Front Bumper Hoop - What is the Purpose?
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte
JK Freak
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 663
Likes: 0
From: Nashville, TN
Plus they look bad ass without being the pain that stingers are in DD activity.
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,800
Likes: 374
From: Midwest City, OK
Three different types of hoops:
Stinger (Interceptor_1972's Jeep).
Provides protection to prevent forward roll-overs during steep descents (some Jeeps also have them on the rear for steep ascents). Proper height* should also protect front of Jeep if you do roll over. Get in the way when maneuvering on very tight trails. Very popular on off-road only rock crawlers where roll overs are part of the fun, but otherwise may be more of a nuisance if used in the woods or jungles. Still, many really like the aggressive look and they are common on JKs where the owners never anticipate a roll over.
*A line drawn from the top of the stinger to the top of the windshield/roll bar should clear the top of the hood.
Winch hoop (my Jeep, but TORN's below also has a winch hoop).
Protects primarily the winch against damage. Some protection for the radiator area, but little protection for the front end sheetmetal.
Hood hoop (TORN's Jeep).
Protects the front sheet metal and radiator area from branches, etc (similar to a brush guard on pick-ups). Very popular on overlanding vehicles which may see use in jungles, etc. On the JK, may get in the way of removal of the front grill (changing a headlight assembly on TORN's Jeep would require removal of the winch and bumper). Some of these hoops are even larger than pictured and provide protection to the fenders. I don't know why anyone would need that. LOL.
As for affect to the radiator: I have not heard of anyone, even those living in Arizona where it truly does get hot, complaining that their Jeep overheats. And many folks are running all kinds of junk that block airflow, including winches that mount on top of bumpers instead of set down into the bumpers. If you prefer the cleaner look of no hoop, that's one thing. But, I would not avoid a hoop out of fear that it will cause your Jeep to overheat.
Stinger (Interceptor_1972's Jeep).
Provides protection to prevent forward roll-overs during steep descents (some Jeeps also have them on the rear for steep ascents). Proper height* should also protect front of Jeep if you do roll over. Get in the way when maneuvering on very tight trails. Very popular on off-road only rock crawlers where roll overs are part of the fun, but otherwise may be more of a nuisance if used in the woods or jungles. Still, many really like the aggressive look and they are common on JKs where the owners never anticipate a roll over.
*A line drawn from the top of the stinger to the top of the windshield/roll bar should clear the top of the hood.
Winch hoop (my Jeep, but TORN's below also has a winch hoop).
Protects primarily the winch against damage. Some protection for the radiator area, but little protection for the front end sheetmetal.
Hood hoop (TORN's Jeep).
Protects the front sheet metal and radiator area from branches, etc (similar to a brush guard on pick-ups). Very popular on overlanding vehicles which may see use in jungles, etc. On the JK, may get in the way of removal of the front grill (changing a headlight assembly on TORN's Jeep would require removal of the winch and bumper). Some of these hoops are even larger than pictured and provide protection to the fenders. I don't know why anyone would need that. LOL.
As for affect to the radiator: I have not heard of anyone, even those living in Arizona where it truly does get hot, complaining that their Jeep overheats. And many folks are running all kinds of junk that block airflow, including winches that mount on top of bumpers instead of set down into the bumpers. If you prefer the cleaner look of no hoop, that's one thing. But, I would not avoid a hoop out of fear that it will cause your Jeep to overheat.
Last edited by Mark Doiron; Mar 6, 2011 at 01:16 AM.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 368
Likes: 0
From: Pawcatuck, CT
I want to keep my fog lights, but I want them in the bumper itself. I also want to mount lights on each side of the hood near the windshield so I think that will be good (like the Hella or IPF HID's). I want to keep the grill as unobstructed as possible for airflow. Eventually I would like to get the AEV hood to improve cooling and for ease of adding a snorkel, but that is big $$$. I like an understated look. I want everything to be functional, but performance oriented. I like the MOPAR bumper but also like the RR XHD one as well. Thanks for all the feedback so far. I love this forum!
http://www.quadratec.com/products/12001_030X_PG.htm
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 490
Likes: 0
From: Fresno, CA
SM_RUBI had a great write up about the stinger bumper.
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...hlight=stinger
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...hlight=stinger