My bumper build | Page 3 | Ford Explorer Forums - Serious Explorations

  • Register Today It's free!

My bumper build

Your bumper turned out very nice. I centered my bumper to the winch and not the spool like you did, I had to notch for the motor also... now I dont feel so bad. Just an idea that worked for me, but you can mount the relay box behind the gril on the paseange side like I did. That way the relays are up a little higher and not out in the weather as much, you cant even see the box on mine.
 



Join the Elite Explorers for $20 each year or try it out for $5 a month.

Elite Explorer members see no advertisements, no banner ads, no double underlined links,.
Add an avatar, upload photo attachments, and more!
.





Thanks for the tip. Do you have a picture of where you mounted it??

Got the bumper done tonight less paint. Painting will start tomorrow. Ended up going with option #3 and it turned out GREAT! Mounted up some 8" HID's from the sandrail on the jig table at the shop......looked so badass, too bad I can't keep them! Pics tomorrow.
 






Beautiful job RustENutz, it's flawless. Looks like the clevis mounts are from 1", no weak spot there you would pull the Explorer in half before ripping one of those off. Nice clean welds too. Just one suggestion, you should tack the bolts to the winch and tack the bumper to the cross member. Not for strength, my friend had his winch stolen off his Jeep in his front yard, with only 4 bolts holding the winch it only takes a couple minutes for someone to pull your winch off. Again great job, I haven't seen a better looking bumper yet.:salute:
 






That is one of the nicest custom bumpers I have seen on this sight. I wanted a plate bumper with a hoop but everything I have looked at was to bulky... now I have found one to copy...I can fab, just got no creativity...3 cheers for forums.

Can't wait to see it with the stinger.

Those XRC8 winches and even the 10's are a pretty smokin deal at winchdepot.com Even after shipping and exchange, getting it here to Canada is CHEAP. They are the t-maxx winches re-badged, correct?
 






Your bumper turned out very nice. I centered my bumper to the winch and not the spool like you did, I had to notch for the motor also... now I dont feel so bad. Just an idea that worked for me, but you can mount the relay box behind the gril on the paseange side like I did. That way the relays are up a little higher and not out in the weather as much, you cant even see the box on mine.


Bumper looks great! I also mounted my solenoid just behind the grill on the passenger side. You can even plug in through the grill. If you look close in the picture you can just see the solenoid peeking out behind the grill:

20337_257616369106_552124106_3250405_3585919_n.jpg
 






I mounted my solenoid pack behind the grill too. Had to do some serious soldering to extend the lines a bit to make it work, but it looks much cleaner and is much better protected. (If you look carefully you might be able to see it on the pass. side. (You can definitely see where I notched the grill to clear it on the back) I leave mine plugged in all the time, and the the controller sits coiled up in that little space between the battery and headlight. Pop the hood and there it is.

08-27-09_2156.jpg
 






Thanks for all the compliments! Makes me feel better after all the cuts and burns I've endured over the last week! Just had to tack a little tab on today, didn't have gloves on and a big goober stuck right to my wedding ring and burnt the $HIT out of my finger!

I've had a couple people tell me about tack welding the bolts, so I'm definitely gonna do that, thanks!

So heres the pics, it's hanging in my garage right now with primer drying. Can't wait till it's black!!:D:D

IMG_5289.jpg

IMG_5290.jpg

IMG_5291.jpg

IMG_5292.jpg
 






I've been asked to build a couple of bumpers already just from driving around town. I need a bigger garage so I can open up shop! LOL! Only 1 looks serious, it's for a YJ....we'll see.
 






I didnt have to notch anything, I just drilled two holes and cut the ears off the bact that were profiled to the winch motor. I wired mine in with SO cable to a rocker switch on the dash becaues I was tired of dealing with the plug on the front, I have a sealed switch just inside my gril to run the winch in or out to spool the cable back up if I need to by myself. Oh, and the stock cables are long enough to run behind the gril so dont worrie about that.
 






Your bumper looks alot like the one I used to have on my bronco 2 thats now on painter kens explorer.
 

Attachments

  • bronco front.jpg
    bronco front.jpg
    31.6 KB · Views: 813






nice bumper i like how that turned out
 






so far i think this is the best gen I bumper i have seen!!! love the hoop! turned out perfect
 






Looks great. Did you get your light tabs welded on before primer?
 












Looks great. Did you get your light tabs welded on before primer?

Lights mount to the top of the fairlead. Speaking of lights, what do people recommend?? I NEED something cheap and WANT something large and slim. 4wheelparts.com had a pair of 7.5" Daystars for $46 shipped! But I received an email saying they were discontinued!:( I found the same set on Ebay for $70+shipping....some Hella's on Amazon for between 65-80 with free shipping. Anyone know of some sweet deals on lights?
 






Lights mount to the top of the fairlead. Speaking of lights, what do people recommend?? I NEED something cheap and WANT something large and slim. 4wheelparts.com had a pair of 7.5" Daystars for $46 shipped! But I received an email saying they were discontinued!:( I found the same set on Ebay for $70+shipping....some Hella's on Amazon for between 65-80 with free shipping. Anyone know of some sweet deals on lights?

i hate to say this but check out what harbor freight has to offer
 












All done! Winch works, going wheeling tomorrow! I'll try to remember the GoPro video camera and get some pictures.

IMG_5299.jpg

IMG_5301.jpg

IMG_5302.jpg

IMG_5303.jpg
 






What about license plate mounting? BTW, very nice explorer. Especially with the lack of aftermarket bumpers for Explorers, I know you could sell those. You inspired me to start my own bumper project, I will not steal your idea though. I work as a machinist in a fab shop so I have unlimited amounts of steel lying around. I need to do what you did, just start and I know a style will come to me. Thanks for the inspiration, and you do great work.
 



Join the Elite Explorers for $20 each year or try it out for $5 a month.

Elite Explorer members see no advertisements, no banner ads, no double underlined links,.
Add an avatar, upload photo attachments, and more!
.





Thanks! Go ahead and copy anything off it you want. As far as license plate, haven't had one for 2 years now and never been hassled. A lot of people around here don't....the the Police D.A.R.E. car!;)
 






Back
Top