Redo front bumper?

What to do about my front bumper

  • Buy something low profile

    Votes: 1 3.7%

  • Fabricate my own (like in pic)

    Votes: 8 29.6%

  • Leave it alone since my ride height is so short

    Votes: 18 66.7%
  • Total voters
    27
NickMaul

NickMaul

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2009
Location
Norfolk, VA
First off I want to say I am getting a welder for Christmas...main opinion i want to hear from you guys is what I should do with my front bumper.
My xj is turning into a rock crawler DD more than a mudder or trail rider and i want to get the most use from my front bumper. Right now I have a bumper that leonard0909 made a while back. Props to him, great design has help up wonderfully so far. I loved it because I thought I was going to plant a winch and some lights on it. Plans changed and it looks naked with all that metal hangin off the front.
I would go back to the stock bumper I have but I trimmed the fenders alot so it would just look ugly.
I decided that I want to build a super low profile bumper to provide good sturdy protection with one or two recovery points. Also want it to be tucked in so it doesnt kill my approach angle because right now the bumper slaughters my approach angle when i come up to tall, wall like rocks/bolders. this would be my very first fabrication project but I feel capable of doing it if i take my time.
Current front bumper
ai978.photobucket.com_albums_ae262_1tonoffun_jeep_PICT0046.jpg

Here is where I want to see what you guys think.
~Should I be patient and find one to buy that I like
OR
~Put my skills to the test, get rough, and go full out my design
Here is what I saw and like on NAXJA. Believe it or not he has a winch tucked in there. He moved cut through the front crossmember, but i dont think i will need to do that since i am not getting a winch. His write up http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1041403
I dont want to copy him but those dimensions are what I am aiming for
ai978.photobucket.com_albums_ae262_1tonoffun_44556_10150225382845234_748960233_14128384_707471_n.jpg

ai978.photobucket.com_albums_ae262_1tonoffun_44332_10150225380815234_748960233_14128304_534790_n.jpg
 
Your gonna need more than a welder to build that bumper. You will also need a tube bender. I wouldint worry about the bumper it looks good, at least wait till ya bash it up.
On a second note, dont get a 110 welder, THEY SUCK, If your on a budget get a 220 lincolin stick welder from lowes $299.
 
Spend the $$$ you were going to spend on building a new bumper and spend it on one of these.
38_1.jpg


You aren't going to gain much approach with a new bumper.
 
A 110 welder does not suck. They have their uses. You can go with a 130A and get plenty of penetration for bumpers and such. My entire Jeep was build with a 130A. That to say I now have a 220V and it is very nice and where I had to spend time bevelling and doing 3 passes I can do in 1. I kept my 130 and have it set up for thin sheet steel for body work. This way I don't have to switch wire up.

You can gain soem approach angle and I do really like that bumper. It is tucked in very nice. Mine sticks out the front like your's and I use it as a slider on rocks. It gets beat on pretty good.

Looking at your jeep I'd not start with the front bumper though. I'd do rock sliders, rear bumper and frame stiffeners before the front bumper.

Knowing what I know now about xj's and wheeling I think the first thing that should be done is the frame stiffeners. Then build off those. It will really help in the long run. hdoffroadengineering has a full frame stiffener kit that is nice.

http://www.hdoffroadengineering.com/
 
I like the one you have. I don't think a low profile is going to gain you as much approach angle as you would think. I'm of the mind that you should stick with what you have and go for some rock sliders instead. You can plate your frame and then build sliders off of that if you prefer, but with the finesse you use a set of bolt on sliders would be more than sufficient.

Here's a link to the sliders I have. They bolt on the unibody frame and onto the pinch welds. Very sturdy. I later had them welded into my frame after plating it. Click the pic:
awww.ajsoffroadarmor.com_images_P_ss11.jpg
 
I am in the same position as you, I feel like I hit my front bumper on everything. i think when URE closes for the season this will be resolved but, I agree with the other guys that you should definitely do frame stiffeners and sliders before you do another front bumper, this will also help you get some Fab time under your belt. I have been putting off doing Rock Sliders for about 5 months,I have the material just sitting in the garage. Right now you can see through my rocker panel.

Did you wheel on halloween I that I saw you with a big ZJ?
 
your jeep looks good and if you were to put something so low profile like pictured i would be worrying about getting in an accident and it doing more damage. with your bumper now, i would not worry as much
 
Hone your skills on the side protection. If it stays put without tearing off or destroying itself then move on to something that if it fails can become a very dangerous missle. Bumpers need to do alot when they become recovery points.
 
I'd leave the front bumper. You may want a winch some day.

Build some sliders first.
 
I'm gonna jump on the sliders/rockrail hijack. All it takes is one good hit to the rockers, and your doors won't be opening, that would suck on such a strait XJ. I have a welder...and no time, so i ordered AJ's Super RockRails

For the approach angle, you could always put the stocker back on, remove the endcaps, and cut the ends for fashion.
like this one...
ai21.photobucket.com_albums_b266_Hammerite_05_Golf_20Cars_DSCN0572.jpg
 
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