How to add "Bull bar" to 02 Mountaineer?

[Mountaineer02v8]

Hey everyone!

I'm new here as I recently just joined.

I have a 02 Mercury Mountaineer Premier in all Black. I found this all black Bull Bar that would look great on the truck, but unlike the Explorers, Mountaineers do not have tow hooks where the bull bar would normally hook up.

How would I go about hooking a bull bar up to it?

 

[mikeh44]

it bolts to the frame not the tow hooks

 

[Mountaineer02v8]

it bolts to the frame not the tow hooks

Thanks for the reply.

I realize it would not bolt to the tow hooks, I was trying to say unlike the Explorer, there are no open spots on the bumper where tow hooks would even be. I think I would have to cut holes into the bumper to slide the bull bar in to bolt it to the frame.

 

[DarkStone]

if i am not mistaken, the mountaineer has the same slots that the bull bar goes in as the explorer. Crawl under the front and you will see a few screws holding the plastic sleeves in place that you will need to remove to attach the bulll bar brackets. Pretty easy.

 

[Mountaineer02v8]

if i am not mistaken, the mountaineer has the same slots that the bull bar goes in as the explorer. Crawl under the front and you will see a few screws holding the plastic sleeves in place that you will need to remove to attach the bulll bar brackets. Pretty easy.

thanks for your help so far!


see this picture in the link I am providing you below this post?.... see the Mountaineers bumper, a little different then the Explorers with no sleeves to slide the bull bar in to attach to the frame.

Can I still install the one you have on this Mountaineer?
http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/redir?src=image&clickedItemURN=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.autobytel.com%2Fimages%2FcarPics%2FTestDrv%2F02_moun_26_lg.jpg&moduleId=image_details.jsp.M&clickedItemDescription=Image Details

 

[bigapple]

yea hes rite cuz i did the same for mine... mine came with some brackets that slide inside the chassis... it has two bolts in place to put where those two holes r and its kind of shaped like this.... TT..... two bolts welded to a piece of metal for the perfect fit into those slots... u have to remove the bumper cover to be able to get into there... once u get it in place it should be just a direct bolt-on

 

[Mountaineer02v8]

Thanks for the help!

I just ordered Westin Black Bull Bar just today and should be here within 5 business days!

I'll post a picture of how it turned out. It will be Interesting to see a newer Mountaineer 02+ with a Bull bar on it because I have never seen one, just on the Explorers front end. I don't know what kind of lights to put on it yet though, any recommendations?

This is My mounty below. I think it might look good with a bar, at least it will give it more looks... what do you think?

 

[DarkStone]

Thanks for the help!

I just ordered Westin Black Bull Bar just today and should be here within 5 business days!

I'll post a picture of how it turned out. It will be Interesting to see a newer Mountaineer 02+ with a Bull bar on it because I have never seen one, just on the Explorers front end. I don't know what kind of lights to put on it yet though, any recommendations?

This is My mounty below. I think it might look good with a bar, at least it will give it more looks... what do you think?

if ytou had bought it from www.autoanything.com they give you free shipping and free lights, they usually have a special about once a month.

 

[Mountaineer02v8]

if ytou had bought it from www.autoanything.com they give you free shipping and free lights, they usually have a special about once a month.

How big are your fog lights on the bull bar?

I ordered KC driving lights that are 6 inches round, I'm wondering now if that will fit in the opening?

 

[bigapple]

How big are your fog lights on the bull bar?

I ordered KC driving lights that are 6 inches round, I'm wondering now if that will fit in the opening?

im almost positive that will fit cuz 6 is the smallest made... mine r 6's... they had 6-8 when i looked and the 8s seemed a little bulky... 6s will be good.. but the light they give u in a KC is total crap.. if u want a good white glow, get a blue-coated H3 bulb, or a silverstar H3 bulb... if u want it to be amazingly bright, get HIDs.. pretty sweet blue glow

 

[Mountaineer02v8]

the light they give u in a KC is total crap.. if u want a good white glow, get a blue-coated H3 bulb, or a silverstar H3 bulb... if u want it to be amazingly bright, get HIDs.. pretty sweet blue glow

Thats a good idea you got, after all, the purpose of me buying lights is so I can see far when they are turned on, so I will probably follow up on you and get either the H-3 Silverstar bulb or the HID if its available

I have silverstar in my headlights right now and fog lights and I can't complain about them, I like them a lot!

 

[khoward]

they also may 5 inch and 7 inch but six inch is all u need

 

[Mountaineer02v8]

alright, I got the bar, and took me about 6 hours to install it

Mercury Brand on the 02 and up years don't have holes in the bumper where tow hooks would go, so I had to take a dremel and mark out the holes myself perfectly and then do the cutting of my bumper! That was very stressful cause if I messed up the holes, I would need a brand new bumper which would be costly.

All in all, the bar is finally on. My only concern is that I only have about 1/2 inch at most clearance from the front bumper, are all the ones that close?

Another thing that bothers me is that I live in a state where I have to have a front license plate, so my license plate is now relocated in the middle of the bull bar, kinda goofy looking, but its either that or get pulled over by the cops.

Next are my fog lights to install on the bar, they should be here within 2 more days.

 

[dannyb420]

I here you about the license plate thing, Ohio should just swirch like most other states. Post some pics when you get a chance.

 

[mikeh44]

i have a weston ss bull bar on my 04 xlt with 6 inch kc lights the back of the lights hit the bumper so i put a small piece of flat stock on the mounting tabs then installed the lights on the flat stock

 

[Mountaineer02v8]

i have a weston ss bull bar on my 04 xlt with 6 inch kc lights the back of the lights hit the bumper so i put a small piece of flat stock on the mounting tabs then installed the lights on the flat stock

thats not good news, I was hoping the lights would not hit the bumper can I see a picture of what you did?

 

[Mountaineer02v8]

this is the only pic I was able to come up with, its so small though :-(

 

[DarkStone]

thats not good news, I was hoping the lights would not hit the bumper can I see a picture of what you did?

my lights dont even come close to my bumper. I probably have 2 inches of clearance maybe even more.

 

[Mountaineer02v8]

alright, I finally had a chance to get the lights installed today! They look great! I got black 6 inch KC driving lights with black stone gaurds and it really brought out the look I was wanting, looks very sharp!

I also had plenty of space between the bumper and lights, around 3 inches of clearence from the back bumper.

Thanks everyone for your info and help on helping me install the bull bar and lights!

 

[DanielJ]

Does anyone know where you can just buy mounting brackets at?