N20jeep

so awhile back i threw together a stubby front bumper just so i could have some solid recovery points for Jeeptoberfest and other wheeling trips.

it is made up of 1/4x2x4 box steel and some 1/4" plate for the mounts and tabs.









the bumper worked great and never let me down. and the approach angle made many obstacles easier. but, then i got a new winch.

the original plan was to just add a hitch receiver and make the winch removable. but i couldnt think of a good enough setup that wouldnt weigh too much and wouldnt destroy my approach angle that i love so much.


so, the new plan is to turn it into a hidden winch bumper so i dont lose any clearance. and also to clean up some parts i neglected when i first built the bumper since i threw it together quickly.

also during this process i will be building a steel steering box spacer to replace the factory one, and building a steering box brace incorporated into the bumper.

N20jeep

so first things first, had to remove the bumper.




mocked up the winch to check some clearances.


measured for the winch plate and cut it out.



and mocked it up to the bumper.




next is mocking everything up and double check for clearance before welding the plate.

this winch plate will also be gusseted in a few places for more strength.

nitro450exp

Looking good so far.
Interested to see end result.
I am considering a redo of my front bumper.

Nitro

93XJLI

You're gonna mount in normally bolted to the bottom plate? I'm not sure if you'll have a enough room in front of the motor, I know I don't have a lot of wiggle room with my warn bolted to the face of my xmember. But I think your bumper sticks out a bit more than mine.

Are you cutting out the factory xmember or what?

N20jeep

My bumper sticks out 1/2" past the grill. I will have about 1 1/4" clearance between the damper and back of the winch. And yea, factory x member will be removed. Its useless with the front bumper anyways.

N20jeep

My biggest thing is not wanting to sacrifice anymore clearance. I think it ought to turn out pretty cool.

N20jeep

Made my new steering box spacer.

The original piece of junk


Using 1/2" plate as the base.


Welded some .250 wall tube to make up the remaining .200 distance needed for the spacer, then cleaned up the shape some and painted it.

(I also had to grind some of the plate to clear the steering box body, the 1/2" was a little to thick for the center part.)

d50

wow 1/2" that things gona last forever. nice.

93XJLI

Unfortunately all that thick plate is just gonna squeeze together the thin unibody between it until it eventually gives. Best thing to do is open up the factory steering box holes, slide in some tube, and weld it to both sides of your reinforcement plates. It may take a while, it may not, but it will.

N20jeep

You're skipping ahead to far. Shhh. Frame bosses were already in the plans because of the winch.



Besides, the thick plate isn't going to do that any faster than the factory spacer.

housew

pretty much just how mine is set up, just not quite as "stumpy". Mines full width but only sticks in front of the grill 3/4" or so. I have an XRC8 behind it with a hawse fairlead. Comming from a "normal" 4" protrusion bumper with a winch basket sticking out the front, the approach angle is purely awesome.

Mine is mounted to the face of the bumper with the freespool handle facing back towards the motor, still plenty of room to reach my hand in there, although, I pretty much always leave it engaged since smitty built winches don't really free spool anyways.

Subed, can't wait to see what you come up with

hankthetank

finally a thread here that doesn't start with 'homebrew roofrack blah blah blah...'

sub'd

N20jeep

Sorry for the lack of updates. But the previous owner decided at some point that it would be a good idea to weld some tow bar brackets the the frame rails.and they needed to be cut off to make the winch bumper... so I was putting it off till this morning...

Anyways, they're off!

N20jeep

a little more done on the bumper today.


this picture shows how far the stock front crossmember hangs compared to my bumper. so i will be gaining some clearance even over stock




mocked the bumper up to tack the winch plate in place.



all tacked in, so i can start making the gussets and steering box brace.

Lowrange2

Strange, all three of mine free spool just fine.


Looking good but how the hell are you going to get to the free spool ****? Gunna clock it?