The possibilities to add style and protection to your Jeep are endless. You can go to town in this area and venture down a veritable rabbit hole that will leave a corresponding hole in your wallet. That’s why we are here to gently guide you down the right path, suggesting functional and aesthetically pleasing upgrades that won’t leave your wallet looking like a black hole.
Some say following our advice can save relationships, as your better half won’t be miffed. In this article, we will look at bumpers and body armor, all of which you can find at our stores or on the 4 Wheel Parts website.
Why Your Jeep May Need More Protection
Your Jeep already has protection from the manufacturer, but that’s best for light trails at most. Hitting moderate to intensive courses will require better protection. The most obvious areas are dings and scratches at the front, sides, and rear, but your undercarriage, window glasses, and lighting can also take a beating.
Trails can present a variety of hazards, including low-lying tree branches, hidden rocks, and gravel that may be kicked up by the tires of a vehicle directly ahead of you, especially if it’s stuck and trying to free itself while you’re directly behind. Replacement parts and repair costs aren’t cheap either, so it’s best to take proactive and protective rather than corrective action.
Best Bumpers For Jeeps
There are a variety of bumpers for Jeeps, so you may ask what is the best bumper for Jeep Wrangler, as an example. There’s no conclusive answer to this question. It depends on a variety of factors, including the type and intensity of the trails you frequent, your budget, and your aesthetic preference. Bumpers come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and styles, including full-width bumpers, mid-width ones, and stubby ones. Check out our selection of bumpers, and don’t hesitate to reach out to us for expert advice. In the meantime, let us take you through the differences in the three types, with a front bumper example of each from our store.
Full-Width Bumper – Fab Fours Full Width Grumper
Looking at this Fab Fours Full-Width Grumper, you can see how a full-width bumper offers maximum protection for your Jeep. Being a Grumper, it offers combined bumper and grille protection, with headlamp cutouts, winch compatibility, and a black powder-coated appearance. While this USA-made product comes with an ‘aggressive design’ for maximum intimidation, you can find calmer-looking examples in our store as well. Full-width bumpers protrude forwards a fair bit, and you need to account for that when you’re driving your Jeep with one installed.
Mid Width Bumper – Poison Spyder Brawler Lite
This Poison Spyder Brawler Lite demonstrates the look of a typical mid-width bumper, and it’s also a grumper since it offers grille protection. It’s a mid-width high clearance bumper with an integrated winch mount and recessed buckets to mount the factory fog lamps of your Jeep as well. The black powder coat is resilient and hard-wearing too.
Stubby Bumper – Fab Fours Grumper Winch Front Bumper
It’s back to Fab Fours for this stubby grumper, the Fab Fours Grumper Winch Front Bumper. It’s got headlamp clearance, grille protection, winch mounting points, and boasts easy installation. Stubby bumpers, as the name suggests, protrude forwards by the least amount, maintaining your Jeep’s length as far as possible.
Using Jeep Body Armor
Body Armor is a brand that produces a wide range of protection parts for Jeeps and other off-roaders. They produce bumpers as well, and you’re sure to find a great bumper from them in our range, but we’re going to talk about some of their other protection products that would be a great addition to your Jeep.
Tail Light Guards
Your headlights may be protected by your aftermarket front bumper, but what about your taillights? An errant branch can swing back after you’ve passed it, for example, and take out a taillight. These Body Armor Flat Style Tail Light Guards are a great addition that won’t break the bank. Their low profile design doesn’t detract from your Jeep’s light design, while the powder-coated design is tough yet light.
Front Skid Plates
A front skid plate is crucial in protecting your radiator, sump, and other sensitive components that lie just ahead of your front wheels. Not all bumpers offer front skid plates, so if yours doesn’t, this Body Armor 4×4 Front Skid Plate is a great addition, especially if you venture on trails with a lot of rocks.
Fender Flares and Fender Liners
Fender Flares protect your wheel arches and side panels from damage while you’re trail bashing. Body Armor has a great range of Fender Flares to choose from, and while you’re at it, why not install a set of Fender Liners to prevent dust and debris from being kicked up into your engine bay and wheel arches?
4×4 Hinge Step
If you’ve got a roof rack on your Jeep, reaching it can be tough. So why not install the Body Armor 4×4 Hinge Step to ease access? It’s got a non-slip serrated foot pad, can take up to 350 pounds of load, and even comes with a built-in bottle opener!
Trail Gloves
When you’re on the trails and you need to get out and move things with your hands, the right pair of trail gloves offer excellent protection from injury. An often overlooked item, a pair of Body Armor Trail Gloves will keep your hands protected and safe, and won’t cost an arm either.
Everything Jeep From 4-Wheel Parts
Did you know that 4 Wheel Parts is considered one of the best retailers for all things Jeep? If you don’t believe us, just talk to our vast community of long-term customers, many of whom have been loyal to us for years or even decades. With over 100 stores nationwide, a comprehensive e-commerce experience, a price-matching policy, all applicable warranties, and expert advice always on hand, it’s no wonder that Jeepers and other off-road aficionados love us. Join them, and you can rest easy knowing you’re in good hands.
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