[4x4jeepcrew]

one of the next mods on my jeep will be a front bumper and the warn 8000 winch. i just wanna know what bumper to go with. i love the ARB's but how strong are they compared to other bumpers?

[Jones]

The ARB is my second favorite bumper for the WJ. IMO the best looking one is the Icelandoffroad bumper.

[Greeeeenberg]

did you do the math on the winch yet??? IM pretty sure you want at least a 9k.

[4x4jeepcrew]

Originally Posted by Greeeeenberg

did you do the math on the winch yet??? IM pretty sure you want at least a 9k.

why is that? my jeep wont weigh more than 5000lbs

[ct-snoman]

Originally Posted by 4x4jeepcrew

why is that? my jeep wont weigh more than 5000lbs

1) The winch pull weight should equal at least 1.5x the gross vehicle weight of your vehicle

2) As the drum fills with the cable, the rated line pull decreases. Thus, the more rated pull the winch has, the more it can pull as the drum fills. Typically, for each layer of wire that wraps around the drum, deduct 10% off the rated line pull.

Also, in deep mud, you'll want extra capacity

(very simplified explanation)

[4x4jeepcrew]

ok so an 8000 is cutting it close then. might save up a little more and get 9.5k. But what are your thoughts on an arb?

[GraKee99]

I think ARB is big and bulky. Not my favorite, if I had to get one I would go with trailready or iceland.

[ct-snoman]

Originally Posted by 4x4jeepcrew

ok so an 8000 is cutting it close then. might save up a little more and get 9.5k. But what are your thoughts on an arb?

I have a custom KMA bumper - I prefer the custom look of aftermarket bumpers rather than the assembly line looking ones, like ARB, which appear the same as everyone else's ARB.

But they are a quality bumper, though you are paying more for the name ARB.

There are other bumpers out there like TR and as ZJones mentioned, IcelandOffroad is [finally] getting ready to sell their fiberglass bumpers. Check out the thread on that bumper to see

[GraKee99]

Also, WarHog is releasing his. It is one of the cheapest on the market.

[Greeeeenberg]

Heres why for the bumper. I did this for a ZJ for Zjones when he was thinking about winches

Originally Posted by Greeeeenberg

Well lets think about this mathmatically.

GVW is 2245 kilograms = 4 949.37779 pounds
so lets say 4950 lbs thats just the vechicle.

Now you have oversized tires
Stock is 235/75-16 ~38lbs *5 = 190
New is 33"-12.5"-15 ~52lbs *5 = 260
SO there is an extra 50 lbs
Total 5000lbs even

Now add your weight, your bumper, the long arms weight, etc etc.
So do you think another ~400-500lbs so lets go 450
Now your total is 5450lbs

Times that by 1.5 for a safety factor
1.5*5450lbs=8175lbs.

Im neglecting tools and stuff for camping etc etc.

i think you are better off with the 10k.

**Disclaimer rough estimate. If another user finds this wrong please help me out***

Give or take a few pounds either way. Id rather go big and be safe. Also since your in NC i beat you do more mud then rock so i would defiantly go on the bigger side.

[tsconver]

i love my arb, quality made but limited onteh winches it will accpet because of the way they mount. I have a milemarker 9500 lb winch in mine with sunthetic rope, the rope really cuts the weight down.

[walter_da_jpr]

ARBs look sweet. But this is my new fav bumber.
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f37/started-building-my-wj-front-bumper-740315/

[Clayton00grand]

I got the ARb after the accident on mine haven't pulled anything with it yet but love looks of it for the price I got a heck of deal on it, I really wanted the Trailready but I couldn't justify the extra cash for it.

[jack9580]

I had an arb on my previos wj and I did not like it. the hole for the shackels are to close to the ground and when you are stuck in 2 feet of mud it sucks crawling under to get a strap hooked up. other that that it was ok. for this wj i will be getting the iceland offroad bumper. it looks great and weights alot less than others on the market.

[Redstarlover]

The TR bumper looks good on a WJ,and is strong, it cost more than a ARB I think, but oh well.
I put a 8000# Mike Marker winch and have had no problems with it, the bumper fits great, so good luck.
Matt