section just on lifts.
Think over what your final goal is, what your budget is, do some late night reading and then we'll go from there :wink:

Bumpers, thats a whole other matter with everyone having what they think is best!

CoopaTroopa · **Posted:** Tue Mar 08, 2011 11:50 pm

ARB = bulky, you can hit anything, simply ba, reaally expensive
Rock Lizard = angle of approach, different stages so you dont pay for what you dont want, not too pricey
and then theres lots of modding you could do to make other jeep bumpers fit... check fabrications.
Then if your brave you could make your own bumper. or take it to a shop

As far as lifts I would say go with something you see on here. Such as OME or frankenlift..
Never shop at rocky road outfitters. NEVER
If you want some help with lifts and other such things talk to tom :BANANA:

He knows a lot. He gave me the lift set up that I will be ordering in about two months.
:JEEPIN:

CoopaTroopa · **Posted:** Tue Mar 08, 2011 11:50 pm

never mind tom beat me here. :ROTFL:

curt7088 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 10, 2011 3:26 am

bumpers are opinionated mods... what ever your opinion is, most likely will be what you get... as far as lifts if you want a basic lift that is capable talk to tom, but if your the go big or go home type character talk to tjkj2002 but his route will probably cost more than you make in a year... or well i know it costs more than i make in a year.... seriously though a frankenlift or OME are the most popular around here and are GREAT lifts not many problems with them and the OME lift isn't too expensive...

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Thu Mar 10, 2011 1:33 pm

If you can't buy a bumper because the extra bulk will make you hit stuff, you shouldn't be driving... please do us the favor.

ARB, because it's mass produced will probably be among the least expensive options. The ARB is the only KJ bumper (besides stock) that is airbag compliant and it does allow the winch to be mounted inside the bumper which is nice on many levels. The mounting system is pretty trick and allows for easy removal if the winch needs to be serviced.

If you were going to go the custom route, I'd only trust Marty at Rock Lizard. Marty has probably looked at that front-end of the KJ as much as ARB has. His design will give you superior approach angle and a winch mount as well (hard to pull off). Marty actually knows how to weld unlike most who claim mastery the skill set. I've had top people in the field examine my RL rear bumper and no one believed it was assembled by someone they had not heard of.

I have both an ARB and a Rock Lizzard bumper (as well as everything else RL offers) so I can't say one is better than another. But here is .50 worth of free advice: buy one of these two, don't get involved it whats going down in GA.... there have been too many horror stories and the past is about to repeat itself. Custom shops have no idea how to mass produce new designs but they are very good as holding onto your $. Listen to me now or cry about it later.... and I will say "I told you so".

Good luck.

Xodius · **Posted:** Thu Mar 10, 2011 2:27 pm

For lifts easy go Frankie or OME. I have OME and wish I installed it at day one. Great ride and easy install.

For bumpers, I hit a chunk of rolled up carpet standing on end at 70mph it flew off truck two ahead of me long story short no damage and bumper looks great. The bumper is a arb and I would not trade it for anything.

The rear bumper I am fabricating because I like to do that. All are options but it usually comes down to budget. Do your research and if it means waiting an extra month or two it is worth it.

bigjimslade · **Joined:** Thu Jan 13, 2011 2:37 pm **Posts:** 100

So the Rock Lizard front bumper is not air bag compliant? That would rule them out for me. I was considering a complete RL package (F&R bumpers, sliders, roof rack) next year. Oh well, back on ARB.

Xodius · **Posted:** Thu Mar 10, 2011 3:00 pm

Remember airbag compliant simply means it was independently tested to allow the airbags to go off. Translation ARB has a ton of cash to test it. Will a RL allow the bags to deploy yes but can they state it the same way no.

The air bags go off when the sensors get jacked up. There is a sensor on each side of the radiator so I do not see why it would not deploy.

My arb stopped major front end damage so I could say it stopped the bags from deploying.

However that is just me and I am no expert nor do I claim to be. Modify as you see fit. I think I speak for everyone when I say we are not responsible for any damages to anyones vehicles except our own...sometimes it is even on purpose.

