Warn Elite Bumper - Thoughts?

I was dead-set on buying one until I saw it in-person.

Gives the Bronco a very “big chin” look. Not for me.

RagnarKon

I was dead-set on buying one until I saw it in-person.

Gives the Bronco a very “big chin” look. Not for me.

Yeah, I've been looking for a bumper, and I honestly wasn't really considering it, but I'm not sure if I want to pass up a deal that good lol.
Thanks for your thoughts. What did you end going with?

That's one thing that Jeep did right. Their bumper/winch combo is compact, functional, and good looking. Kind of like me!! :0) Well many, many, many, many.....moons ago!!

jtgensler

Yeah, I've been looking for a bumper, and I honestly wasn't really considering it, but I'm not sure if I want to pass up a deal that good lol.
Thanks for your thoughts. What did you end going with?

I just stuck with the factory capable bumper.

Used the money saved by not buying an aftermarket bumper, and spent it on the Ford Performance winch instead.



On the pricey side. As you mentioned the Warn winches—especially their USA-made winches— are not exactly economical. But if you account for the fact that I didn't have to buy a bumper and I got to keep my factor fogs, I saved money overall.

Hoping to work with the @Heretic folks on a light bar mount for one of their amber light bars that'll work with this winch mount... but haven't gotten a response to my email yet.

RagnarKon

I just stuck with the factory capable bumper.

Used the money saved by not buying an aftermarket bumper, and spent it on the Ford Performance winch instead.



On the pricey side. As you mentioned the Warn winches—especially their USA-made winches— are not exactly economical. But if you account for the fact that I didn't have to buy a bumper and I got to keep my factor fogs, I saved money overall.

Hoping to work with the @Heretic folks on a light bar mount for one of their amber light bars that'll work with this winch mount... but haven't gotten a response to my email yet.

Yeah, that'd be a great way to go, if I had a factory capable or modular bumper.
Unfortunately, I have the plastic junk bumper on my 22
I plan on using an Apex Badlands winch from Harbor freight, which is basically a clone of the Warn. Yes, it's not US made, but it's an extremely good winch for $600.
I'd love to buy US, but the price difference is pretty hard to ignore on that one.

I haven't been super impressed with my factory fogs. I'll likely swap them for Diode Dynamics SS3 at some point. I have those for ditch lights & have been pretty impressed.

jtgensler

Yeah, that'd be a great way to go, if I had a factory capable or modular bumper.
Unfortunately, I have the plastic junk bumper on my 22
I plan on using an Apex Badlands winch from Harbor freight, which is basically a clone of the Warn. Yes, it's not US made, but it's an extremely good winch for $600.
I'd love to buy US, but the price difference is pretty hard to ignore on that one.

I haven't been super impressed with my factory fogs. I'll likely swap them for Diode Dynamics SS3 at some point. I have those for ditch lights & have been pretty impressed.

Ah yeah, with the plastic bumper you're stuck. And honestly if you need adaptive cruise to work you probably wouldn't want the Ford winch mount anyway, doesn't work with adaptive cruise control.

I personally skipped the High/Lux package entirely because I knew I was going to go aftermarket, and I didn't want to have to worry about relocating a bunch of electronics. In hindsight wish I had gone with the High package anyway, but... definitely don't miss or feel any desire to have the Lux features.

RagnarKon

Ah yeah, with the plastic bumper you're stuck. And honestly if you need adaptive cruise to work you probably wouldn't want the Ford winch mount anyway, doesn't work with adaptive cruise control.

I personally skipped the High/Lux package entirely because I knew I was going to go aftermarket, and I didn't want to have to worry about relocating a bunch of electronics. In hindsight wish I had gone with the High package anyway, but... definitely don't miss or feel any desire to have the Lux features.

I live in western PA & after having 2 straight vehicles with heated steering wheels, I wasn't willing to give it up lol.
So that, heated seats & remote start were must haves.
Lux package was the only way to get it.
ACC came along with it, and since I have it, I want to keep it functional.

