Rock slide winchless front bumper?

Looking for some first hand experience with this bumper. Quality, fitment, overall thoughts on it.

I want a front bumper, but I dont want a winch. Im not using it for rock crawling or major offroading, just something that can take a impact from ice and snow banks while I am out ice fishing on the lake.

(install)


https://rockslideengineering.com/pr...hi7Mn32PDbKTH5_tNCka0WCHxjGm6BZF-YaJ4MjpRjutn

 

It's 11 gauge not gong to save much on impact but it will be better then the plastic if your bumping into ice with it.

 

Thats the goal. I dont offroad outside of frozen lakes. But I like the look, and getting out on the ice sometimes require I hit a big snowbank or a ice heave. I have been avoiding it due to my plastic bumper, sometimes I will back over it, but I want something up front.

 

That bumper must be new to the market, it's my first time seeing it. Granted I don't have 1st hand experience, here are some takeaways from the install video:
1. It's 1/8 steel and effectively just a shell to replace the lower plastic valence. While obviously steel is going to take a hit better than plastic, the added protection it offers would be very minimal and only in a hit from straight on, and low. If you hit anything somewhat soft (snow bank) then it'll press into the snow and the factory bumper and grille will still be hit and damaged.
2. The only additional functionality it offers is a light bar mounting location, but there are aftermarket behind the bumper mounts for the stock bumper if thats one of your goals.
3. It retains the factory aluminum frame crash bar brackets, good for absorbing a crash impact but they'll buckle if you actually hit something solid like a frozen snow pile or ice defeating the purpose of a stronger bumper.
4. Looks well designed/contoured to the truck, RSE is known for their Jeep power step sliders which have always seemed to fit well.

Summary, looks like a waste of money to me as it's really a cosmetic add-on; it just doesn't offer enough added benefit vs bone stock. I know you said you don't care to run a winch, but the other aftermarket low pro bumpers that do have winch mounts would also be much stronger if you did hit something. They include added D-ring recovery point locations, most offer extra bolt on/optional side wings to give a bit of side protection, and fit light bars as well. While they may weigh an extra 25-40lbs over this, and may even cost double, it seems like money well spent for a more functional product.

 

Ideally I would like to find something with no winch, no light bar, made from aluminum, has a front hitch mount, and requires little to no cutting of the front bumper.
But I know my requirements are pretty specific and probably would not be a good seller if a company made it.

The main thing that I like on this bumper is the no cut install for it and the added protection over the plastic bumper thats on the truck.

I have dissent offroad aluminum rear bumper wings and really like them. Been on there for 5 years, the only impact they have gotten is from a buffalo ramming my bumper and a rickshaw that hit me in the city.