PJ front bumper

[Ryans_JK]

After getting in a small fender bender I thought it would be a great excuse to upgrade. So my Jeep got a new front bumper. I still have to modify it a little to my liking, but hey it still looks better then stock. Oh yeah the sticker has got to go!!

http://www.duppong.com/gallery2/d/9922-2/July+2007+078.jpg


http://www.duppong.com/gallery2/d/9925-2/July+2007+079.jpg

[atomicmecha]

looks good, and it makes a nice replacement for the factory bumper.

I'd get one of them if they could include a grill guard that mounts off road lights and winch mount at the same time while keeping the fog lights.

[rubicondave]

Looks great! This is one of the bumpers that I am currently thinking of buying. Who did you order it from and what was the lead time? Looks like it is pre drilled for the d-ring mounts as well? Thanks for sharing with us.

Dave,

[JKJoe]

Looks great. My plate covers the sticker, I have to run a front plate in MD. I love my PJ stubby.

[Ryans_JK]

I'm going to add a bar to protect the grill and then branch off of that for a little fender protection. I really could not find a bumper to address everything I wanted so I figured this bumper offered the best platform to start from. Tractor supply sells a weld on D ring kit that I'm going to use instead of what PJ sells.

I bought it from www.4wd.com and I got in 4 business days.

[CLACKEY(_!_)]

What are those plates on the front? I don't have those........
http://my.project-jk.com/data/630/MVC-004S4.JPG

[Piginajeep]

nice bumper!

I know they talked about adding the winch hoop, you might wanna send them and email and find out.

[RedRockJK]

Looks good Ryan! Although I am pretty sure those plates CLACKEY(_!_) mentioned are spacers that go between the bumper and the frame. :crazyeyes:
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[Piginajeep]

Looks good Ryan! Although I am pretty sure those plates CLACKEY(_!_) mentioned are spacers that go between the bumper and the frame. :crazyeyes:
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yes your right, take two for proper spacing.... two a side,

Dont worry about it, I put mine in the wrong place on my write-up, I then had to correct it.. no biggie

[CLACKEY(_!_)]

Ah yes! Now they look familiar. I have 4 of them, 2 on each side and they do in fact go behind the bumper between the bumper and the end of the frame rail.:rotflmao2:

:

[CLACKEY(_!_)]

"wanna get away?"

[JKJoe]

I only ran one spacer also. This allowed me to use my factory tow hooks with the bolts PJ sent me.

[Ryans_JK]

I'm going to use the plates to weld a set of D ring shackles to, that is why they are on the outside :D Besides with both plates behind the bumper I think the gap between the bumper and grill would be too big "imo".

[Ryans_JK]

"wanna get away?"

Nope I like where I am ;)

[Ryans_JK]

nice bumper!

I know they talked about adding the winch hoop, you might wanna send them and email and find out.

I'm just going to make my own. :D

[Ryans_JK]

Here is the first stage of mods to the PJ bumper. Instead of buying their D-ring mounts I just bought a set of D rings with a weld on mount from TSC for $14 and welded them to one of the spacers that PJ supplied. :D

D-ring w/ part number.

http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/medium/Aug_2007_020.jpg


Tacked on to see how it would look.

http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/medium/Aug_2007_017.jpg

http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/medium/Aug_2007_022.jpg

[Ryans_JK]

Here is stage 2 of my PJ bumper mods. The bumper looks WAY better IMO.

http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/medium/Aug_2007_031.jpg

http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/medium/Aug_2007_032.jpg

http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/medium/Aug_2007_033.jpg

While we where at it I also modified the stock rock rails for better function and looks.

http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/medium/Aug_2007_034.jpg

[SLICKWILL]

you really went to town lol

LOOKS GOOD

LOOKS LIKE YOU PUT ALOT OF HARD WORK INTO IT

[Ryans_JK]

A local guy did all of the welding and bending work, so I can't take credit for everything. I just painted it all. But I really am happy with the results.:D

[Silver Bullet]

I myself have a PJ bumper with a Warn winch and have put both to good use. That being said, I like the "looks" of what Ryans JK did by welding the D Ring mounts on to the bumper. HOWEVER......these should never be used as a point of attachment. There is no strength to the way it's been done. If you look at the PJ (or any other manufactured) D Ring mount, the welds are on both the front and rear of the mounting plate.

[N8Kern]

Damnit man! I was told they are on backorder for like months..... Would like to get one ASAP! Without winch mount.

Nate

[Ryans_JK]

Damnit man! I was told they are on backorder for like months..... Would like to get one ASAP! Without winch mount.

Nate

www.4wd.com has them on the shelf. It took 3 days for mine to arrive on the door step.

[Ryans_JK]

I myself have a PJ bumper with a Warn winch and have put both to good use. That being said, I like the "looks" of what Ryans JK did by welding the D Ring mounts on to the bumper. HOWEVER......these should never be used as a point of attachment. There is no strength to the way it's been done. If you look at the PJ (or any other manufactured) D Ring mount, the welds are on both the front and rear of the mounting plate.


Why not? The D-ring mounts where grinded on the edge for better penetration and are welded on both the top and bottom, and are welded to a thick plate of steel not the actual bumper and held on by the same bolts that would hold on the PJ style D-ring mount.

[Silver Bullet]

Please don't misunderstand, I'm not trying to be critical of your design. I think the mods you have done look great.....however, it's not the same as the PJ stock D Ring mounts. If you took a set of stock mounts and looked at the back (the side that bolts to the bumper) you would see the welds. These are in addition to the welds that are visable on the front. Twice the welds = twice the strength. The plate and attachment bolts are not the "unknown"......the welds are.

