The Jeep JK Wrangler is heavy. It easily outweighs all of its predecessors, and the four-door Unlimited is just a plain pig. The heavy weight of the JK is a contributor to the lackluster performance of the 3.8-liter engine. When adding more resilient parts to the JK, such as body armor, the weight can add up quickly, bogging the poor little mini-van engine down and working it even harder. We’ve seen the combination of front and rear steel bumpers, spare tire and winch, combine to total over 600 lbs. of additional weight to the JK. That much weight is detrimental to all aspects of the Jeep. There are, however, answers to this problem, and Rock Krawler, the, ‘er um ... Suspension Company, has some of them.  

Sure, you already know about the suspension systems that Rock Krawler produces for all Jeep models, but did you know that they also manufacture weight-saving aluminum bumpers for the Jeep JK, with bumpers for the TJ/LJ to come soon?  That’s right. We first saw Rock Krawler’s aluminum front bumper in Moab for the 2009 Easter Jeep Safari and it was bolted on to the front of their “Victim,” a competition-ready, two-door JK.  We saw the second one in their booth at the Spanish Trail Arena during the EJS show and we were lucky enough to score the bumper at a reasonable price after begging Jeremy Purick to let us try out the prototype on our new Rubicon Project.  
 

The Rock Krawler aluminum front bumper tips the scales at a mere 27 pounds!  On average, that is 65 lbs. weight savings compared to many other bumpers on the market for the Jeep JK. Combining the average JK bumper with the typical winch, weighing in at around 75 lbs., most Jeep drivers add about 140 pounds of weight to the front of their rigs. With all this weight, it’s inevitable that the front of the Jeep will be pushed down and the need for a taller spring or spring spacer is needed. 

After installing our lightweight Rock Krawler bumper and winch, we can report that our Jeep is still surprisingly level. We also worry less about our springs becoming prematurely over worked and worn out.  
 

How does it look?  It’s light on the scale and great looking. The stubby attributes of the design allow the bumper to be free from tire contact during full stuff, even with 40-inch tires and 3.5 inches of lift. While most bumpers have a deep recessed area for a winch, Rock Krawler’s bumper only has a shallow dip and accommodates a “comp” style winch.  Our Smittybilt winch was a tad bit long for this dip, so a winch plate with small mounting risers was put together for easy fitment.
 
Out back, one can add even more weight to the Jeep JK with a rear aftermarket bumper and tire carrier. Ok, we admit, we can’t live without a stout bumper and carrier that will tote a 40-inch spare tire around faithfully. However, we do like to have the option to ditch all the weight, and over hang, that is associated with this setup. We’ve seen guys run with no bumper at all, which is illegal in some states, and looks terrible in our opinion. We’ve also seen modifications to the rear frame horns and cross member with functional effectiveness. Eh! No thanks. How about a better, easier solution? Rock Krawler has come up with a unique product that addresses excessive weight and departure angles with a simple bumper replacement.

The JK rear Frame Cap is now offered from Rock Krawler and we love it!  The Frame Cap is something that we need when hitting the toughest trails where we can load and tie down our spare tire in the rear cargo area of the Jeep and not worry about tearing off our expensive tire carrier on big drop offs.  It also eliminates about 150 pounds from the rear of our Jeep and keeps us completely legal to and from the trails. The frame caps are made from 3/16-inch thick steel and are very simple, light and functional. 

While the Frame Cap offers several nice benefits for the hardcore crawler or weekend wheeler, it may not be for everyone. Again, there is no way to carry a spare tire from this bumper and there are also no recovery points or receiver with this setup. It is strictly for the Jeeper who wants to run a simple, legal bumper, without the bulk associated with the JK. 

Rock Krawler’s attention to detail and focus on performance shows through in its suspensions products, and now it’s seen in their aftermarket body armor as well. We have to hand it to Rock Krawler; they’ve come up with some new products that we just can’t live without … again!

Rock Krawler
518-270-9822
http://www.rockkrawler.com/