AEV vs ARB Front Bumpers
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
From: San Marcos, TX
WOW – I’ve been sitting in the back row reading and listening to all the opinions on the ARB and AEV. I was leaning towards the AEV for the style, and the ARB isn’t bad, but the bull bar looked a little too big. No one has mentioned how much the ARB weights. The AEV is 116lbs and the Skid is 23lbs plus hardware – I put the total at 140 lbs
Now I don’t want to be the “Fly in the Ointment” – but I found a photo of a bumper the other day that has made me look in a different direction. Have any of you heard of Rock-Slide Engineering ??
I have not gotten a call back from R-S E but their bumper compares closely to AEV:
AEV – 116 lbs
R-S E – 120 lbs
Bumper pricing:
AEV - $ 1318
R-S E - $ 1200
More info to follow
Don’t get me wrong – I’m still looking at the ARB. But if it were not for the web, I might have never stumbled upon R-S Eng
If price is an issue then “yes”, the ARB is the way to go, the money saved will buy other MODS. If money is not a factor then go with whatever makes your Jeep unique for you.
Now I don’t want to be the “Fly in the Ointment” – but I found a photo of a bumper the other day that has made me look in a different direction. Have any of you heard of Rock-Slide Engineering ??
I have not gotten a call back from R-S E but their bumper compares closely to AEV:
AEV – 116 lbs
R-S E – 120 lbs
Bumper pricing:
AEV - $ 1318
R-S E - $ 1200
More info to follow
Don’t get me wrong – I’m still looking at the ARB. But if it were not for the web, I might have never stumbled upon R-S Eng
If price is an issue then “yes”, the ARB is the way to go, the money saved will buy other MODS. If money is not a factor then go with whatever makes your Jeep unique for you.
JK Freak
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 752
Likes: 0
From: New York
Wow, this is a super old thread and one that I used when I was shopping for a full width bumper.
To the poster above, the RS-E is a nice bumper indeed, but the version for factory flares looks a little off. There are pics in one of their threads somewhere around here.
To get back on subject, I can personally attest for the strength of the ARB. I literally killed a VW Touareg a few weeks ago with nothing more than a few scratches on the bumper.
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...-versus-Toureg
To the poster above, the RS-E is a nice bumper indeed, but the version for factory flares looks a little off. There are pics in one of their threads somewhere around here.
To get back on subject, I can personally attest for the strength of the ARB. I literally killed a VW Touareg a few weeks ago with nothing more than a few scratches on the bumper.
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...-versus-Toureg
JK Newbie
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: San Dimas, CA
I'm in the market for bumpers. I liked both the AEV and ARB before I found out they wouldn't accept the Power Plant. My brother had ARB on his Rover - they were always pretty tough when I was pulling him out of a ditch! I liked them because they seem to go with the stock fenders, but recently i realized the stockies will be coming off at some point either by a tree or they'll get all faded and cracked and I'll go with something from the after market.
JK Super Freak
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,001
Likes: 0
From: Central NJ
I'm in the market for bumpers. I liked both the AEV and ARB before I found out they wouldn't accept the Power Plant. My brother had ARB on his Rover - they were always pretty tough when I was pulling him out of a ditch! I liked them because they seem to go with the stock fenders, but recently i realized the stockies will be coming off at some point either by a tree or they'll get all faded and cracked and I'll go with something from the after market.
from what I remember reading - the Power Plant doesn't fit in the AEV.
JK Newbie
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: Spring, Texas
ARB or AEV
The ARB is , IMHO, the better of the two. Both are strong as hell, way stronger than any jeep they are on. The fit & finish on the ARB is perfect. No flaws whatsoever. I had mine on in less than an hour. Took about an hour on the rear too. There were no fitment issues, lineup issues or any issues of anykind. Like stated before, they are "made" for the Jeep.
