Custom, high clearance bumpers

The newest thing I'm dealing with is warpage. There's a total of about 1/8" bow, upwards in the middle, that I expect to only get worse when I weld on the bottom lip.

PXL_20220309_201247012.jpg


My lack of experience shows with my not knowing how to deal with this. Heat up the top edge I think would do it, but not sure a handheld propane torch is enough. Don't really want to lay a bunch of beads to just have to grind off, either.
 
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freedom_in_4low said:
The newest thing I'm dealing with is warpage. There's a total of about 1/8" bow, upwards in the middle, that I expect to only get worse when I weld on the bottom lip.

View attachment 314577

My lack of experience shows with my not knowing how to deal with this. Heat up the top edge I think would do it, but not sure a handheld propane torch is enough. Don't really want to lay a bunch of beads to just have to grind off, either.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure the warpage may not be all my doing... The heating and cooling of the main face of the bumper by welding in the receiver and the shackle tabs would have shrunk it disproportionately to the top face which had no welding done on it. Thinking maybe I could cut through the top face and weld it back in. That should shrink up that face and pull the bow out. Even if I don't get it perfect, that's OK. But I'd like it to be 1/16" or less.
 
Finished product.

PXL_20220326_192656833.jpg


PXL_20220326_192642335.jpg


The gas tank skid really looks like it's hanging low but from the side view, it's inches from the departure angle thanks to the LJ overhang. I guess now with this bumper my departure angle should be somewhat close to a TJ with a standard bumper.
 
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These bolt holes. Are they just more attachments to the crossmember? Or do they relate in some way to the Curt receiver for more rigidity?

F5C7C7D0-593D-45EA-A02B-3BBE412884BE.jpeg
 
Ordered a near identical style bumper from Affordable offroad through amazon. I looked at that bumper you got from Barnes 4x4 and the cost of shipping to Canada was more than the cost of the actual bumper itself. It's too bad that shipping from the US to Canada is so expensive. It drives up the cost of these parts so much😭

On the bright side I have a beast of a welder hooked up to 240v so penetration won't be an issue😉

@Mike_H, is that Curt receiver just welded to your Barnes bumper? And the bolts next to the receiver, were they drilled after mounting the bumper? I imagine just doing pilot holes then drilling separately would work eh? My final question is what you plan on using the hitch for? I wouldn't mind having a hitch mounted cargo basket for some camping gear or a buck during the fall but there's probably a limit to how much weight I could have leveraging on that receiver.
 
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thedustyboot said:
@Mike_H, is that Curt receiver just welded to your Barnes bumper? And the bolts next to the receiver, were they drilled after mounting the bumper? I imagine just doing pilot holes then drilling separately would work eh? My final question is what you plan on using the hitch for? I wouldn't mind having a hitch mounted cargo basket for some camping gear or a buck during the fall but there's probably a limit to how much weight I could have leveraging on that receiver.
Click to expand...
The receiver is welded to the bumper. I left it long and cut a hole in my cross member too so that the receiver is up against the fuel tank (but not actually touching).

As far as the holes, I drilled them through the bumper and the cross member at the same time, IIRC. Your idea should work too.

I welded the hitch in mostly for a center recovery point and to carry my hitch mounted bike rack. I also have a small 12 foot aluminum rowboat that I tow around. The irony is that the bumper is so tight to the rear of the Jeep, the bike carrier interferes with the spare tire... Oh well.
 
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Mike_H said:
The receiver is welded to the bumper. I left it long and cut a hole in my cross member too so that the receiver is up against the fuel tank (but not actually touching).

As far as the holes, I drilled them through the bumper and the cross member at the same time, IIRC. Your idea should work too.

I welded the hitch in mostly for a center recovery point and to carry my hitch mounted bike rack. I also have a small 12 foot aluminum rowboat that I tow around. The irony is that the bumper is so tight to the rear of the Jeep, the bike carrier interferes with the spare tire... Oh well.
Click to expand...
Awesome, thank you for answering my questions😁 Greatly appreciated
 
freedom_in_4low said:
Finished product.

View attachment 318482

View attachment 318483

The gas tank skid really looks like it's hanging low but from the side view, it's inches from the departure angle thanks to the LJ overhang. I guess now with this bumper my departure angle should be somewhat close to a TJ with a standard bumper.
Click to expand...
I can see the 1/8" bow. Send me that reject with free shipping and I'll be happy to put your new bumper company decal on it.
 
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thedustyboot said:
Ordered a near identical style bumper from Affordable offroad through amazon. I looked at that bumper you got from Barnes 4x4 and the cost of shipping to Canada was more than the cost of the actual bumper itself. It's too bad that shipping from the US to Canada is so expensive. It drives up the cost of these parts so much😭

On the bright side I have a beast of a welder hooked up to 240v so penetration won't be an issue😉

@Mike_H, is that Curt receiver just welded to your Barnes bumper? And the bolts next to the receiver, were they drilled after mounting the bumper? I imagine just doing pilot holes then drilling separately would work eh? My final question is what you plan on using the hitch for? I wouldn't mind having a hitch mounted cargo basket for some camping gear or a buck during the fall but there's probably a limit to how much weight I could have leveraging on that receiver.
Click to expand...
Do you have the Amazon link for this bumper?
 
freedom_in_4low said:
Finished product.

View attachment 318482

View attachment 318483

The gas tank skid really looks like it's hanging low but from the side view, it's inches from the departure angle thanks to the LJ overhang. I guess now with this bumper my departure angle should be somewhat close to a TJ with a standard bumper.
Click to expand...
Looks good man!

Have you raised the stock gas tank skid any? I thought about doing mine since I need to drop it to fix that check valve issue when filling up.
 
Longwhitejeep said:
Looks good man!

Have you raised the stock gas tank skid any? I thought about doing mine since I need to drop it to fix that check valve issue when filling up.
Click to expand...

I haven't. I also need to fix the fuel burping issue, and I may do something while I have it out, whenever that happens. Been thinking about cutting the flanges off and reattaching them 1" lower on the skid to do a DIY skid raise. Since it's mostly a cosmetic mod at this point, I haven't talked myself into dropping the coin on an aftermarket GTS.

I did the GM fuel filler hose about a year ago and it's like, 75% fixed, but it still burps from time to time.
 
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Mike_H said:
The receiver is welded to the bumper. I left it long and cut a hole in my cross member too so that the receiver is up against the fuel tank (but not actually touching).

As far as the holes, I drilled them through the bumper and the cross member at the same time, IIRC. Your idea should work too.

I welded the hitch in mostly for a center recovery point and to carry my hitch mounted bike rack. I also have a small 12 foot aluminum rowboat that I tow around. The irony is that the bumper is so tight to the rear of the Jeep, the bike carrier interferes with the spare tire... Oh well.
Click to expand...

What bike rack do you use? My kids bikes are getting big enough that they don't fit well in the back of the LJ so I'm looking for something, but it's not always easy to figure out whether they hang out far enough to clear a 35" spare. I could use an extension but I'd just as soon use a rack that works to begin with.
 
freedom_in_4low said:
What bike rack do you use? My kids bikes are getting big enough that they don't fit well in the back of the LJ so I'm looking for something, but it's not always easy to figure out whether they hang out far enough to clear a 35" spare. I could use an extension but I'd just as soon use a rack that works to begin with.
Click to expand...
My rack doesn't fit anymore with the tucked bumper. I have an extension...
 
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