NEW Rugged Ridge Venator Bumper Breaks the Mold

Looking for a replacement bumper that really stands out from the pack? Something that doesn’t simply complement OE lines like some timid, second-class accessory—but rather uses manufacturer designs to enhance its own appearance? A bumper as capable as it is intimidating? A bumper that leaves small woodland creatures quaking in fear as it vigorously conquers trail obstacles?!?!

Alright, perhaps we don’t need to frighten the wildlife, but with the new Rugged Ridge Venator (Part #11549.42) you certainly could if you wanted to. After all, the name is the Latin word for “hunter.”

Meet the Venator

Fitted for the Jeep JL Wrangler and JT Gladiator, Rugged Ridge proclaims that the Venator “represents a sharp departure from typical bumper design,”—and we have to agree. With plenty of sharp angles and rough contours, the whole thing looks downright muscular. It’s as if your already-trail-ready bumper went keto and hit the gym for eight weeks.

Its heavy-duty steel construction is strong without being bulky, weighing in around 80 pounds. And the “chiseled facets” and “radical arches” as Rugged Ridge likes to call them, lend some aggressive styling cues to the front end. That dynamic result seems to have come from the Venator’s unique development process, which the company explains began as a carefully-crafted clay mold before it was forged in steel.

If all of these references to chiseled clay molds and Latin terminology are bringing up ancient Roman vibes, you’re on the right track. While “Venator” translates to “hunter,” the etymology packs a little more punch.

A Bumper Worthy of Its Roman History

While, today, Rome might be a tourist trap full of Instagram photo ops and endless pasta, nearly two thousand years ago it was a decidedly more brutal place. Assuming you’ve seen the national treasure that is Ridley Scott’s Gladiator, I shouldn’t have to explain just how messed up public entertainment was circa 80 AD. In any event, during those exciting times, a venator was something like a hybrid gladiator-circus performer, who not only hunted wild animals in the Colosseum, but also performed such crowd-pleasing tricks as sticking an arm into a lion’s mouth, riding a bull, or training an elephant to walk a tightrope. You know, normal stuff to make the kiddos smile.

These days, cable television seems to do the trick for us blood-thirsty unwashed masses, but the new Rugged Ridge Venator bumper surely calls upon some of that legendary ruthlessness in the way that it takes a modern-day “Gladiator” and helps it look mean as hell.

Sporting a built-in winch plate, two heavy-duty 1-inch thick tow hooks, and a durable powder-coat finish, the Venator is ready to tackle rough terrain. The cool octagon-shaped pockets house your factory fog lights and the silver portion is a skid plate included in the bumper. For those living in a state that requires a front license plate, Rugged Ridge suggests a fair lead mount or a hoop mount once the hoop is released sometime in 2020.

Can You Wait Until November?

As for the Venator itself? Rugged Ridge is planning for a November release, with pre-orders currently being accepted. And in addition to the anticipated unique overrider design, the company plans for new brackets and winch plates in 2020 to make the bumper work for the JK. Engineers are also busy whipping up some options for the rear bumper over the coming months.

Plan for an intermediate-level installation that will take you roughly 2-3 hours to complete. (Though, you won’t have to worry about any cutting or drilling, as the Venator is a bolt-on number.)

Pricing should land somewhere in the $800 range, with a 5-year limited warranty protecting your investment.

With this chiseled beast dropping in November, we’re assuming it’ll make an appearance at this year’s SEMA show. And if this bumper is any indication of Rugged Ridge’s new designs, we can’t wait to see what else the company has in store.

A subsidiary of Jeep replacement and restoration parts manufacturer Omix-ADA, Rugged Ridge and its parent company recently joined the Truck Hero family of brands in October 2017. Rugged Ridge has designed and manufactured over 3,000 products for the Jeep market and continues to develop hundreds of additional parts each year—many of them patented for their innovative designs.