I've read tons of posts relating to these 2 bumpers, but most are poser pictures and write-ups on how to install. Few have asked for or offered real-world advice. I am between the LoD front bumper and Shrockworks mid-width front bumper. I will have a Warn Powerplant attached.

My question is simple. Which would you recommend for my particular situation as follows:

'08 Rubicon Unlimited (Stone White ). I don't plan on upgrading suspension or wheels/tires in the next 2 years. I don't wheel hard, but often go offroad on untraveled trails with my family and camp overnight in remote places, which is why I prefer having a winch with the compressor (since I often travel alone with the family - no other Jeepers nearby).

I don't like the heavy look of the AEV, ARB or Bestop bumpers that go all the way out to the fenders and have the "safari" look to them. I would prefer to have a simple, smaller bumper, even though the smaller bumpers may offer less protection for my fender flares.

I am leaning towards the LoD, mainly for the clean look and price consideration (almost 1/2 of Shrockworks with bar), but I really like the look of the winch bar on the Shrockworks. Questions to consider:
1. Does the LoD offer better protection for the fenders since it goes out a bit more than the Shrockworks? Or are they about the same?
2. Do either one offer better ground clearance or approach angles?
3. Does the bar really make a difference? For instance, If I hit a deer (or Bigfoot, for you Northerners ) head-on at 20-25mph, will the bar deflect any of the impact and reduce damage to any of my front-end parts (i.e. winch, headlights, grill, etc.)?

Also, what height coil spacer would I likely need for these bumpers with the Powerplant on stock suspension and where would I find it?

Thanks in advance!

 

I think if you call LoD, you can get a winch hoop added.

I keep flipping back and forth between those two bumpers too. Ive seen the LoD in person on Stumpman's jeep and it is really nice. But I still like the Shrockrocks. Hopefully I'll get to see the Shrockwork's mid too at some point. too many nice options lol

 

Our bumper weighs 98lbs. with both the skid and winch plate. The skid is removable incase it is ever damaged and goes all the way back to cover the Rubicon auto disconnect. The bumper extends about 1" forward and about 3/4" below the frame end plate. It is tucked as tight as possible for clearance. The wings are angled the ways they are for approach angles from a 3/4 head on approach and it is only wide enough for the stock lights to fit outside of the frame rails so as much tire as possible can get at the obsticle, not the bumper. The main objective of it was to be give as much wheeling advantage while housing a winch, while keeping the winch low for CG and include stock lights. We made accomodations to upgrade to aftermarket lights in those holes as well.

I do think the grill hoop would make a difference in protecting the winch and radiator from head on contact with something supstantial. It may be the difference between limping out and being stuck dead in the water.

Nick

 

I dont think you could go wrong with either one! I am a Shrockworks man myself! Would you guys get busy on the rear end!............ .....Wait, that didn't sound so good!

 

No rear ending for me. .....yet.

Thanks for the info. I love the Shrockworks mid-width and stubby - I actually like the way the stubby looks on the JK better than the mid-width, but I prefer having some protection over the fenders and like the built-in fog light holes of the mid-width. I'm not usually this indecisive.

Does the LoD built-in "skid plate" reach as far back as the one from Shrockworks? From the angle of the pictures I've seem posted here, it doesn't appear so, but there may be something else behind the bumper that the pictures don't show. Does it at least cover the electronic disco motor?

Also, does anyone know where I can see a high-quality close-up view of the textured powdercoat finish on the Shrockworks bumper? Does is look anything like the textured powdercoat finish on the LoD that WOL has on his write-ups? WOL's current Shrockworks Stubby appears to be the smooth black powdercoat, not the textured powdercoat, right? I'd like something that comes close to the finish of the stock Rubi fender flares.

Thanks again.

 

I'm sort of in the same boat as nclehmann , I like both of the bumpers. I don't plan on upgrading the suspesion fo a little while yet, (wife issue), and I'm wondering how they look on a 4 door Ruby with stock suspension. Anyone have pics?

 

WOL has excellent quality close up and expanded views of the LoD and Shrockworks Stubby in his JK Gallery. I like his LoD pics because his tires and suspension were stock at the time he installed the LoD bumper, so it gave me a much better idea of what mine would look like. When he installed his Shrockworks Stubby, he had a 3" lift and 35s on new wheels, so it's difficult to gauge how it would look on a stock Rubi.

Search the Show & Tell threads for Shrockworks and you'll get plenty of good pics - some Stubbies and some Mid-Widths.

I'm still leaning towards the LoD for the WAF. Although I love the aggressive look of the Shrockworks, I think the rock-crawling look may be too much for my wife to accept. I'm going to call LoD and see if they can place fog lght tabs next to the winch hole, just before the bemper starts to slant upwards and out. I think there should be enough space to place a set of IPF 960s flanking the Warn Powerplant.

 

Do you know if the LOD has enough protection for the sway bar disco?

 

I asked the same question 3 posts up.

 

Sorry, it's getting late. Anyway, there's a guy in the show and tewll section with a mid width on a stock white Ruby. I think the Shrockworks bumper looks better. That's where I'm leaning I think. Have a look.

https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...ighlight=width