XJ winch bumper

[dungbeetle]

http://www.dirtboundoffroad.com/extreme-winch-diy-bumper-jeep-cherokee-xj.html

Has anybody tried this? I have a 97 XJ that could use this. I'd be interested to hear some opinions on it.

 

[jmaxj]

Personally no. But I know a couple who have with no complaints

 

[Badger]

My only concerns would be the flat face being more of a ram and the tie in could be a bit longer to take advantage of the large hole further back that has a built in crush block in the frame already.

 

[dungbeetle]

My only concerns would be the flat face being more of a ram and the tie in could be a bit longer to take advantage of the large hole further back that has a built in crush block in the frame already.

Ahhhh... I see what you mean... this kit has what you are saying, I think.

http://www.jcroffroad.com/product/XJB/DIY-XJ-F-WN.html

 

[Badger]

Are you talking about the extension plates? If so then yes that's what I was talking about. If you were talking about the face of the bumper being a ram. Almost all weld your own are about the same they all use larger plates to minimize amount of parts and ease of building. See how this bumper has the beveled bottom plate to help get on top of things. I wouldn't hold back buying something based just on that alone. If the price works, the product works, then all is good.

 

[dungbeetle]

Are you talking about the extension plates? If so then yes that's what I was talking about. If you were talking about the face of the bumper being a ram. Almost all weld your own are about the same they all use larger plates to minimize amount of parts and ease of building. See how this bumper has the beveled bottom plate to help get on top of things. I wouldn't hold back buying something based just on that alone. If the price works, the product works, then all is good.

Yeah... I think it could be pretty easily modified to include that. Are there any plans online for a better design? I have my own cnc and could make the plates fairly easily if I didn't have to program everything.

 

[Badger]

Not that I know of. I would just cut up some cardboard till I had something I liked and transfer it to steel.

 

[dungbeetle]

I got tired of trying to find some plans online, so I pulled off my bumper and made some drawings of the various parts... frame reinforcements, winch mount, etc, and then cut everything out of 3/16ths steel. This is what I have so far. All of the structural parts are there. The rest is just cosmetic. I'll probably only use 1/8 inch to finish it up.

I mostly used the ideas from the JCR design:

except, on the back of the winch box, I put the rear angle piece all the way across, and so far I haven't put the small piece on the front top

 

[sawtooth4x4]

I built this for a guy about 6 years ago. it worked pretty good.

 

[skippy]

The thing I hate about almost all XJ bumpers is how far they stick out from the grill, It kills your approach angle and looks goofy from the side view due to how far they stick out. I vote for cutting out the sheetmetal under the grill and mount your winch up inside the bumper so your bumper only has to stick out like 2 inches from your grill..... But what do i know

 

[Badger]

Felt the same way that's why I used a front bumper receiver and a winch plate.

 

[jmaxj]

That's why I suck mine in and the stick out 3" less than the stock bumper.

 

[dungbeetle]

Not too concerned about the looks just yet... mostly this was just an excuse to practice using my plasma cutter. Not sure it was worth the time spent considering I could have bought the kit from JCR for 300 bucks.

 

[OrangeSkidPlate]

I have that bumper on my Jeep, I really like it. I've only winched from it twice and it held up fairly well. My only complaint is that it is adjustable forward or back and I had it on the farthest back setting and the bumper slid forward. So I suggest getting it in the position you want it in, and welding it onto the tie-ins.

 

[dungbeetle]

I have that bumper on my Jeep, I really like it. I've only winched from it twice and it held up fairly well. My only complaint is that it is adjustable forward or back and I had it on the farthest back setting and the bumper slid forward. So I suggest getting it in the position you want it in, and welding it onto the tie-ins.

I saw that as a problem, so I only cut the holes the size of the bolt.`Same thing on the winch bolt holes... no slide adjustments there either.

 

[dungbeetle]

Here is an update on the progress of the bumper.

If anyone would like to make one for themselves, I could be persuaded to share the DXF file to make this. If you don't have a CNC machine, I would be willing to trade cutting your steel for weeding my vehicle storage area.

 

[lafazan]

Does anyone have or made a dxf file for that rear bumper with tyre carier???