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07-28-2007, 03:55 PM
So after leading the Icelandoffroad.com (GSW Sponsor) guys on Wipeout Hill this year (07) at GSW and seeing a few hits that their fiberglass rocker protection took I decieded to purchase and try their front fiberglass bumper. Thier lines were close to what I was invisioning for the front bumper that I needed to build, and they had a winch mout version, so payment was sent and the bumper was received. The first two are picutres of where it is at this point: 7/28/2007 and the other three are pics of packaging for shipping and what you get. I'll post up more picks of the install following this, but daylight is burning... Note: the moutning bracket for the winch mount is steel and attaches to the unitframe inside the cutouts that were used for both the factory tow points and the Kevin's Off Road (GSW Sponsor) Radiator Support and tow points.
Last edited by PassRunnerZJ; 07-28-2007 at 08:17 PM.
07-28-2007, 04:05 PM
Looks good! I'm looking forward to seeing their WJ fender flairs.
07-28-2007, 04:39 PM
Very nice
07-28-2007, 06:25 PM
They look sweet
07-28-2007, 06:25 PM
They had a sense of urgency in regards to getting WJ flares and bumpers out when I was talking to them, so hopefully the wait won't be too long for the WJ guys. I tried talking them into doing flares for the XJ rear since my brother is starting to head that way, but he picked up some 33x9.5x15's.
Before...
Disconnect the battery!!! You are working around the air bag sensors. Remove the Seven Slot grill cover and remove the headlight housing unit (you don't need to remove the headlights, turn signals, or side marker lights), for lack of a better discripsion at this point. Eight bolts, two large ones on the bottom arrows pointing to two in front of the radiator, two above the head lights, bolt to body, and two below the side markers.
Remove the charcol canister, a new bracket is included, you'll get to it later. Cut and expand the opening on the inside of the uniframe towards the tire side. I ended up needing to take the top and the bottom all the way out of the way.
Last edited by PassRunnerZJ; 07-28-2007 at 06:37 PM.
07-28-2007, 06:32 PM
Looks good, keep the pictures coming.
07-28-2007, 06:46 PM
Before you start cutting and stuff either paint the steel parts or get them powder coated. Or you can get it coated after you get the final fit done. You can see the hole that I had to cut/expand to move the charcol canister up. The kit did include a bracket to move it up, with some minor modifications for the earlier ZJ's.
I had to make cut outs for the radiator mount which I did at a minimum right now. I think that I will clearance them out so that I can reattach the tow points to them down the road and remove the loops in the front and see if I can add some of the rubber bumper pads from a later model ZJ.
Last edited by PassRunnerZJ; 07-28-2007 at 06:52 PM.
07-28-2007, 08:10 PM
Some pics of the charcol canister bracket. I had to cut the top open some more to fit mine.
07-28-2007, 08:16 PM
Making the winch mount and bumper level, mostly. Once you get it level you can finish tightening up the bolts. Also, trim up the front fender liner so that you tuck it up inside the new bumper. Cut the liner about .5" wider than the bumper.
07-28-2007, 10:43 PM
That's a good lookin' bumper.
07-28-2007, 11:20 PM
Wait, wait, fiberglass? Am I really reading this right?
07-28-2007, 11:46 PM
yeah, you are.
07-28-2007, 11:58 PM
Did you have to disassemble the grill and headlights? Seems like a lot of work compared to other aftermaket bumpers.
07-29-2007, 12:22 AM
" seeing a few hits that their fiberglass rocker protection took"
Why do they make fiberglass rocker protection? Is there some reason other than it being cheaper than metal?
Why go with a fiberglass bumper if your gonna wheel it? Won't it break easily?
Why hasn't anyone else questioned this? Am I missing something???
Last edited by FallstonZJ88; 07-29-2007 at 01:45 PM.
07-29-2007, 12:56 AM
They are making some???Originally Posted by JohnBoulderCO
07-29-2007, 10:10 AM
Pulling the light assembly out made it easier to raise the charcol canister. But not needed to just do the bumper install. It is a one person job to take it on and off.
As far as a fiberglass bumper goes, it is blow in and over .25" thick. I was skeptical at first, but keep in mind that glass will give more than steel and spring back, if it does break, just reglass it back together. I used to build old school kayaks out of glass when I was a kid with my dad and I've seen some pretty hard hits on rocks and glass does well.
It is way lighter than steel for the amount of strength and costs less, especially these days.
[strikethrough]Yes, they have fiberglass rocker protectors[/strikethrough] Their rocker protection is 3/16" steel plate, that I watched them run into rocks turning corners and drop their ZJ on rocks going over them and no damage that I could see other than some scrapes.
That said, I have a trip next weekend to the Wheeler Geologic area and hope to real life test it besides checking for vibrations and making sure there aren't any cooling issues.
Last edited by PassRunnerZJ; 08-22-2007 at 09:38 PM. Reason: Correction from Vendor
07-29-2007, 10:37 AM
Are you putting a winch on it yet? Pics on their site look like the winch blocks a disturbing amount of grille, but I'm not too sure.
07-29-2007, 10:59 AM
A winch isn't in the budget yet, but eventually it will be. I don't see there being that much blockage and if there is, I can always cut some vents in the lower section to bring air in with slots.
07-29-2007, 11:09 AM
That's what I was wondering. I'm sure I'm just being over-cautious. When I pulled my Hellas off my bumper in Moab, I noticed a significant cooling improvement, but my radiator may have started it's current issue when I was there (big hole in one of the tanks), so I'd bet that was a variable.
07-29-2007, 11:26 AM
I know it is one person, but it is one person times like 2 hours. I only spent 2 hours total installing my bumper and winch.
07-29-2007, 11:34 AM
That is the problem with fawking newbs. They spout off at the mouth when they don't know or have seen a product or even have a damn clue what they are talking about. If you bought the product and did not like it, sure talk it down all you want. Have I seen or used the product? No, that is why I keep my damn mouth shut....fawking noob! Oh, here is an idea, go run a couple of trails, you might see some products and/or learn something thenactually be able to contribute to the coversation here. Until then, try this link: http://jeepsunlimited.com
07-29-2007, 11:49 AM
I would actaully run a bumper like this. I am sure it is stronger than the sissy stock bumper cover and it saves a lot of weight. You can't really comare it to a steel bumper, becuase this is a tottaly different atlernative.
07-29-2007, 11:50 AM
I'm with Blaine...I'd hit it...3 times!
07-29-2007, 12:01 PM
Sorry didn't know we all had to actually try the product before we gave our opinions about it. Maybe I worded it wrong but can't a person be a little skeptical about a fiberglass wheelin bumper/rocker protection? This site has a lot of good info but dammit some people have sticks up their asses.
07-29-2007, 12:05 PM
Try wording it a little bit different. You did come off like you were condemning it.
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