Hi everyone, I am looking for a bumper to mount to the front with a winch. I found that some guys use the smaller Jeep Wrangler Bumpers and they seem to fit well. I was looking at this on from amazon, https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07MYSY5GY/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_4?smid=AAGI3W5EFLQNG&psc=1 Thoughts?? How many Modifications will I have to do? Any info would be helpful Joey
The Jeep bumper is pretty slick. But you need to think about load paths to get the bumper firmly attached to the frame. I bought my Hijet to plow snow with, so I needed a solid bumper for that, and with mine being a pick-lift/dump version I also wanted a way to mount good outriggers for when I’m using the lift bed as a man-lift. So I ended up with a bumper consisting of two pieces of 2-1/2-inch square tubing separated buy receivers for 2-inch hitch mounts in the middle and the ends. Yep it’s ugly, but highly functional. I mounted my front bumper utilizing the factory mount points for the towing hoops, and have one central price of 2-1/2 tubing going to the center of the front suspension where the pivot for the steering mounts. Yes if I hit something hard I may bend the frame and total the truck. I find that preferable to mounting a beefy looking bumper to the front sheet metal, so if I hit something, the bumper collapses back onto my feet. I can buy a new truck. I’m kind of attached to my feet, need them more than the truck, and can’t buy another pair.
I just finished building a winch bumper for my truck, the paint is drying as we speak. If you go the Jeep bumper way you will need to fabricate custom brackets to adapt it to your truck and mount it to something solid especially if you mount a winch on it. Mine is bolted to the front frame and to the the two tow hook in the front. If you can weld and have basic fabricating skill its doable.
Joey, I hear Ulmer farm services has clean looking reasonable bumpers. Let me know if that works out.
my front bumper is also 2.5" box tube... with a 2" hitch for my snowblade. my winch plate is right on top of that. no budge, no give, no bending or twisting.... & only got about $15 in it.
Hello Everyone! Thanks for all the info, it was very helpful. I did get the bumper done after some minor modifications, my buddy helped me as he is a welder. Added some bracing in the wheel well on the frame rails and extended the frame out past the factory bumper. then it was simple from there.
^^^^ VERY NICE! that is some good looking HQ work there!! gotta ask: what is all the big monster radiator stuff there? (my 02 doesnt look like that behind the grille)
Very nice indeed, I like to see what others have done to their trucks. Mine is bolted one, I wanted to be able to revert to stock if needed. My 03 looks exactly like Joey's. The second radiator is for the AC if its what you where asking.
Joey, I agree! Very Professional! Great Fab Work, including the Welds! Wire Fed? Or Stick? Also, Some Very good practical Engineering! The Pics really help to show your Quality Workmanship! To me, that's the Way that I would do it! Limestone
ah... see.... my older model with A/C had the condenser under the bed instead of out front. my 02 model doesnt have a/c. thats why that looked so packed in there.
Thanks everyone, it was wire fed welder. and yes the one on the left is for the AC. I also have a skid plate fabbed up for it, just need to bolt it on but have not had a spare 10 min lately. Maybe I will even wash it and upload some clean pictures with the skid plate installed.
Just a thought! If you wanted too, you can cut small pieces of pipe, to protect, around the bolt heads on your skid plates! Not necessary, or even required, just a thought. If you do decide to do it, make sure your pipe dia. is large enough to accept a socket, for hex heads! You hit a bunch of rocks, in the creek, or what ever, and snap, or damage one bolt, or head of one, you'll be happy you over killed it! Just a thought! Limestone
Quality job! Are you now going to trim the front fascia to match? 4sonsoffroad tapers them about to that angle. I'm planning to tape off and cut mine on my 2011. Looks so much nicer to me.
Joey Gibbs great work & damn good looking, I do not require a winch so I went another way Picked up a scratch & dent DeeZee push bars cut down to fit between lights Regards Brian
Thanks, appreciate it I do believe I am about done EXCEPT for a new motor in the spring/summer Putting together a F8B 800cc
WOW!, I'm glad your not, scared of anything! LOL!!! I'M Lovin it! Can't wait to hear the rest of the Story! Limestone
did you have to cut anything off the to put the plate on looks like you removed the factory initial front plate
