Craigslist AEV Bumper without mounting hardware?
 

I came across what appears to be a killer craigslist deal, but now I'm having second thoughts. The ad lists a tubeless AEV bumper (mw3, moab) for $300. Everything is there minus the mounting hardware. I contacted AEV and it turns out they don't sell the "closeout brackets" that I know I'll need. They only sell the hardware in a $600 "conbox". My first thought is to fab a bracket although I have zero metal working skills. My version of fab means to go to Home Depot, buy some angle iron or whatever they have that might work, cut and drill holes. I'm not sure if the tow loop brackets are required. Can anyone comment on this? I might need to fab a spacer to account for the tow hook I assume. Does anyone have any experience creating these closeout brackets or does anyone see where my plan to create some brackets wouldn't work? I'm probably going to go pickup the bumper in two hours regardless. If I can't make it work, back on CL it will go.

Here's the isntall guide for reference: http://www.aev-conversions.com/ishee...ont_Bumper.pdf

What exactly does that bracket do? Hard to tell. Almost seems like you don't need it.

I think the closeout bracket is the only thing that connects the bumper to the frame (I think). The tow hook I don't think I need, but I'll need the other bracket as far as I can tell.

Yeah, not worth the hassle in my opinion.

Im up in Jasper and work for a metal manufacture. Im in IT, but I know guys ;) If you can get me an idea of what the bracket looks like, I bet I can get something made for ya.

http://www.quadratec.com/Assets/Imag...54-add2-lg.jpg

Dude, that would be awesome! I'm going to Canton to pick it up. Give me a weekend to wander around home depot to see if I can come up with something. If I can't, I'll hit you up.

I always wanted the AEV bumper but couldn't justify the cost.

Shoot me a PM if ya need me. Cant promise anything, but we can sure try!

Don't think you'll actually need the closeout brackets.
Guess all they do is add a little extra strength to the bumper ends.

You are coorect! Thanks! $300 + $20 in bolts later-

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...psnbxwoq3e.jpg

I made my existing light bar work, but I'm sure how I feel about it.

Gotta get a winch now...and a lift...and tires...and...yeah...

What a killer deal!!!

Nice!!!! Gotta love it when things go your way.

I thought so too. Glad I got it. I think the my old light bar take something away from it though.

Glad it worked out.

Was telling my coworker about your craigslist find and how we might need to help you get some brackets. He said I should have come down to Canton and bought it out from underneath you.:cool:

I wouldn't have blamed you.

Not how I role! Plus if I can fab something for the front like I did on my rear, I can have something for around $20.

I just found a similar situation where someone removed and is selling their COD Moab AEV front bumper. I'm uncertain at this time what additional hardware is included.

I was wondering if there was any additional information in regards to if the AEV bumper you got, if it came with the Fairlead bracket or if you were able to mount the AEV bumper to the stock Fairlead bracket? It was mentioned that the Closeout bracket and Tow Loop was not included and was still able to install, so that's good to know.

How did the Winch mounting go? I'm wondering if you had to purchase the AEV Winch plate or if you were able to purchase some other winch plate instead?

For reference, here's the AEV parts list from the install manual.
https://i153.photobucket.com/albums/...psl0aitr7f.jpg

What stock fairlead bracket? The COD/MOAB bumpers didn't come with the fairlead bracket, so you should be able to mount it without.
But if you wanna add a winch you'll need the winch plate and the fairlead bracket. BTW Doesn't look like OP installed a winch on his bumper.

Thanks, I just figured this out when shopping around more. I assumed the fairlead bracket came with the AEV bumper kit, since it was shown in the install instructions. However, after a visit to the AEV website I learned the Fairlead was part of the Winch mount plate kit. So it seems like, I should get the AEV winch mount kit in addition to the bumper and I should be good to go for installing this bumper and my winch.

