Deff up ggrade hard ware

 

Will do on final install.

 

Looks pretty nice.
May I ask what sort of tubing bender you used and what size tubing that is?

 

Thank you sir. To answer your question I don't have a real tubing bender here. I tried to use the shops exhaust bender but it put some nasty crimps in the tubing. So instead I took the longer route...haha. My "parts XJ" had come with a cheesy bolt on brush guard that was only held on with one of the bolts. And while you would think the dimensions would be good... they weren't. So I stripped the paint of the tubes and cut all the bends I could use. Then I sleeved and welded plugs and then rewelded the tubes together where I needed them. And while I know that grinding down welds weakens them, I think this is more than ok for this application. Had I access to a real mandrel tubing bender I would have gone that route. But alas... sometimes we have to use what we have.

 

Other than wiring for the winch and installing the fair lead and lights... I'm gonna call this one done!

 

that looks cool as hell now that it is finished. when i saw the begining of this, i didnot think it would turn out this good.
can you lift your winch out between the two bars, or do you have to take the bumber off ?

 

I honestly like it better than ARB! Where are you in Germany? I'm headed there soon

 

Thanks! I'm never sure how things will turn out and make a lot of mistakes along the way but usually patience pays out in the end. And I'm not 100% sure but I'd have to say no, you can't pull the winch without removing the bumper. The tabs that hold the lights should give enough issue themselves so it can't be done. That's kinda what I was hoping for so it keeps the thieves at bay a little more....maybe.?. I can still reach in and attach the wiring and have pretty good access to the winch to free spool it. Its an older MM 9500 that has a horrible design for the release but it works fine so I'm running it. I need to get my butt in gear and go shopping for electrical connectors. Doesn't do me a lick of good sitting there but not functioning. haha!

 

rklettke.... Hit me up before you do and I'll try and give you some "need to know" stuff about here. I'm stationed in Vilseck/Grafenwoehr and honestly... I'm ready to get out of Germany. Its not so much the country as there are opportunities to see and do stuff depending on where you end up but... It sure is NOT America! lol! Let me know if you need info on anything...

 

wow that came out awesome!! great work

 

Thanks Brian! I didn't get any wiring done today for the winch and stuff as all the stores here were closed for the holiday. Oh well...