Started a new front bumper.

[brendon]

Time to let the cat out of the bag. I have been working on a steel front bumper for my rig. I finally got the first parts from the metal shop and welded them up.

https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2010/08/DSC03250-3.jpg

Now I can start designing the rest of it - lower radiator skid plate and something to make it look like an actual bumper...

If the rest goes as quickly as the initial phase, expect to see the completed product by about March.

[LWM]

Very cool, it is noce to see those who can building custom projects for their Commanders. Looking forward to future updates.

[El Cid]

Very nifty! Looking forward to the advancing project.

[07JeepXK]

Looks good so far! March is a long time from now though.

[cico7]

Cool beans man, I mean bumper.
Are you going to include a mount for you driving lights.
Are you adding some sort of of a 110V outlet. (converter)
Why do you have a receiver on the front?
Why do any of these bumpers put receivers on the front?
Why does the Matrix have a receiver ?

[NeilSmith]

Front receivers can be used as an easy attachment for a winch, makes it easily removable. They are also good for moving a trailer around the house in tight places for those of us that aren't that great at backing one up. Surf rod racks are also handy items for the beach and you could have that up front and still have a receiver rack or boat in the back.

[brendon]

I painted this part today and it will go back on for some real world testing - I'm going to pull my friends Suburban around at different angles and up some hills to see if anything comes apart. This is my first big welding project since I was trained on the job to weld about 15 years ago and shortly thereafter quit the company. The first couple welds were not too pretty (that's what grinders are for) but at least it looks like I got good penetration.

Cico- There will be end caps that will probably accomodate the stock fog lights. 110V receptacle? And as Neil mentioned, I will get a winch in a cradle and then I'm not limited to only front end winching. I could even put a receiver in my garage to dock the winch and pull disabled cars up my driveway. This I could have used this a few times now!

[cico7]

I thought about a 110V converter with an outlet on the front. I have thought about doing that. Which is in part why
I asked about another battery in another thread

[brendon]

I finally had a chance to test this portion structurally.

My brother-in-law hooked up a 6" wide recovery strap between each point individually and his Caterpillar and pulled my rig around as dead weight. I think this will hold up well on the trail :)

I have blueprints made up for the mating skid plate so that should be done soon. I'm actually ahead of schedule!

[WanderingTs]

I would love to know the cost once you are done also. Not that I have the welding skills to do as much of my own work as you are, but I am curious how it stacks up to a major maker's bumper.

[okiecommander]

And the final product looks like???

[IamJEEP]

And the final product looks like???


X2

[brendon]

And the final product looks like???

Still working on it. Sometimes life gets in the way of doing things I want to do...

[AJeepZJ]

Still working on it. Sometimes life gets in the way of doing things I want to do...

Nothing wrong with that, bro. lol... not at all.

[brendon]

Front receiver helping move an 8.5x20 enclosed trailer (loaded, about 6500lbs total) into the barn for the winter. The door opening is only 9 feet wide; I had 3" on each side to move through!

https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2011/11/IMG_20111113_114824-1.jpg

https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2011/11/IMG_20111113_113809-1.jpg

https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2011/11/IMG_20111113_114053-1.jpg

https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2011/11/IMG_20111113_115231-1.jpg

[pjmjr508]

Looking Good

[Holaday07 4.7]

so did you not make a bumper?

[brendon]

I have only the structural piece including the shackle tabs and the receiver at this point. The rest is rough sketches still. I need to turn them into real prints to give to a metal fab shop to cut and bend. My Solidworks guy (coworker) has been as busy as I for the last year and a half, therefore no forward progress...

[Holaday07 4.7]

I have only the structural piece including the shackle tabs and the receiver at this point. The rest is rough sketches still. I need to turn them into real prints to give to a metal fab shop to cut and bend. My Solidworks guy (coworker) has been as busy as I for the last year and a half, therefore no forward progress...

Gotcha. Busy is good man.