John Cappa
Former Editor, Four Wheeler
There was no question the factory plastic front bumper on our '07 Wrangler had to hit the scrap heap. With plenty of aftermarket options, we went to searching for something that mounted solidly, protected the front end, was relatively lightweight, had tow points and a winch mount, and on top of all of that, it had to look good and match the JK's body lines. What we found was the Shrockworks stubby front bumper. It's made from high-strength 3/16-inch steel plate and comes standard with a 3/16-inch skidplate that protects the Rubicon's electronic sway-bar disconnect system. Two pierced and through-welded tow points, a submerged winch mount, and two light tabs are all standard features. Plus, it's completely bolt-on. We didn't have to drill or enlarge a single hole for the install, and all the necessary hardware was included.
We optioned on the winch-height tube ($75), two clevis shackles ($32), and the Anthracite metallic powdercoating ($120). Several other options are available, and every bumper is made-to-order right here in the U.S. We were really pleased with every detail, even down to the shipping. A hefty box and shape-conforming foam protect the bumper and its components from all but an 800-pound shipping gorilla or a nuclear blast.
