Q&A - Bumper width on a Jeep Wrangler

I was thinking of getting a stubby bumper for my Jeep and the MVA says:

"...and where a replacement bumper has been installed, it shall give substantially the same protection as the original bumper."

Someone stated that this infers the same width but wouldn't it then say "substantially the same size" if that is what was meant? One could argue that a steel stubby bumper is perhaps better protection than the stock plastic bumper. I see tons of these stubby bumpers here on Vancouver Island where I live.

I know just because some people do it doesn't mean it is legal.

Your thoughts?

Answer

The inspection manual used by the designated inspection facilities lists this rejection criteria for bumpers:

d) not oem width on manufactured vehicle

– less than track width on non-manufactured vehicle

– vertical surface less than 100 mm (4 in.)

So, unless you are licenced as a modified collector vehicle, your bumper must be the same width as the OEM bumper and at least 4 inches high.

Thanks

Non-manufactured vehicle - added bars

Some questions for clarification.

1. What's a non-manufactured vehicle?

2, Are there instances where a vehicle purchaser can choose between different OEM bumpers? If so, does it matter if the replacement bumper is different than the previous one but is still an OEM option for that vehicle?

3. On the next street I noticed a high-clearance right-hand-drive Japanese SUV-like vehicle with lots of bars on the front. Is it OK to have these roo bars (made of tubes) as well as an OEM bumper. If the bars themselves are OEM and not additional to an OEM bumper does it matter that each bar is less than 100 mm high?

Answer

I quoted the information directly from the inspection manual.

1) Not defined in the manual. I expect it to mean a vehicle without a national safety mark.

2) I don't know, you would have to ask the manufacturer.

3) Yes.

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