Is it possible to get a decent steel front bumper for ~$500 or cheaper?

[FxFormat]

Hey guys, where's everyone buying their stuff, i'm brand new into the LC Scene, i came from a 2013 JK 2 door. Everything for that vehicle was cheap, then I was browsing around for a steel front bumper for the 100 LC and everything is over a grand?? I checked ebay, amazon, the bumper i like is the ARB style one. I won't be doing much wheeling, maybe some dirt roads with mild rock climbs, nothing crazy like you folks in here.


I took the front apart today, I'm going to paint the grill, it needs some love badly, and is looking to get an aftermarket bumper so any help would be helpful, thanks.

 

[FxFormat]

I also need to look at wheels and tires too, i like the wheels i had on my JK, will this look weird on an LC?

 

[abuck99]

Welcome to the club. Dont know of any $500 bumpers- (not even a stock bumper). Sorry man, gonna have to get used to spending in $1k increments. Seems like every upgrade (or key service) comes in $1,000+ increments. Also the majority of innovators/fabricators of 100 parts are west of the Rockies, so you've got shipping to contend with as well.

Consider that there are "K'jillions" (100's of thousands) of JK's and many common body parts between them, makes it easy to get the production numbers up and the cost down and many of those parts are more cosmetic than functional. 100 series production numbers peaked a something like 7,000 units in one year, but by mid 2000's they were making 3 to 4,000 a year, so fractionally fewer 100s to JK's. Then there are a smaller fraction of people who up fit 100's, super low numbers. Most things 100 series are custom made, or very low run rates which makes them much more expensive to up fit.

 

[Manhattan]

Add to what @abuck99 said... the CJ/YJ/TJ/JK is sort of the "Erector Set" of 4x4s - simple design; simple to mod. If you look at the backside of a Wrangler bumper and compare it to a bumper for a 100, you'll see where a lot of that cost (R&D and fab) is going.

 

[Jeepster09]

I found a couple in that price range for you....here are the pictures!

 

[FxFormat]

I guess the market for LC's aren't anywhere near jeeps so we don't have too many choices. I guess i'll just have to bite the bullet and grab one, didn't find anything used in the for sale section.

 

[chrisratz]

Keep your eye on Craigslist. I was looking for a rear ARB a few years back, and found a front and rear for $800 in perfect condition. The rear is on my truck now and the front I sold for 700 (already had a front). Somebody else here just found a front combo style bumper on CL for $400.

 

[FxFormat]

Keep your eye on Craigslist. I was looking for a rear ARB a few years back, and found a front and rear for $800 in perfect condition. The rear is on my truck now and the front I sold for 700 (already had a front). Somebody else here just found a front combo style bumper on CL for $400.

Yeah i just commented in that thread, lol, such a lucky find, yours is even better! Where i live there aren't as many trails so the off roading scene is lackluster to say the least. There are tons of JKs modded to the wazoo but they mall crawl, i know because the paint is shiny and the under carriage is rust-free, dent-free..no battle scars.

 

[bucfl]

You can try a local cruiser club and see if they know of any fab shops. I wanted a @reevesci slider but out of my price range. Found a local guy starting his business and is making them for me.

My buddy owns a Ruby and got sliders, front/rear bumpers for under $700. Crazy!

 

[jLB]

About the cheapest I've seen new are the Chinese knockoffs like this:

SoFlo Bumpers

which are still a good bit above your requested budget, and I wouldn't let one of those close to one of my LC/LX (I wouldn't call them decent)

an example review of one of their rears:

SoFlo Rear Bumper Review

As mentioned by previous posters above, your best bet would be to find a used ARB/TJM/BIOR/Ironman/Dissent/Slee near you in either the mud classified or craigslist, or just keep saving money until you can buy a new one.

 

[crimsonaudio]

I've seen used aftermarket bumpers for sale occasionally in the classifieds here. Really depends on how patient you are - if you can wait a few months or even a year, I'll bet you can find one used.

 

[duggy]

Welcome to the Land Cruiser Tax.

 

[87warrior]

I came to the 100 after owning only Jeep and am constantly blown away by the cost of a good bumper or other aftermarket accessories. I do understand why and appreciate the craftsmanship these vendors put into their products. The Land Cruiser Tax has helped me keep the 100 mostly stock since I can't convince myself to buy accessories at nearly the same price I paid for the entire vehicle. Makes my wife happier too.

 

[FxFormat]

I came to the 100 after owning only Jeep and am constantly blown away by the cost of a good bumper or other aftermarket accessories. I do understand why and appreciate the craftsmanship these vendors put into their products. The Land Cruiser Tax has helped me keep the 100 mostly stock since I can't convince myself to buy accessories at nearly the same price I paid for the entire vehicle. Makes my wife happier too.

Yeah it sucks, I just want a bumper, mild lift, wheels and tires and i'll be done. I don't think i'm going to mod the rear, this is a secondary vehicle so i dont want to spend too much on it.

 

[FxFormat]

About the cheapest I've seen new are the Chinese knockoffs like this:

SoFlo Bumpers

which are still a good bit above your requested budget, and I wouldn't let one of those close to one of my LC/LX (I wouldn't call them decent)

an example review of one of their rears:

SoFlo Rear Bumper Review

As mentioned by previous posters above, your best bet would be to find a used ARB/TJM/BIOR/Ironman/Dissent/Slee near you in either the mud classified or craigslist, or just keep saving money until you can buy a new one.

Oh didn't know they make knockoffs of the ARB, hehe it's not about the money, i have plenty i'm just frugal with what i spend it on. I guess i'm used to spending 300 on a steel bumper for my jeep then i look at LC stuff and it makes me want to throw up. I've been trolling craig's list every day for the past 3 months, and didn't find anything so i made this post.

 

[spressomon]

Frankly, if you don't need a winch I'd forgo spending the bucks on a front bumper ... unless its a visual thang

 

[FxFormat]

Frankly, if you don't need a winch I'd forgo spending the bucks on a front bumper ... unless its a visual thang

I won't be using a winch, and it's 80% visual 20% practical. The nearest off road trail for me is 1.5 hours away, and it's just dirt roads with small rocks here and there, nothing like the Rubicon trail

 

[Hornd]

I'd contact this guy, maybe the 100 is close to the 80???

1990 - 1997 FJ80/FZJ80 winch bumper kit

 

[abuck99]

One of the best front options is the Dissent bumper. You pay just under $1k for Bens modular bumper- highly functional, and aesthetically a 10 out of 10. Ben is a vendor here on Mud.

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