My Steel Armadillo Bumper & Mods (Matt's version)

[1USMC]

Very affordable too

I'm going to try eliminating the bracket and threading a ball directly into the bottom of the carrier; i'm not happy with the strength of the bracket and I think it will also look cleaner.

If the direct threads don't work, a rivet nut might be an option to increase the surface area and add more threads. I'll beat it up for a bit and find out.

Great Idea Matt !! Let us know how the ball mounting works. I'm always unloading emergency equipment from the back of mine and sometimes I'm not parked on a very level surface. I use a bungee cord from my spare tire to my L Rear wheel to hold it open. Not always convenient and I don't always want, as you mentioned to have it open all the way . Look'n Good !!

[Matt]

Will do Ron.

If we get some nice weather this coming weekend ill try to do some testing on uneven ground. We'll see how the extension damper works against gravity and such.

I'd also like to find a way to lock it open for those situations where the vehicle is leaning in a way where the carrier wants to close. (Im thinking something like a bicycle kickstand if I cant spec out a lockable extension damper)

Edit- there are bi-directional dampers but the cost was significantly higher. I dont think they'll prevent the carrier from closing but it will at least provide a slow/controlled compression for such cases

[Matt]

Here's another video. Got on a pretty good angle and it still works great!



I'm going to have to stall the latch prototyping. Had to buy a new vehicle this past weekend so we're on a "necessity only" budget until I figure out our new budget and if I'm going to have to change savings/retirement input.

[06JeepXKHEMI]

Man that thing looks great and I usually dont like the rear tire carriers... How much extra clearance did you gain with departure angles or dont you know yet

[Matt]

The pictures look better than in-person. Jon and I already worked it out and think we found the root cause for the fitment issues (this was the first one build by his "new" fabricator and some tribal knowledge was definitely lost). This spring he's going to work out the manufacturing kinks, have a test-fit jig, and hopefully be able to pump these things out a lot quicker for customers and ensure they install quickly/easily

[Matt]

Got out for a ride yesterday.... was nice not having to put the bike on the roof!

[Core XK]

Looking pretty nice! I can't wait to get bigger tires

[H53Ecrewchief]

The bumper looks great. That looks like a pretty sweet bike too.