Jeep JK Aftermarket Bumper When You Already Have A Baseplate

[Jmills1975]

I have a nearly stock 2011 Jeep JK with a Blue Ox baseplate installed. I like the set up and have travelled over 16,000 miles with no problems. I have the bug to upgrade my bumpers and fenders to get rid of the stock plastic and improve appearance.

I am clear that I can buy a bumper with attachment points for Blue Ox from other threads. My question is, "Has anyone has decided to retain their baseplate and just install a new bumper above the baseplate?"

I am not worried about ground clearance or rock crawling approach angles. I am more interested in retaining the baseplate below the bumper to keep my tow bar somewhat level. I also don't want to explain to my wife why I am removing the baseplate we spent several hundred dollars on last year.

[vsheetz]

I would think the comparability would vary with each vendor and bumper. A call to the bumper vendor is probably best.

You might sell the Base plate and tow from the bumper and come out ahead on money.

[FIRE UP]

Jmills1975,
If you're prepared to spend anywhere from $250 (about the starting price of many aftermarket bumpers) to around $550-$800 (most upper end bumpers) then, it would be a simple to just purchase a riser for your receiver to keep your towbar relatively level and, that way you'd not have to worry about trying to find an aftermarket bumper that could concieveably be mounted, along with a base plate.

If you want to "dress up" your Jeeps looks, then having both on there won't help too much in the looks department. Many of these aftermarket bumper manufacturers have done quite a bit of streamlining in their lineup of bumpers for that reason, to keep things looking way nicer than factory bumpers and, still keeping prime functionality in focus too.

A riser might cost you oh, say, $50-$75 or so. You most likely can get easily double that for your base plate. So, you'd make money on that, to apply to your new bumper.

Now, where it will cost you a bit more is, the adapters needed attaching your present tow bar, to the recovery tabs on your new bumper. There's deals to be had on those too, if you look in the right spots. Good luck.
Scott

[Lt Dan]

Originally Posted by Jmills1975

I have a nearly stock 2011 Jeep JK with a Blue Ox baseplate installed. I like the set up and have travelled over 16,000 miles with no problems. I have the bug to upgrade my bumpers and fenders to get rid of the stock plastic and improve appearance.

I am clear that I can buy a bumper with attachment points for Blue Ox from other threads. My question is, "Has anyone has decided to retain their baseplate and just install a new bumper above the baseplate?"

I am not worried about ground clearance or rock crawling approach angles. I am more interested in retaining the baseplate below the bumper to keep my tow bar somewhat level. I also don't want to explain to my wife why I am removing the baseplate we spent several hundred dollars on last year.

I did exactly what you are asking about. I had a stock bumper and base plate for about a year, then decided to go with an aftermarket bumper. I searched e-bay and Amazon looking at a lot of photos until I found one I thought would work. I figured I could enlarge the mounting holes if necessary, but it fit above the Demco base plate perfectly and sits level with the hitch.