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Bumpers are a crucial part of off-road pickup truck build. They help keep the truck from being damaged, assist with approach and departure angles, and give you places for off-road lighting where stock cannot.
The main issue? Deciding which is the best for your build that is easy to install and high quality, we aim to help you in both categories. In this article, we will go over both front bumpers, as well as rear bumpers! So read through the whole thing to ensure you are taking a look at the complete set.
Table of Contents
The Top 5 Best Off-Road Front Bumpers
An off-road front bumper will do a ton of good for your truck! It will fend off the brush, protect your paint, and even help you with impact if you slide or run off the side of the road into a ditch. Here are my favorite front bumpers, and I’ll leave it to you to decide which one works best for your application.
1. Fab Fours Premium Front Winch Bumper
- Winch compatible
- Very cool, yet restrained design
- Reputable brand
- High quality
- Rather large
- Compatible Brands: Dodge (Ram), Chevrolet, GMC, Toyota, Ford
Yes, you will likely see Fab Fours on this list a few times, mainly because they are an extremely excellent brand built with high quality and unique in the industry.
The bumper is securely mounted on a two-piece mounting system, allowing a “custom” fit while winch readiness. Included are Fab Fours signature injection molded light housings, fog lights, and turn signals; 90mm fog and 60mm turn signals will help clear out fog or poor weather conditions ahead of time!
This is one of Fab Fours’ more restrained products, yet it is still one of my favorites. If you are looking for a high-quality option from a reputable brand that specifically revolves its business around off-road products like this one, you should probably go ahead and get this on (don’t forget the rear bumper that you’ll find later in this article as well)
2. Rough Country Heavy Duty Front LED Bumper
- Great value
- LED light bar included
- More compact design
- Flush to the sides of the pickup
- Unknown steel gauge
- No built-in tow hooks
- Compatible Brands: Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota
This brand does a fantastic job of great products for a reasonable price, making this one of the best options if you are on a budget. It is still from a reputable brand but for a fraction of the price of many other companies. The Rough Country Front LED Bumper is an easy-to-install (only 3-4 hours) upgrade for the front of your truck.
With four 2″ Rough Country LED Cubes and a 20″ rough country led light bar, this bumper will not only give your vehicle an upgraded look but also increases safety off-road.
Rough Country deserves a lot more credit than it gets. With a reputation for budget products, they tend to get lumped into the low-quality camp; however, they are considerably better than expected for the price. This also allows people with a lower budget to get into the off-roading sport and the automotive community. It all starts somewhere, and this is a great place to start.
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3. Fab Fours Front Grumper
- Completely changes the design of the truck
- Winch compatible
- Replaces both bumper and grill
- Very expensive
- You will never blend in
- Compatible Brands: Chevy, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Jeep, RAM
So, didn’t you think the Premium Front Bumper was insane enough for you? This Grumper might be your solution, as it completely transforms the front end of your truck. I have gotten a chance to see these in person, and they are incredible. The Grumper Truck bumper is a two-in-one design that combines the versatility of front grille inserts with the toughness of four-sided Winch competitors.
The result is a sleek, raw and aggressive integrated truck accessory with nine interchangeable pieces for an upscale setup to suit your needs.
The Grumper delivers increased airflow to your engine with its lower cutout design while ensuring your rig has a sense of style. Tested to clear 3×3 Rigid Industries lights, the Fab Fours 2-stage black powder coat finish ensures that this bumper lasts for years on the road.
If you want to completely change the look of your truck and be as unique as it gets, this will be the best out there.
4. Body Armor ECO-Series Front Winch Bumper
- Lightweight
- LED light compatible
- Winch compatible
- Price
- Compatible Brands: Chevrolet, Dodge (RAM), Ford, GMC, Toyota
One of the most significant downsides to an off-road bumper is its weight. While most stock bumpers weigh a couple of pounds, off-road bumpers tend to weigh hundreds of pounds, with can negatively impact your gas mileage and off-road capabilities. This lightweight bumper from Body Armor is a great choice, even if it still weighs over 200 pounds.
