Hey everyone!
This is my last semester of COLLEGE! im hoping i will pass
but if i do pass then i have a job waiting for me and i've built my jeep
and getting ready to pull the trigger on things but the one thing i dont
have is a rear bumper with a tire carrier. so let i was looking at a few and
i really dont know that many companies that have what im looking for. So
let me tell what i am looking for.

1. Fits up to a 37" tire
2. Has a trailer hitch
3. D-rings
4. Strong


any help would be great and picture of the bumper on ur JK would
be GREAT!

thanks
sinkic

 

When i did my research, i had a few factors i looked into. instead of just telling you get what i have ill just say what i was looking for and if you agree you might go the route i did.

Wants:

at least 37" tire
integrated way to carry hi lift
integrated way to carry some gas
short wait time (you'd be surprised how long you gotta wait for some of them)
cost. (the ones i were looking at ranged from $750 to 2k


what i looked at

Rugged Ridge
LOD
Expedition 1
Hanson
AEV
Benchmark design
Rock Hard

Rugged Ridge
I decided, because of general consensus with rugged ridge, you get what you pay for, and people were un happy with it

LOD
LOD was one of my top choices. I loved the trail rack option, with gas can mounts, and rear fog lights. When i looked into it wait time was upwards of 2 months or more. And some had been waiting for 3-4+

Cost of the LOD quickly went up with all their options + SHIPPING

Also a fellow member was having some bad powder coating issues with his, and I live in a salty world and didnt want to deal with that at all. and For the price i didnt want to deal with that.

AEV
Love the look. Cost was high. Im 100% sure its a quality product. I decided i wanted something more rugged. and not as wide.

Expedition 1
this was my second choice. Turned away from this because again, cost, + shipping, and not everything i wanted was included. For $1600+ i didnt feel like i should pay for a couple extras. But i love the looks of this. a lot.

Rock hard
saw one in person and it wasnt bad, a few powder coating issues, and rattled a little, but it was on there for a few years and wheeled hard..

Benchmark
My choice.. $1250. shipped. Integrated hi mount lift, integrated gas carry ability with rotopax, integrated CB mount. Also accepts a rear winch. And has a 2 inch receiver hitch. (most the others do also)

That being said. Benchmark told me 2 weeks, and that sold me. Wont get too into detail too much.... but its been 12 weeks and i havnt gotten it yet. Its en route, and arrives Friday. Once installed i will post a thread about my initial reactions, fitment, and finish.

So my top choices were:
LOD
EXPEDITION 1
BENCHMARK DESIGNS

There are others out there. But These are what i researched and what i liked. I went back and forth for a long time. So, good luck

 

damn dude, told 2 weeks and its been 12 weeks now??? thing looks sick, but thats nuts!! I am probably going to go with the Smitty XRC rear with tire carrier, looks good and holds up to a 40 inch tire for like 750$.

 

Dito on what RAfi said. I was looking for very similar things and ultimately went with LOD gen 2 w/rack and jeep can holders. It was worth the wait and it is still solid after two summers of wheeling.

Good luck on graduation and the pending job.

 

so i was looking around and have cut it down to three.
my three are

Smittybilt XRC Rear Bumper
JKRTC-P: JK REAR SPINDLE BUMPER/ROUND TUBE TIRE CARRIER COMBO
2007-2010 Jeep JK Signature Series Rear Bumper with Tire Carrier

now with the Hanson i cant see the handle or how the gate locks? does
anyone have a picture of it?
With smittybilt there is a huge thread on people having issues with it
and other people it works fine so it sounds hit and miss.
LOD people talked about wait time and i cant see how the gate locks

But if i were to rate them
it would be
smittybilt
hanson
LOD

but i was wondering how everyone feels on these bumpers

thanks
sinkic

 

i also forgot the smitybuilt, but found that same thread you did, and after speaking to a few and seeing exactly what was bothering them, i didnt even want to take the chance.

good luck

 

Still very happy with my LoD tire carrier bumper. Very well built and is rated for a 37" tire. The rear lights are sweet for backing up in the pitch black! I had a few powder coating chips on my rear swing gate portion, but they were easily touched up with some Rustoleum paint. The swing gate locks nicely but keep the swing gate greased up and it will work flawless. It would be nice if LoD would figure out a way to intergrate the swing gate and tire carrier, but I can deal with it! I get lots of comments on the bumper!

 

I have the LOD stubby with tire carrier and over all its an awesome product. I too have the same powder coat issues at the hinge but right now I'm in Yuma AZ and moisture isn't on the top of my list of concerns. I did bash the jeep through some 3 foot whoop's on new years weekend at excessive speed and something is bent but still no rattle (only rattle is the foot on the high lift) but this bumper is holding up really well to the weight getting dragged on it too. Decent price and I honestly couldnt tell you how long it took to get because I ordered it when I was over seas. They have really good customer service in my experience as well. Still dont have my gerry can mounts on yet but I know I was reading somewhere on the forum that some people had issues with those breaking but I believe that was on the first Gen. I have a 37" mickey thompson and a high lift on mine and the 3rd brake light is my only real gripe.