Understated aftermarket upgrades/accessories?

[Dick_Castlesmurff]

If I go Base I'll want to shop for aftermarket upgrades - bumpers for example - but I don't want anything crazy. Looking at the Jeep aftermarket scene all I see is fairly aggressive.

I don't want to be driving around in a Monster Energy drink promotional vehicle.

Anyway, I imagine anyone making Jeep aftermarket products will also be making like products for the Bronco... What companies should I be looking to?

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[BroncoSarge]

only one i have seen so far

https://www.addictivedesertdesigns.com/2021-ford-bronco

 

[lobbs611]

These guys have some very clean looking Jeep stuff. I'm hoping they get involved with the Bronco.

https://maximus-3.com/

 

[TOTALBRO]

As a JL owner who made the mistake of thinking "the aftermarket will eventually make a bumper that looks understated and close to factory", let me assure you that it simply won't happen. If you want a factory look, you should really consider upgrading to the factory parts you like from the start, or buying second-hand on these forums if it's not offered on your trim.

The big thing is that factory bumpers are stamped. The stamping process is more expensive and more difficult to design than the typical welded aftermarket bumper. This leads to the possibility of cleaner, more interesting curves in the bumper. One downside, however, is that a stamped bumper generally will use thinner steel than an aftermarket one, necessitating crush-cans or other behind-the-bumper hardware to increase their protective capabilities.

The aftermarket has only a few companies that make stamped bumpers. For Jeeps, I can only think of Rugged Ridge (hideous junk) and AEV (high quality, very respected, and decent-looking, but extremely overpriced). I'm sure there may be some others, but for the most part every major player in the aftermarket scene is a small shop welding several flat pieces of steel together. On one hand, you can achieve a much stronger bumper due to the sheer thickness of steel this way. But on the other, you end up with a clearly-aftermarket-looking bumper.

Another downside to the aftermarket: rust. Within my small wheeling circle, there are several generations of Jeeps and collectively we have gone through tons of aftermarket parts from numerous brands. They all eventually rust. All of them. Doesn't matter how good the powder-coating is, eventually the rust comes through. I don't know what they do from the factory, but Mopar's factory steel armor pieces haven't rusted on any of us. For what it's worth, all the other guys in my group swear that "it's just a Jeep thing" and don't mind getting parts re-powdercoated every few years (or spot-treating as needed). Me, I don't buy that at all, and I find it unacceptable.

On my Jeep, I went through a Westin WJ2 full-width, a Warn Elite full-width, and an LOD Signature Series mid-width... ever in pursuit of "that factory look". The final result? I finally gave up/in and purchased the upgraded factory steel bumper second-hand; the move I should have made from the get-go. It still pains me knowing I could have had factory steel for both front and rear from the factory for $1100 (if I recall correctly).

 

[BravoZulu]

only one i have seen so far

Hope they make these doors!!

 

[Rogues Gambit]

If I go Base I'll want to shop for aftermarket upgrades - bumpers for example - but I don't want anything crazy. Looking at the Jeep aftermarket scene all I see is fairly aggressive.

I don't want to be driving around in a Monster Energy drink promotional vehicle.

Anyway, I imagine anyone making Jeep aftermarket products will also be making like products for the Bronco... What companies should I be looking to?

My list:

Weaklinks
Performance upgrades
Minor aesthetics
Lighting

See what comes after that

 

[AZHUND]

If you are wanting accessories that are toned down and mimic the factory options - then why not go for BL/WT/FE take-offs?

That is how the Jeep 'scene' works is that Rubicon take-offs are plentiful and cheap (and Sahara take-offs are nearly free). So if you have a lower model (like I do) you can pick up take offs either off the forums or from companies that specialize in 'built' Jeeps where they have take-offs that were not even used available for shipping. I assume the Bronco scene will work the same way as we already have people posting future take off wheels for sale or WTB on this forum.

 

[robepa]

Another downside to the aftermarket: rust. Within my small wheeling circle, there are several generations of Jeeps and collectively we have gone through tons of aftermarket parts from numerous brands. They all eventually rust. All of them. Doesn't matter how good the powder-coating is, eventually the rust comes through. I don't know what they do from the factory, but Mopar's factory steel armor pieces haven't rusted on any of us. For what it's worth, all the other guys in my group swear that "it's just a Jeep thing" and don't mind getting parts re-powdercoated every few years (or spot-treating as needed). Me, I don't buy that at all, and I find it unacceptable.

Yeah, OEM parts use Electrophoretic deposition coating instead of powder coating, because it provides better corrosion protection and cheaper (at volume). Aftermarket uses powder coating because it is widely available and cheaper in low volumes, but it always chips and cracks and it cannot get into inside cavities and sharp corners.

When I added off road bumpers to my Tacoma I tried to get them ED coated. I work in manufacturing and when I reached out to my contacts they said outside of Asia the only places that can coat parts of that size domestically only do work for OEMs.

 

[Judge Rufus]

Hyped early but :crickets: over the last few months - - picatinny rail for dash

 

[Slyder]

only one i have seen so far

https://www.addictivedesertdesigns.com/2021-ford-bronco

ADD's Stealth R and Pro bumpers (which are the ones in those rendered images on their site) aren't bad looking, at least on the Ranger and Raptor, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

If they hold true to the look in those rendered images, I'm leaning towards the Pro version that's on the 4-door. I'll also go the extra distance to have it sprayed with Line-X.

 

[dejones64]

I"m gonna have a seizure looking through all the aftermarket funsies.

 

[Exomodo]

I said I wasn't going to buy anything for the non-existent Bronco until I had it in my driveway, but I've since bought the hood prop struts and yesterday I was watching the YouTube channel "Keep it Dirty Off-road" and he was replacing the differential cover on his Raptor and said the Ford Motorsport cover is a Dana/Spicer sourced item and is 1/2 the mark-up. I went to Amazon and looked up the D44 part the newest Jeeps (2018+JL D44 Advantek rear only) are using, Spicer p/n 10040651 (grey) or 10053468 (blue), as well as the reusable Lube Locker reusable gasket he recommended, but it does not appear Lube Locker have one available for the Jeep yet. I ordered a blue rear one (front diff doesn't use the standard cover for the new D44 advantek, older D44s are completely different). Being able to service the differential fluids without messing about with the gasket scraping and prep is appealing to me. The one thing he didn't mention was to paint the gasket surface to prevent further corrosion with the reusable gaskets not protecting the bare surfaces... Until a Lube Lock gasket is available, continue to use Permatex differential cover grade or equivalent RTV. I haven't verified that this is the exact replacement parts as Broncos aren't in parts systems yet, so caveat emptor, but the covers on Amazon are $170 ea. Lube Lock gaskets are usually around $22 ea. currently.
Update: Just called Lube Lock and confirmed they are still developing the gasket for the D44 Advantek for the Jeep Wrangler (and by extension, Bronco) rear axle.

 

[clojc]

If I go Base I'll want to shop for aftermarket upgrades - bumpers for example - but I don't want anything crazy. Looking at the Jeep aftermarket scene all I see is fairly aggressive.

I don't want to be driving around in a Monster Energy drink promotional vehicle.

Anyway, I imagine anyone making Jeep aftermarket products will also be making like products for the Bronco... What companies should I be looking to?

Rough country has a good one that’s not very aggressive looking and has different light options. It looked good. Also Maxlider Motors had a really good looking one that seemed the best fit for me.

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