While it may be a lighter option, it can still handle a 12,000-pound winch, has a two-stage powder coat finish, and is made of 1/8″ steel. It can also handle a light bar and two cube-style lights as well.
It’s an easy-to-install bumper (which doesn’t require any modifications to your vehicle) and also looks great. This is an excellent option for those looking for a lighter bumper that is still quite capable.
5. WARN Ascent Front Bumper
- Bull bar built-in
- Great styling
- 11 gauge steel
- Winch capable
- Expensive
- 1-year warranty
- Compatible Brands: Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, Toyota, Dodge (RAM)
If you are looking for a bumper specifically to install a winch onto, you should get one direct from one of the best winch manufacturers in the world!
These 11-gauge steel can handle a winch (of which should be Warn, of course) that is rated up to 12,000 pounds and is equipped with four spots for auxiliary flood or spot sights. Each bumper is powder coated and has welded recovery points.
All of that said, these aren’t cheap bumpers by any means. However, it is from one of the most reputable winches manufacturers and looks excellent.
The Top 5 Best Off-Road Rear Bumpers
Front bumpers make a lot of sense to have one in your truck; why should you buy a rear bumper? Rear off-road bumpers give you a lot of capability, such as impact protection, additional ground clearance, and angles for going up hills. They also generally give you more hooks, LED light compatibility, and rugged looks.
6. Westin Pro-Series Rear Bumper
- High strength (10 gauge steel)
- Laser cut styling
- Easy installation
- Available for quite a few trucks
- Works with sensors
- Quite expensive
- Compatible Brands: Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, Dodge (RAM), Toyota
I very much appreciate this restrained bumper styling, and in fact, it looks like what you would expect an off-road build from a vehicle manufacturer to install on their vehicles (Jeep would be a great example). It may have restrained styling, but it still has 10-gauge steel and comes all in one piece for easy installation (which is all done by bolts).
You can also easily install two FM6 LED flush mount lights so that you can see offroad better, and it uses the stock hitch and backup lights. Speaking of offroad, this bumper will help a ton with your departure angle, which is also improved over stock.
If you are looking for an easy-to-install bumper that can make a ton of a difference, this is the one to get, and it quickly is at the top of my list for rear bumpers.
7. Fab Fours Black Steel Elite Rear Bumper
- Great styling
- Lightweight
- Good paint finish
- Decent price point
- Not as heavy-duty as the match
- Compatible Brands: Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, Toyota
This Elite Rear Bumper from Fab Fours is excellent if you prefer a larger bumper (ranch style) over the smaller style above. It makes up for its larger size using great 12-gauge steel, which is a great way to cut weight while still maintaining the steel strength.
Their goal while building this bumper was to build one that flowed with the lines of the truck is going to. This means every bumper is specific to the model of the truck it is meant for, making it a much more unique style than others out there. It should also be mentioned for a Fab Fours product; it also has a reasonable price.
As always, I do like the products that Fab Fours pushes out, and this one is no different! It would go great with any front bumpers discussed earlier in this article.
8. Body Armor Pro Series Rear Bumper Black
- 3/16″ steel
- Quality build
- It fits square LED pods
- Very heavy
- Not compatible with many brands
- Compatible Brands: Toyota
Do you see de ja vu? Yes, it’s true, but this is the rear bumper to the front bumper we discussed earlier in the article. The Body Armor PRO-Series Rear Bumper is excellent for the off-road enthusiast, with clean, simple styling that surpasses your dull stock bumper.
This Body Armor 4×4 Rear Bumper is designed to replace your factory bumper with a bolt-on installation easily. Along with a 3/16″ steel plate, this PRO Series rear has parking sensor cutouts to make it more tech-savvy than many offroad bumpers. You bought the technology, and off-roading shouldn’t stop you from using it.
I like the angled styling that this bumper offers, as well as the thick steel. This one might be it if you are looking for a heavier-duty bumper for your truck. Unfortunately, this bumper doesn’t work with many brands!
