Sam Krahn 
Bumpers are one of the first mods off-road enthusiasts will do to their trucks and SUVs. Benefits of stronger materials, better approach and departure angles, and customized styling make them an easy pick, and if you’re a Jeep Wrangler or Gladiator owner, the aftermarket is full of enticing options. American Expedition Vehicles has just announced their latest offerings for the Jeep Wrangler (JL) and Gladiator, with the AEV RX front bumper, rear bumper and tire carrier.
The parts are all made of Hot Stamped Boron Steel, which is a high strength steel typically used in crash protection areas of passenger vehicle cells, meaning it’s very strong and durable. Still, it isn’t as heavy as other steel materials, giving it a great strength to weight ratio.
The front bumper, for both the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator, includes a roll up on top that partially covers the grille. This allows customers to install AEV’s Off-Road Light Brackets which support two seven inch round lights. There’s also room for a 20 inch LED light bar under the skid plate. Mounting them higher up gives owners easier access to the winch, an optional Warn Zeon unit. The bumper also keeps the OEM lower fog lights integrated lights at the bottom, and bumper mounted DRL lights. Later, AEV plans to make a front camera relocation kit, which will mount it under the roll hoop.
Underneath, the AEV Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator RX Bumper features an optional Hot Stamped Boron Steel for added protection. Standard are two chassis mounted, heavy duty recovery points. The front bumper starts at $1,800, but can climb to $2,593 with all the options ticked. AEV says the part is in high demand, so they encourage people to order soon to put their name in the pot, where random people will be drawn when bumpers become available.
The AEV RX rear bumper and tire carrier is only available for the Jeep Wrangler, given the obvious differences to the Gladiator. It’s made of the same Hot Stamped Boron Steel material, something AEV says is a significant upgrade over the rather weak standard OEM rear bumper. Tubular steel protects the corners and sheet metal above, while dual heavy duty recovery hooks are there if needed. It also remains compatible with a trailer hitch and parking sensors. The spare tire carrier is actually mounted to the bumper (and therefore chassis), taking strain off the tailgate. The carrier works with the 10.2 gallon AEV Fuel Caddy for extra fuel on the trails. Maximum tire size is 40 inches, down to 37 inches when carrying the Fuel Caddy. You can also option varying fender flare widths.
The AEV RX rear bumper is in stock now, with prices starting at $1,000. Prices reach $2,704 with the $989 tire carrier, $350 tire caddy, and other options.
