need your feedback on this bumper design

[Tural]

i'm in the process of designing a front bumper. i don't like the slim and small look, i think it leaves something to be desired. i want something that can compliment the contours of the body and the front end. any input is appreciated.
http://www.xjtalk.com/picture.php?albumid=223&pictureid=1922
http://www.xjtalk.com/picture.php?albumid=223&pictureid=1921
http://www.xjtalk.com/picture.php?albumid=223&pictureid=1923

[4x4Dalton]

Great lookin plans bro. Do have 1 question where are you gonna mount the D-ring mounts on it? Just wonderin. :thumbsup:

[Tural]

most likely about 10" to the left and right of the winch opening.

[DETOURS]

Looks bulky...sorry....:sad0147:

[gary63]

what are you going to make it out of?

[Tural]

1/4" mild steel

[Tural]

here's the original design, does it look any better?
http://www.xjtalk.com/picture.php?albumid=223&pictureid=1924

[Chaos in Bloom]

I like the first one you posted. For me, I would incorperate a brush guard style look going up. Some headlight guards in tubular steel. Looks good though imo.

[Tural]

i think i can buy the brush guards from jeepinoutfitters.com

[bigjim350]

To me they look a little too big on the bottom. They would kill your approach angle.

[XJ4IV]

I dig it for the most part BUT that thing will seriously weigh almmost 200 lbs then add a winch to it...WOW heavy... I would trim it back some and make it sit closer to the body... les of the fat lip look but again thats just MY preference... here is the design I came up with and myself and a few buddies fabbed up
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo167/seivey/8696b043.jpg
here it is all painted
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo167/seivey/f0f54dfb.jpg
seeeee NO BS here we really did design and fab this up in a matter of about thirty minutes
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo167/seivey/fb54b8da.jpg

[4.3LXJ]

Your bumper has nice lines, but I have a few reservations. First off, it looks kind of thick and the approach angle will be less than with a stock bumper. If you are just mall crawling, no biggie. But approach angle is something to take into consideration. Second, as drawn, the winch is completely enclosed. This is not a good deal, since cables get pinched etc. Once they do, you will need to access it to get it unpinched. Also, when I am standing next to the winch when reeling the cable in, I stop periodically when all the cable gets bunched up on one side, take it out and rewind it nice and flat on the spool. This saves your cable and allows you to use it more than a few times without breakage. But as I said, nice lines.

[brandonlp]

1/4 inch steel is to heavy for a bumper like that you would be pushing 350lbs with a winch if not more use 3/16 at the most with 1/4 winch bracket. but thats about it.

[Tural]

here's the progress so far. only the winch area and mounts will be 1/4" the remainder will be 3/16 and the top plate can go as thin as 1/8.
the approach angle is less than stock bumper's approach angle with lower valence. so far i've seen that most low end bumpers in the market are too short and they do not cover up the components behind the stock bumper.
as for the winch; i didn't hide it for aesthetics. i live in a town where people will steal your dirty plastic fork while you're in the middle of a meal. i've seen so many snot-nose kids bring winches to the pawnshop and claim that it came off of their truck.
there should be enough space behind the bumper to do winch maintenance. and if that doesn't work, i'll trim the top plate enough to have access to the winch, but not enough to pull it out.
i modified the height and here's where is sits now. i appreciate the feedback and still need more.
here's the final design:
http://www.xjtalk.com/picture.php?albumid=223&pictureid=1925

[BrianXJ]

I like it. But I would be worried about weight.

[Tural]

i'm gonna calculate the weight before i build it.

[bluedragon436]

Looks similar in design to that Fabfour and a few other shops have for their HD bumpers for Dodge & Ford trucks... which is the bumper I will get when I get the 2500 I want... would be need to see a similar style on a XJ..

[bluedragon436]

I dig it for the most part BUT that thing will seriously weigh almmost 200 lbs then add a winch to it...WOW heavy... I would trim it back some and make it sit closer to the body... les of the fat lip look but again thats just MY preference... here is the design I came up with and myself and a few buddies fabbed up
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo167/seivey/8696b043.jpg
here it is all painted
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo167/seivey/f0f54dfb.jpg
seeeee NO BS here we really did design and fab this up in a matter of about thirty minutes
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo167/seivey/fb54b8da.jpg

As far as yours... I like it... but might look into closing the bottom up around the lights... maybe something similar to how this one is around the D-ring mounts.. I wouldn't mind having something like this one for our XJ's!!

http://www.fabfours.com/Portals/58/b1451.jpg

[DETOURS]

Yea......that FabFours stuff is something else, do they build it from gold???

[XJ4IV]

only reason I havent is cause there is a receiver hitch under there if you look closely

[XJ4IV]

well NOW looking at it I guess I can still access the center pin from behind... I guess I will start looking for a plate then...I removed the lights as the caught on EVERYTHING!!!

[modestmar00xj]

they seem pritty cool a little thick on the bottom but i would have to see them on a jeep.

[gary63]

look ok some sizes would help as for the weight you can do a skaletin and skin it with alum. on the top and steel on the bottom.

[Tural]

then i would have to bolt the panels on. you can't weld aluminum to steel. and brazing will be nowhere strong enough.

[XJ Rat]

...as for the winch; i didn't hide it for aesthetics. i live in a town where people will steal your dirty plastic fork while you're in the middle of a meal. i've seen so many snot-nose kids bring winches to the pawnshop and claim that it came off of their truck...
http://www.xjtalk.com/picture.php?albumid=223&pictureid=1925

I agree with you 100%. Kids and others have no consious to steal stuff of your Jeep. When I had my TJ, I fabbed up a bumper and mounted a Ramsey Pro Plus 9500# winch on it. I tacked a couple of the winch mounting bolts after it was mounted. Winch never went anywhere.
Also, I used one of those Warn quick disconnets under my hood. Kept it disconnected until I went wheeling. Eliminated any possibility of the winch being powered up.


Personally, I would open up the top of the bumper and tack the mounting bolts. Other than that, looks good.

[gary63]

bolt up yes then hit the bolts with a welder.that way if you want to you can take it apart and change it.