FJ Cruiser Aftermarket for Bumpers Proves no Two Bars are Created Equal: Top Bumper Picks
Having the right bumper on your FJ Cruiser can turn an ordinary stroll through the trail into a memorable off-road event.
Designed to be capable, affordable and aggressive, the FJ Cruiser is aimed to please drivers with an active outdoor lifestyles – and an unyielding passion for anything associated with the Land Cruiser name. Many of the FJ Cruiser off-road aftermarket companies have stepped up to the steel plate to construct durable and functional bumpers. ORC crafted together a list of Top Bumper Picks for the FJ Cruiser. Are no two bars created equal, we ask? Our quest looks for matches made in FJ Cruiser heaven – in other words, if there are logistical lines when it comes to the wheel well and if the front bars work with the character of the vehicle. Function, form, and proportionality are at the top of our bumper must-have list. (All prices are approximate). ORC’S TOP PICKS FOR THE FJ CRUISER BUMPER Expedition One: FJ Cruiser Trail Series Front Bumper Eagle Mountain, UT
Price: $998.95
Using something of a co-op approach, owner James Fonnesbeck took to heart (and the CAD drawing board) what the public and hardcore off-road groups were feeding him when it came to perfecting his creation. The bumper is painstakingly structurally sound and works with the vehicle in mind. For example, when flexed out, the bumper comes within 2mm – or about as close as you can get to the body without touching. Then it rests about 3/8" to 1/2" apart when inactive. The winch placement allows for more or easier access. There is no bending of the AC line during installation. Concerns were given to the weight of the FJ, so the bumper has a combination of 10 and 7-gage plate thickness for a weight of around 105 pounds. The standard bumper has a black powder coat, a center hoop, and your choice of a set of PIAA 510 driving or fog lamps. In Fonnesbeck's words, you either have a really good name or a really good product. He’s on his way to gaining both. ARB: ARB FJ Cruiser Deluxe Bull Bar www.arb.com.au E-mail: arbusainfo@arb.com.au
Price: $1,015.00 ARB takes pride in manufacturing excellently designed vehicle protection systems, and they are right about that. This is the bumper the Toyota Trail Team has on their vehicles. With curved surfaces, it has a taped wing for difficult approaches with lower protection panels. It is compatible with WARN winches. Additional options include IPF lights, OME suspension and Air Locking differentials. Certainly attractive for the protection it gives; however, the bull bar doesn’t silhouette the front turn signals as closely as some of the other designs – in fact, the design is a bit distracting. Crafted in a durable steel construction and finished in a powder coat. You can search on the site by zip code for local vendors who carry the bumper.
Bentup: FJ Cruiser Bumper www.bentup.com
Price: Call for information Bentup has reputable products and service – they’ve certainly made the Toyota Tundra and Tacoma family happy. The Bentup bumper might not offer all your needs when it comes to bars – it’s a little simple with its coverage and design, but with cleaner lines. Truth be told, it is a very tall and very thick bumper. The depth is there, but with it comes a bulkiness suggesting something of an armored wall. It is also questionable if it is out of proportion for the width of the vehicle. It does offer better maneuverability to approach angles in places and terrain like Moab, however, and accommodates well for a bull bar.
All-Pro Off Road: FJ Cruiser Front Winch Mount Bumper Hemet, CA Price: $799
One cannot mention the words “bumper” and “FJ Cruiser” without simply bumping into All-Pro Off Road. Built from heavy-duty 1/8” cold-rolled steel plate with a 3/16” winch mounting structure, it has a very reasonable price. The bumper features an integrated steel skid plate, giving that added protection in combination with plenty of clearance. The design has a proportional, tailored effect – do note the angles at the bottom of the bumper differentiate. Installation does require bending the AC line. Allows for up to a WARN 9.5 winch with remote solenoid. The company is making an optional bolt-on receiver for light towing that can be removed.
Our list is not without Notable Mentions to the FJ Cruiser aftermarket for bumpers: FabFour, Demello Off Road and LandCruiser NW are offering excellent products. Of course, the ultimate finishing touch to your FJ Cruiser would combine the best of all bumper worlds. Imagine the design of the Expedition One bumper with the functionality of All-Pro Off Road, but managing the depth of the Bentup and offering ARB’s winch provisions – and in a black power coat. The answer to our question is no two bumpers are created equal, just as no two personalities are completely alike. So what kind of an FJ Cruiser bumper are you?
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