Critique my build plan
- Thread starter T_Hase89
- Start date
Paint does the trick.
It’ll hopefully work well enough for now - should be here Tuesday. Maybe it gives the final excuse to buy a welder I’ve had my eye on
.Sorry to derail...
Are you sure of the weight difference? Because when comparing my Steel ARB sliders to Savvy's Aluminium ones the Savvy version weighs more. Do you have experience with Metalcloak bumpers?
And with the strength thing, is it needed or overbuilt? My Warn Zeon fits nicely in my Metalcloak bumper and in use, works fine, have also been snatched using the front recovery hooks with no issues to date. I also haven't had my approach angle compromised at any point, So if it doesn't distort under use and performs as it says on the box it comes down to personal opinion.
My ARB Sliders weigh less than the Savvy versions (check the weights on the slider thread), I've had them on two TJ's to date with no issues. Both vehicles have had these used as jacking points, slid over rocks and come down on rocks. They perform fine and haven't distorted the tub nor bent.
Savvy make some great stuff, however, a lot of it comes down to personal opinion as stated.
Opinions don't change what things are. Whether or not the value of certain details and nuances are meaningful in one context vs another is an entirely different type of discussion. I do know for a fact that my chopped up and reassembled bumper is leaps and bounds beyond most of what is readily available. If the work I did is meaningful for someone to want to duplicate, I would strongly encourage buying the bumper that already has that stuff and more.
The work is meaningful to you so it's an opinion, I may think it's atrocious but it's yours, so be it.
That said, a forum member has asked about certain products, it appears you haven't used them yourself so have no experience to draw upon yet feel the need to denigrate them because of perception of the brand by a few on this forum. Whilst I have used the item in question and find it to be 'in use' more than fit for purpose.
You don't need to use something to see how it is designed. It's just a bumper, what difference does it make if he bolted one up or not? You wouldn't learn much from running a certain bumper for a year. The design is what matters and there are key differences between the two. I'm sure the Metalcloak can take a hit, but that doesn't mean it has all the small design features that the Savvy might.
Opinions don't work well in design. It is something I've learned while building an off-road race car at my school every year with engineers. You can see what is better and what is worse.
I understand you think that makes sense as a rebuttal. If I had a Metalcloak bumper, I would fix it the same way I did the Motobilt because they are both lacking in similar areas. I know this by looking at it and understanding what I see. Pick another brand and the same ability to analyze will apply. I don't care about the brand.
One more reason to buy the better bumper that already has that work done to it.
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I understand you think that makes sense as a rebuttal. If I had a Metalcloak bumper, I would fix it the same way I did the Motobilt because they are both lacking in similar areas. I know this by looking at it and understanding what I see. Pick another brand and the same ability to analyze will apply. I don't care about the brand.
One more reason to buy the better bumper that already has that work done to it.
This is still opinion based as you have no empirical evidence on the Metalcloak product.
I've had the Metalcloak bumper for going on 5 years now. It's still as good as the day it was put on. Why would I want to change a bumper that has done what it needs to over an extended period. That is, carry a winch that is of sufficient size to recover the vehicle, has recovery points that are suited to the vehicles size and weight, has enough approach angle to not stop the vehicle proceeding and is aesthetically pleasing. If someone was looking at a bumper and were considering one, I'd rate it as pretty good.
I just get frustrated when people come onto the forum asking about stuff and in recent times are bombarded by the same people who whilst not having first hand experience with the stuff in question, are more than happy to tell you it's crap. That is unless it's their favourite brand or way of doing things.
I mean if you've seen failures or used whatever and it's rubbish great, but if others are using the stuff and it's ok you do have to question why they'd jump back in and say it's not, you don't know what you are talking about.
We all have different experiences and probably use our vehicles differently. It's not a one size fits all outcome.
I mean if you've seen failures or used whatever and it's rubbish great, but if others are using the stuff and it's ok you do have to question why they'd jump back in and say it's not, you don't know what you are talking about.