So check this out. Thanks to this thread, I was originally shopping around for a bumper and decided I really liked the AEV bumpers. Then I went to the AEV website and got sticker shocked at the $1300 price tag and based on this thread decided to do some Craigslist shopping instead. As luck would seem to have it, I found someone in my area selling an AEV COD/MOAB 2013 MW3 take off bumper with the same situation, no mounting hardware. They also had some Mopar rock rails for sale as well.

I just got back from picking the stuff up. It seems the guy is a dealership body shop manager and the owner lets him have the old dealer demo vehicle take off parts and insurance repair body work parts.

Here's the awesome deal I got.

AEV MOAB front bumper: $250
https://i153.photobucket.com/albums/...psqnurfo0w.jpg

Mopar Rock Rails: $100
https://i153.photobucket.com/albums/...psz2ljgzwh.jpg

I'm feeling thrilled right about now, scoring over $1600 worth of parts which are in great conditiion for $350.:thumbsup:

I told him to keep me on speed dial to let me know if he ever gets any AEV rear bumpers or Mopar lift take offs.:D

Just a recommendation for that bumper. I bought one several years ago and I love it. However, it is rusting from the inside out after 3 years. The seam across the top that goes from one end to the other holds a lot of water. If I had it to do again, I would still use the same bumper, but I would load the inside of it up with undercoat/paint to put a good seal on that seam before installing it. Maybe take it to your local Ziebart dealer and get them to spray it before you install.

Good Luck.

Thanks for the tip. I was looking at that on the one I picked up and noticed that top seam had some rust on a small portion of it, so it must be a common problem like you indicated. There's a couple small scratches as well which are no big deal. Since I saved quite a bit of money, and I'm waiting to get the winch mount as well, I might take an extra step and take it into a paint shop, put some filler in that seem, get the bumper repainted and undercoat it while I'm at it.

Thanks again!!!:thumbsup:

Hey guys not to high jack this thread but thought I'd share this story. So I have the AEV premium front bumper with bull bar on my 13' JKU.
I'm going to be putting flat fenders on soon so I'll be changing to a mid or stubby front bumper as I don't like the looks of a full width bumper
With flat fenders. Anyway there is a local 4x shop here highly regarded top notch that posted a Jeep build they just finished couple days ago.on Facebook
The owner of the jeep had the AEV premium bumper he had the shop cut the ends off of the bumper and cap the ends . This thing look so nice
Like it came built like that from AEV. I went up to the shop this past Thursday to check it out and see how much they would charge to do mine.
Save me from buying a new stubby bumper right. They told me when all said and done, 10 hrs. Shop time materials re powder coat,,',,,
Are YOU READY.... $1000.00 I just started laughing this person has a $1300 bumper than spends a $1000 more to have it chopped and boxed.
WTF.... It did look sweet as hell though. I'm going to do mine just like it but by my self if I can't sell the bumper by the time I get my
Flat fenders on. Just thought I'd share..

Post some pics of the other guys and yours when you get it done. I would love to see how it looks.:thumbsup:

I'm Imagining with a metal cutting tool, filing up the rough edges and then taking it to someone to welding on some end caps, you could get that done for WAY less than $1K.

Here's a mod I'm looking at doing.
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/modi...7/#post4146368

Nice! I'll be following your tread. I need some sort of front tow hook solution as well. I haven't seen the oem tow hooks used on the AEV yet, but I'm considering it now.

If you don't like the bar you have and want it to look more like the AEV tube, go to runitrux.com and check out all of their accessories for the 10th anniversary bumper. They sell a tune that's the exact specifications of the AEV tube, and they have some other variations and styles as well, all pretty reasonable prices

Aev hardware needed.
 

I myself got a good deal on an cod aev bumper with no hardware and was wondering if you could tell me what hardware you used to mount your bumper on?

