Ardent's New Bumper

[Ardent]

Just finished my front bumper this week. I was really tired of driving around naked (No front bumper) for the last several weeks. We sold my old front and rear bumpers to design some new stuff. Hope you like it!

It's painted with the textured rustoleum stuff which is why it looks a bit uneven. Didn't feel like paying for powdercoat as I'll just be banging/scratching it up anyway.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-JcCUlgSeyPQ/TismS8_e2SI/AAAAAAAAAnU/RPJ0g7ZwyKE/s800/IMG_0579.JPG
Single 1.75" .120 wall DOM tube wings reinforced with 3/16" plate gusseting for added strength.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-07QLedvVY_s/TismTRieFwI/AAAAAAAAAnY/5ic8f2KMUDw/s800/IMG_0580.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HIvw_MKX1W8/TismT80E2rI/AAAAAAAAAnc/3E0oXoIXvCg/s800/IMG_0581.JPG
Sorry for the shadow, but this pic shows how far tucked we managed to stuff the winch. The face of the bumper is ~4" past the grill + fairlead. Soon I'll replace the roller with a hawse.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FXzzTgItMow/TismUtknyFI/AAAAAAAAAnI/hJ69ukHw3Hc/s800/IMG_0582.JPG
Approach angle was increased by cutting back ~3" of the frame.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-eT6jBcdPx_0/TismU3sv0nI/AAAAAAAAAng/kksdGqW4Ls0/s800/IMG_0583.JPG
This bumper is mounted in two pieces. The main bumper section sits on top of the frame with brackets and two 1/2" bolts per side. Then the bottom plate shown here is attached to the frame with an additional two bolts per side and secured to the main bumper section with 7 3/8" bolts. This "sandwiches" the frame and makes the bumper extremely secure with 8 bolts into the frame. This also provides added strength where the winch mounts to the bumper.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A-ccYyw8hso/TismVUz2GTI/AAAAAAAAAnk/v8PzEMVW0a8/s800/IMG_0584.JPG

[Ardent]

Here are some additional Install/poser shots.

Fishing the wires for the winch...
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MZgmq7-LlnI/TissIdLUUDI/AAAAAAAAAn8/DqvL8qcGKCA/s800/DSC05930.jpeg
In-cab winch controls...
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-RH9Oz4xRy10/TissH8_l4qI/AAAAAAAAAn4/AqAgwz289Q0/s800/DSC05927.jpeg

Poser on the boulder...
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fntSvq2RX-E/TissJhL9ZVI/AAAAAAAAAoI/B3Q9CEf7SrQ/s800/DSC05943.jpeg
Side tubes clear the tires at full stuff (no really, that's full stuff... lol.) I might have to trim these back once I build out my links and coilovers and add 37's...
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Yg8ZR4YAwc0/TissKOIK83I/AAAAAAAAAoM/uw1EbAZPi3Y/s800/DSC05942.jpeg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2Nu0E2asE1I/TissKiqOYJI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/__Ja3TacrcE/s800/DSC05941.jpeg

[Rob]

Nice. I like the minimalist approach and improved angle. :thumb:

[Chris]

Very nice Nate! Well done. :thumb:

[Patrolman]

Nice work! That did tuck really far back for a winch bumper!

[mattzj98]

That's nice

[EldoradoFJ60]

Nice design. Nice 80 as well. :thumb:

[Mporter]

I like! Very clean.

[Brody]

Nice looking bumper Nate!

I like the way your whole rig looks.

[Cr33p3r]

Nate that turned out really nice and clean, did you put any stiffener plates behind the side plates?

[Ardent]

Thanks for the comments!


Nate that turned out really nice and clean, did you put any stiffener plates behind the side plates?
These two pics show the reinforcement of the side plates. It's a 1" strip of 1/4" plate welded straight off the back about 1/2" from the bottom.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-eT6jBcdPx_0/TismU3sv0nI/AAAAAAAAAng/kksdGqW4Ls0/s800/IMG_0583.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A-ccYyw8hso/TismVUz2GTI/AAAAAAAAAnk/v8PzEMVW0a8/s800/IMG_0584.JPG

[Java]

nice work, very clean looking, and the flat black gives it a tough look. The dimpled plate on the underside looks like it came from the factory!

[Cr33p3r]

Thanks Nate, I sure did miss seeing those in the pics this morning.

[gm4x4lover]

thats sweet. I see your rig on my way to work. Good work.

[sunk]

Killer! that looks great.