HD your OEM Front JK bumper

[SavageSun4x4]

A client came to me asking if I could design a front bumper that would protect the rather PRICEY ($2200 bucks) electric motor that drives the auto disconnect found on their Rental Fleet of Rubicons.

What they wanted was a bumper that would fit over the OEM front bumper sans the outer plastic covering*, add strength and protect the disconnect motor.

I said sure, let me see what I can come up with.

I have been working on it and this is what I have come up with.

I chose TP (traction plate) for the materials for 2 key reasons:
1) TP is significantly stronger for the same thickness as steel and far more resistant to bending
2) TP adds a high traction surface that I have facing outward and I did this specifically to provide traction against the chance of the Jeep going over a rock or stump.

The purpose behind the removal of the add on bumper is to allow them to have serious protection using the OEM bumper as a platform, and at resale or trade-in time just pull the HD-JK bumper off, put the plastic back on and bingo, you are now back to OEM...+ you transfer the HD-JK bumper to the newly purchased Jeep. Thus some big cost savings over the life cycle of the JK, which will most likely be around 7 - 10 years

I used 1/8 th tread plate on the top and front and 3/16th on the bottom skid. This is a simple fab job that you can knock out in a short afternoon for your JK. I have also built this out for a few customers that wanted a low cost solution to a HD bumper and just did not want to spend the major $ some front bumpers cost.

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Here is another one I made for a client that did not want the tread plate look and wanted the ends cut off rock crawler style.

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* NOTE you do need to cut off the two 'horns' that are on the front bumpers. You can weld them back on later if wanted.

[WyomingWrangler]

I am in the process of doing the same thin to my JK. I just don't like the prices of all the bumper, so took the cover off, used part of another one to use the factory fog lights, bolt on D-ring shackles, and D-rings. I now need to make a winch plate, since I cut the plastic crap off.

[SavageSun4x4]

Great, glad to hear it. If you have a set of the OEM rockers like on the Rubicons or some of the other JKs, I will post up how I mod them. Those can be setup to handle just about anything you can throw at them. I convert them from a 3 point to a 6 point attachment. Another buck saver if you have a welder.

[FIREJK07]

Wyo would like to see pictures when you do I've been thinking about something similar

Savage thanks for the info