Reviews for Rugged Ridge Arcus Bumper for 18-23 Jeep Wrangler JL & Gladiator JT
I paired the Rugged Ridge Arcus (with overrider) with the Warn Evo10 winch with synthetic rope and it looks great. There was a useful install video on YouTube and it took me a couple of hours to get the original bumper replaced. The bumper feels solid and the pair of hooks that come with this bumper system are absolutely massive and provide great attachment points for pushing or pulling. The reason for the 3/5 stars is the fact that although the bumper is only 18 months old and my Jeep is garaged daily there are two sections of the bumper that have developed surface rust (about the size of a quarter). I like the style of this bumper so much that I'm probably just going to sand, prime and paint these spots but...geez!!! Garaged daily and only 18 months old?!?!?! I've bought many Rugged Ridge products for my Jeep over the years...I guess I expected better.
Lots of quality issues here, especially with the winch plate. The winch plate was bent, and out of spec from the factory. Made the rest of the project a test of hulk strength and patience.
When you mount the winch, make sure your grill is mounted. You aren't getting the grill back on after the bumper is installed, and winch bolted on. There isn't room. It probably isn't coming off again either. The whole bumper has to come off to adjust the winch, so plan ahead.
Rugged ridge should weld those giant hooks to the bumper, and then have you bolt both pieces on in one movement. Way too much effort required for something so simple. It's just 8 bolts! Well those 8 bolts took more than 4 hours to get installed.
I get what they were trying to do with the nut plate - but seriously. That extra part made things harder, and two nuts that I can install like a normal human would have worked better.
Don't buy unless you are having someone else install.
Great concept but terrible execution on the design. Bent winch plate. Two hulking tow hooks that you have to figure out how to control while getting the hardware in. Install videos online have obviously been paid for by RR as they skip right over the worst part. I would not buy again.
This is a stamped bumper and because of that the metal is pretty thin. While the fog light mount is sturdy enough, it would be nice if there was some protection for the rear of the light to keep the water, mud, snow, etc. off the back of the light and electrical contacts.
This review is for Quadratec's handling of the bumper. Received the bumper from Fedex on Sunday and took to automotive shop for installation on Thursday. Mechanic opened the box to find there is no attachment hardware included. So my jeep (which is my daily driver) is currently disassembled in a shop. Called Quadratec customer service and explained the situation, also explained that I definitely DID NOT receive a second box with any mounting hardware. Quadrated CS told me that the bumper is drop shipped from a third party so everything has to go through them. Waited while they contacted the third party then I was informed that this will have to be submitted as a warranty claim, which could take quite a while. Meanwhile I'm stuck with a disassembled jeep I can't drive. I can now pay the mechanic to put the factory bumper back on, then turn around and pay to have it taken off again or I can be without a vehicle until the warranty claim is processed and the mounting hardware is hopefully shipped. I paid Quadratec for the bumper but they seem wholly uninterested in providing the complete product I paid for. Blaming the third party is a cop out. I spent over $2K for a bumper, skid plates and winch from Quadratec, but I guess that isn't enough to warrant decent customer service. Completely disappointed in this process. I almost never leave negative reviews, but this 1 star review was earned. Do better Quadratec.
The looks of the Arcus is great, the finish and quality of material is lacking. I would suggest spend more and looking elsewhere. The mounting of the hooks is kind of ridiculous in my opinion, the rear bumper is worse than the front.
The description of the front is VERY MISLEADING, the are a number of fog light options it will not work with, that are not disclosed. I found this out after trying to install my Willys LED lights, they are a no go. No adapter for them, no plans to make one. After specifically asking if OEM LED would fit, I am now with no fogs or needing to find something that will work. More time and more money, after doing my homework.
If you want to roll the dice, go for it, it looks nice. Metal is thin, bull bar is a bit of a joke, finish is too thin to last, a number of OEM fogs won't work. I regret the purchase but am stuck for now.
My honest opinion.
I am extremely disappointed with this purchase. It is a good looking bumper, just stamped steel so not terribly strong but the included winch plate is pretty beefy and places the winch low between the frame rails which I wanted so the winch wouldn't block any airflow over the radiator on my '21 JTRD. It allowed me to mount the fog lights from my standard plastic bumper without issue or modification and the overrider bar, while just visible, doesn't really impede the front trail cam view so why the one star rating? I installed this winch just two weeks ago and it's already starting to rust. Rust is visible around both openings where the recovery hooks pass through the bumper shell and the factory paint is completely chipping away along the bottom of both hi-lift jack ports. I had already shot some grill paint on the hi-lift openings before I thought to take pictures but I have marked both images so you can see where the paint is gone and even see traces of the rust through the paint. I do like the design of the bumper overall and it ticked all the boxes for me but beware, the factory finish is garbage and I am not going to have this rusting eyesore on a brand new vehicle. I would be more understanding if it had been on longer and had some trail dings on it but two weeks and only on-road driving this is just unacceptable. I am going to have to tear it all back off now and pay to have it sandblasted and powder coated.