NEW BUMPERS: Opinions wanted!

Hey y'all. I have been thinking about offroad bumpers for the liberty a lot lately, and I have decided to design my own to be built. Over the next few days, I will post sketches that I would like feedback on.

In the mean time, any suggestions on what to put on it? also any suggestions on protection like stinger hoop, light guards etc etc?

Right now i want a steel bumper with upward angles near the wheels, two shackle mounts, a front hitch and possibly pushing/ramming style uprights. other than that im clue-less. oh and i want it sprayed with line-x.

Here are three sketches so far.

1. "crawler" style bumper



2. Heavy duty "crawler" style



3. "Ranch-hand" style bumper (used on a lot of farm trucks near me)



Let me know what you think!!

I vote for option #1, but, it's your Jeep so the decision is all yours. Whatever you decide it'll look pretty wicked when it's done.

Hmmm.....

I like the top piece on 2, but the lower sides on 1. 1 would be cheaper (that's how i make my decisions). 3... not so much


If you have room to move the driving lights out and leave a flat spot in the middle, you could fit a winch in there down the road.

I like the 2" receiver in the front. One of these days I'm having one welded on.

One thing that comes in handy is to include a way to use a hi-lift on the bumper. On mine, there are two cut-outs (one at about each tire track) that will accommodate the lifting part of the hi-lift.

k_enn

Thanks guys!

1. definitely gonna have hi-lift points added.

2. notlost- maybe i couyld keep top piece in 2 but add lower sides like #1.. hows that sound? cause i love the low sides of 1 but i also love the top piece.. i will draw a new one and show yall this weekend!!!

updated with your suggestions....

Now we're talkin! (still don't see that "just-in-case" spot for a winch, though)

hahaha pete ok. but see i dont want a permanant winch for a while so what im thinking when money permits (the bumpers are tbd when $ is aval.) is to do a warn m8000 multi-mount winch.

Just remember, bumpers like this are typically HEAVY...and any extra weight on the front of your Liberty will cause the front end to sag. Unless you are running coilovers or some sort of adjustable front suspension, you won't be able to readjust the height. In my opinion, don't go overkill unless you think you are going to be really hard on it. The most important thing is the attachment points to the frame and lateral support...not cosmetics. You can build a tube bumper of this style out of 1.5" tubing (doesn't "have" to be DOM for the entire structure), and have the "flats" filled/welded in with 16/18ga steel to hide what's behind it for the same effect.

And IF you are going to add a full-time mounted winch, count on at least 50# more weight on the front end. With the receiver you plan to add, a removeable one is better. That's what I did with my 4Runner before I changed the front end and went with the Warn 9.0Rc. And IF you go that route...I have my old winch cradle with roller fairlead at home if you are interested?

My $.02.

Good luck with it! I like option #1 the best.

Greg
TOYMN8R

Thanks greg. now that you mention it, i will probably do 1/8 or 3/16 steel and 1.5" tube. and no, i dont plan on a permanant winch for a while.

On the topic of my front sagging, rusty's makes tuneable coils, and a 3/4" strut/shock lifter to compensate for bumpers.

if i do the bumpers heck yes im interested in the cradle as long as its a 2" hitch mount!

4thehardway wrote:

...and have the "flats" filled/welded in with 16/18ga steel to hide what's behind it for the same effect...

Ooooo… for the flat panels – diamond plate aluminum!
(guess you’d have to screw them on though)

BlackMagic KJ wrote:

Thanks greg. now that you mention it, i will probably do 1/8 or 3/16 steel and 1.5" tube. and no, i dont plan on a permanant winch for a while.

On the topic of my front sagging, rusty's makes tuneable coils, and a 3/4" strut/shock lifter to compensate for bumpers.

That will work of course...but that is also more money to spend.

BlackMagic KJ wrote:

if i do the bumpers heck yes im interested in the cradle as long as its a 2" hitch mount!

Yup it sure is 2"!

NotLost wrote:

4thehardway wrote:

...and have the "flats" filled/welded in with 16/18ga steel to hide what's behind it for the same effect...

Ooooo… for the flat panels – diamond plate aluminum!
(guess you’d have to screw them on though)

Well you could weld a stud to the backside of the aluminum and bolt them on with tabs on the structure...then no visible "screws"...hehe.

Greg
TOYMN8R

Option 1 is sweet....

I'm not a fan of receiver mounted winches....most are not rated for that type of weight capacity, or off angle pulls, etc.....as receivers are meant for a straight pull, etc.

I've seen too many torqued by the forces involved.


It would simply be better to incorporate a winch box into the design, which will also let you triangulate the bracing to withstand different force vectors.