CoopaTroopa · **Posted:** Thu Mar 10, 2011 4:49 pm

JL Rockies wrote:

If you can't buy a bumper because the extra bulk will make you hit stuff, you shouldn't be driving... please do us the favor.

ARB, because it's mass produced will probably be among the least expensive options. The ARB is the only KJ bumper (besides stock) that is airbag compliant and it does allow the winch to be mounted inside the bumper which is nice on many levels. The mounting system is pretty trick and allows for easy removal if the winch needs to be serviced.

If you were going to go the custom route, I'd only trust Marty at Rock Lizard. Marty has probably looked at that front-end of the KJ as much as ARB has. His design will give you superior approach angle and a winch mount as well (hard to pull off). Marty actually knows how to weld unlike most who claim mastery the skill set. I've had top people in the field examine my RL rear bumper and no one believed it was assembled by someone they had not heard of.

I have both an ARB and a Rock Lizzard bumper (as well as everything else RL offers) so I can't say one is better than another. But here is .50 worth of free advice: buy one of these two, don't get involved it whats going down in GA.... there have been too many horror stories and the past is about to repeat itself. Custom shops have no idea how to mass produce new designs but they are very good as holding onto your $. Listen to me now or cry about it later.... and I will say "I told you so".

Good luck.

Hey man I was simply trying to get the idea across that it is tough. A lot of people post comments about bumpers being able to take a hit. You could really lighten up on every one. Just my :2cents:

CoopaTroopa · **Posted:** Thu Mar 10, 2011 4:59 pm

sorry about that. I understand you know more than me, and I respect that. I just dont like being talked down to. I'm sure you werent trying to but it just rubbed me the wrong way. Water under the bridge?

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Thu Mar 10, 2011 5:03 pm

A rigid bumper will most-likely lower the threshold of deployment, not eliminate it. The biggest problem would be in a lesser accident (when a deployment shouldn't happen) you're insurance company may hold you liable for the cost of airbags and the possible greater damage inflicted onto the other vehicle. You're more likely to get hurt from a failed JBA arm than a custom bumper.

There is a place for custom bumpers among the ranks of the serious enthusiast, but as always, you have to pay to play.

TigerPaw · **Joined:** Sat Feb 19, 2011 6:19 pm **Posts:** 33

JL Rockies wrote:

If you can't buy a bumper because the extra bulk will make you hit stuff, you shouldn't be driving... please do us the favor.

ARB, because it's mass produced will probably be among the least expensive options. The ARB is the only KJ bumper (besides stock) that is airbag compliant and it does allow the winch to be mounted inside the bumper which is nice on many levels. The mounting system is pretty trick and allows for easy removal if the winch needs to be serviced.

If you were going to go the custom route, I'd only trust Marty at Rock Lizard. Marty has probably looked at that front-end of the KJ as much as ARB has. His design will give you superior approach angle and a winch mount as well (hard to pull off). Marty actually knows how to weld unlike most who claim mastery the skill set. I've had top people in the field examine my RL rear bumper and no one believed it was assembled by someone they had not heard of.

I have both an ARB and a Rock Lizzard bumper (as well as everything else RL offers) so I can't say one is better than another. But here is .50 worth of free advice: buy one of these two, don't get involved it whats going down in GA.... there have been too many horror stories and the past is about to repeat itself. Custom shops have no idea how to mass produce new designs but they are very good as holding onto your $. Listen to me now or cry about it later.... and I will say "I told you so".

Good luck.

So basically what you're saying is that DIY bumpers are unsafe and that the only way to go is ARB or RL because no one can weld well enough to make their own?

BugginKJ · **Joined:** Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:35 pm **Posts:** 4576

TigerPaw wrote:

JL Rockies wrote:

If you can't buy a bumper because the extra bulk will make you hit stuff, you shouldn't be driving... please do us the favor.

ARB, because it's mass produced will probably be among the least expensive options. The ARB is the only KJ bumper (besides stock) that is airbag compliant and it does allow the winch to be mounted inside the bumper which is nice on many levels. The mounting system is pretty trick and allows for easy removal if the winch needs to be serviced.