We all have different experiences and probably use our vehicles differently. It's not a one size fits all outcome.
OP
That escalated quickly 
. I’m looking to replace the winch bumper I have for 2 reasons. 1) I want the grill hoop to protect the radiator in the event of a roll over (buddy just rolled his this past weekend and trashed the front end...got me thinking....) and 2) refer to reason one. Also still needs to hold a winch...
Side note since the topic has been brought up... between armor, bumpers, fenders etc... steel vs alum total maybe 200 pounds savings? Why would that matter? I don’t own a jeep for gas mileage.
. I’m looking to replace the winch bumper I have for 2 reasons. 1) I want the grill hoop to protect the radiator in the event of a roll over (buddy just rolled his this past weekend and trashed the front end...got me thinking....) and 2) refer to reason one. Also still needs to hold a winch...Side note since the topic has been brought up... between armor, bumpers, fenders etc... steel vs alum total maybe 200 pounds savings? Why would that matter? I don’t own a jeep for gas mileage.
A lighter Jeep is a more agile Jeep. Mine recently shed about 150lbs and it is quite noticable just on the street. I haven't made it to a trail where it matters. Two more weeks and I expect good things.
I don't either but one thing I have sussed out is that a lighter vehicle performs better (especially in sand etc...) than a heavier one. I wholeheartedly agree with JJVW on this
I'm not sure how things work in the USA but there's a big issue going down at present with the Overlanding community with regard to overloaded vehicles (it affects them far more than anyone else).
You have two weights with your TJ. Tare and Gross Vehicle Mass. Gross vehicle mass is what the manufacturer (Jeep) state is the maximum that your TJ can weight fully loaded including passengers.
Just looked up some specs. Tare is quoted at 1550kg (3417lb), Gross Vehicle Mass is 2019kg (4451lb). That leaves 469kg (1033lb) for payload including passengers.
Add in 2 passengers @ say 90kg ea (198lb ea) and you're left with 289kg (627lb).
So with that 289kg (627lb) start subtracting the weight that you've added to the vehicle in mods. All of a sudden if you want to keep a legal vehicle weight becomes a major issue.
Now I can't see and haven't heard of anyone having issues legally with this, but there are overtones (again from the Overlanding community) about concerns over insurance coverage if they were to be in an accident whilst over GVM.
Just something to mull over.
K, on a slightly different point, I would suggest not using a paint type product (including por15) under the Jeep. I recommend something along the lines of cosmoline on surfaces that are hard to get to (I side frame) or that are likely to get scraped and dragged. In the frame of you put a coating over even the slightest bit of rust it will grow unchecked until a serious problem occurs. With the cosmoline you can still see thru to the metal to verify it's working. And overall it has the ability to wick. This allows it to protect an area that might get missed when costing it. Also you can easily add more protection at any time with no need to remove the previous coat. This is why I would say to use it where you "plan" to rub and grind on underneath. Easy on, stays on. And easy to re-coat. I think that makes it ideal for any area that you don't or can't see, or that is difficult to get to. This is an opinion. Please send hate mail to: Goatman's mother-in-law.
LONGJP2
TJ Expert
And I thought the other forums were the ones reserved for jackasses but we can’t all be right I don’t guess
The last MC front bumper I had here on a rig about a year ago had the winch deck bent up in the back from a moderate pull according to the owner. When I looked at it, I suspect strongly that they use a 5000 series aluminum to form them due to the sharper angles they have in the design. If true, then the 6061 used in the Savvy version is a considerably stronger material.
If you are using galvanic reaction or the prevention thereof to pick stuff for your rig, that is fairly silly.
For coatings, add something non-invasive, somewhat tough, and easy to clean. The best coating in the world can only do so much. If you plan on driving in the salt, wash your Jeep every single chance you get. Getting the salt off does wonders. Coatings will help, but you'll still end up with rust in plenty of places if you leave salt sitting on there for months at a time.