Below are pictures of bumper brackets I'm working on for my Jeep. I will be mounting a 6000# Warn when It's completed.

I dug up some 6" channel iron I had laying around but I'm wondering if it's a bit over kill, strength isn't really the reason I think its over kill it's more a weight factor. A single bracket right now weighs 15-20 lbs I would estimate. I still have to shape and trim off a bit, but it won't make a ton of difference.

I'm afraid the bumper is going to end up being too heavy and will end up busting up the uni-frame in the future.

The rest of the bumper will be made from 2x2 square tubing, or something around there, I haven't decided yet.

Let me know what you guys think.


http://home.centurytel.net/jstandle/Jeep/bracket1.JPG
http://home.centurytel.net/jstandle/Jeep/bracket2.JPG

Jordan

:laughing::laughing::laughing:

Just leave it like that! :laughing:

Maybe get another piece and put it straight across the front? Thats definetely BEEF

If you have another piece I would remake that drivers side. And instead of buring the holes around the bolts the hold on the power stearing, make then go through the channel to beef up the power stearing mount at the same time.
I used 1/4" plate on my bumper mount, and that is what i did.

Originally posted by deadmeat
If you have another piece I would remake that drivers side. And instead of buring the holes around the bolts the hold on the power stearing, make then go through the channel to beef up the power stearing mount at the same time.
I used 1/4" plate on my bumper mount, and that is what i did.

Are the bolts used to mount the steering box readily available? Those are really long bolts, not to mention they're metric.

Originally posted by jstandle


Are the bolts used to mount the steering box readily available? Those are really long bolts, not to mention they're metric. Find a bolt house local to you. They should have everything you need. That is beefy though. You could probably trim it back another 4-5" and be ok.

This is somewhat what the finished idea I'm going for, I can't remember who's Jeep this is but it's got TONS of goodies :

http://home.centurytel.net/jstandle/Jeep/winchbumper.jpg

Originally posted by jstandle


Are the bolts used to mount the steering box readily available? Those are really long bolts, not to mention they're metric.

The stock bolts in mine were long enough for the added 1/4". The threads still pass all the way through the stearing box, but just barely.

How about this?

http://home.centurytel.net/jstandle/Jeep/bracket3.jpg

Why not slap a bigger winch there?? is 6K enough?

Originally posted by DiscoDino
Why not slap a bigger winch there?? is 6K enough?


DD, who running a 6K?
JStandle or OWL (Big woodpaneled dealio in the pic)

I had an REP 6k on my xj when it was much lighter....I also always used a snatchblock. Being that the winch was free, it was dandy...but as soon as it shit the bed I went right to the 9k warn....XJ's are pretty light (4k with a small lift and some gear)...but a 6k is marginal.

AV 4x4, the guy that initaited this thread appearently is going to slap on a 6000lbs Warn winch:

"Below are pictures of bumper brackets I'm working on for my Jeep. I will be mounting a 6000# Warn when It's completed. "

I just thought that 8,000 should be the minimum, especially if it is a planetary winch.

BEEF it's whats for dinner



you can't never have enough BEEF

1st: I would check you tires at full turn to make sure they do not rub against that metal. By using c channel there is a chance it could rub when flexed up and turned at same time.

Here is the brackets I based my mounts off of.
http://www.custom4x4fabrication.com/towhookbrackets.jpg

and here it is mounted.
you can kinda see it in the pic and see how i built off of it.

Here is a angled front shot when it was done.
I made the bottom angle the same as my skid plate, so it is all inline.

Here it is all done with winch mounted and such.

you can see more front bumper pics here:
http://community.webshots.com/album/16341864gYUQaQvOIp


I would suggest trying to fin a bigger winch then 6000.
I also do not think the bumper will be to heavy lke that.

MIne is 1/4, 3/16, and 1/8 depends on the part.
Mine is probably way overkill. But atleast I do not have to ever worry about it

Thanks for all the input so far guys!