9. Rough Country Rear LED Bumper
- Great price
- Steps built-in
- LED light compatible
- Easy install
- Relocates sensors
- No advertised steel gauge
- Compatible Brands: Chevrolet, Ford, Toyota, Dodge (RAM)
This Rough Country Rear LED Bumper has two integrated steps, giving easy access to the truck bed. The bumper also comes with two 2″ LED flush mount cubes for your rear illumination and easily outshines factory hitch receivers.
Rough Country’s Rear LED Bumper offers improved illumination for your rear and easy access to the bed of your truck. This low-maintenance upgrade is durable, stylish, and can withstand any terrain. As a bonus, each bumper includes backup sensor relocators, so you don’t take a chance on you backing into another car just because you want an offroad bumper!
This is an excellent option if you are looking for a great budget bumper that is still highly functional. Having those additional steps on the bumper can be a game changer for accessing items in the bed of your truck.
10. N-Fab RB Pre-Runner Style Rear Bumper
- Tubing style bumper
- 5-year warranty
- Cool styling
- It gives you much more clearance
- Maintains sensor locations
- Not heavy duty
- Compatible Brands: Chevy, GMC, Ford, Toyota
The N-Fab RB utilizes stock mounting points to keep installation easy, leaving plenty of clearance at those points thanks to the .095 wall tubing material.
The tough gloss black or textured powder coating finish will stand up to quite a bit of abuse, and it’s backed by a 5-year limited warranty on its finish and a lifetime warranty for artistry. And should you want to color-match your bumpers with other exterior portions of your vehicle, kits are offered to achieve that look.
This is the most unique rear bumper on this list! While most of the others are angular, black-styled bumpers, this one is lightweight and reminiscent of what you would see in an off-road race. This is an excellent bet if you want to stand out from all the rest and want something lightweight.
What to look for when buying an off-road bumper?
Buying an off-road bumper is more challenging than finding one that looks cool and clicking the buy button! There are a few things you should pay attention to make sure you are spending your money in the right way. Here are the things I recommend you look at on each bumper you are considering.
1. Gauge of steel
This is the most critical part (outside of fitment) in ensuring you get an excellent bumper! Too thin of steel doesn’t do your truck any good and will bend and possibly damage your truck more than if it didn’t have it. Too thick of steel weighed down that end of the vehicle, which unnecessarily affected the performance of your truck. Finding the right balance for your vehicle is so significant.
2. Styling
Off-road bumpers may all look the same, but once installed, they can dramatically change the look of your vehicle in different ways. Are you looking for a larger bumper that looks tougher, or are you hoping to go with a low-profile bumper for extra clearance?
Would you prefer a dark, black powder-coated bumper or a body-color bumper? There are plenty of different options to choose from when it comes to styling, and finding the right one for you is up to your style. My favorite? I prefer the lighter weight, less bulky style, and stick to the powder-coated black look.
3. Brand
It is essential to pay attention to the brand you are buying. If you buy a cheap knockoff, you may get similar quality to the name brand, but it may need to fit your truck correctly, leaving you with hours of work trying to get it to work right.
Good brands, like the ones on this list above, take the time to make sure everything is just right for you. Keep a close eye on your brand, and only buy from reputable manufacturers (and retailers, for that matter)
4. Fitment for your specific truck
This is a straightforward one to do! If you buy a brand-new bumper online, you will have drop-down menus to ensure you buy exactly the one for your truck. If your truck doesn’t appear in those drop-down menus, don’t try to make it work!
Instead, give a quick call to the manufacturer, and see if there is anything they can do for you. They may have a different kit or bumper that might work well for your purposes.
5. Tools needed
Most bumper installations will only require essential hand tools and a drill. If anything else is needed, you will see the instructions included with it when you purchase your bumper kit. However, more rugged bumpers are needed, so pay attention to the difficulty level during shopping!
Some off-road bumpers require welding, cutting, and modifying your truck. Only buy these if you can handle that extent of a job, or look to a professional instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
I hope this article helped you find the bumper you were looking for! Getting the right bumper for your truck is essential not only for keeping the truck in good condition but also for keeping it looking excellent and capable on the trails. These are a lot of fun and can completely transform the look of your truck in a single day. They are expensive but are worth it.