So many choices..need noob advise.sliders & fronts

[froggo27]

Taxes came in :

#1: Which rock slider do you guys like, i've researched and got quite a few results, main ones i've been looking at are Kevin's and JKS...what do you guys use and like around here? explain why

#2: I've read and seen about both the grille guards and the big bulky front bumpers. My guestion is: is it even worth getting the front bumper guard(picture 1) or is it just better to get the bumper from the start(picture 2)?

This Jeep is going to be a daily driver and a weekend four-wheelin rig

[SteelBlue_WJ]

depends on if you wheel heavy and what you want. if you want to get the full bumper get the bumper... they are more pricey (way more) but offer more protection and if you wheel hard and wheel alot the got for it if you can afford it, but if you have a smaller lift or no lift at all I wouldnt get it unless you plan on going bigger or mind the consequences... it will kill your approach angle. Brush guards look nice but dont offer as much protection as a armour bumper. basically get what you like and to each his own, because it's your rig.

Arlo will chime in shorty and recommend the JKS sliders..

[nierace]

Supernerfs are considered "the best" for WJ I've had great luck with them on the trails install was a whore I ended up paying a shop to do it.

Best to just save your money and get a real bumper.

[froggo27]

Originally Posted by SteelBlue_WJ

Arlo will chime in shorty and recommend the JKS sliders..

Actualy i already got advise from him, just seeing other opinions.

[froggo27]

29 people have viewed this and nobody usues rock sliders or what? at least state what you got.

[ArloGuthroJeep]

I would chime in, but what good would that do?

[froggo27]

Originally Posted by ArloGuthroJeep

I would chime in, but what good would that do?

at least you wrote something ..JKS

[Texas ZJ1]

Get Kevins or the Super Nerfs, it is YOUR jeep. The front bumper will help only if you are planning on needing to touch something while wheeling. The bull bar won't allow you to use the vehicle's momentum to nudge a rock or tree.


Hunter

[Ds4x4]

Originally Posted by Texas ZJ1

Get Kevins or the Super Nerfs, it is YOUR jeep. The front bumper will help only if you are planning on needing to touch something while wheeling. The bull bar won't allow you to use the vehicle's momentum to nudge a rock or tree.


Hunter

you know how that goes on here Hunter.. Some people have issues with trees on the trail or in their driveway...


Looks like a TrailReady bumper on the second pic.. Take a look at Kennesaw Mountain, thats what i will be getting.. Rear tire carrier and WideTrack Wincher


From the FAQ:

Custom Bumpers.
Fronts
ARB Bull Bar - www.arb.com.au
Kevin's - www.kevinsjeepparts.com
Protofab - www.protofab4x4.com
Carolina Rock Shop - www.carolinarockshop.com
Trail Ready - www.trailready.com
Hanson - www.hansonenterprise.com
Kennesaw Mountian - www.kenmtn.com
Off The Back - www.offtheback.net
Dream Works - dreamworks-customs.net/
Custom 4x4 Fabrications - www.custom4x4fabrication.com/
Tomken - www.tomken.com
Rock Ware - www.rockware.net
Armorology - www.armorology.com
Cassidy Customs - http://cassidyscustom.com/
Off-Road Fabrication - http://www.offroad-fabrication.com/home/home.htm

Rears
Kevin's - www.kevinsjeepparts.com
Protofab - www.protofab4x4.com
Trail Ready - www.trailready.com
Kennesaw Mountian - www.kenmtn.com
Off The Back - www.offtheback.net
Tomken - www.tomken.com
Rock Ware - www.rockware.net
Armorology - www.armorology.com
Off-Road Fabrication - http://www.offroad-fabrication.com/home/home.htm

[nierace]

You can always get a bumper custom fabb'd

Most of the custom ones blow away the "generics" (IMO based on appearance). Only problem is having a setup so that your airbags still work.

[ras2001wj]

Originally Posted by nierace

You can always get a bumper custom fabb'd

Most of the custom ones blow away the "generics" (IMO based on appearance). Only problem is having a setup so that your airbags still work.

I agree, i have seen the ARB up close and it is pretty flimsy, as for other, i have not seen many I have liked.

And airbags not working is not good, but a trail airbag cutoff switch would be nice

[ArloGuthroJeep]

You called an ARB "flimsy" Was it the paper mache version used for mockup?

Never heard of an airbag going off while offroading. The systems take quite a hit to go off. In my old ZJ I hit a brick wall @ 30mph and it didn't go off. Don't know about you, but I don't go 30mph offroad

[nierace]

I haven't heard of it happening in a Grand, but alot of cars with little fender benders at 5mph will deploy the airbag. But thats also older generations, newer cars have better technology, at 5mph you dont want the airbag to go off. They do damage to little people

But a hit in the right spot I'm sure it could get deployed. That would suck on the trial.


But my concern is more towards the insurance side, not having functional airbags does make the vehicle a bit more unsafe...

If you dont DD then you probably don't care. The only problem I see with the ARB is that its so damn big. It crushes your approach angle unless you're running 6" of lift.

[Texas ZJ1]

Therefore,

start at 6 inches of lift.


Hunter

[Ds4x4]

Originally Posted by ArloGuthroJeep

You called an ARB "flimsy" Was it the paper mache version used for mockup?

Never heard of an airbag going off while offroading. The systems take quite a hit to go off. In my old ZJ I hit a brick wall @ 30mph and it didn't go off. Don't know about you, but I don't go 30mph offroad

I posted some stuff about airbags not too long ago, all systems are different but have the same concept or deployment.. heres a little recap...

Older Gen Air-Bags would deploy no matter what you hit and at almost any speed.. if you were sitting on the steering wheel it would slam into you and cause more damage then the wreck.. These early systems didn't compute much at all and used sensors along the front bumper or Inertia switches to register ab-normal de-acceleration

Now, Next Gen. Air-Bags use a Computer to compute many varibles in a crash.. Such as Speed, De-Acceleration, Weight in the Seats, Position of the seat in comparison to the Steering wheel and Pass. Side dash.... Depending on what side is impacted depends on which bags will deploy.. Some Vehicles Such as the Mini-Cooper Have 6+ Bags.... you'll probably never see a crash with a vehicle equipped with Advanced Air-Bag systems such as the Mini-Cooper, deploy all the airbags.. In todays world you can expect any vehicle you purchase new to have side curtain air bags, driver and passenger bags, possibly even rear seat passanger bags.. Some are deployed chemically, some use High pressure canisters (which can be hidden anywhere in the pillers) and others use explosives..


If all that wasn't enough, I haven't mentioned the other safety systems installed on a vehicle such as the S-Class Mercedes Convertable that has Pop Up RollBars.. Of course we can't forget the Seatbelt Restraint System that most often includes small explosive charges the size of a .22 caliber round to fire off and retract the Seatbelt..



As a Firefighter and rolling up on a new vehicle or even older involved in a motor vehicle crash we don't just cut anymore.. we have to step back and make sure we don't cut the wrong spot and hurt our own people or the patient.... I will post videos of these canisters being cut if i can find them...

If the factors are right.. A 10MPH crash could set an airbag off.. unlikley but possible and not by a malfuntion of the system. Also remember that if its with another vehicle the force of that vehicle will make everything at least double..
Most of this information came from the All State Institute for Safety Video...