Smittybilt Rear Bumper with Tire Carrier:

**Best4x4** · 12-08-2008, 07:36 PM

I've recently added 33inch tires to my 05 Rubicon. I currently have Warn bumpers front and rear and I used spacers to bring the spare tire rubber bumpers on the body and tailgate out so they touch the tire.

My question is how well built is the Smittybilt Rear Bumper/Tire Carrier? Does it hold up well? 4Wheel Parts is having 20% off sale so I can get both the front and rear bumper with the tire carrier for $351.00 or just $223.00 for the rear bumper. I'd of coarse be selling my Warn Bumpers to help pay for the new ones.

What do you guys think? I'd love to buy a Warn rear bumper and tire carrier, but I don't see spending $600.00 for it vs $223.00 for the Smittybilt. Any advice would be great and if anyone has the Smittybilt I'd like a closer picture of the latch system.

Thanks

Jim Shanks · 12-08-2008, 07:44 PM

It is a very well built piece of equipment. I have installed the same one on two different TJ's. Only reason I removed it from mine is I got a sweet deal on a bumper w/ carrier after destroying my rear bumper. If you have 1/4" plate tub guards it can be interesting to install, but if thought through it will just make it stronger. I feel it's limitation of 35" tire is only because of the factory sheet metal, not because of the carrier.

Newer design does not have problems with body lift like the older design. The older design can even be modified to work w/ a bodylift as I did that to mine. Sorry, I have no pics of it.

Jim

**Best4x4** · 12-08-2008, 07:49 PM

I have a 1.25 JKS body lift on my Jeep. Glad to hear it's well built! Great price as well even if it's not on sale vs the others out there. I'd just leave my current setup alone, but I'm really worried about that 33 on the tailgate even after I moved out the rubber bumpers I can tell the hinges are struggling with the weight!

**tjthorson** · 12-08-2008, 07:56 PM

I like it. After a year - it does rattle a bit over bumps - i need to shim up my lower bump stop on the body to compensate.

Important note - while it is NOT rated for towing - and I am not advocating it for towing - and yes I am assuming the liability for towing with it - i have towed my popup camper across multiple states - and use it to tow my 3600# boat 2 blocks to the boat ramp and it has held up fine.

i did install the frame tieins and drilled for the extra bolts that it comes with....

This is the best shot I have of it.

**Best4x4** · 12-08-2008, 07:59 PM

Thanks I appreciate all the info!

bandit455 · 12-08-2008, 07:59 PM

how does ur plow mount?

sorry for the hijack...

tooofast · 12-08-2008, 08:00 PM

its ok.. you need a 1inch body lift if you dont want to do a little cutting.. works well with my 35" and i added a small plate to sure up the latch. At the time it was well worth the money.. Added my high lift mount to it also and have yet to catch it on a rock.. its pretty high on the swing out arm..

odoyle31313 · 12-08-2008, 08:26 PM

i have one as well. i really like it and it holds up pretty well.

**tjthorson** · 12-09-2008, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bandit455

how does ur plow mount?

sorry for the hijack...

Ill post once here to answer you - but lets not muck up his thread....

Its a sno-way MT. You can read all about it over at "plowsite.com" - i am both the Sno-way and Jeep forums regularly.....

It just bolts to the frame - 6 bolts total - and i remove it in the spring for off-road season. Takes about 15 minutes to remove.....
Kinda hard to see with all the snow....

**TJDaveX** · 12-09-2008, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odoyle31313

i have one as well. i really like it and it holds up pretty well.

Nice Jeep! Does that bumper interfere with your frame mounted receiver hitch? I have been holding off buying a bumper because for now I still haul my boat to the river (2 blocks) with the Jeep. I thought I would have to remove my hitch and use the bumper reciever which I heard is not tow rated. Although, in the new 4wd hardware catalog, it says the Smitty bumper is rated for 9000 pounds? could this be a new one with frame tie ins? Thanx. Dave

**rubidriver** · 12-09-2008, 12:04 PM

I would too like to know how this thing tows. Has anyone used the reciever as a recovery point? If so how did it hold up?

**yellowismellow** · 12-09-2008, 12:20 PM

Question: do these bumpers have frame tie-ins? What about D-ring mounts?

QuickSilverCon · 12-09-2008, 12:52 PM

My buddy has one and we have tugged on it pretty hard without any problems. I wouldn't worry about it compromising under a normal recovery situation.

odoyle31313 · 12-09-2008, 01:29 PM

pinkeye, no it doesnt interfere with it, but it was a little funky to install. I've never towed with the smittybilt hitch but the other one is just as strong as always. ive been meaning to cut the hitch out of the smittybilt bumper but just havent gotten around to it yet.

**tjthorson** · 12-09-2008, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubidriver

I would too like to know how this thing tows. Has anyone used the reciever as a recovery point? If so how did it hold up?

On an outing when the Rubi was still new and stock - I got stuck going DOWNHILL wedged with the skidplate on a tree stump and teetering between the front and rear tires.

Someone hooked up a buggy to that hitch on the Smittybuilt bumper and tried several times to get me off of there - first with some pulling - then with trying to "jerk" me off of it.

It finally took that jeep, hooked to a second jeep with another strap - and the two jeeps to pull me back off the stump. The bumper never flinched....

And that was not on D-rings (which mine doesnt have) - just the hitch pin through the loop in the strap....