OR-Fab XJ Bumper W/Hoop - Warn Winch - Pics
02-28-2015, 11:10 AM
#48
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Hate to knock any off road company, but I understand that OR-Fab products are made in China. If they have multiple sources for this bumper (in China), maybe that would explain the differences.
Anyway, I just finished installing my notch customs flares too. Took me forever. The good news is that if you get them to fit close to where they're supposed to, you can crank down pretty good on those studs. I didn't use a torque wrench but I tightened them enough to really help the gaps (frankly mych tighter than they advised). My biggest gaps now are on the front fender where the body line is and in the rear where the body line juts out for the rockers.
Anyway, I just finished installing my notch customs flares too. Took me forever. The good news is that if you get them to fit close to where they're supposed to, you can crank down pretty good on those studs. I didn't use a torque wrench but I tightened them enough to really help the gaps (frankly mych tighter than they advised). My biggest gaps now are on the front fender where the body line is and in the rear where the body line juts out for the rockers.
02-28-2015, 11:12 AM
#49
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02-28-2015, 11:21 AM
#50
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I have that same Or-Fab bumper, with the hoop. It can be purchased without.
Before we accuse Or-Fab of being lazy about fitment, we need to consider a couple of things...
1) Could the gap be a function of the fact that the bumper is made to work on both pre and post 97 XJ's?
2) Maybe it's just me, but of I were designing a bumper, especially a winch bumper, I'm not sure I'd want it to be too tight to the front grill. With any potential flex during winching, and the possibility that a little off-road bashing around and impacts may slightly shift the bumper, a little bit of gap could actually prevent damage to other parts of the XJ.
I've had mine for about a year, purchased on Amazon. My only real compliant is that I wish the ends of the bumper had a more of a return going back to the wheel arch opening. It would give it a more finished look. Or-Fab could even make this bumper more modular, like many of the JK bumpers, and allow the hoop to be bolted on later if desired, and design modular ends for either max clearance, or a more finished look by allowing different end tips to be bolted on.
In the pics you'll notice my winch relay box for my Smitty 8K with synth mounted between the bumper and hoop. I plan to later move that box under the hood, but wanted to get everything mounted up so I would know how best to route the cables and how long they should be. Once I move that box, my 15" LED light bar will be moved to that spot. With having a new house to remodel, it's one of those things that's been on the back burner.
Before we accuse Or-Fab of being lazy about fitment, we need to consider a couple of things...
1) Could the gap be a function of the fact that the bumper is made to work on both pre and post 97 XJ's?
2) Maybe it's just me, but of I were designing a bumper, especially a winch bumper, I'm not sure I'd want it to be too tight to the front grill. With any potential flex during winching, and the possibility that a little off-road bashing around and impacts may slightly shift the bumper, a little bit of gap could actually prevent damage to other parts of the XJ.
I've had mine for about a year, purchased on Amazon. My only real compliant is that I wish the ends of the bumper had a more of a return going back to the wheel arch opening. It would give it a more finished look. Or-Fab could even make this bumper more modular, like many of the JK bumpers, and allow the hoop to be bolted on later if desired, and design modular ends for either max clearance, or a more finished look by allowing different end tips to be bolted on.
In the pics you'll notice my winch relay box for my Smitty 8K with synth mounted between the bumper and hoop. I plan to later move that box under the hood, but wanted to get everything mounted up so I would know how best to route the cables and how long they should be. Once I move that box, my 15" LED light bar will be moved to that spot. With having a new house to remodel, it's one of those things that's been on the back burner.
You are right, for stock fender flares I think it would be great for them to do that! But when you install fender flares I think the look of this bumper with the flares is perfect!
Yeah, I am still trying to determine where I want to mount my box. I don't seem to have enough room under my hood... So I am still mulling it over!
03-01-2015, 06:37 AM
#52
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If I were doing it all over one major thing I would do differently is cut out cardboard stencils of the flares. Woulda been a much cleaner install. I'll post better pics up tomorrow but here's what I have.
03-01-2015, 06:47 AM
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Btw, I have no intentions on fiberglassing them to the body. Just my .02 but I can't see that not cracking with all the flexing the body is going to be doing off road. I also chose not to bondo the flares to meet the exact curves of my install. Maybe I'm a little overboard, but I can't see that not cracking and falling off down the road. Especially with the decent size gaps these things have Im some places.
02-26-2017, 05:30 PM
#58
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I happened to find one of the last OR FAB bumpers still around before they closed their door, might have been a left over or something as i couldnt find it anywere online...fit was decent...compared to few of the posts before, could use to tuck back a bit, but not too bad...from the front looks bad ***, but from the side it definately needs bigger tires and fenders trimmed up, as this bumber makes the 31s look tiny
03-02-2017, 02:27 PM
#60
Newbie
Those fenders are so bad A$$....i been reading and been told they are a pain in the rear to install and the mounting bolts they are held on with are kinda weak...few people i spoke with say they have broken a few of them just installing them as they are just held on by some epoxy. Some others tho have had great luck with them! I myself like them so much i want to give them a try!
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