When we upgraded to 35 inch tires, we knew a reinforced hinge system would be a must. We were excited to find this Barricade HD Rear Bumper with a spare Tire Carrier that could solve 2 problems at once: supporting the weight of our tire AND replacing the mall-crawler bumper that we're always worried about trashing. After putting it to the test in Moab and Silverton, we have a few things to share about this bumper.
Aesthetics: We love the rugged, utilitarian look of the Barricade Bumper. The light cut outs look amazing, and the tow points and hitch receiver are all integrated seamlessly.
Durability: We have not taken it easy on this bumper... You can see some of the abuse in our Poison Spider and Golden Spike video. We made it home with some denting but no serious damage.
Convenience: Most similar bumper set ups require you to close and open the spare tire holder and tailgate separately. We love that the Barricade Bumper functions the same way our stock tailgate did. It is convenient and easy to use.
One Problem: We have had one problem with this bumper. Where the tire goes into the tailgate mount, the square tubing has cracked and bent from the weight of the tire. It is built to support a 35" tire, but you can see the tire is angled slightly out when it is mounted. However, it seems it is flexed as far as it is going to and hasn't gotten any worse.
We would definitely recommend the Barricade Bumper. Special thanks to Extreme Terrain--one of the best places to order off-road parts from. They offer a great fitment tool that allows you to check your Jeep by year and build to ensure you are purchasing a bumper that will work for you! Comment any questions you have!