If you were going to go the custom route, I'd only trust Marty at Rock Lizard. Marty has probably looked at that front-end of the KJ as much as ARB has. His design will give you superior approach angle and a winch mount as well (hard to pull off). Marty actually knows how to weld unlike most who claim mastery the skill set. I've had top people in the field examine my RL rear bumper and no one believed it was assembled by someone they had not heard of.

I have both an ARB and a Rock Lizzard bumper (as well as everything else RL offers) so I can't say one is better than another. But here is .50 worth of free advice: buy one of these two, don't get involved it whats going down in GA.... there have been too many horror stories and the past is about to repeat itself. Custom shops have no idea how to mass produce new designs but they are very good as holding onto your $. Listen to me now or cry about it later.... and I will say "I told you so".

Good luck.

So basically what you're saying is that DIY bumpers are unsafe and that the only way to go is ARB or RL because no one can weld well enough to make their own?

DIY bumpers are only unsafe if the welder that welds them doesn't know how to weld properly. There are several DIY bumpers I have seen on this site I would not install on my yard tractor, not only that they are plain old ugly which I guess is opinion. Now that statement is up for debate on who is inspecting the welds or if they have prior knowledge of quality welds. Rock Lizard puts out a quality product, I know first hand as I have seen his welding and I have many years of welding expirence welding on class 8 carhaulers, structure and the like. He just doesn't have the MAJOR coin to invest in the bogus air bag test like ARB does. To test for air bag compliant you must crash a vehicle, I forget the amount of times. Want to donate yours for a crash test to find out if your air bags will go off if in an accident? The air bags as said before are triggered by 2 small sensors located on the front behind the grille on either side of the rad. on the framework up front. Plus not only that I would highly debate the airbag testing as it has been proven that the ARB bumper have had contact with many things that would normally set the bags off if you were running the factory bumper. That I aslo know first hand. Go Rock Lizard if your thinking of an aftermarket bumper and I promise you will not ever look back. :JEEPIN:

Oh and also, mass production does not mean the company has a clue how to make a dang thing, it just means they have money to do it. Not meaning to take anything from ARB, I just think they are over priced cookie cutter bumpers :2cents:

RED_KJ_666 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 12, 2011 3:06 pm

All this ARB talk...... They are Discontinued.....

NewOldTimer · **Posted:** Sat Mar 12, 2011 4:17 pm

Bumpers are a matter of personal preference.

Personally, I really like the look of the ARB...... but at the moment, it's out of my price range.
Rock Lizard's looks a little "generic" to me. I know he's been re-engineering things, so we'll see.

I'll likely find a local shop to build what I want, as I know what I like, and what I want to achieve.

Here's an example of what I had done on my "old" Ford a few years back.
It was sturdy as hell, and weighed in at just under 100 pounds.

Funny..... once I installed it, I didn't have to worry about people doing quick left turns in front of me to beat traffic. :SOMBRERO:

I'd like to do something similar, but less bulky on the KJ..... probably do an ARB knock off with a single bull bar.

Jeepin'WNC · **Joined:** Mon Nov 15, 2010 1:48 am **Posts:** 191

RED_KJ_666 wrote:

All this ARB talk...... They are Discontinued.....

ARB's bumper is discontinued???? :banghead:

huntbuggy · **Joined:** Sun Dec 19, 2010 6:24 pm **Posts:** 91

Jeepin'WNC wrote:

RED_KJ_666 wrote:

All this ARB talk...... They are Discontinued.....

ARB's bumper is discontinued???? :banghead:

No they aren't. Post links or it never happened.

EDIT: (tongue in cheek) :wink:

RED_KJ_666 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 02, 2011 7:58 pm

They are call them.......(866) 293-9078 Yet another company slowly forgetting about the Libby. My Favorite bumper was the TR Bumper. Too bad when TR was bought out they never delivered the design to the new company.

gtommec · **Posted:** Sun Apr 03, 2011 2:21 am

RED_KJ_666 wrote:

They are call them.......(866) 293-9078 Yet another company slowly forgetting about the Libby.

wow I am glad I got mine last month if they are discontinued now

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