winch bumper build

marty79

marty79

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 24, 2013
Location
Newton, NC
Spent 3 days working on this winch bumper for my new XJ, about 3 hrs a day, and it's finally done and painted. I thought it looked so good and was pretty happy with it so figured I'd share it.
Personally I think it's one of my best and neatest work done yet LOL, and it's a great start to this new Street Rig that will be built over time and a little focus on looks is kinda what I'm after so I think I'm off to a good start.

1/4" x 4" flat plate steel is the whole thing, yes it was lots of cutting but it was lots of leftover material from the buggy build so why not. Still have enough for rear bumper too!
Underneath the winch is an additional 3/16" plate that has holes drilled through it so the winch is mounted on a 3/8" thick surface.
The front angled sides grew on me as I didn't know at first but there will be little light pods built into them once I get the plasma cutter hooked up and some swort of brush guard still needs to be made onto the bumper to protect the lights/corners.
Oh and yes it's all welded on the unibody rails with the steering box bolts already cut out and all so it was done right the first time!

Bumper build 1.jpg
bumper build side angle.jpg
Bumper build side pic.jpg
bumper build underneath 2.jpg
bumper done above view.jpg
bumper done left view.jpg
bumper done right view.jpg
bumper done front view.jpg
 
Looks very functional, probably not that heavier than any other winch bumper. Very nice! I’d rock it. My only $.02 would be a miter cut on the sides for tire clearance.

0DC03826-3D70-40B0-B020-75A4FFDF5DC6.jpeg
 
BigBody79 said:
Looks good, is there room for a grill and lights? I saw you said it was a street
Jeep.
Click to expand...
yes i gotta put the front clip back on next

BigSouth said:
My only $.02 would be a miter cut on the sides for tire clearance.
Click to expand...
yeah thought about that but will wait until the 35s get ready which is gonna be a while before that happens lol. For now gonna run 2" spacers, the winch, lunchbox locker in front and call it good while I save up for materials to build the lift and all.
 
marty79 said:
yes i gotta put the front clip back on next


yeah thought about that but will wait until the 35s get ready which is gonna be a while before that happens lol. For now gonna run 2" spacers, the winch, lunchbox locker in front and call it good while I save up for materials to build the lift and all.
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with that. You sound like a man with a plan. Stick to it, carry on...
 
NickMaul said:
Roller fairlead will serve its purpose better in front of the bumper not behind it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Looks to me that it will work just fine the way he has it. It would take a real sharp angle for the cable to get into the steel.

Not the way 99% roller fairleads are mounted, but why not?
 
NickMaul said:
Roller fairlead will serve its purpose better in front of the bumper not behind it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Took me forever to decide on this but finally figured better to protect it so cut the hole out big enough. (Should've hooked up plasma cutter and would look neater lol).

(For what this Jeep will be it will work. This Jeep won't see any heavy wheeling. This is more for wife and daughter to enjoy "trail riding" at Uwharrie, Gulches, Lake Houser, Brown Mt, and any other place. I had my fun in the buggy for now until I'm better set up to build another one. It will eventually sit on 35s, welded rear, lunchbox locked front, 5" long arm lift, maybe 4link rear. Lots of stickers and lightbars eventually too haha
 
Why you running your flux core downhill? :D That's cheating :lol:

But all joking aside, it looks good, and nice work. But I'll 2nd what @Jody Treadway said about running the fairlead outside the bumper, not behind it
 
Looks good. I would likely have tried to sink the winch down into the bumper, but your plan will work great too. The fairlead should still work fine for steel cable. If you ever switch to rope, I would move it to the outside.

Looks like you have more room at the new place.
 
Scooter402 said:
Why you running your flux core downhill? :D That's cheating :lol:

But all joking aside, it looks good, and nice work. But I'll 2nd what @Jody Treadway said about running the fairlead outside the bumper, not behind it
Click to expand...

#notme

I'm staying out of this one. Much like @Loganwayne at a straight night club.
 
paradisePWoffrd said:
Looks like you have more room at the new place.
Click to expand...
Lots more but no garage....yet I built that she'd in background from scrap wood and metal at work to get most tools out of rain but 18x26x9 garage plans are in the making. Landlord is going in half with me on it so soon will start that
 
paradisePWoffrd said:
would likely have tried to sink the winch down into the bumper, but
Click to expand...
Thought of it but I don't think I have fabrication ability to do that and make it look descent...being honest at least, I know my limits
 
@Jody Treadway so I got to ask how the heck do y'all get the corners and all that to be so round and looking flawless like it was bent that way. Is it just grinding or what? I've always wondered
 
Looks good, dude. Skills definitely getting better.

On the roller fairlead, I think it'll work fine. My only concern (with wire) isn't the wire getting into the metal, its that any load on the roller is being transmitted solely to the two mounting bolts of the fairlead.
 
Ron said:
Looks good, dude. Skills definitely getting better.

On the roller fairlead, I think it'll work fine. My only concern (with wire) isn't the wire getting into the metal, its that any load on the roller is being transmitted solely to the two mounting bolts of the fairlead.
Click to expand...
So I need to have 4bolts in it...or should
 
Or better yet, that's the "proper" way. I think it'll work for my usage but you're saying the proper way right...
 
49willys said:
I am impressed, "Way overbuilt" 3/8"- 14 gauge? You're heading down the right path, you have a nice looking bumper.

"Strength thru Structure" think about the "frame" of your XJ. o_O
Click to expand...
Thanks buddy. What you mean by 14 gauge? I'm confused
 
49willys said:
Way overbuilt"
Click to expand...
I do agree it's way overkill. It's beefier than the one I had on the buggy...go figure and this will see more malls than crawls bahahahaha
 
marty79 said:
Thanks buddy. What you mean by 14 gauge? I'm confused
Click to expand...

He's talking about the thickness of XJ unibody rails. They are 14 gauge - doubled in some places, but you're still welded to only one layer. Might not hurt if you have room to weld in through-hole bosses and add bolts for additional strength if the 14 gauge is doubled in your weld areas.
 
Back
Top