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How Much Clearance Does a Motobilt Bumper Upgrade Add to a Jeep Gladiator JT?
The new Dirt Road Cred YouTube video follows Matt and Ryan as they transform their orange Jeep Gladiator JT by replacing the factory plastic bumpers with Motobilt steel armor. The build features the Motobilt Tomahawk High Clearance Rear Bumper for Jeep JT and the Motobilt Crusher HD Front Bumper for Jeep JL/JT.
For this Gladiator, the goal was simple: get rid of the low-hanging factory bumpers, add real trail protection, and improve clearance where it matters most.
Why did Dirt Road Cred choose the Tomahawk rear bumper?
The rear of a Jeep Gladiator hangs low from the factory. The stock plastic rear bumper sits below the bed and can become a problem when dropping off ledges, backing into rocks, or working through tight trail sections.
The Motobilt Tomahawk High Clearance Rear Bumper is built to solve that problem. In the video, they explain how much lower the factory bumper hangs and show the difference once the Tomahawk bumper is installed. The finished result tucks the rear bumper high and tight under the Gladiator bed, helping improve departure angle and reducing the amount of bumper hanging below the body.
What makes the Tomahawk rear bumper different?
The Tomahawk rear bumper is not a basic bolt-on replacement. This is a high-clearance rear bumper designed for Jeep JT owners who are willing to trim the lower portion of the bed for a tighter, cleaner, more capable rear profile.
In the video, the Dirt Road Cred crew measures carefully, protects the surrounding body panels, trims the lower rear section of the Gladiator bed, and then finishes the cut edge before installing the bumper. Once the trimming is complete, the bumper brackets, side pieces, and bumper structure bolt into place.
The finished install shows how much cleaner the rear of the Gladiator looks with the bumper tucked up near the bottom of the tailgate. The tailgate still opens normally, and the rear of the Jeep gains a much more trail-ready look.
What features were highlighted on the Tomahawk rear bumper?
- High-clearance design for improved departure angle
- Welded recovery points
- Light provisions for rear lighting
- Optional hitch or skid plate configuration
- Boat side style protection pieces
- Pressed-in threaded inserts for easier installation
- Clean fit under the Jeep Gladiator tailgate
The crew also added rear lighting and used a two-tone powder coat finish with bronze accent pieces to tie the bumper into the wheel color on the Jeep.
What front bumper did they install?
After finishing the rear bumper, the crew moved to the front and installed the Motobilt Crusher HD Front Bumper for Jeep JL/JT.
The Crusher HD is a modular front bumper built for strength, winch mounting, and trail clearance. In the video, they point out that the Crusher HD uses a two-piece design. The main bumper mounts the winch, while the skid plate can be added separately depending on how the Jeep is being built.
For this Gladiator, they installed the bumper with a fabricated bull bar, a bronze powder coated skid plate, and a 12,000 pound winch.
Why choose the Crusher HD front bumper?
The Crusher HD front bumper is a strong option for Jeep JL, JLU, and JT owners who want a winch-ready bumper with modular options. Dirt Road Cred highlighted the ability to add a skid plate, run lights in the lower section, and choose different configurations depending on the build.
The front install was much simpler than the rear because it did not require body trimming. After the bumper was assembled, the winch was mounted, the cable was routed, and the bumper was bolted to the Jeep.
What was the final result?
By the end of the video, the orange Jeep Gladiator had a completely different look. The factory plastic bumpers were gone, the rear clearance was greatly improved, and the front end gained a winch-ready steel bumper with a much more aggressive stance.
The Tomahawk rear bumper gave the Gladiator a high-clearance rear profile, while the Crusher HD front bumper added strength, recovery capability, and a finished look up front. The bronze accent pieces added a custom touch that tied the bumpers into the rest of the build.
Featured Motobilt Parts
- Motobilt Tomahawk High Clearance Rear Bumper for Jeep JT
- Motobilt Crusher HD Front Bumper for Jeep JL/JT
- Motobilt Crusher HD Front Bumper with Bull Bar and Skid Plate for Jeep JL/JT
- Skid Plate for Crusher HD Front Bumper for Jeep JL/JT
- Motobilt License Plate Relocation Bracket for Jeep JT Gladiator
FAQ
Does the Motobilt Tomahawk rear bumper require trimming?
Yes. The Tomahawk High Clearance Rear Bumper for the Jeep Gladiator JT requires trimming the lower rear section of the bed. This allows the bumper to sit high and tight for improved rear clearance.
Is the Crusher HD front bumper a bolt-on bumper?
Yes. The Crusher HD Front Bumper for Jeep JL/JT is a bolt-on front bumper. Depending on the options selected, some assembly may be required before installation.
Can the Crusher HD front bumper accept a winch?
Yes. The Crusher HD front bumper is designed as a winch-ready bumper. In the Dirt Road Cred video, they installed a 12,000 pound winch on the bumper before mounting it to the Jeep.
What is the benefit of the Tomahawk rear bumper?
The main benefit is improved departure angle and rear clearance. By trimming the lower rear bed section and tucking the bumper higher, the Gladiator has less material hanging down behind the rear tires.
Does the Gladiator tailgate still open with the Tomahawk bumper installed?
Yes. In the video, the tailgate still opens normally after the Tomahawk rear bumper is installed.
Can the Tomahawk rear bumper use lights?
Yes. The Tomahawk rear bumper includes rear light provisions. The Dirt Road Cred crew added rear lights and tied them into the Jeep’s lighting functions.
What Jeep models does the Crusher HD front bumper fit?
The Motobilt Crusher HD Front Bumper fits Jeep Wrangler JL, JLU, and Jeep Gladiator JT models.
Where can I buy the bumpers used in the video?
You can find the Motobilt bumpers used in the video directly on the Motobilt website. The rear bumper is the Tomahawk High Clearance Rear Bumper for Jeep JT, and the front bumper is the Crusher HD Front Bumper for Jeep JL/JT.
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