2018 is the year of the Jeep JL, and the aftermarket is supporting this vehicle tremendously right out of the gate. Rusty’s Off-Road has recently released bumpers, control arms, and track bars for the JL and have more on the way.

Bumper

Rusty’s new Stubby Trail Front Bumper for the 2018 JL Wrangler combines the protection for wheeling on the trail with a look that’s right at home when cruising your local hangout. The Trail bumper’s frame is constructed of 3/16-inch thick steel that has been laser-cut and CNC-formed for an exact fit.

The integrated winch mount in the bumper is constructed of 1/4-inch laser-cut steel for even more strength. They used the latest computer modeling tools to create a bumper that emphasizes strength while eliminating unnecessary weight. The ends of the bumper are tapered for improved clearance on the trail and to maximize approach angles, while black satin powdercoated finish keeps the bumper looking good.

If keeping the factory look is more your style, Rusty’s took care of that as well. The new JL Wrangler looks as if it will hold a winch, but unfortunately, it does not in factory form. Rusty’s addressed that issue with a bolt on winch mount that uses the factory bumper. The JL Winch Mount will accept winches with steel rope equipped or synthetic rope and can use a roller or a hawse fairlead.

Control Arms

Rusty’s control arms are fabricated from 2-inch DOM tubing and are shaped to maximize flex as well as tire and wheel clearance. Rusty’s adjustable control arms are fabricated from 2-inch DOM tubing and have a CNC mandrel bend to offer more flex and articulation. Both upper and lower control arms use 1.25-inch x 12 threads and on their forged ends for strength and easy adjustability. Rusty’s Forged Flex Ends offer greater suspension flex, adjustable preload settings, and are greaseable. The upper and lower arms have OE-style rubber bushings, are secured with the supplied jam nuts, and are powdercoated black.

Track Bar

The Track Bar locates the axle side-to-side in relation to the vehicle’s frame. A suspension lift changes the operating angle of the track bar and makes the effective length of the track bar shorter, which shifts the axle off center. This is very noticeable with lifts over two inches. If your vehicle is already lifted, view it from the front and see if the axles are centered underneath the body; more than likely the front axle is shifted over to the driver side, while the rear axle is shifted toward the passenger side.

Rusty’s track bar mounts to the original locations, unlike others that include a drop down bracket, and has enough adjustment to accommodate a 2-5-inch lift. Rusty’s Track Bars are constructed of 1.50-inch diameter and .250 wall DOM tubing. They are black powder coated and come with heavy-duty polyurethane bushings at both ends. As the tires get larger, the rubber track bar bushings allow movement happen and can lead to ill handling and could cause the evil death wobble.

Rusty’s should have two-inch and 3.5-inch lift kits available soon and many more products are coming down the pipeline. There is a prototype full-width winch bumper that is very similar to the Stubby and rear bumpers are just around the corner.

For more information on Rusty’s Off-Road made in the USA products, be sure to visit their website.