So if I told you all that Im about to get rid of my front bumper, cut my frame rails back, push my radiator back about 6 inches, and stick my winch between the grill and radiator would you call me crazy?
Well, unless the smart people on here can convince me thats a bad idea I'm probably going to spend the next few weekends working on it. I'll build a "mini" bumper that sticks out about an inch or two past the grill and mount a hawes fairlead to it. Going for the lower forty look + a winch. Input please......

 

I would just buy a low profile front bumper. I think u r asking for trouble with potential vehicle inspection law issues. Check ur local laws for sure. Even then, what if u move to another state that doesnt allow what you did? Since what u r proposing to do is irreversible, I would not do it.

Not to hijack but I would be interested to see a pic of ur lift with a 5 inch lift and 35s not flexed so I can see how it looks.

 

Laws, hmmm. I guess I should check on those.
I'll post up some pics with no flex for you.

 

I'm thinking about the same thing. I cut the rear frame flush to the body (right at the pads for the body mounts) to get rid of the crossmember and built a bumper that extends ~1" beyond the tailgate when it's closed. I got the idea from the way River Raider did the Rockster but I didn't go the same route they did.

I want to do the front in a similar manner. I really like the way the Lower Forty bumper turned out becuase it's so low profile. Mine won't be round and I've been thinking about how to hide a winch. I haven't gotten far enough into to it to see what's involved with moving the radiator to make room. Hopefully you'll beat me to it and have all the issues worked out and photo documented. : )

Sorry for the crappy pics (and the thread hijack) but this is my bumper when I got rolling with it. I welded in the receiver last night and boxed everything in. I'll get some more pics this week if anyone cares.

 

I'm not going to call you crazy but it is definitely not going to be as safe if you do this. I will give you one reason if you have your bumper off look at the frame rails there are striations in the front 8" of the rails these are what is called crumple zones, they are meant to absorb huge amounts of kinetic energy from a wreck. without these collapsible spots its like hitting two bricks together in a crash one is going to crumble it will probably be your back! plus think about resale with this mod. just a little Engineering POV!

 

I won't disagree with the logic of removing the crumple zones on a stock Jeep. I question the real world benefit of the designed crumple zone once you lift a Jeep and put 37"+ tires on it since at that point the leading edge of the tires are well into that designed space and the centerline of the frame rail is elevated 7"+ Going up and / over worry me more. My TJ has 38's and the approach angle is close to 90 degrees. Also, if you choose to bolt a 150 pound bumper and winch on the front of the Jeep you've greatly changed the dynamics in a front-end collision, especially if you take a hit from an angle. My last point, which again is not intended to dispute the benefit of the crumple zone, is that unless you hit a wall or another modded Jeep, whatever you hit will still have their crumple zone which will effectively only cut the overall designed cushion in half. If you're lucky you'll hit a Pruis or similar small car and they will take the brunt of the impact.

As for resale value, I hate to say it but people that would consider doing this aren't concerned in the least about resale. Even so there's always a line of people to buy a used Jeep that looks cool.

 

I'm not sure i would even know if I hit a Prius. As for the crumple zones, I wonder how much shock they actually absorb. Pushing the radiator back seems pretty straight foward. Just some brackets and shortening the hoses.

 

I don't know what the OP had in mind but this is the direction I'm going with my front bumper. I'm anxious to see how your winch mount turns out. And just to be clear,my Jeep sits awake at night dreaming of becoming something as nice as the Rockster.

 

JKG8R - You just made me so mad with that pic... I thought I would be the first!!! J/K I'm actually glad you posted that I haven't seen that jeep, even after searching for this subject for a while. That's almost exactly what I want to do (ridiculous approach angle, he could climb a wall). I see a fairlead but no cable do you know anything about how/where they mounted the winch? Or if they even have a winch?

 

OLEAN - Here's the pic you asked for, not flexed..... 37's on the way though!