Reinforcing the plastic bumper on our 3rd gens

[NHarris]

So me being in an accident with my 3rd gen X proved two things...
One, I need a lift kit
Two, these plastic bumpers just suck!

So my idea is to reinforce the bumper somehow to give it a degree of studyness, so if I ever get in another accident my X's bumper will be able to take a beating. Any ideas here?

 

[kylecolb]

So me being in an accident with my 3rd gen X proved two things...
One, I need a lift kit
Two, these plastic bumpers just suck!

So my idea is to reinforce the bumper somehow to give it a degree of studyness, so if I ever get in another accident my X's bumper will be able to take a beating. Any ideas here?

Put a brush guard or bull bar on the front, and a bumper guard on the back. Hunter makes really good ones for cheap and you can get them off ebay. This should prevent any front or rear bumper damage unless you really hit hard.

 

[NHarris]

Hmm...possiblity, and I have half of that. The bull bar. I was thinking of some reinforcement underneath. The trailer hitch does the job to a point but the damage that happened to me is here:

I had a 45 degree angle hit on my X.

 

[ExPlOrErImPoRtS]

here is rear bumper cover bars

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2002...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

 

[NHarris]

Those are good ideas and I like the product (bumper guard) but with the bull bar, aux lights, my X barely fits in my garage. My goal is to keep it so it fits in my garage.

 

[ExPlOrErImPoRtS]

Your could always use sawzall on the garage door if it doesn't fit

 

[muzzymaniac]

the factory class III hitch is a bit longer if that helps any( III hitch is on the bottom). You could always have a shop fab up a steel replacement.

 

[NHarris]

Muzzy.....excatly what I was thinking. I like how the classIII is a bit longer than the class 2.... Maybe its time to try to find a class III hitch Thanks a lot for posting the pic

 

[muzzymaniac]

No prob. I got mine from a pick n pull for $30!

 

[kylecolb]

the factory class III hitch is a bit longer if that helps any( III hitch is on the bottom). You could always have a shop fab up a steel replacement.

were these class III installed on the '02 XLT's cause I'm pretty sure that is what is on mine.

 

[muzzymaniac]

This was off an 02 Mounty. Do you have a 2" receiver on yours and a round 7 pin connector? If yes then you have a class III

 

[NHarris]

This was off an 02 Mounty. Do you have a 2" receiver on yours and a round 7 pin connector? If yes then you have a class III

So how did you re-do the wiring for the hitch connector? Did you splice in the wires or what?

 

[kylecolb]

This was off an 02 Mounty. Do you have a 2" receiver on yours and a round 7 pin connector? If yes then you have a class III

Yes that is what I have

 

[muzzymaniac]

So how did you re-do the wiring for the hitch connector? Did you splice in the wires or what?

Nope - I was able to keep the harness in tact. Hitch harness plugs into the vehicle harness near the rear pass tail light. Just plug n play.
Check this out....

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=292168