Aftermarket Hood for Jeep Wrangler | Reason why you should choose it over stock
Hoods are one of the most essential components of a car, both aesthetically and in purpose. Some wrangler owners prefer keeping the factory hood for originality. In contrast, others play around with aftermarket hood for jeep wrangler.
However, others prefer getting an aftermarket hood which is better than the factory hood. There are a couple of reasons that might make one want an aftermarket hood, but before that, you might want to know if it is illegal to drive without a hood since there are some who drive without.
There are a couple of laws that involve removing car components such as the roof, doors, and hoods. Ensure you know these laws before you decide on removing such components. Still, in most states, if the manufacturer has stated that they are removable and are not part of the structural composition of the vehicle, you will not have much trouble.
For hoods, most states do not have laws barring one from driving hoodless; you might get into some trouble with the cops even if it is not illegal but ensure you check for other laws concerning hood removal that might get you in trouble.
Most people you see driving without a hood do so for a couple of reasons, such as the following:
- To show off the engine bay, Some wrangler owners perform heavy modifications on their engine end other engine bay components, and they feel that it should not be hidden. They remove the hood, especially when going to car meets or when driving around town.
- Too excited to put a hood on. You might be working on your wrangler as a project car, and once you have the engine running, you drive off without some parts, which might include the hood.
- Your hood might be damaged, or you don’t have one after completion of your project wrangler, and you don’t have the funds to buy one, or it is not available. So, you decide to drive without a hood while looking for solutions.
Why should you replace your hood?
Aftermarket replacement components are available for every component of your wrangler, including the hood. Most only consider replacing the hood after damages. Damages are either physical or rust deterioration with time. Always ensure your wrangler’s hood is rust protected. If you are working on it, paint whatever cuts you make so as not to expose them to rust-promoting factors such as moisture and salts.
Here are some other reasons why you should replace your hood.
Aesthetics
The factory hood is stock with no modifications done to it. You can modify the hood for yourself to your liking, but you can also get an aftermarket one. Most people prefer aftermarket hoods as they look better than the factory hood, especially if they have modifications.
Also, suppose you have done other modifications such as bumper upgrades, grill upgrades, and light upgrades. In that case, you want a bumper that would match up with these, so you get an aftermarket bumper.
After undertaking engine and body modifications on your wrangler
Some owners tune their engines, and some modifications, such as adding a supercharger, will require you to change the hood depending on the size of the supercharger. You may also need vents on the hood to regulate the air in the engine bay as tuned engines produce more power which means the engine will heat up quickly.
Rarely will you find a factory hood with vents, so an aftermarket one or cutting vents in the hood covers that?
When you decide to do a body panel upgrade, such as giving the jeep a widebody, you might need to change the hood if it does not align with the widebody panels.
Are aftermarket hoods better than factory hoods?
To explain this better, you have to make a comparison of the specific hood you are buying with the factory hood since either can be better than the other, depending on the hood you want to buy.
Material strength and durability
All factory jeep wrangler hoods are made out of aluminum which is great as it saves a lot of weight; thus, it is easy to open and close. By saving weight, the fuel economy is better as more weight increases fuel consumption.
However, most aftermarket hoods are better-grade aluminum and other light materials such as carbon fiber and titanium. There are also others made of heavier materials heavier than aluminum, such as industrial-grade steel.
The material used to make the hood is what will determine the durability and strength of the hood. Hoods made out of aluminum, carbon, and titanium, or any other light material are weaker than hoods made of steel or any other stronger metals. Lighter materials are also hard and expensive to repair, sometimes irreparable.
Most people who install steel hoods know that their hoods are at constant risk of damage, and replacing or fixing the hood is not expensive.
When compared to the factory aluminum hood, aftermarket hoods are better and more durable, especially if the hood you want is made of better-grade aluminum or any other stronger metal. Hoods made from other materials are just lighter than the factory hood.
Appearance
The factory hood is just a plain hood, and there are some who prefer such kinds of hoods. However, you can get a better-looking aftermarket hood if you are buying a hood just for aesthetics. Even plain aftermarket hoods look better than factory plain hoods as aftermarket part manufacturers always compete with each other and with factory-made parts.
Customization
When you decide to buy an aftermarket hood, you do not necessarily have to buy it from a physical store or online. You can place an order to have one custom-made for your wrangler.
Considerations you should make when buying an aftermarket hood
Fitment
Hoods are made to fit specific wrangler models, and you might find the hood does not fit in wranglers of the same model but have different production years. Manufacturers indicate the fitments of the hood, and if it is not indicated, you should leave it and look for one that has an indicated fitment.
To prevent any mishaps, it is recommended you visit the seller in person to test out the hood as some sellers have a no return policy. You’ll have to buy another hood or stay without one if this happens.
Price
Aftermarket hoods are priced differently from factory hardtops, but finding a new factory hood can be an uphill task. Even when you find one, you have to wait for it for a while. If you want an aftermarket hood, you can just buy and install one immediately. Most factory hoods on sale are also used, so you might have a little trouble getting a new one.
Most factory tops are priced at almost the same price, and aftermarket tops are priced according to the features that a specific hood has. For example, a hood with vents costs more than a hood without vents, and a carbon fiber hood costs more than an aluminum hood. The higher your budget, the better the hood you will get.
The higher the price of the hood, the stronger and more durable it is. Some sellers also offer warranties for their hoods, but this mostly happens with high-priced hoods.
Material
As stated, earlier aftermarket hoods are made out of different materials, and each material has varying strength ad durability. However, you have to note that the lighter the material, the higher the price.
Carbon fiber hoods are expensive than aluminum and steel hoods. However, this does not mean that carbon is stronger than aluminum. Hoods made out of steel are the cheapest, but they are the strongest and most durable compared to hoods made out of other materials.
There are also hoods made out of weaker materials such as fiberglass, and these are the cheapest you can come across. However, they get damaged easily and can only last for a short while before you need to buy another one.
Conclusion
A hood is an essential component of your vehicle end. Even if you feel the urge to drive without one, it is recommended you do. There are some other components in the engine bay except the engine that can be damaged when exposed to moisture. Protecting the engine and other components in the engine bay is the main purpose of the hood.
The factory hood is just a basic hood, and aftermarket hoods outshine factory hoods in many aspects. The probability of finding a new factory hood is rare unless you order it from the factory, which will take a while to get to you. You might end up paying more for a factory hood than you could have paid for an aftermarket one.
You can also play around with your factory hood to customize it the way you want it. If it is damaged, fixing it will depend on which material it is made of. Most wranglers come with steel or aluminum hoods.
Steel hoods are easier to work with either when customizing or repairing. Aluminum hoods are more complicated, and you need to be careful as you can cause damage or increase the damage you are trying to fix.
