Front winch bumper

[Sero]

Well with the recent purchase of a winch (thanks Axel) I need to find something to make it fit to the front of my truck. Most of the front bumpers out there are $750 - $1500 and that's not an option for me. If I have to spend that kind of money I'd rather get a welder and make one myself. A welder is in the plans but it's probably not going to happen anytime soon. I don't want to duplicate the story of my rear axle taking 2 years to get installed, so some research found some budget options.

This is going on a DD and I would prefer to keep the attention off my truck, but I can only reduce it by keeping it looking simple with less bush bars and perhaps keeping the winch covered. What I'm also looking for is something that will affect my approach angle as little as possible as I often hear about that.

So some of the options are:

Logans metal works
http://www.logansmetals4x4.com/id9.html
This one is nice in that you can get the very basic one for $299 plus shipping. I'm not sure if I care for the look of it all that much as the sharp corner edges look a little harsh and I can see that cutting through a car if there was a collision.
As you can see here the approach angle of it is great and the angle match's the factory front skid which I have. This picture show's it with the brush guard.


This shows it without the guard wich is what I would get.




Next up is one from Custom 4x4 Fabrication;
http://www.custom4x4fabrication.com/front_xj.html
Once again I would get it without any guards, and with tapered ends, so it would be a basic bumper priced out at $350.(The second choice in the link provided) What I like most about this one is it hides the winch down low which keeps it from blocking the rad and keep's it hidden from the elements and theives eyes. It also has more of a factory look to it which I like better. The only thing is I wonder how it may affect the approach angle.




Next up is Backbone:
http://detoursusa.com/xjbackbone.php
I like this because it should have good approach angles, is the cheapest (not by much, $280) and I quite like the looks of the front of my XJ the way it is now with the factory bumper. It's probably the lightest of the 3 too which I like. The disadvantage is the factory bumper can only take so much beating and the winch is way up in front of the rad. I could always strengthen the factory bumper from the inside.




So the question is, what would you choose and why? I'm leaning toward the Custom 4x4 bumper just because it keeps the winch covered, but I don't want to keep running the bumper into things and it is the pricyest, but not by much so it's really not worth mentioning.

[Zenkman]

I like the Custom 4x4 Fabrication one...

The first one looks too much like a knife... and the last one... looks too stock.

Option #2.

[Sero]

Just turned it into a poll....

Originally Posted by Zenkman

I like the Custom 4x4 Fabrication one...

The first one looks too much like a knife... and the last one... looks too stock.

Option #2.

Hey Zenk...how's it going?

[bcghosttowns]

I like the last one,I like the look of a stock bumper and i have seen a f150 95ish with the stock bumper and a winch behind.It was extended just a little and i imagine it was beefed up from the inside but it was a real clean install.You can even cover the fairleed with your plate on a hinge.But this also depends on what winch you have.An old warn 8274 (i think) would be the wrong set up but the warn 9000 would be perfect.My next truck will have the clean street look to it and it wont get too many mods but any it does get will be un obvious.

[AxelR]

I'm a bit undecided on the "logan" or the "Backbone". Only thing I know is I definitely don't like the "Cust 4x4 Fab" one.

If you like the look of the stock bumper then I'd go with the "Backbone". I especially like how light the setup is. I had a look at the install instructions and it looks beefy enough to me.

If you want something beefier than the stock tin then I would go with the "Logan" I personally think it looks good. I think the knife edge looks sharp (pun intended). LOL!

Cutting through cars in your way is just an added bonus. Glad to see you're getting th eball rolling on this, Steve. Let me know if you need a hand setting it up.

I would probably go with option #1.

[TheOtherSide]

Custom 4x4.... nice & clean look... not too fond of the sharp angles on the first one and it's cleaner and more finished than the stock bumper with the winch etc.

[Lazerus]

Sorry but imho the top one looks fugly, not sure why, it's not that much different that the second that I do like but it crosses a line somewhere.....

#3 has serious structural problems. In short your want the "moment of force" from the winch line transfered to as close as possible the center line of the frame. Not to mention the amount it blocks the rad. XJ's aren't exactly known for running cool to start with.

#1 also looks to be the easiest to secure from crack heads.

From personal exp I know stock XJ bumpers are crap. If you hit a poodle the poodle will live while totally destroying your bumper, grill, fenders, hood.......

[Sero]

Came across this,the Logans looks pretty good here. still don't like how the winch is in the wide open though.

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1014355

[Sero]

Originally Posted by bcghosttowns

I like the last one,I like the look of a stock bumper and i have seen a f150 95ish with the stock bumper and a winch behind.It was extended just a little and i imagine it was beefed up from the inside but it was a real clean install.You can even cover the fairleed with your plate on a hinge.But this also depends on what winch you have.An old warn 8274 (i think) would be the wrong set up but the warn 9000 would be perfect.My next truck will have the clean street look to it and it wont get too many mods but any it does get will be un obvious.

You would like this then...which I also like. If I only had a welder...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lwade/s...7604557867782/

[BigWhiteFord]

I'd go for the logans bumper. Looks like you get the nicest overall unit for the price. Other than the sharp edge (which would be way easier to fix than beefing up the factory XJ bumper) it's a nice looking bumper.