[bsack]

hi new member but have been on this forum daily since early this year when i discovered my soulmate-the jk. But i became a member just now to respond to the erroneous insight by silver bullet. Being an ironworker with numerous welding certs and the street creds;) I must tell you with welding more isn't always better and the welds on a production item are alot of times subpar to those welds of a qualified person working on his own stuff. If wellde with stick and a 60 series rod 1" of weld is good for 60000 lbs on paper, in practice agood weld with that rod is usually in the 70s. Are the 4 bolts good for that. No. And neither is the bumper attachment points. Nice bumper dude. Oh and its been a pleasure learning from you guys and girls. Just hope i can return the favor someday.

[Silver Bullet]

In response to bsack's comment about welding (which BTW, I have no experience), all I was trying to say is that there must be a reason why companies such as PJ, Jeeperman and others design the construction of their attachment points. All I was trying to do is offer a friendly opinion pertaining to safety. Given the fact that neither you nor I have any idea how the welds were actually done on this perticular bumper, I would much rather error on the side of caution........don't you agree?

[bsack]

oh ya i get your point fully,but the reason they 'over weld' their attachments is because most likely noone with an structural engineering background looked at this thing and i can say with some confidence that the welds arent of good quality because on most mass produced items they just arent hence the over welding and idea that more is better. If i were pulling with such force that i could break those welds on his bumper-which with a straight pull would be exerting force on them where they are the stongest-I would be more concerned about the damage and strain i was putting on components i could not see and or easily replace. The four welds look good in the pictures as long as he beveled the plate and got proper penetration as stated. Not trying to be an arse just wanted to chime in on something i knew about FINALLY:D

[Silver Bullet]

Bsack.....no worries. Like I said, just trying to look out for my fellow JK'rs. I guess there's something about the thought of having a piece of steel flying around at the end of a steel cable that makes me pucker.

[bsack]

yah if that makes you pucker i wont get started telling you about the gazillion miles of crappy welds holding together buildings and bridges we all use. Different forum but shows the strength of even horribly crappy welds.:eek2: And these faces are fun, been nice argueing with ya.

[Ryans_JK]

I understand what your where trying to say now, and that is why I had my welder grind my questionable welds off and redo them. The guy that did all of my welding builds roll bars cages and many other things so I have full confidence that the welds are strong. Like you guys said before a 3 lb. chunk of metal flying through the air does not appeal to me either.

[Eracer76]

oh ya i get your point fully,but the reason they 'over weld' their attachments is because most likely noone with an structural engineering background looked at this thing and i can say with some confidence that the welds arent of good quality because on most mass produced items they just arent hence the over welding and idea that more is better. If i were pulling with such force that i could break those welds on his bumper-which with a straight pull would be exerting force on them where they are the stongest-I would be more concerned about the damage and strain i was putting on components i could not see and or easily replace. The four welds look good in the pictures as long as he beveled the plate and got proper penetration as stated. Not trying to be an arse just wanted to chime in on something i knew about FINALLY:D
As far as I know, most of the companies building bumpers for the JK are not mass produced, they are hand built and welded up by a person, so whats the difference?

As for the design of his mounts, I wouldnt trust them. How often do you ever get a straight pull on a bumper mount while offroading?
This is why I think PJ built theirs the way they did. Their D-ring mount extends through the metal plate and is welded front and back which makes it much stronger for "not so straight pulls".
Regardless of how good the welds are, just adding a mount to the top side of a plate is much more prong to getting ripped off, if pulled on from any angle other then a straight on pull.

[bsack]

hey guys, by massed produced i meant that it is a item built repeatedly by a guy bored to death in a booth welding bumpers and other items day in and day out for in the range of $10 or less an hour depending on his place on the planet, much less if not in the US; and wondering how his life went so wrong. And enjoying his smoke break as his only chance for fresh air.;)
I just dig it when someone trys something new, especially welding and fabricating. It is great fun when it is on your terms and despite the fear to try it, welding really isnt that hard to do and is something a person can see daily improvement at. I like that a person gave it a shot and I dont see a need to create a atmosphere where someone is discouraged-even if on accident- from trying their had at this artform. Everyone that has welded has done horribly crappy welds and has improved because of it and honed their skills. I have never witnessed horrible weld failure first hand. But I am the kind of dude that wears a belt or suspenders-not both.:rotflmao1:
Maybe I should kept my mouth shut-oh well

[Piginajeep]

I like that a person gave it a shot and I dont see a need to create a atmosphere where someone is discouraged-even if on accident- from trying their had at this artform.


I dont think anyones try to discourage him. they were just suggesting a change to make it better.

lets get this back on topic..

nice bumper:yup:

[bsack]

didnt say anyone was discouraging him but I have noticed that sometimes its almost as if a discussion gets personal where as i am interested in differing opinions more that those that agree. Other JK forums are really bad about that and thats why I joined up here. And you is right, that PJ bumper should be stock. And I am out.

[Eracer76]

Yeah, that is a nice bumper and looks good, I like what you did with it.
But I just wanted to voice my opinion on the d-ring mounts, because I dont think I'd trust pulling a Jeep out of a mud hole with them.
Ive seen videos of tow hooks and d-ring mounts breaking free and go flying :eek2:
Ive also read a story of someone taking a shackle to the head and died on the spot, it was very sad and at the same time scary to think how dangerous it can be yanking on a 4k pound Jeep stuck in a mud hole....

Just be safe everyone!

[Ryans_JK]

^^^^

Nice color and bumper choice :D