By the way, here is a photo of that bumper that made me pass on it. I don't recall where I saved it from... probably Bronco6G.



I likely will swap out the factory fogs in the future as well. But definitely don't feel any urgency to do that in the immediate future. That can wait for the holiday sales or a good deal on a use.

jtgensler

Yeah, that'd be a great way to go, if I had a factory capable or modular bumper.
Unfortunately, I have the plastic junk bumper on my 22
I plan on using an Apex Badlands winch from Harbor freight, which is basically a clone of the Warn. Yes, it's not US made, but it's an extremely good winch for $600.
I'd love to buy US, but the price difference is pretty hard to ignore on that one.

I haven't been super impressed with my factory fogs. I'll likely swap them for Diode Dynamics SS3 at some point. I have those for ditch lights & have been pretty impressed.

Mine was the same. I really wanted metal and didn't see any after market ones I liked, though the one you posted looks the best. I finally connected with someone on a forum to buy the capable for $100 just had to drive 500 miles but that added to the fun. I kept searching the forums here and on Bronco 6G for one not too far away and with a seller who didn't flake out. I really like the capable look the most by far. Since you have the plastic do you have the lower tow hooks that aren't on the bumper? If so the metal capable doesn't quite fit BUT not to worry you can remove the tow hooks but that's also where the intercooler is mounted and everybody online seems to get freaked out by that (I removed and reinstalled these when I installed my bull bar) or you can cut the lower to hooks off. I opted to use a metal grinder on the bumper and took it slow since you can always cut more off. I now have the capable bumper with bumper and lower tow hooks and my bull bar. I have all the sensors so that honestly took more work then swapping the bumper itself. I like the factory fogs but I also have yellow fogs up high so I get distance a width combined. If you go aftermarket for the fogs and you aren't using the factory fog connectors you'll honestly have an easier time the biggest PIA was getting the plug for the driver's side fog to reach and plugged in.

OrangecrushBronco

Mine was the same. I really wanted metal and didn't see any after market ones I liked, though the one you posted looks the best. I finally connected with someone on a forum to buy the capable for $100 just had to drive 500 miles but that added to the fun. I kept searching the forums here and on Bronco 6G for one not too far away and with a seller who didn't flake out. I really like the capable look the most by far. Since you have the plastic do you have the lower tow hooks that aren't on the bumper? If so the metal capable doesn't quite fit BUT not to worry you can remove the tow hooks but that's also where the intercooler is mounted and everybody online seems to get freaked out by that (I removed and reinstalled these when I installed my bull bar) or you can cut the lower to hooks off. I opted to use a metal grinder on the bumper and took it slow since you can always cut more off. I now have the capable bumper with bumper and lower tow hooks and my bull bar. I have all the sensors so that honestly took more work then swapping the bumper itself. I like the factory fogs but I also have yellow fogs up high so I get distance a width combined. If you go aftermarket for the fogs and you aren't using the factory fog connectors you'll honestly have an easier time the biggest PIA was getting the plug for the driver's side fog to reach and plugged in.

So, I was doing a lot of googling last night & stumbled across these guys.
https://www.stallion4x4.com/12056-1201carnivore-full-width-front-bumper-for-2021-up-bronco.html
https://www.stallion4x4.com/carnivore-rear-bumper-for-2021-up-bronco.html
https://www.stallion4x4.com/12056-1202carnivore-front-skid-plate-for-21-up-bronco.html


This is from the Quadratec people that have been doing J**P stuff for years & they're a super good deal for steel bumpers that aren't paper thin.
I think I'm going to take a chance on front/rear & the skid plate for less than 1k...
As for fogs, I'll definitely use a set of SS3 ambers & probably wire them to the factory fog light harness since I'll be taking those off.
Add a set of SS3 whites in the back, wired to the reverse & an upfitter switch I think & it should be a good setup.

These guys build an awesome bumper. but they are not cheap. you can save a little cash if you go with the standard bumper (not the Baja as linked) and get it in Bare steel and powder coat it yourself. https://bodyguardbumpers.com/bronco-baja-front-winch-mount