Push Bar installation!

[BluIsBlue]

So, I got to pick up this Setina push bar the other day for free. Never installed or used. Made for a 21’ Police Spec Chevy Tahoe.

Guy was nice enough to give me hardware but I was not able to get the brackets to modify them as they were already accounted for by someone else.. so! I get to take some measurements, make some cardboard templates, and build a custom bracket!!

Got it on jack stands here to get an idea of where I want it and some other measurements (Don’t worry, I know it’s off kilter in the photo and I fixed it shortly after the photo was taken). I plan on having the brackets come from where the factory tow hooks are mounted.

I plan to use 1/4” steel that will bolt to the frame and replace the tow hooks. I will weld another 1/4” steel plate on the side to bolt up to the 4 points shown in the picture above.

Very excited to get this installed, I think it’ll be very good looking when it’s done and give the little two door a very tough presence on the road.

What do you guys think? Any ideas for me? Thinking I’ll want to mount up some Offroad lights to it. Maybe even a winch sometime down the road. Very very excited to hear what you all think about this!

 

[BluIsBlue]

For giggles, here’s what the bar looked like in front of my dad’s minivan!

 

[amj441]

Im not sure if that center plate would be strong enough to mount a winch, but im not sure how thick it is from the picture. If I were to mount lights to it, you have a few options.

I ran a small bar light on my center plate, but if you wanted to mount a winch there Im not to sure (winch bottom light top? or vice versa?) or you could get pod style and clamp to the bottom bar.

Interesting part is interior switch location, as theres only a few good places to mount switches in our interiors. (radio mounted, side of center console, ash tray, overhead sunglasses holder)

 

[BluIsBlue]

Im not sure if that center plate would be strong enough to mount a winch, but im not sure how thick it is from the picture. If I were to mount lights to it, you have a few options.

I ran a small bar light on my center plate, but if you wanted to mount a winch there Im not to sure (winch bottom light top? or vice versa?) or you could get pod style and clamp to the bottom bar.

Interesting part is interior switch location, as theres only a few good places to mount switches in our interiors. (radio mounted, side of center console, ash tray, overhead sunglasses holder)

Ideally I’d probably go winch bottom and some round spotlight offroad lights on top. Maybe some HELLAs. I’d want the winch on the bottom because I don’t want to stress the bracket any more than it needs. Bottom means it’s closer to and much more in line with the frame. I sort of want to wire in potential lights to my Fog circuit and leave an accessible disconnect in the grille. That way when I want them on with the fogs they can be and when I don’t want them coming on they don’t have to be. Also the entire push bar is welded quarter inch aluminum (except for the round bars because I can’t measure their thickness).

 

[wollimann]

For me it looks like a little bit to wide and big for the explorer,
its for a full size truck (chevy tahoe).
Maybe it interfers with the headlight beam?

https://www.explorerforum.com/forums/attachments/img_7607-jpeg.465828/

I am envious about the fact, that it is allowed to put a bar on your vehicle,
in Europe it is not allowed anymore.
Regards and happy welding for the brackets.

 

[amj441]

Ideally I’d probably go winch bottom and some round spotlight offroad lights on top. Maybe some HELLAs. I’d want the winch on the bottom because I don’t want to stress the bracket any more than it needs. Bottom means it’s closer to and much more in line with the frame. I sort of want to wire in potential lights to my Fog circuit and leave an accessible disconnect in the grille. That way when I want them on with the fogs they can be and when I don’t want them coming on they don’t have to be. Also the entire push bar is welded quarter inch aluminum (except for the round bars because I can’t measure their thickness).

I have wired my bar successfully into my fog lamp circuit by making a splitter out of fog connectors from junkyard sploder. Make sure to calculate the amperage draw your light will pull, and do not exceed the fog lamp fuse. Downside is if you like to drive with foglamps youll have to go and unplug the bar. I did use a led controller to add dimming features to it, but water got in the module (it was not as water proof as they claimed)

 

[RangerX]

If it’s not designed to have a winch, it’s not strong enough to have a winch.

 

[BluIsBlue]

For me it looks like a little bit to wide and big for the explorer,
its for a full size truck (chevy tahoe).
Maybe it interfers with the headlight beam?

https://www.explorerforum.com/forums/attachments/img_7607-jpeg.465828/

I am envious about the fact, that it is allowed to put a bar on your vehicle,
in Europe it is not allowed anymore.
Regards and happy welding for the brackets.

I’ll definitely have to check and make sure it doesn’t interfere with the beam in a significant way. I don’t think it will but I definitely will test it first