| It usually doesn't take the new owner long after | | | | have a ton of options! For me I'd stick with a |
| getting their first Jeep to start thinking about | | | | well-known company that offers a warranty on |
| making modifications. Owning a Jeep and | | | | its products. You know their bumpers have been |
| self-modifying it seem to go hand in hand like | | | | tested, passed DOT regulations, and the company |
| owning a hot tub and soaking. You see other | | | | stands behind them for defects. You won't get |
| jeeps tooling down the road and they look so | | | | any of that from a local shop, and even if you do, |
| much more,.....well, Jeep-like. You know the look | | | | who knows how long they'll be around to support |
| "Rough and ready to rock on!" A lot of first time | | | | it? Warrior makes a good basic steel bumper |
| owners may wonder, "What do I need to do to | | | | along with tube units. Warn makes a nice Rock |
| get that look?" Well you can give your vehicle | | | | Crawler Bumper with an optional grille guard. And |
| that look with 4 modifications. | | | | ARB makes a tube bumper they call a Bull Bar. All |
| First, tires and wheels are a good place to start. | | | | three companies are recognized for well-made |
| Those stock tires are pretty wimpy looking and | | | | products and they all have a very good |
| spicing up the tires and wheels goes a long way | | | | reputation. I don't think you can go wrong with |
| to making your Jeep take on a new appearance. | | | | one of their bumpers. |
| You'll want to consider if you'll be installing a lift | | | | Third, lift that Jeep. Raising your Jeep gives it a |
| and how much of one before you jump on the | | | | better, hardier profile. It really makes a difference. |
| tires. The bigger the lift the larger the tires you'll | | | | You can lift it with a simple lift system like coil |
| be able to run. Tires and wheels might be a simple | | | | spacers or lift shackles. Or you can go with a |
| way to change the look of your rig, but they | | | | body lift or, even bigger and better, a suspension |
| won't be an inexpensive way to go. They can be | | | | lift. There are tons of options from style, |
| downright costly! You'll need to consider your Jeep | | | | manufacturer, and price to select from. So, do |
| use before investing. Is it a daily driver, purely an | | | | your research and be thorough before making a |
| offroad vehicle, or a mix of the two? You'll also | | | | final decision. |
| want to consider how your Jeep is powered and | | | | Fourth, you've lifted your Jeep and have bigger |
| geared. A number of folks place way too much | | | | tires, now it'll look a whole lot better with bigger |
| rubber under their rig and then wonder why it | | | | fender flares. The higher vehicle and larger tires |
| doesn't respond or have any pick-up! Hello, you | | | | scream for wider and more pronounced fender |
| just added a few hundred pounds of rubber; do | | | | flares! The most popular these days seem to be |
| you think that it will have an effect? If you go | | | | the Bushwacker 6 inch extended fender flares. |
| with large tires, you might need to upgrade your | | | | Their flares are made of a tough Dura-Flex |
| gears. There is a cause and effect at work here. | | | | material so they take a beating and are easy to |
| How your Jeep is powered and how you use it | | | | maintain. They bolt on using existing factory drilled |
| should ultimately determine what wheel and tire | | | | holes and come in a black matte finish that is |
| package you select. Consult with your local | | | | easy to custom paint. Bushwacker backs them up |
| offroad performance shop if you're not sure or | | | | with a Limited Lifetime Warranty. Xenon and |
| you need help. They should be able to steer you | | | | Bestop also make very good extended fender |
| in the right direction. | | | | flares for your Jeep. Whichever flare you choose, |
| Second, those stock bumpers really do need to | | | | your Jeep will look better with the extended type, |
| go. Not only are they unimpressive, they simply | | | | and they'll offer better protection against the |
| will not stand up to an offroad beating! There are | | | | flying debris from those larger tires. |
| a ton of options out there from tube units to the | | | | With these four upgrades your Jeep will take on |
| rock crawler bombproof heavy-gauge block units. | | | | that rugged rock ready look. Don't hesitate to |
| The finishes are wide and varied as well; stainless | | | | contact a local performance offroad shop or a |
| steel, black powder coated, titanium finish (the | | | | couple of them to ask questions and get input. |
| latest craze), etc. Bumpers seem to be made by | | | | The people at these shops are heavily involved in |
| everyone these days from small shops making | | | | the sport of wheeling and they can offer some |
| custom units to major manufacturers like Warn, | | | | valuable insight into your options. |
| Warrior and ARB producing lines of them. So you | | | | |