I've had this for a month or so and am just getting around to posting it.

The story is that I came across a good deal on a used 8274 and bought it.

Then I realized that the only bumper for that winch was the Warn with the 8274 adapter which came to $900 and change.

No frickin way, especially with how high it sat and blocked the radiator.

So I had this made at a local shop. Searcher's 4wd in Louisiana.

I brought him pictures of the Smittybilt bumper and told him that I wanted the 8274 to sit real low in between the frame rails. The bumper not only bolts to the original locations but also to the cross rail that the factory air dam attaches to.

Here it is.






What do you think?

 

I like the overall idea, especially the center section. BUT IMHO the tube is way to wide and looks like wings.

 

It blends a little better in real life.
I would have preferred to do a shorty bumper, but the way that I use my Jeep in real life says that I needed the protection of the tubing out there. The advantage of this setup is that I have almost the approach angle of a shorty but with the protection of a full width.

The width of the "wings" is such that any brush will go from the bumper to the tire and completely miss tearing off the fender flare.

 

I freakin love it..... I love the smitty, but this idea of combining a plate style bumper with a tube type is genius....
Congrats.... I'm jealous...
btw, what did somthing like that run you for the custom work.

 

Lookg good!

Love the 8274. I think it's the 1st one I've seen on a JK.

 

looks pretty good. i really like that design. however, looks like it may have went just a little to wide on the sides. i think it would have looked better if the tips of the wings were flush with the fender flares.

 

Nice work

 

I asked the guy that built it the same thing.

He said, " what's the point of the tubing at all if a tree can slide past the end of the bumper and still tear off the fender."
Anything hit will go from the end of the bumper to the tire bulge.
And the extra length is not really noticeable in most situations.
Just when you crouch and look from the front.

 

I got a deal because I was the first one. He took the extra time to map the JK frontend in his CAD program for future bumper builds.

He told me anymore depending on how you want it done would be $600-700.

THis is the guy
searchers4wd.com/newhome.htm

No affiliation. Just a happy customer.