American Expedition Vehicles Jeep Wrangler JL Full-Width EX Front Bumper Install and Review
AEV's long-awaited full-width bumper doesn't disappoint.
American Expedition Vehicles is the go-to brand when it comes to premium OE-quality parts and accessories for your Jeep, Ram, or Chevy. A company of innovators, it brings stamped componentry, such as bumpers, to the aftermarket for that factory-like engineering, durability, fit and finish, all while offering the aftermarket functionality that is expected when shopping for upgraded Jeep parts.
Because of the way AEV rolls out its product, with an emphasis on quality rather than speed, our JL370 came from the factory with AEV's shorty RX front bumper, which was available first. While the RX is a great-looking bumper that was designed for those who want the stubby look and more clearance for technical driving, we always had our eye on the full-width EX front bumper for our overlanding vibe.
The EX full-width bumper offers maximum protection but gives up almost nothing to the RX in terms of clearance. Both bumpers sit higher and tighter to the grille than stock for enhanced ground clearance, and offer a greater approach angle over stock for either JL Wranglers or JT Gladiators.
Strength in Design
AEV designs its bumpers to be strong and light, incorporating advanced materials that are not used by anyone else in the segment. For example, the bumpers' front-side stampings and corner-to-corner fairlead stamping are made from hot-stamped boron steel. This ultra-high-strength, press-hardened steel is lauded for an extremely high yield strength while remaining lightweight, and can commonly be found in automotive safety cage structures to protect passengers in a crash.
With the goal of making the JL bumper significantly stronger than the previous-generation JK bumper without adding significant weight, hot-stamped boron steel was a logical choice. In fact, AEV's bumpers, when assembled, weigh in at an impressive 87 pounds (RX) and 113 pounds (EX), respectively. The optional front bumper-mounted skidplate, made from the same material, extends protection to important components mounted below the bumper. The substructure, including the frame tie-in mounting brackets, are manufactured with more common mild steel.
Because AEV bumpers are designed by enthusiasts and tested on the trail, they are loaded with innovative features intended to make them peerless in real-world situations. Such elements include a lightweight roto-molded hoop with a hidden structure that can support two of AEV's 7000-Series lights, hides any light wiring, and has provisions to mount the front trail camera. Suspending the lights from the hoop rather than from the bumper body helps to increase airflow for consistent cooling, and provides better access to the winch. AEV bumpers offer superior winch line drum visibility over the stock bumper, which is a critical feature when respooling your winch. Factory foglights are also compatible with the EX and RX front bumpers, and an optional 20-inch light bar can be mounted behind the skid plate to provide lighting closer to the ground, which is helpful in bad weather.
The high-clearance EX bumper is further enhanced with aerodynamic aids at the end of the wings to direct air up and over the flare to prevent air from being trapped inside the wheel well to reduce drag, all without compromising tire clearance. Other benefits include neoprene pads to protect the knees when kneeling over the engine bay, two Hi-Lift jack guides, 10,000-pound winch compatibility (a Warn Zeon 10-S is recommended), and oversized chassis recovery points that can take a ¾-inch shackle and are tested to meet all OE load specifications. These bumpers also pass crash testing, especially important for those wheeling with their family on board.