I'm using a 6000# winch cause I picked up the whole setup for $250, it's never even been un-reeled.

I do plan on picking up a warn recovery set with snatch block and stuff. I know 6000# isn't great, but the price was right for my budget, I originally wasn't going to have one at all.


Jordan

I used 1/4" plate for mine:

http://frankenfab.com/bumper/bumperbracket.jpg

http://frankenfab.com/bumper/bumper.jpg

this is the bracket I used on my Warn 8K winch install:

http://www.foleydevelopments.com/images/fromeplate.jpg

It is made from 3/16" 1018 plate. The holes for the steering box were drilled right at 7/16" diameter, the washers were discarded, and the stock bolts were re-used. The stock steering box bolts are standard 7/16" diameter coarse thread grade 8 bolts, they're just really long.

The bumper was bolted on with three 1/2" grade 8 bolts on each side, and had a piece of 2x4 box tube in front of it. The winch was mounted to the top of the box tube. I neve had any problems with it, and there were times that the 8K winch was stalled out pulling against it for prolonged periods.

Originally posted by Ken Carter / BRUISER
Here is the brackets I based my mounts off of.
http://www.custom4x4fabrication.com/towhookbrackets.jpg


Nice.

This is the starting point for the winch bumper in my very near future. I will look at your other pics, but ask if you have any advise or additional comments to please let me know.

IMHO, i think you should torch off on side of the channel and flip the piece around. the shape would now be an L. then run a bolt or two up through the bottom of the channel into the unirail. a little more BEEF and no lips sticking out to catch the tire.

jeremy

Ok, so on the advice of others I re-did the drivers side to include the bolts used to mount the steering box. The top bolt for it however ended up not working out right I so ended up trimming for it again. The bottom 2 work fine though and that should help.

http://home.centurytel.net/jstandle/Jeep/bracket4.jpg

I also got some of it trimmed up to make sure it has plenty of tire clearance.

I think I'll weld a peice of flat bar that will reach under the frame so I can use the bolts that did hold on the sway bar, that will add a little more strength.

This is as far as I'm going to get for a few weeks, I'm getting married next weekend and right after we're going to Cancun for the Honeymoon for a week. Also don't have any square tube to start the bumper part and everything is closed today :(

Thanks for all the input! I'll keep everyone posted when more progress is made.

Jordan

Originally posted by jstandle
Thanks for all the input so far guys!

I'm using a 6000# winch cause I picked up the whole setup for $250, it's never even been un-reeled.

I do plan on picking up a warn recovery set with snatch block and stuff. I know 6000# isn't great, but the price was right for my budget, I originally wasn't going to have one at all.


Jordan


Well hell I guess 6000 is better then nothing
:D

Originally posted by gnrrpreacher


Nice.

This is the starting point for the winch bumper in my very near future. I will look at your other pics, but ask if you have any advise or additional comments to please let me know.

Just so you know I built my frame of the bumper out of 2x2 square tube and then built the rest of it around that.

Just look through my pics and if you have more questions let me know

Originally posted by DiscoDino
AV 4x4, the guy that initaited this thread appearently is going to slap on a 6000lbs Warn winch:

"Below are pictures of bumper brackets I'm working on for my Jeep. I will be mounting a 6000# Warn when It's completed. "

I just thought that 8,000 should be the minimum, especially if it is a planetary winch.

I am stoopid LOL....completely missed that!

Heheh well if the approach for your bumper is similar to the mounts you may NEED an 8k winch!!:flipoff2: :D

I did something similar, but used the end-plate rather than the middle-plate as the part that bolted to the frame:

http://home.off-road.com/~wagoneer/cherokee/winch18.jpg

It's a full-size Cherokee with a frame, but you get the idea. You can cut back that center-plate for tire-clearance, but leave enough so that it has a central "spine" to resist side-bending.

I cut mine from an 18" wide beam, and left enough of the center-plate to form the outer "wings" of the bumper. You can cut a lot out, though, if you want something lighter-weight for your XJ.