I've received a couple private messages from users about the hardware I used. I just used 8 M12 hex head bolts as specified in the original aev install guide. The guide didn't specify a length so I just estimated. Mine were somewhere between 2" and 3" I think. It doesn't matter but they came out a little long. They'd probably be perfect if I had the two hook plates, which I still don't have a solution for. I'd love to hear if anyone has found an easy fab solution. I also picked up 8 flat washers for the front, 8 locking washers in the back, and 8 nuts. All black oxide. The black oxide was rusting inside the hex so I taped them off and hit them with rustolium. That was a PITA. Other than that I've been happy. Picked up a winch out kit on CL on the cheap as well. Just need a winch...and two tow loops. Took the rugged ridge light bar off if anyone wants it make an offer. The led light bar easily mounts directly to the bumper with the predrilled holes for the winch cover plate.

I still haven't installed mine. I've been doing some research on mounting hardware as well.

For mounting the bumper you should be looking for black button socket head (rounded off heads) bolts if you want to match the AEV bolts.
Here's what I found someone else did who was also missing the hardware, not much other info.

(7)M12 X 1.75 X 70mm
(1)M12 X 1.75 X (some shorter length for upper inner bolt mounting, needed if installing a winch)
(8)M13 washers

Ordered from: Fastenal

Funny thing is about 4 weeks ago, I went to a store on my lunch hour by my work shopping for some tools. I saw a sweat JKU in the parking lot decked to the nine with AEV equipment. While I was admiring it (likely drooling), some guy came out of the store I was headed into, so I looked away to not give the impression I was doing anything malicious. The guy says to me, "Like it? It's for sale". I kind of felt like I got caught starring and drooling checking out someone else's girlfriend. :D Knowing I could not likely afford it I said, I was just admiring your rig, I really love all the AEV stuff you have on it. He says, "Hi I'm Bob from AEV." Dooh!!!:doh: One of AEV's facilities is located about 5 miles from where I work, Novi/Wixom MI area.

I did tell him I needed to get some replacement crush cans, and he said just give us a call and we can take care of that for you. I should have asked about the mounting hardware as well. I did ask him, "Is your AEV location a store front where I can stop in and buy stuff?". He said, "Sorry, no but feel free to give us a call and we can take care of you for anything you need." Maybe, just being a polite/accommodating sales rep. We went on talking about lifts and such for the next 15 minutes and how his AEV rig had the AEV 3.5" lift with 37's.

I recently had that problem with some black oxide bolts as well. Here's the perfect and easy solution I found.

Get some old motor oil, the blacker/dirtier the better. I used axle gear oil that I had laying around since I recently changed my diffy covers. Heat each bolt, washer, nut up with a propane torch to get them as hot as possible and then just drop/quench them in the oil. It puts a nice even black coat on them, no more rust, nice black finish and best of all it doesn't scrape off like paint when you fasten them together.

Found a possible solution-

https://maximus-3.com/home/d-ring-loop

http://www.offroaders.com/projects-i...loops-install/

I have the AEV winch plate. I'll probably order a set of these when I get a winch and install the winch plate. I'll update the thread if and when that happens.

How do you plan on mounting those? They look nothing like the AEV tow loop brackets. I've been looking at some trailer hitch adapters at Harbor Freight. I'm thinking with a little trimming and cutting with an angle grinder, I might be able to fab something very similar to the AEV tow loop brackets and wouldn't cost hardly anything. You can get the AEV tow loop brackets for $99.00. Too much for my tastes, but I'm unsure how that compares to the maximus brackets you're looking at. They're listed on the Northridge 4x4 website.

FYI, I just called AEV since I needed the crush can cover replacements. I figured instead of trying to find replacement mounting bolts, I asked if I could order the Hardware mounting pack that comes with the bumper for install. It was pricey as all things AEV, but I figured that will make my life easier. You can order it from them directly. $59.95 for the hardware pack. After I pick it up, I'll post what is all included.

It looks like the Maximus mounts to the underside of the winch plate. I have the winch place, just waiting for a winch, so this makes sense for me. Maximus includes instructions for trimming the factory bumper, which they are designed for, but i figure the AEV bumper could be trimmed the same way.

Last time I call AEV they wouldn't sell the hardware pack alone, hence the point of this entire thread. The would obviously be the best option. Let me know how that worked out.