Aluminum is light. Aluminum is good. Aluminum parts can be designed and built to work well on our vehciles, even when they're being used to bash through the rocks.
A while ago, we talked about Savvy Off-Road's lightweight and strong aluminum TJ gas tank skids and rocker guards. We're now happy to report that they've developed a superb new aluminum TJ front bumper with winch mount.
Savvy Off-Road's new TJ front bumper is strong, yet weighs only 19.8 pounds complete with all hardware. That's less than the wimpy OE bumper! The material is 3/16" 6061 in T6 temper. The lower edge is reinforced with two layers to prevent bending when you slip off of stuff and land on the rocks as well as being layered over the mounting bolts on either side. While some lesser steel bumper corners fail when smashed into rocks, the Savvy Off-Road bumper corners won't. There's plenty of room in the wings to run an AntiRock or Dual Rate swaybar. The recovery tabs are back to back layers of 304 stainless steel. Pull at will.
The bumper has two winch mounting positions. The preferred set of holes is fully drilled and puts the winch as far back as possible to tuck the fairlead in as tight against the front. The optional set of holes has enough of the pattern drilled to enable you to bolt up the fairlead mount and then complete the rest of the holes needed by drilling through the holes in the mount. In the forward position, you can run the factory swaybar on top of the bumper. We don't know who would do this, but you can if you want.
All the rest of the holes are laser cut and match up with dual ¼” layers that make up the recovery points. They are attached using four Grade 8, ½” fine thread bolts with thick grade 8 washers and nyloc nuts, supplied with the bumper.
Savvy Off-Road has tested this bumper heavily in Johnson Valley, California, and it’s come through with flying colors. They say they wouldn't hesitate to send any TJ out there with their bumper installed for a steady diet of that level of trail.
Our Wranglers are well on their way to being lighter, stonger, and better looking, we must add.